1 . Electrically powered vertical-take-off-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft—flying cars are an idea whose time has not quite yet come, but is fast approaching. Many firms are offering various designs. None of these, however, will be Jetson-like family flying cars. Pivotal, based in Silicon Valley, by contrast has crafted something that people can purchase and pilot themselves. Helix is a single-seat vehicle, so “flying motorbike” might be more accurate. From next year, many people will be able to order one for personal use, though they will not be able to take delivery until June.

Marcus Leng founded Pivotal in 2011, and some back-of-the-envelope calculations he made suggested that electric lift-off of a human-carrying craft, using motors powered by the lithium-ion batteries ought to work. He thus built a model and flew it in the garden of his house in Warkworth, Ontario.

Now, after ameliorating it, the firm thinks it has something marketable. The aircraft has, nevertheless, changed little in its fundamentals over the years. It has two pairs of wings and eight propellers (螺旋桨), making it slightly resemble a squashed “H” when seen in the sky from below. And there is no undercarriage. Instead, its belly is curved in a way similar to a humpback whale’s, so it rocks to stability after landing.

Pilot’s licence or not, buyers will still need some training to fly a Helix. Pivotal insists on this. For the same reason, the craft’s software will stop the pilot doing anything that does not fit its safety rules. And if, despite this, something does go wrong, it is fitted with a parachute（降落伞）.

The Helix’s top speed is a respectable 100 kph, but its range is only 30 km. And refueling it is a bit of a pain. Filling up from the mains takes four and a half hours, though a special high-power system similar to those employed for electric cars can bring that down to 75 minutes. While Helix still doesn’t compare to the flying car from the Jetsons, it could be a step forward.

1. What can we learn from the first two paragraphs?

A．Helix has been used in Warkworth widely.

B．Flying cars won’t be allowed for personal use.

C．Leng was the first person to design flying cars.

D．Helix is only suitable for one person to drive.

2. What does the underlined word “ameliorating” in paragraph 3’mean?

A．Testing.

B．Driving.

C．Improving.

D．Repairing.

3. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．Helix’s relative devices.	B．Helix’s training process.
C．Helix’s safety measures.	D．Helix’s working principle.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards Helix?

A．Doubtful.

B．Objective.

C．Indifferent.

D．Cautious.

2 .

Sugar, protein and fat: if you’re good at scanning those nutrition facts on food and drinks packages, it’s thanks in large part to Burkey Belser, who is a well-known American graphic designer (平面设计师). But his work extended far beyond groceries. If you’ve noticed the Drug Facts box on over-the-counter medicines seems to be like the food label, that’s because Belser designed it, as well. He also created the yellow Energy Guide box for home appliances.

Belser’s passion for design started at a young age. He studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and began a journey to become a graphic designer. His exceptional talent and skill quickly gained recognition, earning him numerous awards and accolades.

Belser’s work is seen on billions of products. The nutrition fact box has been copied around the world. Creating the official food information box was a complicated process, with input from business groups and health advocates, along with Food and Drug Administration( FDA) experts. The design team worked through 35 versions before the product came out, and it was a huge success. “ That is a masterpiece of information architecture, and quite a victory for social responsibility, ” commented one Italian designer.

The nutrition label reflects Americans’ evolving (演变) relationship with food, shifting from an emphasis on vitamins and minerals to addressing obesity (肥胖) and related conditions. Belser’s work not only made an impact within the industry but also played a crucial role in effectively communicating important messages to the public.

Speaking of his success, Belser said that luck had probably played a big role. But he added, “ I’d say the willingness to work hard sets the stage to take advantage of whatever luck comes your way.”

1. What can we learn about Burkey Belser from paragraph 1?

A．He worked in groceries.	B．He majored in medicine.
C．He designed package labels.	D．He updated home appliances.

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

A．Opportunities.

B．Degrees.

C．Suggestions.

D．Praises.

3. What is the significance of Belser’s work?

A．It helps fight Americans’ obesity.

B．It improves the public’s eating habits.

C．It makes information easily accessible.

D．It promotes the food industry’s images.

4. What was the key to Belser’s success?

A．His good luck.	B．His determination.
C．Public donation.	D．Business cooperation.

3 . On July 28, I retired from my position. After teaching for many years, I looked forward to kayaking (划独木舟) with my grandsons, seeing friends and traveling for leisure with my husband. But my body had other plans for me. A broken spine (脊椎) in my back took me down a path that upended my plans.

I have long had back pain. However, I pushed through the pain to do my work, which worsened my condition. Doctors urged an operation when increased disability meant I could not sit, stand or walk for a long time. But I wanted to see whether physical therapy (治疗) could create an easier option.

Indeed, hard work with a great physical therapist has let me improve my mobility, sitting and standing. But X-rays told a different story. My spine was unstable and bending. After careful consideration and a second opinion from another professional, I agreed to surgery yet in the near term. Needless to say, the past months have been tough and the way ahead will be even tougher. Kayaking with my grandsons in the peacefulness of the lake is all out of reach, for now.

When I met my physical therapist for the first time, I was a mess. He listened to me outline my history with tears and then calmly said, “You have to make friends with your body.” I have repeated that line to myself daily and worked to embrace my body. I have focused on gratitude. I’m grateful that I do not have a fatal disease. I’m grateful that the body I have remains alert to the world, loved by family and friends. I’m grateful that I am still myself.

I don’t know exactly how the future will play out. The surgeon assures me that I should be able to get in my kayak by summer. But I may have to make friends with a different body, one that is mine regardless of the shape.

1. Why did the author’s condition become worse?

A．She disliked physical therapy.

B．She hurt her back when kayaking.

C．She still worked despite back pain.

D．She was unwilling to have an operation.

2. What can we learn about the author from paragraph 3?

A．She forgot to kayak with her grandsons.

B．She decided to accept an operation right away.

C．She completely recovered after physical therapy.

D．She asked another doctor for advice on the operation.

3. What changed the author’s attitude towards her body?

A．Her wish to enjoy retirement life.

B．Her physical therapist’s advice.

C．Her worsening physical condition.

D．Her love for her family and friends.

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

A．Learning to accept my body

B．Enjoying my retirement life

C．Fighting against my back pain

D．Being grateful for what I have

4 . 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。

You enter through a round entrance known as a moon gate. There before you, is a     1    (cover )passage made of red wood, leading you past a walled courtyard. Along the edges of the courtyard are piles of rocks, among which     2    (grow) bamboo. The whole scene is like a painting;     3     every step you take, another part of the painting is unrolled.

    4    (step) into the courtyard, you look over the scene. Latticed(格状) windows in the walls reveal yet more bamboo, suggesting that the courtyard is just one part of a     5    (large)garden. At the far end of the courtyard is a room with wooden chairs,     6     windows that create frames for the scene of     7     (strange)shaped rocks beyond them, just like Chinese ink-wash paintings. This little courtyard is     8     picture of the classic Chinese concept of peace and beauty. Yet, you are not in China, but a copy of Chinese garden. The Astor Chinese Garden Court     9    (create)by a team of 26 Chinese craftsmen in 1981, and it represented the first permanent cultural exchange between America and China. The courtyard is a place of rest for a museum     10     (visit). As a museum piece in and of itself, the garden gives a wonderful view of ancient China.

5 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Why is the man talking to the woman?

A．To ask a favor.

B．To fetch his car.

C．To offer a lift.

2. What does the woman suggest the man do?

A．Send the paper online.

B．Buy a new computer.

C．Use her sister’s car.

3. What does the woman say about the man?

A．Out of date.

B．Clever.

C．Cool.

4. What will the man do?

A．Drive to school.

B．Call his professor.

C．Go to the woman’s house.

6 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Where do huge storms form every year?

A．In Northern Africa.

B．In the United States.

C．In the Atlantic Ocean.

2. What is the reason for more severe storms?

A．Dust carried by winds.

B．No rainfall for long.

C．Changeable wind.

3. What is the probable influence of the dust?

A．It pollutes the whole country.

B．It does harm to people’s health.

C．It is a threat to the Sahara Desert.

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 entered my freshman year of high school with a clear goal: work hard, stick to whatever I could succeed at and graduate with great achievements. I wouldn’t waste my time where I didn’t perform as strongly. And this belief served me well. My academic standards were high. I was the star player of all the teams I joined. My friends would joke about my pursuit of perfection, but in my eyes, it was the only sure path to success.

In the second term I joined the cross-country running club. When I came to the first practice, I was filled with the desire to make the varsity (校队) team. But as the distance we ran each practice gradually increased from three, to four, to six miles, I realized that no matter how hard I tried, I was one of the slowest on the team. This realization disappointed me. And the pain in the muscles following every practice was unbearable. I wanted to quit! What was the point of putting myself through so much pain and being the slowest racer?

Then we had our first cross-country race. When we got off the bus, the sight of the other teams warming up made my hands sweaty. When we started the race, I felt the enormous pressure of expectations sink onto my shoulders. It was a challenging course, consisting of a series of winding and rocking hills.

After a while I stopped running and struggled up the last hill. The steps under my feet felt as heavy as thousands of pounds, mirroring the weight of my despair. With every racer passing me, frustration washed over me-I would never win honor for my team. I’d just be letting them down.

注意：
1.续词为150个左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

With every passing second, my ambition fell apart.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

My team’s support encouraged me to move on.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . Where did the woman leave her cellphone?

A．On the football field.

B．At the office.

C．At the cafe.

9 . What will the woman speaker do?

A．Make a list.

B．Buy sports equipment.

C．Contact the bus company.

10 . Why does the woman make a call?

A．To change the plan.

B．To have a discussion.

C．To make a reservation.