1 . The Mona Lisa is one of the most famous paintings in the world. Painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the early 16th century, it has captivated audiences for centuries with its mysterious smile and masterful technique.

The painting is housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, and attracts millions of visitors each year. However, the Mona Lisa’s history is not without controversy. There have been numerous attempts to steal or deface the painting, and its conservation has been a subject of great concern.

Leonardo da Vinci’s use of sfumato, a technique that blends colors and tones seamlessly, gives the painting a soft and hazy appearance. The sitter’s expression, which seems to change depending on the viewer’s angle and mood, adds to the intrigue of the work.

1. What is the main subject of the passage?

A．The Louvre Museum.

B．Leonardo da Vinci.

C．The Mona Lisa.

D．Painting techniques.

2. What technique did Leonardo da Vinci use in the Mona Lisa?

A．Sfumato.

B．Pointillism.

C．Cubism.

D．Surrealism.

3. Why is the Mona Lisa’s conservation a concern?

A．Because of its age.

B．Because of the number of visitors.

C．Because of past attempts to damage it.

D．All of the above.

4. What makes the Mona Lisa’s expression intriguing?

A．Its constant smile.

B．Its changing appearance depending on the viewer.

C．Its similarity to other paintings.

D．Its mysterious and captivating smile.

3 . I am one of the healthcare assistants in our neighborhood charity organization. Our _____________ is to support families and the individuals who are in the end-of-life stage. We do whatever they need us to do. We can’t change the inevitable, but we can make a   _____________   .

Working for the charity, we operate every single day of the year, and I find myself _____________even on holidays. You might assume that helping to _____________   a person facing death would be a sad experience. But what may _____________   you is that it’s not. The families make the most of the time they have _____________   . They remain _____________ . Everyone knows what’s coming; they understand that their loved one is _____________ , but it’s not a time for   _____________; it’s a time of togetherness and warmth.

I remember one particular family with three sisters and the fourth who was in the end-of-life stage. When I arrived, she was   _____________ , and I knew she might not   _____________ it through the night. But sitting with the sisters, talking about their childhood and sharing photos, it was a special time for me. The patient had asked for _____________ earlier that day, and they made sure she got them. She went to sleep, and we lost her that night. The sisters   _____________ it, they thanked me, and it was a(n)   _____________ experience. I’ll always remember the sweet and bitter peaches!

There are some heartbreaking situations, but when we are there   _____________ the end, making the affair easier for the families, love outshines darkness.

1.

A．hope

B．role

C．existence

D．plan

2.

A．living

B．discovery

C．difference

D．decision

3.

A．at leisure

B．at home

C．on business

D．on duty

4.

A．care for

B．pray for

C．wake up

D．calm down

5.

A．bother

B．surprise

C．disappoint

D．impress

6.

A．saved

B．spent

C．left

D．fixed

7.

A．anxious

B．bitter

C．confident

D．positive

8.

A．dying

B．sleeping

C．disappearing

D．thinking

9.

A．regret

B．sorrow

C．panic

D．fright

10.

A．worried

B．disturbed

C．unconscious

D．dizzy

11.

A．make

B．see

C．put

D．think

12.

A．bible

B．photos

C．clothing

D．peaches

13.

A．foresaw

B．predicted

C．survived

D．tolerated

14.

A．relieving

B．comforting

C．upsetting

D．embarrassing

15.

A．at

B．in

C．until

D．before

4 . UK’s Best Long-Distance Walks

Hadrian’s Wall Trail
Entire length: 83 miles
You can see the rich Roman history along the way, not just the wall itself, but also remains of important Roman forts and good museums. This walk brings you scenic variety that stretches from the modern cityscapes to the sandstone shades, and from the wasteland heights to green rural scenes.
Great Glen Way
Entire length: 73 miles
The Great Glen Way long-distance trail passes the foot of the UK’s highest mountain, follows the lakeside of Loch Ness, and crosses the Scottish Highlands. The castles scattered along the way are witness to Scotland’s past.
Coast to Coast Walk
Entire length: 192 miles
The Coast to Coast, one of Britain’s classic walking routes, was originated and described by Alfred Wainwright, author of a well-known series of mountain-walking guide books. Walk this trail for the feeling of crossing England from the Irish Sea to the North Sea, and to explore the national parks of the Lake District.
Channel Island Way
Entire length: 110 miles
This long-distance walk along the islands to the south of England takes you island hopping to see well preserved WWII fortifications, rugged cliffs, quiet villages and a fantastic range of pubs. Each of the eight Channel Islands has their own separate character.
1. What is special about the Hadrian’s Wall Trail?

A．Roman history.

B．Rural life.

C．Beautiful landscapes.

D．Coastal scenery.

2. What do Great Glen Way and Coast to Coast Walk have in common?

A．Passing by castles.	B．Enjoying lake scenery.
C．Crossing highlands.	D．Lying in national parks.

3. Who will be most interested in this leaflet?

A．Catherine, who is fond of reading.	B．Julie, who enjoys taking photos.
C．Andrew, who is interested in history.	D．Tommy, who likes outdoor activities

5 . Lynn Tilton lost her father as a teenager and experienced what the loss of the main income provider can do to a family. She struggled through Yale and secured a career on Wall Street. She planned to retire young once she had made enough money. But when she did, she had a dream where her father said, “This is not what I had in mind for you.” The dream gave her a vision that she needed to make her life about more than herself.

Following her intuition (直觉), Lynn founded Patriarch Partners by buying organizations on the edge of bankruptcy and turned them around, which now witnesses 700,000 employees whose jobs she had saved. The Turnaround Queen, as Lynn came to be known, is not alone. Eighty-five percent of CEOs use intuition when making decisions.

Intuition can be highly cognitive. It involves becoming an acute observer. You train your observation skills for differences from the norm in your environment. For example, noticing that a usually busy market was suddenly empty would be a sign of potential danger.

Another form of intuition is more of an emotion. After all, we often speak about intuition as something “feeling right” or “feeling off.” Kushal, a trader on Wall Street, had just entered one of the Twin Towers on September 11. Orders were given to remain in the building. There was a lot going on. Kushal didn’t have time to deliberate about what he should do, but his gut feeling told him to run. Because he followed it, he saved his life seconds before the building collapsed.

Should you always follow your instinct? Definitely. But intuition without intellect is like buying a plane without any propulsion (推动力). Before making a decision, make sure to “consult” your intuition, and analyze the complex situation along with all the other information you have.

Then how can you train yourself for intuition? Intuitive thoughts are more likely to come when your brain is in alpha-wave mode, i.e. you are not concentrating on something, nor are you so relaxed that you could fall asleep. So you can gain access to intuition through meditation, making time to be off your devices, spending time in nature and breathing.

1. Why did the author mention Lynn’s dream of her father?

A．To tell a story.	B．To recall the past.
C．To present a finding.	D．To introduce an idea.

2. What does the underlined words “deliberate about” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Think over.

B．Look into.

C．Find out.

D．Note down.

3. What does the author want to interpret by Kushal’s experience?

A．Cognitive intuition.	B．Observation skills.
C．Emotional intuition.	D．Good feelings.

4. What does the last paragraph focus on?

A．Features of intuition.	B．Functions of intuition.
C．Categories of intuition.	D．Cultivation of intuition.

6 . Over the years, Tibetan women have driven battle tanks, operated warships and served in missile units of the People’s Liberation Army. Now, Kelsang Pedron, 23 years old, has become the first Tibetan woman to fly a fighter jet.

Born in the Xizang autonomous region, Kelsang Pedron was studying at the Beijing Tibet Middle School in 2017 when she heard that a senior student of the school had secured a place at the Air Force Aviation University to learn how to fly military aircraft. That precious information planted the seeds of what then seemed like an unattainable dream in the young girl’s mind. After all, no Tibetan woman had ever flown a military aircraft in China till then.

“Becoming an Air Force pilot is glorious and I wanted to try so that I could safeguard the motherland’s blue skies. But flying appeared to be a distant dream for me, an ordinary girl, at that time.” Kelsang Pedron said, adding that it all changed when she saw China’s first two female astronauts, Liu Yang and Wang Yaping, on television.

“I wanted to become as smart and cool as they are,” she recalled, adding that the female astronaut stories inspired her to pursue her dreams with courage and determination. Two years later, opportunity came knocking when her teacher announced that the PLA Air Force was recruiting female flight cadets (学员), and encouraged interested students to apply.

An excited Kelsang Pedron immediately turned to her parents, seeking their permission and support. “My dad said yes without hesitation. He also encouraged me to bravely give it a shot,” she said.

Kelsang Pedron passed all the tests. In August 2019, Kelsang Pedron reported at the Air Force Aviation University, becoming the first-ever Tibetan woman to start learning combat aircraft operation. “Now I have my wings,” the Tibetan woman said. “In the Tibetan language, Kelsang sometimes refers to a kind of a beautiful flower that represents the Tibetan people’s desire for happiness and luck. I will continue to train hard so I can fly above this nation to safeguard the people’s happiness and luck.”

1. What can we learn about Kelsang Pedron from the second paragraph?

A．She used to serve on a warship.	B．She enjoyed flying aircraft.
C．She dreamed of being a pilot.	D．She longed to study in Beijing.

2. What’s her aim to fly a fighter jet?

A．Looking smart and cool.	B．Becoming a female astronaut.
C．Keeping the motherland safe.	D．Satisfying her parents’ expectation.

3. Why did Kelsang mention the flower of Kelsang?

A．To indicate her beauty.	B．To express her resolution.
C．To clarify her origin.	D．To share her happiness.

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

A．Tibetan woman makes history	B．China’s First Air Force pilot
C．Tibetan woman stands out	D．China’s Tibetan female pilots

7 . Nearly every student gets nervous before a test at some point, especially if the exam is an important one. This is normal. In fact, a mild case of nerves can even be somewhat beneficial: it can keep you focused and energized. For some students, however, test taking anxiety can be overwhelming.    1     Fortunately, there are a few things you can do before and during a test to help cope with more severe stress and anxiety.

Take a Meditation or Sitting Stretch Break

Take a minute or two before or even during a test to focus on your breathing, relax tense muscles, do a quick positive visualization, or stretch your limbs.     2    

Replace Negative Thoughts with Positive Ones

Learn to recognize when your brain is caught in a cycle of negative thinking and practice turning negative thoughts into positive ones. For example, you may catch yourself saying “I’m going to fail”.     3     With practice, this can be a powerful technique to break the cycle of negative thinking undermining your confidence.

Mistakes are Learning Opportunities

    4     Instead, remind yourself that it’s OK to make mistakes. A wrong answer on a test is an opportunity to understand where you need to fill in a gap in your knowledge or spend some extra time studying.

    5    

Test taking anxiety is very real and should be taken seriously. Your guidance counselor or a therapist may be able to offer long-term strategies for coping with test taking anxiety. Talk with your parents or guardians about finding someone to help you cope.

A．Seek Professional Help

B．Listen to the Instructions

C．It’s easy to get caught up in worrying about a bad grade.

D．Then force yourself to say “I’m going to succeed” instead.

E．This level of anxiety can be extremely difficult to cope with.

F．The calming effect can be beneficial and worth a few minutes of test time.

G．And it allows you to get into a positive state of mind before the test starts.

9 . 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。

On April 8, Mike Krugman, 74, had let his dog Riley out for a predinner walk on his 36-acre property. Krugman got its kibble (狗粮) ready, waiting for it. Sometimes Riley liked to go down to the barn and barked at the horses. When Krugman went to the barn and couldn’t find the dog, he became concerned and decided to take a ride around the property on his ATV. The five-foot fence that surrounds his property was buried in snow, leaving Krugman to wonder whether Riley climbed on the snow and walked over the top of the fence.

There was another possibility Krugman was worried about. Krugman thought that maybe Riley had gone looking for Rose, his wife, who had died of a heart condition in January. She and Riley, who would sleep on her pillow every night, were extremely close. “Then when Rose passed away, it hid behind the bed for several days,” Krugman said. “You could tell it really missed her.”

After Riley went missing, Krugman began to look for it. He tried to find Riley’s tracks in the snow but failed.

Zach Hackett, on May 14, was up 12,000 feet hiking on a mountain in Colorado when he thought he heard a faint yip from a dog. As he walked through a clearing, he saw it: a black and white Shetland sheepdog, visibly shivering behind some fallen pine trees. “Hey buddy,” he called out, then whistled, “Come here! Do you want a treat?” The dog let out a pitiful groan with pain, getting stuck under tangled (乱糟糟的) branches. He was a little startled, because dogs shouldn’t have been up there so high. Hackett realized the dog was too weak to move. It was freezing cold. The dog looked like it was near death. Hackett believed what he’d heard was the dog’s last cry for help, and that if he hadn’t come along the dog would have died there. He tried to call 911 for help but there was no signal. He knew he was going to have to carry him down the mountain.

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。
He took action immediately.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hackett dialed the telephone number on the tag around the dog’s neck.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 . 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。

Located within Huzhou, Zhejiang province, Xiaoxi Street stands as a historical and cultural protection block. It gracefully preserves its rich heritage       1     embracing the essence of modernity perfectly.

With       2     (impress) buildings dating back to the late Qing Dynasty, this historic place, situated alongside the Caodu River, once       3     (serve) as a junction place for ancient canal transportation. The river, acting as a vital channel linking the mountainous regions of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces       4     Huzhou city, played a significant role in the prosperity of this greatly respected block.

Throughout history, Xiaoxi Street attracted honored families, rich merchants, and government officials, resulting in the       5     (create) of masses of architectural wonders that have stood the test of time.

Among these treasures, the residence(豪宅) of Niu Fubao,       6     unusual Qing Dynasty official, stands as a noticeable highlight. Constructed by a merchant from Huizhou, the complex,       7     (display) distinctive Huizhou-style architecture, was later acquired by the Niu family. Remarkably, the complex boasts delicate stone carvings on       8     (it) doors and a rare high-level beam structure, carefully     9     (preserve) to this day. Since 2013, the local government has undertaken a comprehensive project aimed at protecting this historic block. Meanwhile, modern cultural industries, including galleries, pottery-making workshops and public libraries,       10     (integrate) to breathe youthful vitality into the area, transforming the block into a center of cultural and creative industries.