1 . 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。

Sam Hensen was celebrating his ninth birthday at summer camp. The counselors and fellow campers came together to throw a party for him, complete with cake and gifts thoughtfully sent by his parents. But Sam was not a popular boy. He was mentally disabled and couldn’t move around like the other children, setting him apart from his peers and causing unease among parents. But things were about to change on his ninth birthday. At camp, he was about to discover that there were people who genuinely cared about him.

One boy reached out to Sam and extended a warm hand of friendship. His name was Bobby, an eleven-year-old, and he had a younger brother who was mentally challenged. Sam’s presence reminded Bobby of his beloved brother, and their bond was unique, unlike any other.

Bobby’s kindness didn’t stop at a friendly gesture; every morning, he went to Sam’s cabin to help him prepare for the day. Their friendship extended to sports, especially baseball, which Sam adored. Bobby, with strong determination, took on the incredible challenge of teaching Sam how to bat.

The hours and days they spent practicing seemed to point to an impossible task. The camp counselors had also tried their best to teach Sam, but progress had appeared to be hopeless. But Bobby was not ready to give up on his friend, but Sam began to feel anxious.

One restless night, Sam couldn’t sleep as he thought of Bobby’s kindness and the counselors’ tireless efforts to help him. He felt the burning desire to practice more, despite the late hour. He decided to take action. With determination, he made his way to Bobby’s cabin and woke him up, whispering, “Come on, Bobby! Wake up! I need you to pitch (投掷) the ball.” Bobby, rubbing his eyes, was initially puzzled by Sam’s late-night visit. But as Sam   pulled him out of bed, he realized the importance of this moment. Sam assured him, “It will only take a moment, and we’ll be right back.”

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。

With their counselors sound asleep, the two friends sneaked out, making their way to a poorly lit parking lot.

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Sam fell asleep that night with a smile of accomplishment on his face.

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3 . 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。

Winters can be harsh in Heilongjiang, China’s northeastern province     1     (border) Russia.

The residents of Harbin, Heilongjiang’s capital, brighten the winter     2     (month) by carving fantastic frozen sculptures for the International Ice and Snow Festival that takes place in January and February every year. Once a     3     (region) affair, the festival has grown to be a major international event.

“It’s quite surreal (梦幻般的), due to both the scale (规模)     4     all the beautiful lighting—like being     5     a fantasy movie,” says Christian Stanley of the China Travel Company. “It’s so big that you can’t help wondering     6     they managed to build all of this so quickly.”

It’s also a good choice to take a break from Harbin’s winter wonderland with a visit to the Siberian Tiger Park.     7     (locate) a few miles northwest of the city on the Songhua River, the park     8     (establish) in 1996 to help protect these animals, the largest felines (猫科动物) in the world. Hundreds of Siberian tigers—accustomed (适应) to the winter cold—     9     (free) walk around the nature reserve, along with leopards and black puma. Visitors must ride in special buses to get protected from the tigers as the animals gather around out of     10     (curious).

4 . There is a peaceful moment that washes over you when you step into a forest.     1     Li and Gary Evans, director of the Forest Bathing Institute in the U. K. , talk to Life Kit about the science behind forest bathing and how you can obtain the health benefits.

The ideal place to forest bathe is in a natural forest. But if you live far away from one, any place that has a lot of trees and quiet spaces will do.     2     A 2022 study found that walking in a forest had a greater impact on cardiovascular (心血管的) function than doing so in an urban park.

To gain the rewards of forest bathing, plan to spend two to six hours in the woods, says Li.     3     If you can’t set aside a good part of your day to wander in a forest, you can also do shorter walks.

Your forest bathing session is a good time to walk or do some gentle activities such as yoga and tai chi.     4    . “The difference between normal activities and forest bathing is that we’re going to move very slowly,” says Evans. Forest bathing is about calming you down, reducing your heart rate and blood pressure.

When you get to the forest or the park, find a spot that could be a clearing in the woods surrounded by a bunch of tall trees.     5     “Inhale (吸气) for a count of one, two and then exhale (呼气) for double the length of time. Then keep that going.” This particular breathing exercise has been shown to have benefits outside of the forest environment.

A．You can do sports like hiking or jogging.

B．Sit down and slow down your breathing.

C．But they won’t be as significant as walking in the deep woods.

D．It’s not the time to do hard exercises like running or weight training.

E．Not only is “forest bathing” a way to explore nature, it’s good for your health.

F．It simply connects with our sense of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch.

G．According to his research, forest bathing for that amount of time help promote the well-being.

5 . Humans have sailed the oceans’ surfaces for thousands of years, but their depths remain effectively uncharted. Only about a quarter of the seafloor has been mapped at high resolution (清晰度). Maps of most regions display only estimated depths and often miss entire underwater mountains or canyons (峡谷). So a group of researchers have turned to some deep-diving experts: Elephant Seals and Weddell Seals. Scientists have been placing trackers on these blubber y marine mammals around Antarctica for years, gathering data on ocean temperature and salinity (盐度).

For a new study, the researchers compared these dives’ location and depth data with some of the less detailed seafloor maps. They spotted places where the seals dove deeper than should have been possible according to the maps.

In eastern Antarctica’s Vincennes Bay, the diving seals helped the scientists find a large, hidden underwater canyon suddenly descending (下降) to depths of more than a mile. “The seals discovered the canyon, and the ship confirmed it,” says Clive McMahon, a researcher at the Integrated Marine Observing System in Australia and a co-author of the new study.

But seals can’t map the entire ocean floor. The trackers used in the study could pinpoint (为……准确定位) a seal’s geographical location only within about 1.5 miles, which allows for useful but not exactly high-resolution data. Plus, because the seals don’t always dive to the bottom of the ocean, they can reveal only where the bottom is deeper than in existing maps — not shallower. McMahon notes that scientists could improve on these data by using more precise GPS trackers and analyzing the seals’ diving patterns to determine whether they have reached the seafloor or simply stopped descending.

The current seal-dive data can still be valuable for an important task, says Anna Wåhlin, an oceanographer at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. The deep ocean around Antarctica is warmer than the extremely cold waters at the surface, and seafloor canyons can allow that warmer water to flow to the ice along the continent’s coast, Wåhlin explains. To predict how Antarctica’s ice will melt, scientists will need to know where those canyons are and how deep they go.

1. What’s the initial function of the device carried by the seals?

A．Collecting data about seawater.

B．Filming the images of the seafloor.

C．Recording the seals’ travelling routes.

D．Leading researchers to some remote areas.

2. What does the new study’s discovery prove?

A．It is impossible to fully uncover the secrets of the sea.

B．The existing depth estimates for the sea are inaccurate.

C．Seals’ ability to dive is worth further scientific studies.

D．It is urgent for scientists to map detailed seafloor maps.

3. What does paragraph 4 mainly talk about?

A．The creative methods adopted in the study.

B．Major technical challenges faced by scientists.

C．New research directions inspired by the study.

D．The shortcomings of the approaches to the study.

4. Which of the following will Anna Wåhlin most probably agree with?

A．The new study is potentially beneficial to other scientific fields.

B．The deep waters of Antarctica are colder than the surface waters.

C．Seafloor canyons slow down the speed of ice melting in Antarctica.

D．The seal-dive practice is valuable for mapping the entire ocean floor.

6 . From camping to Frisbee (飞盘游戏), China’s urban residents are always on the lookout for the next outdoor activity in fashion. Over the last few months, farming vegetables has become the most popular one as more and more people seek to break away from urban routines for a short break back with nature.

Completely different from traditional farming, the pieces of land are divided into smaller parts so they can be rented out to families with kids, the elderly, and white-collar residents. They are usually located on the suburbs of cities, and promise potential tenants(租户)hours of peaceful gardening and beautiful scenery.

As their own “landlords,” inexperienced city residents get to experience the whole process—from sowing vegetable seeds and watering them to eventually harvesting the fruits of their labor. Shanghai resident Tai Xin rented a 100-square-meter plot of land on Shanghai’s suburbs that costs 1,000 yuan annually. She says, “I initially thought my seven-year-old son would be able to better understand crops, planting, picking, and agricultural science.” But her parents, who have been helping with babysitting, are now also engaged on the “farm”. “We’re pleased to be here,” she added. Tai says she visits the plot of land, around two kilometers away from her home, once in a while but only on weekends. She spends a couple of hours watering the crops, removing weeds, and sometimes just organizing a picnic with her family.

But like other outdoor activities, vegetable gardening, as an emerging trend, is not without its complications. Most of the land for such vegetable gardens are agricultural tracts (大片土地) rented from the local government, says Zhang Ling, who operates the Shanghai Shanxi Fruit &Vegetable Cooperative.

“The regulator wants to keep track of the kind of vegetables planted as well as the yield to guarantee the city’s food supply,” says Zhang. “It’s very difficult for us to track that since our customers are mostly amateur farmers and they could be very spontaneous(自发的)in what they want to plant. A failure to meet the regulatory requirements, however, may lead to the land rental contract being canceled.”

1. What is the latest trend among urban residents in China?

A．Camping in the wilderness.

B．Playing Frisbee in city parks.

C．Seeking adventurous urban routines.

D．Engaging in outdoor farming activities.

2. What distinguishes the vegetable farming experience in urban areas from traditional farming?

A．It is carried out by various tenants on smaller lands.

B．It involves planting crops for commercial purposes.

C．It focuses on large-scale agricultural methods.

D．It is primarily promoted by local gardeners.

3. How does Tai Xin view the vegetable farming experience for her family?

A．She thinks it’s a little expensive.	B．She finds it quite time-consuming.
C．She considers it a good family activity.	D．She believes it aims for health education.

4. What’s Zhang Ling’s attitude toward the future of vegetable gardening in urban areas?

A．Concerned.

B．Positive.

C．Carefree.

D．Unclear.

7 . NLB Mobile app — a library in your pocket

The National Library Board (NLB) Mobile app is your personal library, anywhere. anytime. By signing in, you will be able to enjoy the full suite of services available to library members such as borrowing items and reading emagazines and enewspapers. But even if you don’t sign in, you can still:

●Search the library catalogue (目录) and share the title
●Locate nearby libraries based on your current location
●View highlights of library happenings
What do I need to sign in?

You will need a myLibrary ID. If you do not have it, you may create one online or using the app’s login page — tap on the+ button on the top right of the app’s screen.

What if I forget my myLibrary ID or password?

You can retrieve (恢复) your myLibrary ID and password:

●Online with your Singpass or NRIC/FIN number. Once you have signed in, the system will automatically detect if you have a myLibrary ID and display it. It will also let you reset your password if you have forgotten it.
●Via the NLB Mobile app, with your Singpass or NRIC/FIN number. Tap on the+ button on the top right of the app’s screen, then tap on “Forgot your myLibrary ID or password”.
When I try to log in, the app says “Profile already exists”. What do I do?

We are sorry that you are encountering this problem! Here are the steps.

●Go to your phone’s Settings menu.
●Select “Apps” or “Application manager” or “Applications”.
●Tap on“NLB Mobile”.
●Tap on “Storage”.
●Select “Clear Data”.
●Select “Clear Cache”
●Try signing in again. It should work this time. If not, please take a screenshot of the error message and email it to enquiry@nlb.gov.sg.
1. What can users do via NLB Mobile app without signing in?

A．Reading emagazines.

B．Borrowing enewspapers.

C．Sharing the title of the items in the library.

D．Previewing the books available to borrow.

2. Which of the following is necessary for users to sign in the app?

A．Singpass.	B．MyLibrary ID.
C．NRIC/FIN number.	D．The physical NLB card.

3. Users are advised to email enquiry@nlb.gov.sg when they _______.

A．decide to voice complaints about the service

B．have any questions about the NLB Mobile app

C．are unable to clear NLB Mobile data on the phone

D．fail to solve the “log in” problem following the instructions

8 . My expectations were low the day my old school friend Selwyn Musa told me some film director was looking for students. Selwyn had ________ the director, Barney Platts-Mills. He had asked if Selwyn knew anyone ________ making movies. “No, but my friend is writing a book,” Selwyn replied. He asked Selwyn to tell me to ________ St Helen’s Theatre, where he   was running evening workshops.

I ________ my first three chapters, written and printed on a Canon StarWriter I’d returned to its owner, and without delay, went to the theatre at the first ________. I handed Barney my dog-eared sheets, titled The Scholar. He read to himself, and said he would ________ me. Even then I felt the chance was ________. I’d made a few connections like that over the years. None ever amounted to anything. I’m not sure how much time ________ after that.

Nevertheless, one day when I was at home in my mum’s house, the ________ rang. It was Barney. He’d called to ________ my address. I told him where I was and less than 20 minutes later, Barney ________ with another man carrying a ________. My mum whispered: “What does he want?” I was also ________. Barney hadn’t ever mentioned bringing round a computer. It turned out that what he wanted was ________. “Now you can write,” Barney said.

Three further chapters were completed. Later The Scholar was published and I received $2,000 in royalties (版税). “You can ________ your own computer now,” Barney said. And I could.

1.

A．encountered

B．invited

C．encouraged

D．noticed

2.

A．doubtful about

B．interested in

C．worried about

D．busy with

3.

A．participate in

B．rely on

C．drop by

D．learn from

4.

A．gave up

B．took down

C．cut down

D．gathered up

5.

A．sight

B．opportunity

C．trial

D．session

6.

A．look after

B．catch up with

C．get back to

D．search for

7.

A．clear

B．equal

C．high

D．slim

8.

A．passed

B．ceased

C．changed

D．came

9.

A．alarm

B．bell

C．phone

D．door

10.

A．explain

B．apologize

C．inform

D．confirm

11.

A．turned up

B．broke in

C．wandered off

D．settled down

12.

A．shelf

B．book

C．computer

D．camera

13.

A．relieved

B．pleased

C．disappointed

D．confused

14.

A．simple

B．dangerous

C．secret

D．funny

15.

A．rent

B．afford

C．adapt

D．pack

9 . My mother and I don’t speak the same language. Her English is not good, and my Mandarin stopped at the picture-book level on the day I started kindergarten in California, as I realized that the few English words I knew weren’t going to get me very far. I immersed (沉浸) myself in strange grammar and new vocabulary. As my mother tongue withered (逐渐淡去) in my mind, English allowed me to explain my personhood here and silence the narrative that I was just a shy, odd Asian.

My wish to write, however, made me unintelligible to my mother. She couldn’t understand why I’d spoil other better chances. I’d tried to communicate with her in Chinese, searching my mind for sentences: How could I describe my gratitude for a path to self-fulfillment when all I could say was “kai xin” or “happy”? Without the words to bridge the gap between our worldviews, our dissatisfaction and worry turned into stubbornness.

I landed a day job editing a design magazine but worked on my novel in my off-hours. As its main characters, Marissa and Kathleen’s mother-daughter relationship was similar to my own, troubled and split by cultural differences—though always revived by love. But the book is in English, so my mom won’t be able to read it.

Writing the book gave me a reason to mine for details about my family. I’d spent so much of my adolescence shedding (摆脱) my background that when I reached adulthood, I became interested in our history. I started asking questions, hoping to find a new understanding of us.

Her answers were mixed with joyful memories, like the pleasant smell of the flowers my mother would pin to her blouse, or the hubbub(喧闹)of visiting her cousins in the countryside. As her world became clearer to me, I came closer to knowing who she is.

When I showed my mother a copy, she noticed her Chinese name in the acknowledgments and said in Mandarin with a shaking voice, “Now I know you truly love me.” I wish it hadn’t taken this long to find a way to tell her. She may not understand it word for word, but I know she gets the message.

1. Why did the author start to learn English?

A．She hoped to read picture books in kindergarten.

B．She was eager to introduce herself to more people.

C．She realized its importance to her life in the country.

D．She found the language strange but fairly easy to learn.

2. What does the underlined word “unintelligible” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Sensitive.	B．Sympathetic.
C．Grateful.	D．Incomprehensible.

3. What motivated the author to dig into her family history?

A．Her interest in her own childhood.

B．Her curiosity about other cultures.

C．Her desire to know her mother better.

D．Her need for inspiration for her novel.

4. How did the author’s mother react to the acknowledgments of the book?

A．She was surprised by it.

B．She was deeply moved and felt loved.

C．She was disappointed that she couldn’t read the book.

D．She was grateful for the author’s efforts to understand her.