1 . If you’re looking for a place to spend the Christmas holiday, we try to cover possible information within the posts on our site online. Here are some hotels and resorts that shine over the holiday.
Big Cedar LodgeIts annual show, Home for the Holidays, features a series of events in November and December, including ice-skating and kids’ club activities. Guest rooms, cottages and cabins serve as cozy spots for winter getaways, and many dining options mean you’ll never need to leave the resort.
Aspen Meadows ResortThere are all kinds of festivities at the resort leading up to the big day, including snowmen building and sleigh rides. Holiday movie nights take place throughout December, and there’s lots of food to enjoy. The all-suites are perfect for family getaways with floor-to-ceiling windows providing mountain views.
Hotel BennettVisit this hotel for Christmas and you’ll immediately be surprised by the life-size gingerbread (姜饼) house made with pounds of candy. There are holiday stories on the night before Christmas Eve. Plus, all of the holiday festivities in Charleston’s downtown are just outside this hotel’s front door.
Jekyll Island Club ResortAt Christmastime, this historic resort hosts a gingerbread house decorating event and special holiday meals throughout December. About 350 light displays made up of more than a million lights can be seen in the resort’s trees.
1. Where is the text probably taken from?| A．A website. | B．A magazine. |
| C．A guidebook. | D．A newspaper. |
| A．Big Cedar Lodge. | B．Aspen Meadows Resort. |
| C．Hotel Bennett. | D．Jekyll Island Club Resort. |
| A．They are located in the downtown. | B．They are all world-famous resorts. |
| C．They all have special holiday parties. | D．They all have activities before Christmas. |
Last summer, I had a life-changing experience when I decided to join a group of volunteers in rescuing homeless dogs. It all started when I read a post on social media about a group of abandoned dogs in desperate need of help. Without hesitation, 1 reached out to the organization leading the rescue mission.
Early one Saturday morning, our team gathered at a local animal shelter, armed with determination and a strong sense of purpose. We loaded the necessary supplies into our van, including food, water, blankets and leashes. As we set off, a mix of excitement and nervousness filled the air.
Our destination was a run-down area on the outskirts of town. The deserted streets were home to numerous homeless dogs, which had become victims of neglect. These innocent creatures, once someone’s beloved pets, were now struggling to survive on their own. Upon arriving, our-hearts sank at the sight of many poor dogs searching for food among the piles of garbage. It was a heartbreaking scene. We immediately sprang into action, spreading out to cover every corner of the neighborhood.
Approaching the dogs cautiously, we soon discovered that gaining their trust was not an easy task. Many had learned to fear humans after lasting unthinkable hardships It took patience, gentle words and gestures to approach them without causing distress. With’ each successful rescue, our spirits were uplifted. Some dogs willingly followed us, desperate to escape their miserable lives. Others required a bit more comfort, but eventually, we managed to lead them to safety. They received medical attention and were provided with much-needed love.
As the days went by, our team experienced both moments of joy and heartache. Some dogs were fortunate enough to find loving homes, while others faced challenges due to their extremely unpleasant pasts. But through it all, we persisted, knowing that saving every life made a difference.
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。
Out efforts began to produce positive results.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Looking back on the summer I am filled with a sense of pride and contentment.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3 . Remember Malcolm Gladwell’s famous “10,000-hour rule” from his bestselling book Outliers? It proposes that achieving mastery in any field requires roughly 10,000 hours of practice, emphasizing the importance of early professionalization and intensive practice for becoming an elite in a particular field.
This approach, known as “deliberate practice”, encourages setting goals from a young age, investing time and specializing in a specific field. On paper, it sounds like a good path to success, but when we look at the lives of elite athletes, musicians and scholars, we find a different story. In reality, many individuals who have risen to the top of their respective fields took a more diverse and winding route. They often explored a wide range of activities, gained a broad skill set, and only specialized at a later stage in life. In other words, the idea that one must know one’s specialization from a young age is fundamentally wrong.
Studies have shown that an approach called the “sampling period” is often more effective for achieving success. During this phase, individuals try various activities, gain diverse skills, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and only choose a field to specialize in once they have a clearer understanding of their passions and abilities.
Elite athletes, for example, rarely specialize in a single sport at a very young age. Instead, they engage in a variety of sports during their formative years, which allows them to acquire broad physical skills and discover their interests and talents. These early diversification experiences provide valuable lessons that can be applied to their chosen sports.
Consider the journey of Roger Federer, one of the greatest tennis players of all time. At the age of 6, he dabbled in rugby, skiing and wrestling, only returning to tennis later. The trial period benefited him not just because he found his true passion but also because his experiences in various sports enriched his tennis game with a unique set of skills.
1. What does the author think of “10,000-hour rule”?| A．It’s effective. | B．It’s costly. | C．It’s unpractical. | D．It’s unproven. |
| A．early goal-setting | B．diverse skills | C．focused practice | D．field specialization |
| A．To show the difficulty to be an elite athlete. |
| B．To prove the advantage of the “sampling period”. |
| C．To give an example of applying “deliberate practice”. |
| D．To tell us one of the greatest tennis players of all time. |
| A．Kids should try many kinds of activities. | B．Passion can be found at a young age. |
| C．Many failures can lead to successes. | D．Learn to be an athlete since young. |
4 . 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. |
| A．Testing. | B．Driving. | C．Improving. | D．Repairing. |
| A．Helix’s relative devices. | B．Helix’s training process. |
| C．Helix’s safety measures. | D．Helix’s working principle. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Objective. | C．Indifferent. | D．Cautious. |
5 . 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| A．Learning to accept my body |
| B．Enjoying my retirement life |
| C．Fighting against my back pain |
| D．Being grateful for what I have |
1. What are the speakers talking about?
| A．Benefits of exercise. | B．Ways of keeping fit. | C．Tips for losing weight. |
| A．Regular mild physical activity works better. |
| B．Working out at the gym is the most rewarding. |
| C．Avoid eating after doing intensive (高强度的) exercise. |
| A．He works out at the gym. | B．He runs in the park. | C．He goes cycling. |
1. What problem does the woman face?
| A．She can’t turn on her computer. | B．She can’t open a document. | C．She can’t handle her work. |
| A．Yesterday morning. | B．Last night. | C．This morning. |
| A．Send him an email. | B．Come to his place. | C．Give him a call. |
8 . Liu Zhihua has become a star at a ski resort in Urumqi. Dressed in her baby blue suit and white helmet, she blends in with the other skiing
Though a
When asked about the
Despite being the oldest ski enthusiast at the resort, Liu thinks she is just as
For Liu, sports have brought health and
| A．fans | B．enthusiasts | C．supporters | D．admirers |
| A．However | B．Still | C．Although | D．Instead |
| A．clumsy | B．fluent | C．frequent | D．practical |
| A．show up | B．show off | C．took off | D．took up |
| A．pain | B．relief | C．delight | D．comfort |
| A．occasional | B．irregular | C．persistent | D．permanent |
| A．Overcoming | B．Overstating | C．Rejecting | D．Refusing |
| A．generally | B．gradually | C．typically | D．spiritually |
| A．trend | B．addition | C．practice | D．addiction |
| A．setbacks | B．disadvantage | C．progress | D．process |
| A．reviews | B．recalls | C．confesses | D．confronts |
| A．struggling | B．hard | C．energetic | D．fruitful |
| A．confuse | B．tell | C．talk | D．divide |
| A．costume | B．custom | C．stock | D．suit |
| A．contentment | B．agreement | C．calmness | D．attractiveness |
9 . As archaeologists (考古学家) examined ancient tombs in Turfan in western China, they discovered some surprisingly well-preserved and familiar relics. Though hardened from over 1,000 years, there sat little dumplings.
Exactly who invented dumplings remains a mystery. But some scholars suspect they were first spread by nomadic (游牧的) Turkic peoples living in western China and Central Asia. This is thought to be the case because “manti,” meaning “dumpling” or “steamed bun” in many Turkic languages, appears to be the root word for dumpling in several other languages. Ancient Turkic people probably filled their dumplings with meat. But it’s unclear when this practice began, or whether they learned the art of dumpling-making from others. However this happened, dumplings certainly gathered steam in ancient China.
Dumplings continued to take off and diversify in China over the next thousand years. Instead of the traditional meat filling, some communities chose vegetarian (素食) dumplings. People developed new cooking methods. The relationship between Chinese dumplings and those in other areas is tricky to trace, but food historians have made their best guesses based on available clues.
Besides Turkic tribes, some scholars believe that the Mongol Empire also contributed to the spread of dumplings, perhaps introducing them to parts of Eastern Europe. These dumplings could have come by way of China or directly from some of the Turkic peoples the Mongols hired to run their empire. One theory is that this gave rise to dumplings like pelmeni in Russia, pierogi in Poland and vareniki in Ukraine. The Mongol Empire also controlled Korea and might have likewise introduced dumplings there. Later, after Chinese dumpling varieties were introduced to more countries, English speakers began calling them dumplings, which means “little lumps”. During the Second World War, Chinese “jiaozi” were brought to Japan. So what about the Italian dumpling-like pasta? Some historians think it might be brought by Arab conquerors.
It’s unlikely that all dumpling dishes came from the same root tradition. However, we can appreciate the mysterious historical web that made dumplings so various.
1. What made Turkic peoples suspected to first spread dumplings?| A．The languages they used. | B．Their eating habits. |
| C．Their dumpling-making skills. | D．The newly found tombs. |
| A．Originated. | B．Stabilized. |
| C．Got well-cooked. | D．Became popular. |
| A．The spreading process of dumplings. |
| B．The possible origins of dumplings. |
| C．Differences between various dumplings. |
| D．Reasons for the popularity of dumplings. |
| A．Delicious. | B．Diverse. | C．Unusual. | D．Regional. |
10 . In his 1936 work How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie wrote: “I have come to the conclusion that there is only one way to get the best of an argument — and that is to avoid it.” This distaste for arguments is common, but it depends on a mistaken view of arguments that causes problems for our personal and social lives — and in many ways misses the point of arguing in the first place.
Carnegie would be right if arguments were fights, which is how we often think of them. Like physical fights, verbal (言语的) fights can leave both sides bloodied. Even when you win, you end up no better off. You would be feeling almost as bad if arguments were even just competitions — like, say, tennis tournaments. Pairs of opponents hit the ball back and forth until one winner comes out from all who entered. Everybody else loses. This kind of thinking explains why so many people try to avoid arguments.
However, there are ways to win an argument every time. When you state your position, formulate (阐述) an argument for what you claim and honestly ask yourself whether your argument is any good. When you talk with someone who takes a stand, ask them to give you a reason for their view and spell out their argument fully. Assess its strength and weakness. Raise objections (异议) and listen carefully to their replies. This method will require effort, but practice will make you better at it.
These tools can help you win every argument — not in the unhelpful sense of beating your opponents but in the better sense of learning about what divides people, learning why they disagree with us and learning to talk and work together with them. If we readjust our view of arguments — from a verbal fight or tennis game to a reasoned exchange through which we all gain respect and understanding from each other — then we change the very nature of what it means to “win” an argument.
1. What is the author’s attitude toward Carnegie’s understanding of argument?| A．Critical. | B．Supportive. | C．Tolerant. | D．Uncertain. |
| A．They lack debating skills. | B．They may feel bad even if they win. |
| C．They fear being ignored. | D．They are not confident in themselves. |
| A．Defend. | B．Explain. | C．Conclude. | D．Repeat. |
| A．Sense of logic. | B．Solid supporting evidence. |
| C．Proper manners. | D．Understanding from both sides. |
