1 . 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。

Globe-making is a long tradition, which dates back to the middle of the     1     (two) century BCE. Although contemporary world loves GPS, we’ll never get tired of the beautiful skill of a globe. Bellerby &Co. Globemakers is one of the very few workshops in the world     2     still make a variety of bespoke orbs (定制球体) by hand.

The Bellerby & Co. artisans spend months, even years,     3     (train) as globe makers. They use a     4     (combine) of traditional and modern techniques to make the instruments. It all begins with     5     perfect sphere (球), difficult to achieve. Then, the company makes edits to a map     6     (update) the cartography or personalize it for a customer, taking years to get right.

Once the map is ready, it’s printed, cut into shapes and painted by hand with watercolour. It’s a very delicate procedure, but once all of the pieces are     7     (successful) applied, Bellerby & Co. adds more watercolour details and seals it with a finish. Then the globe     8     (place) on a base. And it is finally finished according to the customer’s preference.

The company makes globes in many sizes, from small orbs that will fit on a desk     9     large floor models that are 50 inches tall. The variety of sizes     10     (represent) the demand for globes that still exists today. A globe is a work of art and a nostalgic (怀旧的) thing for many people.

2 . 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。

Due to my unhealthy eating habits, I became fatter and fatter after college. My good friend Anoush was a running enthusiast. So he advised me to lose weight by running. I didn’t agree at first until he promised to accompany me to run although he was busy with his work.

Seven years later, I got more serious about running. And I dreamed to participate in Boston Marathon. Anoush encouraged me to realize my dream. He also said he enjoyed running too and wanted to attend the same marathon with me. Every day we spared our time to practise hard and did about 2 marathons a year, during which time Anoush gave me much professional guidance and encouragement. And then one day, both of us qualified for the 2017 Boston Marathon. We were excited but unfortunately, several weeks before the marathon, we had a serious quarrel. Even I swore never to talk with him in the future.

The day came. Anoush and I stood at the starting line. He said, “Good luck! You will certainly finish the marathon.” Hearing his words, I looked at him, saying, “It’s none of your business.”

Then we started running. I had strong mental confidence by using positive self-talk when running distances, which has helped me finish 18 marathons. Soon, I passed Anoush.

But I struggled in the heat starting at mile 16. I felt most of my oxygen went to the muscle in my legs and less in my brain, which made me feel a bit lightheaded and fuzzy (迷迷糊糊的). I continually encouraged myself. “Just get to the finish, run bold, and you will win,” all phrases that I say to myself didn’t work any more.

Gradually I felt out of breath and had to slow down my pace. As I ran down the famous last stretch of the Boston Marathon on Boylston Street, I fell down on the ground with my legs moving like jello (果冻).

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。

Just then, I felt that someone picked me up.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

When Anoush and I crossed the finish line, the audience at present applauded.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 . 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。

When John was in Grade 9, his class went on a canoeing (划独木舟) trip. Canoeing is a water sport practiced in a light narrow boat with a paddle. It can be very dangerous, especially if the river has rapids, a fast-flowing part of a river. Since it requires strength, balance and a lot of skills, all the students are trained hard.

To qualify for the trip, the whole class had to be able to swim. However, John had a problem. He weighed over 180 pounds. He had never learned to swim before, so he took swimming lessons and worked hard for many weeks. He eventually graduated with a certificate saying that he could swim.

John’s classmates were all glad to have him along—all except one person, Nicky. She didn’t like him. In fact, she seemed not to like many. She was on the school water polo team. She was a swimming star and extremely proud of herself too.

The trip went well and everyone enjoyed the day. That is, until the end of the trip when they were heading down some rapids. Nicky had been warned over and over to wear her life jacket, but she did not listen to others.

When they arrived at a steep valley, the speed of the water picked up. They entered some dangerous rapids. All of a sudden, their canoes turned over. They were all thrown into the water—all except John! He was heavy enough and somehow was not thrown into the water.

They all swam back to the canoe where John quickly pulled them in. Then, they saw Nicky’s life jacket floating on the water. She was not wearing it when the accident happened. When they spotted her floating on the water, she was barely conscious. She was in serious danger. It seemed like she had hit her head on a rock. As they were approaching her, their canoes broke loose from the tree branches they were stuck to and sent them farther away from Nicky. Everyone in the canoes looked in horror as the current dragged Nicky away from them.

注意：
1. 续写词数应为150个左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Someone exclaimed, “we’ve got to help her!”
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Finding Nicky opening her eyes, everyone sighed with relief.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . 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。

Traditional arts and crafts are outstanding samples of Chinese     1     (culture) heritage. China Daily is running the series     2     (show) how master artisans (工匠) are using dedication and innovation to add new life into these age-old heritages.

Zou Yingzi,     3     expert of Su embroidery (刺绣) which originates     4     the garden city of Suzhou in Jiangsu province once     5     (work) more than one year on a large piece of Su embroidery. She says “Only when I take the needle out and touch the silk thread, I feel     6     (full) comfortable.” Just the day before the interview, A piece     7     (measure) around half a meter can take her one year and a half to complete. In fact, from Zou’s mother to her grandmothers, all the women in her family are good at needlework, particularly Su embroidery,     8     features complex stitches (针脚) and the creative use of silk threads     9     (dye) in various colors.

Thanks to     10     (skill) embroiderers (刺绣工), these elegant arts and crafts can evolve to fit modern Chinese lifestyles.

6 . Pets are always part of a family. Pets and kids who grow up together have very close _________. This is especially true in the case of 9-year-old Milly Kukuczka, whose beloved dog Bella _________ shortly before Christmas in 2022. The girl was _________ but she turned her sadness into a labor of love for _________ animals.

This year, when Milly’s parents asked her what she wanted for Christmas, she went to her room to prepare her _________. To her parents’ surprise, _________ toys for herself, Milly gave her parents a flier (小广告传单) she made for a pet drive to collect toys and treats for pets without forever _________. All she wanted was to hold a pet drive, so all pets could have a toy for Christmas.

The Kukuczka family _________ Bella before Milly was born. The dog was Milly’s _________ and her best friend. Milly’s mom said that they were always side by side, and she wanted to do everything with Bella. But Bella was diagnosed with cancer around a year before she died. It was difficult for the entire family, especially for Milly. Now, this young girl wants to keep her love for Bella __________ by helping other pets.

Milly’s parents were all onboard to help their daughter organize the pet drive. They __________ out to the Dumb Friends League in Denver where the family chose their cats and __________ the pet drive on social media. The response was very __________. There are 50 toys there already and they have boxes of treats and cat scratchers (抓扒工具).

Milly is __________ the pet Father Christmas and she will deliver the __________ to shelter animals at the Dumb Friends League just in time for Christmas.

1.

A．end

B．observation

C．bonds

D．mood

2.

A．came back

B．broke down

C．fled off

D．passed away

3.

A．disappointed

B．heartbroken

C．confused

D．beloved

4.

A．suburb

B．neighborhood

C．shelter

D．downtown

5.

A．list

B．interview

C．attempt

D．course

6.

A．in spite of

B．apart from

C．but for

D．instead of

7.

A．friends

B．homes

C．peace

D．fund

8.

A．lost

B．adopted

C．sold

D．buried

9.

A．protector

B．tutor

C．toy

D．baby-sitter

10.

A．changeable

B．respectful

C．alive

D．occupied

11.

A．reached

B．turned

C．picked

D．made

12.

A．applied

B．demanded

C．debated

D．shared

13.

A．infectious

B．brief

C．generous

D．natural

14.

A．serving as

B．searching for

C．appealing to

D．dreaming of

15.

A．goods

B．donations

C．supplies

D．purchases

7 . Living and studying abroad can be a rewarding and enriching experience. And living with a host family is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in its culture. However, living with a foreign family can be difficult and adjusting to it can take some effort.     1    

Involve yourself in family activities. If you spend all your time in your room, it’s going to be hard to feel like you belong. Getting involved in everyday activities with your host family will help you create a family bond. For example, some families like having dinner together on weekends.     2     Not only will they appreciate it but you will also feel like a part of their world.

Be patient with yourself. Keep in mind that you’ve just left everything you’ve known for years behind to start a new life. It’s okay to be confused.     3     While you may know the language, some expressions and slang can be hard to grasp at first. Take it easy. Remember you will adapt but it will take some time.

Communication is key. If you are unsure about something, ask! It’s normal to know few customs and habits at first.     4     Your host family will understand and help you. It’s also normal not to know a lot about unspoken social rules of the country.

    5     You have to understand that host families are not just providing a roof over your head. They are making significant changes to their daily routines. Thank them for their kindness, patience and understanding. Let them know how much their assistance means to you.

Remember, a grateful heart is a happy heart, and a happy heart will lead you to further success and fulfillment in your life abroad.

A．Be open and respectful.

B．Make time for those moments.

C．The language barrier can also be a struggle.

D．So instead of doing things blindly, just ask!

E．Showing your gratitude will take you a long way.

F．You may well recall the memorable moments with friends back home.

G．Here are some tips on making the most of your host family experience.

8 . New research paints a lifestyle picture of the beloved pandas in China’s Wolong Nature Reserve, and the new study indicates pandas are around others more than previously thought. They use scent (气味) marking to keep track of both family members and friends, leave updates about life events, and check out the dating scene.

Thomas Connor, lead author of the study, spent months watching for signs of pandas. “Once you’ve gotten an eye for it, you can see on hill tops and different trails the scent-marking trees, and the pandas seem to be doing this a lot,” Connor says. “It is pretty evident that they are exchanging information through scent marking behavior.”

To link the marked trees with an understanding of panda’s social structure, the researchers needed to document nearby panda communities. Connor teamed up with coauthor Ken Frank who said, “I told him that once he has data on which pandas are close to each other, we can use the techniques and theories that apply to humans to understand their social networks. And these scent trees are a social media. Like Facebook, you don’t have to be in the same place at the same time. It allows one to broadcast to many, and it’s a record.

Connor dug into a wealth of data he had collected in the form of fresh panda waste, which is the gold standard of panda watching. Information from the waste allowed them to identify specific pandas in the area around the scent-marking trees, and showed if these pandas were related to each other.

The discoveries in this study show that pandas are a part of coupled human and natural systems where humans share their habitat. Anything about how they live and what they need can ultimately help inform good conservation policies and maybe understand our own behavior a little more.

1. Who tend to go around the pandas’ scent-marking trees?

A．Their family.	B．Some strange pandas.
C．Their keepers.	D．Meat-sourced animals.

2. Why did pandas make so many scent markings according to Thomas Connor?

A．Because they need to extend their domain.

B．Because they use them to exchange information.

C．Because they want to expose themselves to others.

D．Because they tend to keep away from humans.

3. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．The purpose of the study.	B．The research strategy of the study.
C．The further finding of the study.	D．The influence of the discoveries.

4. What is the author’s purpose of writing the text?

A．To introduce a new research on pandas.

B．To explain the pandas’ scent marking behavior.

C．To emphasize the significance of knowing pandas.

D．To call for action to protect pandas.

9 . A Virginia family whose home was destroyed by a fire last week recently received the gift of some old-fashioned Christmas cheer from “Santa Claus” (圣诞老人).

In the spirit of Christmas, the Ferrum Volunteer Fire Department delivered presents to the family who lost their home and belongings in a house fire on Thursday.

“It was a working structure fire and unfortunately the family lost everything. We as volunteers knew that we couldn’t let this mom and her three kids go through Christmas without anything,” the fire station wrote on Facebook. “Yes, they’re OK but it’s Christmas, right?”

The fire station officials delivered Christmas gifts to the mother and her three children the following day at the local church shelter they were staying at, and in photos posted on the site, the children appeared joyful.

“We brought gifts and more gifts! The kids were overjoyed and very grateful.” the station said on its post.

“They were very happy to see all the gifts and the fire trucks that we brought the gifts in,” the department told USA TODAY. The kids received Barbies, Pokémon, artworks, remote control cars, blankets, clothes and shoes. The mother also received a gift card.

The Facebook post was flooded with what seemed to be comments from community members touched by the generosity. “The best Christmas gifts are the ones you give! Thank you all for your wonderful service and your big hearts!” one user commented.

“So thankful they are alright! We are truly blessed to live in such a giving and helping community, and our fire department and rescue teams are amazing! Great job! So proud!” another user wrote.

1. What can we learn from the text?

A．The Fire Department provided the family with shelter.

B．The volunteers saved some belongings for the family.

C．The family went through Christmas in sorrow.

D．Receiving a Christmas gift is a traditional joy.

2. What’s the comments’ attitude towards the fire station?

A．Ambiguous.

B．Unconcerned.

C．Appreciative.

D．Sympathetic.

3. How does the author develop his idea?

A．By giving examples.	B．By using quotation.
C．By making comments.	D．By analysing causes.

4. What’s the best title of this article?

A．Firefighters or Santa Claus?	B．Firefighters Safeguarded Us
C．A Fire Brought Gifts	D．Love Can Cure

10 . When floods completely destroyed Bangkok more than a decade ago, Thai landscape architect, Kotchakorn Voraakhom became determined to help her sinking hometown fight this deadly climate threat. “The floods changed my life,” said Voraakhom, who studied at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. “It was the turning point, when I started using the tools of landscape architecture to cope with climate change.”

Voraakhom’s fantastic projects in Bangkok include a park that can hold up to one million gallons of water, Asia’s largest rooftop farm, an elevated walkway installed on a bridge and a lush (草木繁茂的) canal park in the city center.

One of Voraakhom’s most innovative designs is Centenary Park in Chulalongkorn University. The park stores large amounts of rainwater and prevents the surrounding streets from flooding. Built on an incline (斜坡), it directs runoff water through inclined gardens and artificial wetlands. From there, water flows into a retention pond (澄清的) with a capacity of nearly 480,000 gallons. Beneath the soil is an additional water tank which can hold nearly 160,000 gallons. The entire park can store up to one million gallons of water.

Voraakhom also created Asia’s largest rooftop farm, Siam Green Sky, transforming 22,400 square meters (241,000 square feet) into a lush field. The farm, which recycles food waste from restaurants in the building below and uses it as plant fertilizer (肥料), also slows down, soaks up and stores large amounts of rainwater. It is then used to grow vegetables, herbs and fruit, as well as rice.

The architect said she integrates nature and water into her designs to create landscapes that help alleviate flooding and add greenery to densely populated cities. The central question sinking cities like Bangkok need to focus on is: “how are we going to live with the water, without fear?” said Voraakhom. This idea of “living with the water” lies at the heart of her design approach.

1. What did Kotchakorn focus on to cope with flooding?

A．Green coverage.	B．Soil conservation.
C．Architecture design.	D．Alternative resources.

2. Which is not included in the architect’s projects?

A．Centenary Park.	B．Siam Green Sky.
C．An elevated walkway.	D．Chulalongkorn University.

3. What does the underlined word “alleviate” in paragraph 5 refer to?

A．Make less severe.	B．Get better.
C．Adapt itself to.	D．Take in.

4. What effect would Centenary Park have on viewers?

A．Calming.

B．Disturbing.

C．Refreshing.

D．Challenging.