2 . Are you an early bird or a night owl? Our activity patterns and sleep cycles could influence our risk of heart disease. New research published in Experimental Physiology found wake/sleep cycles cause metabolic (新陈代谢) differences and change our body’s preference for energy sources.

Researchers from Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA classified participants into two groups(early and late) based on their natural tendency to seek activity and sleep at different times. The participants were monitored for a week to assess their activity patterns across the day. They ate a calorie and nutrition-controlled diet and had to fast overnight to minimize dietary impact on the results. To study fuel preference, they were tested while at rest before completing two 15-minute period of exercise: one moderate and one high intensity session on a running machine. Aerobic fitness levels were tested through an incline challenge where the incline was raised 2.5% every two minutes until the participant reached a point of exhaustion.

The researchers found that those who stay up later have a reduced ability to use fat for energy, meaning fats may build up in the body and increase the risk of heart disease. People who are ‘early birds’ rely more on fat as an energy source and are more active during the day with, higher levels of aerobic fitness than ‘night owls’. On the other hand, ‘night owls’ use less fat for energy at rest and during exercise.

Researchers also found that early birds use more fat for energy at both rest and during exercise than night owls. Professor Steven Malin from Rutgers University said, “We found that early birds are more physically active and have higher fitness levels than night owls. Farther research is needed to examine the link between exercise and metabolic adaptation to identify whether exercising earlier in the day has greater health benefits.”

1. What does the underlined word “fast” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Move quickly.	B．Go without food.
C．Exercise regularly.	D．Fall sound asleep.

2. How was the research conducted?

A．By making a survey.	B．By making contrasts.
C．By providing examples.	D．By introducing a concept.

3. What is the characteristic of the “early birds”?

A．Having lower fitness level.	B．Using less fat during exercise.
C．Consuming more fat at rest.	D．Being more active during the night.

4. What is Malin’s attitude to the result of the research?

A．Tolerant.

B．Pessimistic.

C．Indifferent.

D．Uncertain.

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。

Kelly is a nurse. Her kidney (肾脏) proved to be a perfect match for her cousin, Dana, who is a teacher. Her kidney had worsened to the point where she required a transplant (移植). As Kelly told Dana, “I’m in good health and I almost never get sick or ill. It seems that I can be a donor for you.” Dana was wild with joy.

Later on a Thursday afternoon, after spending the first of two days undergoing tests to confirm her kidney was a match for Dana, Kelly got a call from a Cleveland Clinic caregiver. They were canceling the second day of her tests. A CT scan revealed the presence of a tumor (肿瘤) on Kelly’s right kidney.

Kelly was shocked about the discovery and concerned she might no longer be a donor available for Dana. That meant that Kelly had to have an operation to remove the tumor, unable to donate her kidney. Meanwhile Dana had to wait for some other donors for a matchable kidney, which was really hard to find. Dana was thrown back to desperation.

The cousins were at a loss. But their doctors wouldn’t give up. They tried every possible means to find a solution that could satisfy both sides, treating Kelly’s illness and offering Dana transplanting. But the bad news was that there had been few such reported cases.

Determined to solve this difficult problem, Dr. Wee, director of the Kidney Transplant Program, held meetings with a team of specialists to discuss over details of the case and best steps to move forward. They worked day and night to search for related information and make analysis. Seeing the devotion of the experts, Kelly and Dana felt the flame of hope returning to their hearts.

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。

After many meetings, the medical team felt confident to treat the two patients at the same time.

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The cousins recovered from their surgeries.

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5 . Jon Fosse was born on September 29, 1959, Haugesund, Norway. He is an author of novels, plays, poems, children’s books, and essays.     1     He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2023 “for his innovative plays and prose (散文) which give voice to the unsayable.”

Fosse grew up on a rural farm near Strandebarm, Norway. He started writing at age 12 or 13, first composing song lyrics (歌词).     2     Then he started to create poems. In 1979 Fosse graduated from high school and moved to Bergen, where he began working for the newspaper Gula Tidend, Throughout the 1980s he studied at the University of Bergen, receiving an M. A. in comparative literature in 1987.

During the 1980s, Fosse published his first novels, namely Red, Black in 1983 and Stringed Guitar in 1985. Both works feature the simple style of prose.     3     By this time, he had become an instructor at the Academy of Writing in Hordaland.

    4     And he initially refused to write plays when asked. He gave in in 1992, however, when he needed money. He started writing the dialogue for Someone Is Going to Come in 1996 and found it to be surprisingly easy. Many plays quickly followed. It was, however, French director Claude Régy’s 1999 staging of Someone Is Going to Come in Paris that led to Fosse’s breakthrough in Europe.

Following that success, Fosse focused primarily on writing plays. At the turn of the 21st century, productions of his plays included A Summer’s Day and I Am the Wind. The former one is about a woman who anticipates the return of her husband from a trip out on his boat.     5    

A．He later joined a band.

B．Fosse became world famous.

C．Fosse never planned to become a dramatist.

D．He also works as an instructor and a translator.

E．He also released his first collection of poems in 1986.

F．He had to earn money by writing novels after marriage.

G．The latter focuses on two men experiencing an existential crisis in a fishing boat.

6 . 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。

Beneath an orange tent along East 32nd Street Saturday morning, warmly dressed locals     1     (deliver) pies, filled with everything from nuts to apples and cheese, to be judged in the first-ever Great Waverly Pie Contest. After thorough evaluations based on taste,     2     (present) , and number of ingredients (原料) , a sweet pie by Matt Maxion and a savory (香草的) pie by Garrick Houston took top     3     (honor) .

“My mother’s family is from the Louisiana-Texas border, so I grew up eating jambalaya (什锦饭) ,” explained Houston. Drawing inspiration from his mother’s jambalaya recipe, Garrick Houston made his pie that contained ingredients like sausage, olive oil, and bell peppers     4     (source) from local farmers’ markets. “I    5     (live) in Maryland for four years when I was young. So I wanted to combine my past,     6     is my filling, with my present home,” Houston said.

    7     (similar), Maxion, who moved to Baltimore from California about a year ago, got inspiration for his prize-winning creation—with ingredients including the Southeast Asian plant pandan—from his Filipino hometown. With     8     help from local farmers and VMart Pilipino Store in Nottingham, he credited his successful pie     9     lots of planning and a willingness to lean into the process.

The organizer Martha Lucius was excited     10     (see) the new neighborhood competition come to life, saying, “It’s been great to see all of the excitement.”

7 . Where to Find the Perfect Christmas Tree Around Baltimore This Year

A handful of the area’s best choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms are only a quick road trip away.

A SNOWBALL’S CHANCE TREE FARM

This choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm of 16 acres has been run by a couple since 2005. Open for one weekend only, Dec. 3-4, this year, the new location in Woodstock will offer eight and nine-inch pre-cut Fraser Firs or cut-your-own White Pines & Blue Spruces.

10231 Harvest Fields Drive, Woodstock

DAVIDSON CHRISTMAS TREE FARM

Although it’s been active for more than two centuries, this family-owned Upperco Farm didn’t start to plant Christmas tree seedlings until the late 1960s. The fields are open seven days per week from Nov. 18 to Dec. 17. Wander through its 60-plus acres for eight tree varieties, such as the silver-blue Concolor Fir.

1101 Emory Church Rd., Upperco

FROSTEE TREE FARM

The appropriately named Helen and George Winter began planting and selling trees at their Perry Hall farm in 1974. The two have since passed away, but the farm, now operated by Paul Stiffler, has 15 acres of ready-to-cut trees ranging from Scotch Pine to White Pine, Douglas Pine, and Norway Spruce. The farm re-opens on the last weekend of November, after Thanksgiving.

8926 Cowenton Ave., Perry Hall

GAVER FARM

Owner Michael Gaver was just 17 when he established this Mt. Airy farm in 1978. Today, it holds 70 acres of cut-your-own trees, with varieties such as the Colorado Blue Spruce and the whisper-soft White Pine. Christmas tree shopping starts on Nov. 24. What distinguishes this farm from others is that you can step into the family farm’s cafe for apple cider doughnuts, beef sandwiches, and hot cocoa before you leave.

5501 Detrick Rd., Mt. Airy

1. Which farm has the shortest history of Christmas tree cutting?

A．A SNOWBALL’S CHANCE TREE FARM.

B．DAVIDSON CHRISTMAS TREE FARM.

C．FROSTEE TREE FARM.

D．GAVER FARM.

2. Where is the farm run by Paul Stiffler?

A．10231 Harvest Fields Drive, Woodstock.

B．1101 Emory Church Rd., Upperco.

C．8926 Cowenton Ave., Perry Hall.

D．5501 Detrick Rd., Mt. Airy.

3. What is unique about the largest one of the four farms?

A．It offers drinks and foods.	B．It includes White Pine.
C．It is owned by a family.	D．It is active for about 200 years.

8 . Ten million Americans are considering freelancing (从事自由职业), according to Upwork’s Great Resignation survey. Among those planning to quit their jobs, 52% are giving freelancing serious consideration. What’s more, many are choosing freelancing over full-time work; it’s no longer just a fallback or a side job.

One of the key benefits of freelancing is that you get to choose your own workload. Unrealistic expectations at work and the lack of boundaries have seen many a full-time worker burn out. However, freelancers have much more control over their workloads. This is not to say that freelancers don’t burn out. They manage their workload better and prioritize other aspects of their life. They don’t usually get to choose their boss or their teammates at a traditional job. They get to choose who they work with. Unlike full-time workers, freelancers have greater freedom to do the work they enjoy — and say no to the work they don’t. This results in greater job satisfaction.

Of course, there are disadvantages of pursuing freelancing. Employees in many countries receive benefits that are part of their employment contracts. When you’re a freelancer, you work for yourself so you let go of these benefits. Your workload may be inconsistent. Sometimes when it rains, it pours and you may have multiple projects on your plate. At other times, you may not have much work. This fluctuation in cash flow can feel like a huge negative for new freelancers. As a business owner, your business’s success or failure is entirely dependent on you, which can feel overwhelming. You will also have to learn to become your own best advocate, promoting your products to find new projects and clients and expand your business.

Of course, to freelance or not to freelance depends on yourself. Anyway, businesses are increasingly adding skills. Independent professionals are powering the rebuild. Therefore, more businesses are open to remote work, hiring talent irrespective of their distance from a corporate office. This changing attitude has increased the number of opportunities for freelancers to find high-paying and meaningful work.

1. What contributes to a freelancer’s greater job satisfaction?

A．Making self-selection of job types.

B．Being free from taking responsibility.

C．Enjoying welfare provided by government.

D．Developing harmonious interpersonal relationships.

2. What does the underlined word “fluctuation” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Development.

B．Unsteadiness.

C．Inefficiency.

D．Exchange.

3. What will a freelancer have to do to develop his business?

A．Market himself.	B．Consult professionals.
C．Depend on clients.	D．Improve employment contracts.

4. What does the author think of the future of freelancing?

A．Challenging.

B．Unpredictable.

C．Promising.

D．Changeless.

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。

Jack was new to Woodberry Forest School this year. He carried a secret burden: a stutter (口吃) that often brought about laughter from his classmates. This made him very upset. Shy and reserved. Jack chose to fade into the background rather than draw attention to himself. He felt like an outsider, never quite fitting in.

Jack was eager to exchange ideas with his classmates, but afraid of getting into trouble. Jack's science teacher, Katherine, a warm and caring woman often wearing a smile, noticed Jack's stutter and shyness. She observed how Jack struggled to express himself in class and how he would shy away when called upon to speak.

Determined to lend a hand, Katherine took Jack under her wing, encouraging him to embrace bravery and believe in his own abilities. Subsequently, Katherine adopted a set of systematic methods to help him. She was glad to find the potential in him, the intelligence and creativity that lay hidden beneath his stutter. Whenever possible, Katherine was always ready to praise his efforts, always declaring, "You are so great!” Whenever Jack stumbled over his words, Katherine always smiled at him encouragingly, providing him with the strength to continue. Day by day, Jack found himself speaking with greater confidence and fluency.

One day, Katherine announced that each student should give a presentation of a science project in front of the class. Jack's heart sank, the familiar fear and anxiety wrapping around him. How could he possibly stand before his classmates to give his ideas clearly, knowing that they would laugh at him? As the presentation drew near, Jack's anxiety mounted. Then came the big day. He watched his classmates take turns to walk up to the front. They gave their presentation with confidence and backed to their seats with satisfaction. However, while Jack was waiting for his turn, his heart beat so violently that he felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles.

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。
Paragraph 1:

It was finally his turn.

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Paragraph 2:

When Jack finished his presentation, the room erupted into applause.

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10 . Working with ARIA Research, a startup developing vision for the blind, Phoebe Peng is using technologically advanced human echolocation (回声定位) that enables blind users to perceive their surroundings in precise detail.

The process uses event cameras which, unlike normal cameras that take complete images of a scene, track changes in an image over time, making them ideal for the observation of small objects like table tennis balls. The images are then processed into sound using a specialised algorithm (算法). This is then communicated back to the player via a lot of loudspeakers, ultimately with the aim of allowing players to track the ball and movements using sounds.

According to Peng, table tennis makes a perfect test case for the kind of technology being developed by ARIA Research. “Table tennis has been played for decades as a more accessible version of tennis. The sport is beginner-friendly while maintaining a rich level of competitive play. However, like many sports, it remains difficult for people who suffer vision loss or have low vision,” said Ms Peng, who will soon complete a Bachelor of Engineering in Software Engineering.

“The small size of the ball and table, along with the movement of the ball in 3D space, are things that make table tennis difficult to play for those with low vision and complete blindness,” said Peng, who is completing the work for her degree. “Making this sport more accessible while also exploring the potential of event cameras were my two biggest motivators,” she said.

In one study, using two perfectly positioned cameras, Ms Peng was able to identify and track a ball in three dimensions in real time. She then fed that data into an algorithm controlling the loudspeakers standing along the sides of the table, which created a sound field matching the position of the ball.

While the results are promising, more experimentation will be needed before the system will be ready for actual play. “There are limitations on how accurately people can perceive sound localisation. What type of sound should be used? Should the sound be continuous? This is what we’ll be tackling in the next stage of development,” said Ms Peng.

1. How are event cameras different from normal ones?

A．They can have sounds located.

B．They are linked with loudspeakers.

C．They constantly follow image changes.

D．They take complete images of a scene.

2. What makes table tennis a perfect test case for the research?

A．Its unique feature.	B．Its fierce competition.
C．Its technical complexity.	D．Its beginner-friendliness.

3. What is the last paragraph mainly about concerning the study?

A．Its inspiring results.	B．Its promising future.
C．Its practical applications.	D．Its technological challenge.

4. What could be the best title for the text?

A．Technology Opens up Blind Table Tennis

B．Blind People Work Wonders in Table Tennis

C．Event Camera Reshapes Future for the Disabled

D．Algorithm Helps Translate Imagination to Sound