1 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What will the woman do on Friday afternoon?

A．Watch a movie.

B．Take an exam.

C．See a dentist.

2. What does the woman think of Dr. Bill’s service?

A．Good but expensive.

B．Good and cheap.

C．Bad but cheap.

3. When will the speakers probably meet?

A．At 6:00 p.m.

B．At 6:30 p.m.

C．At 7:00 p.m..

4. Who will take some snacks?

A．Bob.

B．Alice.

C．David.

2 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. How old was the speaker when his cat died?

A．Six.

B．Seven.

C．Eight.

2. What did Tabby do with the speaker?

A．It slept on his legs.

B．It watched TV with him.

C．It gave him hugs.

3. Where did the father hide the cat?

A．In his car.

B．In his bag.

C．Inside his jacket.

4. What did the father give the speaker at last?

A．A black cat.

B．A white cat.

C．A brown cat.

3 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Why did the speaker go on the tour?

A．It was the prize of a competition.

B．John asked her to go with him.

C．It was her travel plan.

2. What did the speaker dislike about the hotel?

A．The drinks.

B．The food.

C．The waiters.

3. What did the speaker think of the trip to the museum?

A．Disappointing.

B．Amazing.

C．Terrible.

4. What did the speaker do in the second week?

A．She rode an elephant.

B．She went to the mountains.

C．She relaxed in the hotel.

4 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. When did the man’s boss call Jeff?

A．In the morning.

B．In the afternoon.

C．In the evening.

2. How did Jeff explain everything?

A．Over the phone.

B．By e-mail.

C．In person.

3. Why didn’t Jeff come to the office on Tuesday?

A．He was sick.

B．He was off the day.

C．He was working somewhere else.

4. How does the woman sound in the end?

A．Excited.

B．Angry.

C．Surprised.

5 . 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.

6 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

At first glance, the words alligator, bedroom, eyeball, gossip, hurry, and kissing may not have anything obvious in common,     1     they do — William Shakespeare. They are among up to 1,700 words     2     first recorded use is in the collected     3     (work) of the most important writer in the history of the English language.

More than four centuries after his death in 1616, Shakespeare’s plays remain     4     unique source of artistic inspiration far beyond the land of his birth,     5     (endless) performed, studied, and adapted for countless languages and audiences. From Disney’s The Lion King to Feng Xiaogang’s film The Banquet, the story of a young man     6     (face) the challenge of growing up to seek revenge for his murdered father, is one of his most famous works. The     7     (forbid) love of Romeo and Juliet has been the inspiration for everything from Oscar-winning musical West Side Story to Chloe Gong’s novel series These Violent Delights, and Macbeth, with its tale of a man destined for greatness ruined by ambition,     8     (adapt) into Li Jianwu’s play Wang Deming in 1944, and classic Japanese film Throne of Blood in 1957.

The collection of Shakespeare’s plays     9     (remain) at the heart of the study of English literature worldwide, and also provides the backbone of the tourist industry in Stratford-upon-Avon, his birthplace in England’s West Midlands, which is also home     10     the Royal Shakespeare Company theater.

7 . 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。

As the Year of the Dragon approached, sales of products with dragon elements have seen explosive     1     (grow) on major e-commerce platforms. Dragon, or long in Chinese,     2     (consider) as an important symbol of Chinese traditional culture, is believed to bring good luck and fortune.

Since January, products with dragon-themed elements, such as clothing, daily necessities and gold jewelry     3     (gain) popularity. Items such as red envelopes, mobile phone cases designed for the Chinese Year of the Dragon have also been favored by consumers, and    4     (they) sales have surpassed those in the Year of the Rabbit last year.

Chinese consumers who buy dragon-themed goods are hoping     5     (live) a better life in the new year and displaying a strong sense     6     national pride and confidence in Chinese culture. The rich cultural meanings and the good wishes     7     the dragon carries have not only stimulated people’s passion for buying, but also satisfied their rising demand for personalized and     8     (create) products with unique cultural symbols.

Spring Festival is the traditional festival Chinese people attach the most importance to, and it’s also     9     peak season for consumption. The shopping craze for dragon-related products ahead of Lunar New Year is essential for     10     (promote) the recovery of the consumer market.

8 . The doorbell rang one mid-December evening. I frequently had unexpected visitors in those early days after my husband’s ________. But when my 6-year-old son opened the door, nobody was there. ________, on the doormat was a box, tied with a silver ________ and a note that said “On the First Day of Christmas...” A mystery.

Sam had died that fall, ________ me the single parent of our two boys, 6 and 8. My sons and I had already ________ to deal with Halloween, and Thanksgiving without Daddy. Still, I was afraid of Christmas. How could December have ________ without my husband?

The next night, the doorbell rang again. Another ________ came, decorated with the same silver ribbon (带子) and ________ the same card reading “On the Second Day of Christmas...”

For the next couple of nights, my boys waited near the front door to see who was leaving the gifts, but the bearer would always choose the moment they left to ________.

I didn’t know who the secret Santa was. But there was one thing I did know. In those dark days of ________, somebody was shining a light our way with a simple but ________ message: “You are loved.” It was such a strange feeling, to be left in darkness on the one hand and drawn so firmly toward ________ on the other. I believe hope will make a(n) ________.

After 11 days of offerings, we weren’t sure what to ________ when we approached home on that 12th night. I trusted there would be ________.

1.

A．promotion

B．death

C．retirement

D．operation

2.

A．Otherwise

B．Besides

C．Instead

D．Therefore

3.

A．rope

B．paper

C．flower

D．ribbon

4.

A．leaving

B．finding

C．naming

D．considering

5.

A．agreed

B．planned

C．managed

D．promised

6.

A．arrived

B．returned

C．ended

D．escaped

7.

A．book

B．toy

C．box

D．pet

8.

A．designing

B．including

C．showing

D．making

9.

A．get through

B．set off

C．move on

D．turn up

10.

A．regret

B．sadness

C．anger

D．disappointment

11.

A．annoying

B．funny

C．urgent

D．powerful

12.

A．dream

B．light

C．future

D．home

13.

A．difference

B．effort

C．comparison

D．contribution

14.

A．support

B．offer

C．expect

D．appreciate

15.

A．something

B．nothing

C．anything

D．everything

9 . Practical ways to improve your problem solving skills

Problem solving skills are increasingly valuable in the workplace.     1    . Here’s how to improve your strategy.

Train creativity

Problem-solving at its best requires a mixture of structured analysis and out-of-the-box thinking. To train creativity, individuals must engage in activities that stimulate their imagination and encourage new perspectives (视角). Have free-flowing brainstorming meetings that allow for the exploration of various ideas without immediate judgment.     2    .

Improve communication skills

Clear and brief communication is the key to effective problem-solving, acting as the bridge that connects various perspectives and makes individuals toward a common goal.    3    . Clearly defining the problem statement, its influences and the desired outcomes lays a solid foundation for collaborative efforts. Active listening, on the other hand, is the skill of receiving information with intent and focus. It involves not just hearing words but understanding the differences, emotions and underlying messages.

Use technology

    4    . Whether it’s data analysis, artificial intelligence or project management software, putting technology into your problem-solving toolbox can simplify processes and offer innovative solutions. By embracing technology as an enabler rather than a replacement for human decision-making, individuals can use the power of innovation to address complex challenges effectively.

    5    

Mistakes are not failures but help you become better. Each misstep provides an opportunity for reflection, learning and refining one’s approach to challenges. Analyse what went wrong, identify areas for improvement and use this knowledge to inform your future problem-solving efforts. Creating a culture that removes mistakes within a team or organization trains an environment where individuals feel comfortable admitting errors.

A．Stay informed

B．Learn from mistakes

C．Encourage yourself to think beyond the obvious

D．They could help you achieve more in your personal life too

E．Effective communication begins with expressing yourself well

F．Using tools and technology can really help solve problems better

G．Building trust among team members contributes to problem-solving

10 . The Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week held in Ethiopia in November attracted over 5,000 visitors. Though the number is not extremely high, the continent is becoming a new global fashion leader, according to a UNESCO report.

Although most African fashion businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises (企业), the report identified a growing number of high-fashion brands concentrated in key markets on the continent. What makes African fashion unique is its authenticity (真实性), according to Kenyan designer Aulga Nato. “If you check most fashion houses elsewhere in the world, they have done so much that they have less creativity in what they are putting out now. Africa, on the other hand, is rich in cloth. We are huge cotton growers, and we are rich in every single way. That’s our fashion,” she explained.

Africa is a major producer of raw materials (原材料) for the fashion industry, with 37 out of 54 African countries producing cotton and textile exports from the continent averaging $15.5 billion (about 110.2 billion yuan) a year. The continent also has a huge animal population from which it sources animal skins. However, there’s a huge shortage of chemicals to make the materials needed to treat the leather (皮革) from animals used in the clothing industry. And the continent still faces challenges related to the movement of people.

Despite these challenges, African designers are giving their best to their work and leading the world in sustainable fashion and practices. African governments have also taken measures to help designers in achieving their aims. It seems that their efforts have paid off. After checking clothing exhibits at a fashion event, Ghanaian exhibitor Solomon Dodoo noticed that every single cloth is unique and there are no two pieces of cloth that look alike.

1. What makes Africa have an unusual fashion?

A．Its increasing tourism.	B．Its huge cotton production.
C．A report from the UNESCO.	D．The authenticity of its fashion.

2. What challenge does African fashion face?

A．A great need for animal skins.

B．Lack of chemicals for treating leather.

C．The development of cotton production.

D．Shortage of creativity among designers.

3. Why do African designers overcome challenges successfully?

A．They are supported by African governments.

B．They abandon unique and sustainable fashion.

C．They lead the world in the clothing industry.

D．They check clothing exhibits at a fashion event.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．African Fashion is Popular in the World

B．African Designers Face Difficulties in Fashion

C．African Countries Have Materials for the Fashion Industry

D．Africa’s Advantages Promote Its Fashion Industry’s Success