1 . 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.

2 . 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.

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。

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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:

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

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 . 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

5 . 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。

I was never “that girl” — the one who had charming appearance, and who enjoyed a colorful social life. I was another girl entirely, one who was considered “nice girls”, and the top student in class. Not that I didn’t care about friends or fun, I just didn’t think it was worth putting lots of time and effort into changing how I looked, how I acted, even as I started high school.

Marissa was “that girl” — fun to be around, good to know. We are different, but our friendship began the first time we met at an exciting soccer match, on the second day of freshmen year. The excitement of the game and our shared interest in soccer connected us, I was deeply impressed with her enthusiasm, while she admired my calm. Our conversations went smoothly, and our relationship quickly turned into a close bond.

However, as the school year progressed, Marissa’s outgoing personality began to conflict with my reserved nature. She stood out in social situations, constantly asking me to attend parties and social events. While I appreciated her efforts to include me, I felt awkward and uncomfortable to be forced into unfamiliar surroundings. Our once harmonious friendship started to crack, I tried to turn down her invitations, but in vain.

One evening, Marissa persuaded me to attend a large party at a classmate’s house. Surrounded by loud music and strange faces, I felt uneasy and upset. Marissa was the queen of the party, leaving me feeling extremely lonely. Her personality attracted others to her, creating a barrier between us.

注意:
1.续写词数应为150个左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。
Paragraph 1:

At that moment, I realized the growing divide between us.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:

Since then, we worked together to find a balance of our personalities.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 . How long will it take you to read this article? On average, adults read about 240 words a minute, but I always take longer. I should probably feel embarrassed-but instead, I take joy in it.

I got the habit of reading for pleasure from my mum. Reading is what I do first thing in the morning and last thing at night. But it’s always taken me a long time. When I started reviewing books, I was averaging 20 pages an hour. I have improved to about 30 pages, but that’s still slow, according to some literary critics.

Book reviewers aren’t the only ones under pressure to read quickly. Pictures of “all the books I read this month” are all over social media. And reading has become a way of keeping up with the world. It is understandable that we try to make sense of events, but it can also fuel the idea that reading is a chore (苦差事), which it absolutely is not.

Why would pleasure be equal to pace? My slow reading seems to be down to a combination of slower processing speeds, and “subvocalising” — sounding out words as I read them. But especially when it comes to the latter, I wouldn’t want to train myself to go faster. It was news to me that not everyone subvocalises, because one of my favourite things about reading is hearing the language in my mind. Without subvocalising, I wouldn’t have caught the music of those words.

Recently, I finished a book of poetry. For two years, I read the poems each morning in the four minutes it took my coffee to be ready. It was a wonderful reminder that reading is never about quantity and always about the quality of time you spend with a text.

So when you read, don’t stick a number on it ---- resolve to read for pleasure, not as a chore.

1. Why does the author like slow reading?

A．It wins her fame online.	B．It is a delightful practice.
C．It comes from her mom.	D．It helps her reach goals.

2. What do fast readers focus on?

A．Quantity.

B．Quality.

C．Content.

D．Sound.

3. What do the underlined words “the latter” in paragraph 4 refer to?

A．Slower processing speeds.

B．Learning language.

C．Combining speeds and sounds.

D．Reading words out.

4. What would the author agree with?

A．Reading is a demanding task.

B．Pace equals reading pleasure.

C．Beauty of words needs tasting.

D．Poetry takes no effort to digest.

7 . Shrewsbury is an ideal getaway with visitors.

Shrewsbury eBike Hire
BEST FOR: SEEING THE SIGHTS AT A GENTLE PACE

Set off on a self-guided tour of Shrewsbury on one of the town’s new e-bikes. The route is easy to follow with lots of stops along the way, including the Welsh Bridge, Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery and the Victorian-era Shrewsbury Prison. It’s most suitable for ages 14-plus.

Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings
BEST FOR: INSPIRING ARCHITECTS

This was the world’s first iron-shaped building when it was built in 1797-a forerunner of the modern skyscraper (摩天大楼). A new visitor centre opened in September-it’s also the end point of the Heritage Trail e-bike tour. An exhibition explores how the building has grown and been repurposed over the years.

Shrewsbury Market Hall
BEST FOR: FOOD AND SHOPPING

Situated in the centre of town, this was an innovative example of modern architecture when it opened in 1965. Recent upgrades mean it’s now home to more than 70 independent businesses, including traditional market stands, artisan producers, craft shops and antique dealers.

Riverside Cabins
BEST FOR: QUIET STAYS

Opened in 2020, Riverside Cabins is a rural collection of wooden cottages built in18th century, a 20-minute drive from Shrewsbury. Cabins sleep between two and six guests and each come with their own hot baths, as well as Wi-Fi and smart TVs. Try your hand at boating along the river, with equipment available to borrow on site. From £ 135 for a minimum of two nights for a family of four.

1. What is an advantage of e-bike tours?

A．They organize architecture lessons.

B．They provide professional guides.

C．They offer a relaxing way of travelling.

D．They are accessible to all ages.

2. Which best suits a family tour?

A．Shrewsbury eBike Hire.	B．Riverside Cabins.
C．Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings.	D．Shrewsbury Market Hall.

3. Shrewsbury is made an attraction probably because of its_________________.

A．history

B．food

C．transport

D．fashion

8 . In the town of Riverbridge, life was simple. The townsfolk knew each other, and the most exciting event was the weekly _________ written by a 15-year-old boy named Kally Mahzoo.

One day, a hobo (流浪汉) arrived and _________ a camp under the bridge. Before long, local stores began reporting _________. The townsfolk were quick to point fingers at the stranger. Kally, however, was not _______. He decided to investigate, visiting the stores. He noted the items stolen — _______ food and necessities. He then went to the hobo’s _________ and asked him about the thefts. The hobo   _______ any involvement, his eyes reflecting sincerity. Kally believed him but needed _______.

Over the next few days, Kally kept a close eye on the stores. He noticed the stolen items were always from the _______ shelves, easily accessible to a child. Hiding behind a barrel, he watched as a group of children entered the store. As the store owner was busy __________ to customers, one of the children slipped a loaf of bread into his bag. Kally had found the suspects. The children, ________ red-handed, confessed to the thefts. Their families were too poor to afford even the __________. Kally wrote about his findings in his column, clearing the hobo’s name. The townsfolk, __________ of their quick judgement, apologized to the hobo. The store owners, __________ the children’s dilemma, decided to help their families.

Life returned to its simple rhythm, but with a newfound respect for the young boy. And under the bridge, a sign was fixed that read, “Never __________ a book by its cover.”

1.

A．column

B．figure

C．schedule

D．novel

2.

A．took down

B．put away

C．set up

D．pulled over

3.

A．challenges

B．thefts

C．discounts

D．courses

4.

A．relieved

B．frightened

C．satisfied

D．convinced

5.

A．hardly

B．mostly

C．seriously

D．narrowly

6.

A．town

B．store

C．rescue

D．camp

7.

A．broke

B．denied

C．witnessed

D．forgot

8.

A．experience

B．service

C．evidence

D．honesty

9.

A．lower

B．cheaper

C．stronger

D．cleaner

10.

A．attending

B．adapting

C．contributing

D．pointing

11.

A．scared

B．criticized

C．caught

D．beaten

12.

A．services

B．educations

C．facilities

D．basics

13.

A．fond

B．ashamed

C．capable

D．tired

14.

A．realizing

B．solving

C．doubting

D．proving

15.

A．doubt

B．write

C．judge

D．promote

9 . 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。

Chinese scientists have started a scientific expedition to the Mount Qomolangma.     1     total of 170 scientists have begun to do research on water, ecology and human activity, aiming     2     (reveal) the mechanism of environmental change and optimize the ecological security barrier system on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

    3     (label) as the roof of the world and water tower of Asia, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is an essential ecological security barrier in China. It is also a natural laboratory for     4     (conduct) research on the evolution of Earth and life, and the relationship between man and Earth.     5     an important part of the research, the ongoing expedition is     6     (particular) important to the study of the impact of climatic and environmental changes in the Mount Qomolangma region on other parts of the world.

The expedition focuses on major scientific     7     (issue), such as how the extreme high-altitude environment of the Mount Qomolangma changes under the influence of global warming, according to Yao Tandong,     8     is the team leader. “The expedition has realized the     9     (transform) from ‘I want to conquer you’ to ‘I want to understand you’, achieved the application of new technologies and resulted in important international influence,” he said. So far, many scientific achievements     10     (make).

10 . I’d been exploring the 40-hectare woods around our cottage my whole life and I knew the way well. So it was a _________ when I found myself lost there.

One dull cold February afternoon, I had a sudden _________ to hike the hill with my two daughters. Putting on our snowshoes, we immediately _________ northwestward. While making our way up the hill, my daughters stopped occasionally to investigate unknown plants and to look at the abandoned deer beds… These really made their _________.

As the shadows started to _________, we moved further up. Soon, weariness began to _________ enthusiasm. We decided to return. Instead of backtracking over our _________ route, I chose to walk down the steep (陡峭的) side of the hill, _________ my general sense that ahead of us lay the stream that would guide us to the road. But as the terrain (地形) leveled out, I had my first major moment of _________: Where was the stream? Were we off course?

I instinctively (本能地) pulled out my phone to get my location, but it __________ in my hand in the cold air. __________, I started feeling a bit panicky. However, I quickly __________ myself, reassuring my daughters to continue walking. Focusing on the landmarks, I spotted a familiar tree and eventually __________ the road.

That winter’s day taught me a valuable lesson about habitual reliance on technology. If my phone had __________ then, I might have directly followed the GPS, ignoring the old __________ of depending on surroundings and life skills.

1.

A．challenge

B．shock

C．reward

D．reminder

2.

A．discovery

B．response

C．worry

D．urge

3.

A．escaped

B．drove

C．headed

D．looked

4.

A．reputation

B．dream

C．day

D．way

5.

A．lengthen

B．swing

C．emerge

D．fade

6.

A．fuel

B．witness

C．overlook

D．outpace

7.

A．original

B．rough

C．offbeat

D．roundabout

8.

A．appreciating

B．trusting

C．envisioning

D．assessing

9.

A．curiosity

B．comparison

C．doubt

D．anticipation

10.

A．died

B．slipped

C．flashed

D．rang

11.

A．Reportedly

B．Admittedly

C．Seemingly

D．Surprisingly

12.

A．exposed

B．composed

C．defended

D．behaved

13.

A．got off

B．laid down

C．came across

D．made out

14.

A．worked

B．remained

C．changed

D．overheated

15.

A．theory

B．standard

C．practice

D．routine