1 . 听下面一段独白，回答小题。
1. Which requirement is first mentioned?

A．The age limit.

B．Police records.

C．References.

2. Who can be a reference for the applicants?

A．Police officers.

B．Their former bosses.

C．Their relatives.

3. What should the reference be about?

A．Work performance.

B．Work habits.

C．Work experience.

4. What will be at the volunteers' own expense?

A．Dinners.

B．Phone calls.

C．Transportation.

2 . South Baltimore is often thought of as a place to avoid—folks are taught to be careful of it. There was a mass shooting this past July, and another in early September.

“People think Curtis Bay is a dangerous place. It’s not. It’s just we’re surrounded by dangerous things,” says Taysia Thompson, 17.

Taysia, is one of the Free Your Voice members, a group of student activists fighting against a very different kind of danger in their neighborhood: air pollution and climate change. Now, the focus of their movement is the mountains of coal. Coal releases a fine, black dust small enough to get into people’s lungs. It makes respiratory (呼吸的) diseases worse, or can even cause disease and premature death. And there are the greenhouse gas emissions after the coal is burned.

The teens of Free Your Voice are taking on a big opponent: the massive goods transportation company CSX, which transported more than 8 million tons of coal through South Baltimore in 2021. The goal is to eventually get the state regulators to deny the permit that CSX needs to operate, or at least require the company to enclose all the coal, or at the very least put water onto all of it so there’s less dust blowing around.

This past summer, Taysia and three other students spent their time gathering evidence to try and get the coal pollution out of their neighborhood. They used sticky paper to gather samples of dust from all over the neighborhood to prove that the dust is from coal. They are also sending dust samples to a scientist in California, who uses an electron microscope to compare the dust that’s in this neighborhood to samples from the piles of coal at the terminal in South Baltimore to see if it matches.

The students now have support from their community. But the responses from officials have not been very satisfying. “Everyone is just breathing the air. And we will keep fighting.” says Taysia.

1. Why do the teens of Free Your Voice take CSX as an opponent?

A．To cure lung diseases.	B．To tackle air pollution.
C．To resist mass shootings.	D．To cut premature death rate.

2. What do the teens of Free Your Voice hope to achieve?

A．Scientists will examine the dust samples.

B．Officials will refuse CSX the operation permit.

C．State regulators will keep fighting against pollution.

D．Locals in Curtis Bay will clear the mountains of coal away.

3. What can be inferred about the teens’ fight?

A．It isn’t all plain sailing.	B．It will definitely end in victory.
C．The teens lack solid evidence.	D．The teens work on it all by themselves.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．Tourists Avoiding Dangerous South Baltimore

B．Teens Gaining Support in Environmental Protection

C．Student Activists Pushing back against Big Polluter

D．17-year-old Girl Combating Coal Pollution in Neighborhood

3 . 听下面一段长对话，回答小题。
1. What happened to the woman at the beginning?

A．She lost her phone.

B．She couldn’t find the way.

C．She was trapped in heavy snow.

2. Why did the woman turn off the engine?

A．The car was running out of gas,

B．She stopped to answer a call.

C．The engine couldn’t work properly.

3. How did the woman keep warm?

A．By drinking hot tea.

B．By using the car heater.

C．By having more clothes on.

4. What did the emergency services do?

A．They called an ambulance,

B．They led the woman to her home.

C．They helped the woman go to the main road.

4 . 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。

Green Thumb

All I did was show my little sister how to grow plants. Dig a hole. Put in a seed. Cover it with dirt. Water it. Wait. “See, Laynie,” I explained, “a whole plant will grow from this tiny seed. All we have to do is water it.”

Laynie had her own watering can so she could “help” me in the garden. One day, after everything was watered, she ran to the fence and started sprinkling water on another spot. I walked over and saw a fresh patch of dirt near the fence.

“Did you plant something there?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said. “I’m growing a pencil. My purple pencil got too small, so I planted it.”

“What? But, Laynie—”

I should have explained things right then, but I just muttered, “Uh…I never grew one before.”

Later I got what seemed like a great idea. I dug up Laynie’s pencil and “planted” a brand-new purple pencil. Laynie was really excited when she saw it. “My pencil grew!” she shouted.

A few days later, Laynie was watering on the same spot. Two days later, new crayons sticking their pointy little heads out, thanks to me. Laynie jumped up and down and yelled, “They look like flowers!” She “picked” them and ran into the house.

Next, Laynie grew an adult bear doll from a tiny one, a soup spoon from a teaspoon, and a hand mirror from a piece of glass. When she claimed that she had grown these things, I just kept my mouth shut! Actually, it was fun trying to think of what should grow from Laynie’s seeds. And it was cool to see her get excited.

One day I saw her patting down some dirt near the fence again, so I knew she’d just planted something. My heart dropped to my feet when she asked, “How long does it take to grow a goldfish, Brad?” I couldn’t speak.

“Not long, I bet!” said Laynie. She knelt down to whisper “Grow, Molly. Grow!” before she skipped back to the house.

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。

I sat down with my back to the fence and thought for a long time.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Later I found Laynie sitting by the spot where Molly was buried.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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。

Xi’an, an ancient capital of China, has secured a place among the most popular     1     (destination) for the enchanting appeal. While     2     (it) historical and cultural landmarks awe visitors, it is the varied, mouthwatering selection of snacks that     3     (true) captivates their hearts.

With its strategic location along the Silk Road, Xi’an is a melting pot of cuisine influences from far and wide, and its history of growing wheat     4     (bring) the creation of a display of flour-based dishes, with noodles taking center stage.

From the iconic biangbiang noodles to the inviting oil-splashed noodles, Xi’an’s noodle scene is a     5     (delight) journey through flavors and textures. Biangbiang noodles, are named for the “biang-ing” sound the noodles are said to make when     6     (beat) on the table as they are being formed. While the appeal of biangbiang noodles is     7     they are wide and hand-pulled, their toppings with tasty ingredients are also a highlight. Another iconic snack, roujiamo, is often referred to     8     the “Chinese hamburger”. This sandwich-like delight has a lengthy history     9     (date) back approximately 2,400 years.

Whatever you’d like to experience in Xi’an, you’ll not only have     10     taste delight, but be amazed by the wisdom of our ancestors throughout history.

6 . Hannah, an adventurous girl, lived on a small village in a land far away. All of the villagers were used to their ________ tasks and very few had the will to try something new. Unlike them, Hannah loved to ________ and would spend hours in the woods looking for new things.

One afternoon, she ________ an abandoned cottage. With curiosity she slowly opened the door and was left ________. In front of her was a room full of books glittering in the dust! She gasped as she ________ that she had found a hidden treasure. She ________ two and decided to read them at her home.

From that day on, Hannah ________ read the books, which took her to a world of talking animals, mystical creatures, and daring knights. She read about characters who faced ________ with their determination and characters who bravely ________ for good. She learned the power of love and friendship, and that the true strength lies within one’s own ________!

With the good in heart, Hannah started to ________ the gold from the tales with the people of her village. Soon, the ________ of Hannah’s storytelling spread. People traveled from different places to listen to her stories.________, Hannah started writing stories of her own too!

Hannah’s passion and ________ blew life into the tales and her words breathed new life into countless souls. She became a signal of ________, a reminder for everyone that even in the dustiest comers, there can be a hidden treasure.

1.

A．boring

B．challenging

C．fruitless

D．urgent

2.

A．camp

B．detect

C．explore

D．relax

3.

A．came upon

B．cycled around

C．dropped by

D．stepped into

4.

A．confused

B．amazed

C．disappointed

D．relieved

5.

A．claimed

B．clarified

C．predicted

D．realized

6.

A．bought

B．checked

C．picked

D．searched

7.

A．eagerly

B．cautiously

C．patiently

D．roughly

8.

A．accidents

B．conflicts

C．dangers

D．hardships

9.

A．called

B．prepared

C．struggled

D．waited

10.

A．body

B．brain

C．head

D．heart

11.

A．adapt

B．share

C．read

D．tell

12.

A．ambition

B．benefit

C．evidence

D．word

13.

A．Convinced

B．Entertained

C．Inspired

D．Touched

14.

A．confidence

B．dedication

C．interest

D．patience

15.

A．hope

B．beauty

C．love

D．success

7 . Lifestyle creep, sometimes called lifestyle inflation, is when living expenses and non-essential expenditures grow with income. In bad cases of lifestyle creep, this unnecessary spending can cut into savings.

Lifestyle creep is most visible among high earners, but anyone can fall into this trap. Who hasn’t justified eating out more often every week after receiving a 1 or 2 percent raise? The temptation of a more costly lifestyle is difficult to resist. If you’re making enough money to afford a larger apartment, shouldn’t you move to a larger apartment?

Improving your standard of living as your income increases isn’t an objectively bad thing, but when that habit cuts into your savings efforts, it can be a major financial risk. As Katie Waters, a financial planner at Stable Waters Financial, says, “Something’s got to give.”

Then how to avoid lifestyle creep? It just takes the same moderation and planning you used when you had a smaller income. If you can, head off lifestyle creep from the beginning by giving your raise or bonus money a purpose immediately. This can be to pay down debt, save for a house, or add to retirement accounts. This way, you won’t be tempted to spend it on a non-necessity. If you fear you’ve already fallen victim to lifestyle inflation at any level, you can still turn your spending around. If you are putting all your expenses on your credit card, Waters recommends rearranging so only routine, fixed monthly expenses are on the card. “The monthly variable costs—food, clothing, personal care, purchases for the home, the list goes on—are where your money slips away easily.” Waters says, “Calculate your possible savings each pay period and put that money into a separate checking account.”

“As with all things, the secret to managing your finances like an adult is a constant strive for balance,” Waters says. “Have fun along the way, but don’t let the tail wag the dog.”

1. What can we learn about lifestyle creep?

A．It contributes to a pay raise.	B．It refers to a high living standard,
C．It sometimes affects a person’s savings.	D．It only traps people with a high income.

2. Why does the author quote Katie Waters’ words in paragraph 3?

A．To list the bad consequences of lifestyle creep.

B．To stress the importance of giving in one’s life.

C．To show that lifestyle creep is quite understandable.

D．To support that lifestyle creep can cause financial problems.

3. What can be done to avoid lifestyle creep?

A．Put all the expenses on a credit card.	B．Save the bonus money for a non-necessity.
C．Increase the monthly costs on food and clothing.	D．Set different checking accounts for specific purposes.

4. What do the underlined words “don’t let the tail wag the dog” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.	B．Don’t put the cart before the horse.
C．Don’t do one thing under the cover of another	D．Don’t count the chicken before they are hatched.

8 . 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。

With a history of more than 2,000 years, the Silk Route dates back to Han dynasty. Through this route, the Chinese highly     1     (qualify)silk made its fame to the western countries. The merchants in different regions     2     (seek)the opportunity of trading Chinese silk     3     they indeed made their fortune along this route. That route functioned     4     the life blood of international trade at that time. Meanwhile, the Chinese civilization     5     (introduce)to the Western countries and vice versa. The Silk Route was considered as a new chapter     6     (record)the friendship between the European and Asian peoples.

Throughout all these years, many great figures have made significant contributions to the development of the Silk Route. Today, the Silk Route has a     7     (poet)name called One Belt One Road, aiming to help those connected regions in culture and economy exchange with a more advanced road. The main cities alongside it are becoming     8     (large)and more important in helping trade and culture exchange. Many countries have gained great     9     (benefit)along the trading process. All in all, the ancient Silk Road is more like     10     historical textbook for everyone to read and to know about what happened during that ancient time. It has been playing a significant role in the development of the civilizations of China.

9 . My name is Sara Li from China. Last spring, my family moved to Portland. Our _______ home had no yard. So my parents _______ an indoor garden. Mama planted seeds in pots and Papa hung them from hooks. With green vines of plants _______ down, the house looks rather fantastic. Jill, a gardening _______ living next door, spent much time at my home.

One morning, Jill and her mother came to my family. On arrival, Jill’s mother said, “Jill _______ your garden. She has told me so much about it.” Mama explained that she had learned how to _______ small space. With a glow in eyes, Jill’s mother asked _______ , “Can you help us with a _______ ? Our community wants to plant so much but our plot is very small.” Papa and Mama nodded with _______ .

That afternoon, everyone in the community agreed to ________ . Neighbors brought seeds, tools and dirt. The next day we started the project. Papa built boxes of different sizes. We filled them with ________ . The tallest stood against the back wall while the ________ was in the front. It ________ that all the plants would get sunlight.

All summer, Jill and I worked there. Autumn approaching, we picked enough to have a cookout for the community, everyone ________ the joy of harvest. I was so proud that Papa and Mama ________ a bit of ours to Portland.

1.

A．big

B．green

C．new

D．sweet

2.

A．made

B．rebuilt

C．explored

D．decorated

3.

A．sliding

B．hanging

C．climbing

D．running

4.

A．dealer

B．agent

C．expert

D．enthusiast

5.

A．spots

B．admires

C．expects

D．examines

6.

A．take up

B．search for

C．make use of

D．fit in with

7.

A．eagerly

B．proudly

C．casually

D．patiently

8.

A．routine

B．project

C．business

D．campaign

9.

A．hesitation

B．respect

C．gratitude

D．pleasure

10.

A．donate

B．continue

C．contribute

D．dig

11.

A．dirt

B．water

C．seeds

D．tools

12.

A．most beautiful

B．most special

C．freshest

D．shortest

13.

A．proved

B．suggested

C．guaranteed

D．confirmed

14.

A．showing

B．sharing

C．finding

D．treasuring

15.

A．lent

B．left

C．gave

D．brought

10 . You don’t need to be an astronomer with a giant telescope to enjoy a simple but spellbinding activity: stargazing.     1     It’s so interesting to discover what’s going on. With a bit of practice, and know-how from books and websites, stargazers can spot particular stars and also groups of stars.

There is plenty to take in using just your eyes but some people use a telescope for a more detailed look. For the best results, choose a clear night when the moon is not very bright.     2    

It can be harder to see the stars in towns and cities. It is because of light pollution. The night sky is brightened by light from street lamps, shops and car headlights. The best places for stargazing are open, hilly areas or the coast.     3     It is our home galaxy stretching across the night sky and is best seen in summer and fall evening skies. If the full moon is up, it will be hard to see. Try going for a night hike instead! Let your eyes adjust to the moonlight and keep your flashlight turned off.

    4     That is camping in a national park under a star-filled sky. Many national parks offer various night sky programs, from telescope astronomy events to full moon walks with rangers. Besides, national parks are also great places to know about the animals that are awake at night and asleep during the day. Sit quietly and listen for these creatures.

When you head out at night, always go with an adult. Dress warmly and take a blanket or a chair to sit on, plus a hot drink to warm you up. You might want to take a camera with you as well, so you can take a photo if you see something amazing in the sky. A whole new world comes alive at night and is waiting to be explored.     5    

A．Get prepared for the wonder above.

B．Just go outside at night and look up.

C．You are supposed to avoid the full moon.

D．It also matters which direction you observe.

E．In these places, you can look for the Milky Way.

F．What is the better way to experience the great wonder?

G．Where do you prefer to have a stargazing trip at night?