1 . Life is filled with numerous victories and downfalls.     1    Here’s how you can create a new chapter in your life.

Draw a Line Mentally

Life is going to throw a lot of problems your way, so you need to be mentally prepared for each and every situation.     2     In order to be better than before, you need to leave that guilt and shame in the past and emerge as someone new. The secret here is to never stop trying. Once you stop trying, you are already defeated.

Learn From Others

It is an effective approach to find people that have gone through the same trials as you have.     3    They can assist you better since they know the hardships. Always seek out people who are truly free of their issues, as they will be able to help you genuinely.

Do What Actually Works

    4    Don’t follow the path to anger and destroy what is good for you. Actively engaging in battles and struggles can be challenging, but being stuck in pain and self-resentment will be even harder.

Picture your goals in your mind and take sensible steps towards them with each passing day.     5     Let nothing stand in your way.

A．What truly matters is how you react to them.

B．You can learn from their experiences and successes.

C．Live in reality and make wise choices for yourself.

D．Find those who have successfully overcome similar challenges.

E．In such situations, drawing a mental line can be helpful.

F．Nothing should prevent you from achieving your dreams and goals.

G．It is essential to stay positive and focused on what brings you joy.

2 . 阅读下面短文, 根据所给情节进行续写, 使之构成一个完整的故事

Title: A Day of Unexpected Adventures

One sunny afternoon, Lily, a curious and adventurous girl, decided to explore the mysterious old forest near her house. She packed a small backpack with some snacks and a map, and set out on her adventure.

As she walked through the dense trees, she heard rustling leaves and the chirping of birds. The air was filled with the scent of fresh earth and wildflowers. Suddenly, a bright flash of color caught her eye. It was a rare butterfly, its wings shimmering with iridescent blues and greens. Lily slowly followed the butterfly, her heart filled with excitement.

As she followed the butterfly deeper into the forest, Lily realized that she had lost sight of it. She looked around, trying to orient herself with the map, but the dense foliage made it difficult to navigate. Suddenly, she heard a strange sound coming from a nearby bush. Curious, she cautiously approached and peeked inside. To her surprise, a small fox was looking back at her with big, round eyes.

The fox seemed friendly, and Lily slowly reached out to pet it. The fox nuzzled her hand and then led her through the forest, as if guiding her to somewhere. Lily followed eagerly, her curiosity piqued. They passed through a clearing filled with wildflowers and came to a small stream. The water was clear and sparkled in the sunlight. Lily knelt down to take a sip, and the fox seemed to smile at her, its tail wagging happily.

注意：
1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右;
2. 部分分为两段, 每段的开头语已为你写好。
Para 1. After refreshing herself with the stream water,
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Para 2. As the sun began to set, Lily realized that it was time to return home.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 . Researchers at the University of Rochester have recently discovered elusive cells in the eye that could provide insights into how humans perceive color. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.

Researchers using adaptive optics have identified rare retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) that could help explain the mechanism behind human color perception. These cells, previously unknown, may hold the key to understanding how the eye’s cone photoreceptors work together to interpret the world in a rainbow of hues.

The retina, the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye, contains three types of cones that are sensitive to different wavelengths of light: short, medium, and long. These cones detect color and transmit their signals to the brain through retinal ganglion cells. While the basic function of these cones has been understood for decades, the precise way they interact to create our perception of color has remained a mystery.

In the past, scientists had mapped the “cardinal directions” of color detection, but they suspected that there might be more to the story. They hypothesized that while most RGCs follow these cardinal directions, a small number of noncardinal RGCs might work in tandem to create more complex color perceptions.

The new research suggests that these elusive noncardinal RGCs, found in the fovea—the central, most sensitive part of the retina—could be the missing link in our understanding of color vision. However, much remains unknown about these cells and how they function.

“We don’t really know anything for certain yet about these cells other than that they exist,” says Sara Patterson, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Rochester Center for Visual Science who led the study. “There’s so much more that we have to learn about how their response properties operate, but they’re a compelling option as a missing link in how our retina processes color.”

1. What is the main finding of the research mentioned in the passage?

A．The retina contains three types of cones sensitive to different wavelengths of light.

B．Adaptive optics has been developed to reduce image blur in telescopes.

C．Noncardinal RGCs in the fovea could explain how humans perceive color.

D．Most RGCs follow the cardinal directions of color detection.

2. What role do retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) play in color perception?

A．They detect color directly.

B．They transmit color signals to the brain.

C．They control the sensitivity of cone photoreceptors.

D．They create complex color perceptions.

3. What is the significance of the noncardinal RGCs discovered by the researchers?

A．They are a new type of cone photoreceptor.

B．They provide a complete explanation of color perception.

C．They could be a missing link in understanding color vision.

D．They are only found in the fovea of the retina.

4. According to Sara Patterson, what is the current understanding of the newly discovered RGCs?

A．Their exact function is already well understood.

B．They are the only cells involved in color perception.

C．Their existence is the only thing known about them.

D．Their response properties have been fully mapped.

4 . 阅读下面材料, 在空白处填入适当的内容(一个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

By the year 2050, the world’s agricultural landscape could look very different     1     it looks now.

Around 10 billion people will need to be fed,     2     (up) from the nearly 8 billion on Earth today, and climate change will after     3     that food comes from. Already, warming temperatures are allowing tropical foods to thrive in growing regions further north,     4     they haven’t before—citrus, for example, is being grown in Georgia and avocados on Italy’s island of Sicily.

“Take your computer and type in climate change followed by your favorite food, and you will, half the time, get a climate change story affecting your favorite food,” says Michael Hoffman,     5     author of the recently published book Our Changing Menu. Hoffman points out that this trend has already begun to shape     6     (we) eating habits. “What we eat is changing because of climate change, and    7     we eat is changing the climate,” he adds.

Climate change,     8     (cause) by the build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, is heating up the planet and making some regions wetter and others     9     (dry). “We’re already seeing changes in the types of crops that are being grown and where they are being grown,” Hoffman says. “If we don’t start     10     (adapt) our agricultural practices, we are going to be in trouble.”

5 . The greatest place I’ve ever visted

1. Faro de Punta Cumplida, La Palma, Spain

A lighthouse, built in 1867, extravagantly restored as a three-suite boutique gem: Faro de Punta Cumplida

The bedroom that I slumped into was both comfortable and chic, but it was not until morning that the glory of the picture was revealed; a lighthouse, built in 1867, extravagantly restored (in 2019) as a three-suite boutique gem. On one side, banana plantations stretching up the hillside; on the other, thrillingly close, the furious Atlantic — the view even more incredible once I’d climbed all 158 steps up to the lantern.

From £239 per night (0049 30 3302 2999; floatel.de/en/hideaways/faro-punta-cumplida).
2. Château de la Barre, near Le Mans, France

Live like the French aristocracy at Château de la Barre

Woods and sheep-studded pastures, 100-acre grounds and a castle dignified by centuries and promising elegance, good conversation and fine manners.

Count Guy and Anglo-American Countess Marnie de Vanssay are the latest in a family who has lived here for 20 generations and opulent is the word for it all. Expect canopy beds, drapes and period furniture, scattered about the place as though 17th-century valuables were the normal fixtures of life.

B&B doubles from £275 (0033 243 350017; chateaudelabarre.com).
3. Ishara, Kenya

Sleep out under the stars at Ishara

Ishara is the definition of hospitality perfection: exceptional food, much of it homegrown in hydroponic towers, exclusive safaris and — as all hotels in the wilderness should have — an open-air bedroom atop a 12-foot platform for sleeping out beneath the stars and waking to the sound of roaring lions.  

From £965pp per night full board, including transfers to/from airstrip and exclusive-use safari vehicle and guide (00 254 011 535 2071, ishara.ke).
4. Mashpi Lodge, Mashpi, Ecuador

A giant viewing station at the heart of Ecuador’s cloud forest: Mashpi Lodge

With its rooms like transparent cubes, Mashpi Lodge is a giant viewing station at the heart of Ecuador’s cloud forest, one of the Earth’s most biodiverse regions. Nothing can compare to the sheer magic of watching a toucan flit overhead while lounging in a Philippe Starck-designed tub or spotting mantled howler monkeys while lazing in bed.

Doubles from £817 (00 1 84473 85895; mashpilodge.com).
1. The Faro de Punta Cumplida is described as a three-suite boutique gem because of its _______.

A．comfortable bedrooms	B．extravagant restoration
C．unique location	D．historical significance

2. Château de la Barre is famous for its _______.

A．beautiful gardens and pastures	B．modern furniture and fixtures
C．long history and aristocratic atmosphere	D．family tradition of hosting tourists

3. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a feature of Ishara?

A．Exceptional homegrown food.

B．Safari experiences with other tourists.

C．An open-air bedroom for stargazing.

D．The sound of lions waking guests in the morning.

6 . Gardening for Biodiversity: Big or Small, Every Garden Counts

Gardening is not just about planting flowers and vegetables. It’s also a powerful tool for enhancing biodiversity. A recent report emphasizes that even the smallest of gardens, such as a window box, can make a significant difference in halting the decline of wildlife.

In the UK, overall wildlife numbers have declined by 13% since the 1970s, with some species showing a decline of up to 41%. Fifteen percent of species are currently considered threatened. However, the report from Garden Organic suggests that ordinary gardeners, through their daily activities, could have a profound impact on reversing this trend.

One of the key recommendations is to plant a diversity of flowers. Flowering plants, such as sedum, thrive on roofs and balconies, attracting insects and birds. Herbs like thyme and rosemary not only provide food for humans but also serve as nectar sources for pollinators. Nasturtiums, while attracting bees, also bring color to the garden.

Moreover, gardeners can create habitats for wildlife. For instance, old tin cans filled with hollow stems can be turned into insect or bee hotels, providing shelter for these small creatures. Compact vegetables, such as spinach and tomatoes, can be grown even on balconies, not only contributing to one’s daily intake of nutrients but also adding greenery to urban spaces.

Climbing plants like honeysuckle can act as natural screens, providing shade and reducing wind speed on balconies. They also add to the aesthetic appeal of the garden.

In summary, every gardener, regardless of the size of their garden, has the power to contribute to biodiversity conservation. Simple actions like planting a variety of flowers, growing vegetables, and creating habitats for wildlife can make a significant difference. As report author Dr Bruce Pearce, Garden Organic’s director of horticultural science, says, bringing biodiversity in the garden is easier the bigger the plot you have; but you can do your bit to tackle the “bleak” biodiversity situation even if all you have is a window box.

1. What is the main message of the report mentioned in the first paragraph?

A．Gardening is only about planting flowers and vegetables.

B．Even small gardens can make a significant impact on biodiversity.

C．Wildlife numbers in the UK have declined significantly.

D．Gardeners should only focus on planting nectar sources for pollinators.

2. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a benefit of gardening for biodiversity?

A．Attracting insects and birds.

B．Providing food for humans.

C．Reducing carbon emissions.

D．Creating habitats for wildlife.

3. How can gardeners create habitats for wildlife according to the passage?

A．By planting a diversity of flowers.

B．By using old tin cans filled with hollow stems.

C．By growing only compact vegetables on balconies.

D．By attracting pretty ladybirds to the garden.

4. What can be inferred from the passage about honeysuckle?

A．It is a climbing plant that can act as a natural screen.

B．It is a perennial herb that thrives on roofs.

C．It is a vegetable that can be grown on balconies.

D．It is a flower that only attracts bees to the garden

9 . The Boxing Academy in Hackney, east London, is not just a regular school. Here, every student spends 40 minutes a day in the boxing ring, alongside traditional subjects like maths and science. The school’s unique approach aims to teach young people life skills through the discipline and focus of boxing.

Many of the students at The Boxing Academy have had difficult experiences in their lives and have been excluded from mainstream schools due to violence. However, the school’s headteacher, Anna Cain, insists that boxing is not about aggression but about teaching students how to manage their emotions and anger. She believes that the sport can help young people develop self-reliance and learn to control their temper.

The walls of the school are adorned with posters of famous boxers like Tyson Fury, and the unofficial school motto is a quote from Mike Tyson: “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.” This quote serves as a reminder to the students that life is unpredictable and they need to be prepared for whatever comes their way.

Ex-pupils of The Boxing Academy attest to the positive impact the school has had on their lives. They say that the boxing training has helped them become calmer and more focused, and has taught them valuable life lessons about managing anger and emotions.

1. What is the main purpose of The Boxing Academy in Hackney, east London?

A．To train professional boxers.

B．To provide alternative education for excluded students.

C．To promote the sport of boxing among young people.

D．To raise awareness about mental health issues.

2. Why are many students at The Boxing Academy excluded from mainstream schools?

A．Because they are not academically strong.

B．Because they have behavioural problems.

C．Because they come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

D．Because they are not interested in traditional subjects.

3. What does Anna Cain emphasize about boxing at the school?

A．It is a way to release anger and aggression.

B．It helps students develop physical strength.

C．It teaches students how to control their emotions.

D．It prepares students for professional boxing matches.

4. What does the quote from Mike Tyson suggest to the students at The Boxing Academy?

A．They should always be prepared for failure.

B．They should never give up on their dreams.

C．Life is unpredictable and they need to be resilient.

D．They should avoid getting into fights and conflicts.