1 . Something interesting happened at my home recently. In a hillside suburb, I am lucky to be
One of those birds is called the laughing kookaburra, a big kingfisher, which certainly does like to
The kookaburra’s head and chest are white
I was inside my home when there was a loud
| A．blocked | B．surrounded | C．caught | D．attracted |
| A．picture | B．kind | C．variety | D．story |
| A．catch | B．track | C．bury | D．choose |
| A．since | B．while | C．because | D．unless |
| A．approves | B．remembers | C．proves | D．describes |
| A．relationship | B．common | C．chorus | D．cooperation |
| A．spreads | B．turns | C．disappears | D．falls |
| A．voice | B．knock | C．laugh | D．shout |
| A．figured | B．worked | C．walked | D．pointed |
| A．waiting | B．flying | C．sleeping | D．grounding |
| A．stood | B．pushed | C．sat | D．looked |
| A．excited | B．frightened | C．desperate | D．annoyed |
| A．spelt out | B．broke out | C．burst out | D．spoke out |
| A．familiar | B．hopeful | C．ridiculous | D．wonderful |
| A．lift | B．shake | C．clear | D．fill |
“Why can’t I just get a dog, Mum!”
“Because of your allergies (过敏)! How many times do I have to tell you, Violet!”
Violet was filled with anger. The rain started to fall. Large raindrops slid down the window, just like the tears on her face. There was violent anger in Violet’s eyes. She walked angrily to her room and threw herself onto the bed. Her anger was now like an angry bull.
She screamed into her pillow as loud as she could and threw it onto the ground with all her strength. She dialed her best friend Darla, who happened to also be her neighbor.
Darla picked up in an instant.
“I could hear everything.” Darla immediately chuckled. “I’ve known you and your mum since primary school. She’s not letting you get a dog.”
“Was I that loud?” Violet questioned herself in disbelief.
“You’ve been asking for a dog since you were seven! There’s no chance she was going to just give it to you. Plus, you have so many allergies that I’ve even lost count.”
“It’s just not fair. You get two dogs and I’m stuck with my younger sister who has basically a rat.” Violet announced unappreciatively.
“You have to be grateful for what you have. Anyway, I’ve got to have dinner with my family. I can call in half an hour, see you later.”
After the call disconnected, the words from Darla’s mouth about being grateful sunk into Violet like a dry sponge (海绵) filled with water, She remembered the countless times that she was admitted to the hospital for an allergic reaction while her family stayed and cared for her. Violet never really thought about the things she had, she only thought about the things she didn’t have. Violet had a tamily which accounts for more than everything, even a dog. Family love is stronger than any love. Violet knew she was blessed to have this love.
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。
From that day onwards, Violet stopped asking for a dog.
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The allergies were disappearing with age.
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3 . We are now having face-to-face chats with friends instead of talking online. But have you ever been in a conversation that you wish you could run away from?
A research team surveyed 806 participants about a recent conversation they had with someone close to them. The participants were asked about the actual length and their expected length of the conversation, and how long they thought the other person wanted to talk for.
According to the team’s paper published in the journal PNAS, about one-third of the conversation length was unwanted.
The paper pointed out that when they talk to strangers, what makes people “mask their desires” may be their politeness. When talking to close friends and family, it may be their kindness as ending the chat too soon may hurt the other’s feelings.
However, in some ways, this may not be a bad thing.
| A．After all, people need social connections. |
| B．It’s difficult to run away from a conversation. |
| C．So what is the best way to end a conversation? |
| D．Scientists have proved that you might not be alone. |
| E．And some participants felt trapped in the conversation. |
| F．You should make your partner feel good about the end of the chat. |
| G．Also, more participants believed they wanted to end the conversation first. |
4 . A study conducted by Cornell University examined how the use of AI in conversations impacts the way people express themselves and view each other.
The researchers have found people have more efficient conversations, use more positive language and perceive each other more positively when using an Al-enabled chat tool.
However, the group also found that when participants think their partner is using more AI-suggested responses, they consider that partner as less cooperative.
“I was surprised to find people tend to evaluate you more negatively simply because they suspect you’ re using AI to help compose text, regardless of whether you actually are,” said Jess Hohenstein, the lead researcher. “This illustrates the continuous overall doubt that people seem to have around AI.”
For their first experiment, participants were asked to talk about a policy issue and assigned to one of three conditions: both participants can use smart replies; only one participant can use smart replies; or neither participant can use smart replies. Researchers found that using smart replies increased communication efficiency, positive emotional language and positive evaluations by communication partners. On average, smart replies accounted for 14.3% of sent messages.
But participants who their partners suspected of responding with smart replies were evaluated more negatively than those who were thought to have typed their own responses, consistent with common assumptions about the negative implications of AI.
“While Al might be able to help you write,” Hohenstein said, “it’s altering your language in ways you might not expect, especially by making you sound more positive. This suggests that by using text-generating Al, you’re giving up some of your own personal voice.”
Malte Jung, an associate professor, said, “What we observe in this study is the impact that Al has on social dynamics and some of the unintended consequences that could result from integrating AI in social contexts. This suggests that whoever controls the algorithm(算法) may have influence on people’s interactions, language and insights into each other.”
1. What is the text mainly about?| A．Methods of using AI in conversations. |
| B．Efficiency of using AI in conversations. |
| C．Convenience of using AI in conversations. |
| D．Impacts of using AI in conversations. |
| A．By analyzing figures. | B．By making use of AI. |
| C．By making experiments. | D．By completing questionnaires. |
| A．Al always expresses in ways you expect. |
| B．Algorithm will never influence people’s insights. |
| C．Trust can be affected by using AI in conversation. |
| D．You will regain your voice by using AI in conversation. |
| A．Nervous. | B．Uncomfortable. | C．Excited. | D．Puzzled. |
5 . Why You Should Visit the Four Imperial Cities of Morocco
Fez
Fez is arguably the most storied of the four imperial (皇家的) cities. It was founded in the late 9th century and it served as a capital seven times, most recently in 1912. Thanks to its long run as a capital in different eras, the city is home to numerous historical museums and important monuments. Visit Fez to learn more about Morocco’s history, check out its unique architecture, and experience its energetic culture.
Marrakesh
Marrakesh was founded in the late 11th century and it served as the capital for four different dynasties. It is now considered the No.1 tourist destination in Morocco, with visitors from all over the world coming to see its luxury imperial palaces, splendid gardens, and ancient markets and try some of the best food in this part of the world.
Meknes
Meknes was Morocco’s capital between 1672 and 1727. Even this short period was enough to leave a lasting mark on the city in the form of old imperial palaces, castles, and gates. The city also has plenty of other fascinating things to check out, like the Museum of Moroccan Art, several old mosques (清真寺), old markets, and nearby Roman Ruins.
Rabat
Rabat is the current capital of the country. It was founded by the Almohad dynasty in the 12th century with this purpose, although it took until 1955 for the city to claim this status officially. There are numerous historical tourist attractions to check out in Rabat, including the Mausoleum of Mohamed V, the unfinished Hassan Tower, and the Chellah Roman Ruins. Being situated at the seaside also means that you will be able to have other activities besides sightseeing.
1. What is Fez famous for?| A．Its luxury palaces. | B．Its numerous art museums. |
| C．Its Roman Ruins. | D．Its long term as a capital. |
| A．Old markets. | B．Imperial castles. |
| C．Ancient mosques. | D．A Splendid gardens |
| A．In the 12th century. | B．In the 17th century. |
| C．In the 19th century. | D．In the 20th century. |
6 . It was a dream born in fire. Andrea Peterson was five when she and her mother were trapped on the ledge (窗台) of a burning building.
“Throw the kid down!” said one of the firemen below, and little Andrea leaped into lifesaving arms and a life-long ambition: She wanted to fight fires like her rescuers did.
She told that to the men who had saved her, and they laughed good-naturedly the way grown-ups do when a kid says they want to be an astronaut or a sports star. But this was back in a time when little girls weren’t even allowed to fantasize about such grand goals.
“You’ll be a good mommy,” the firemen told her, “you’ll be a good teacher, maybe you’ll be a nurse, but you can never be a fireman.”
And then, as it tends to do, life sidelined her dreams. She was studying for a degree in aviation (航空) technology — the only female in her class — and that’s where she met her husband, Dennis.
Later, Dennis was diagnosed with cancer, and Peterson spent 31 years caring for him. At 61, she went on an ambulance ride-along. It turned out to be a life-and-death situation, and Peterson felt that long-ago childhood calling. She earned her emergency medical technician license and responded to fire calls with the ambulance. She found that her years of tending to Dennis had prepared her for dealing with various hurts and ills.
After a year, she told her boss she wanted to be a firefighter.
The fact that everyone else in her training unit was between 18 and 21 didn’t stop her. She passed the written test, she cleared the physical and, finally, that little girl’s dream became a reality.
1. What inspired Peterson to be a firefighter?| A．Her physical abilities. | B．Her being rescued in fire. |
| C．Her mother’s expectation. | D．Her lifesaving experience. |
| A．They thought it was a satisfying dream. |
| B．They thought she was gifted in being a nurse. |
| C．They thought it was just a childish dream for a girl. |
| D．They thought kids should dream of being an astronaut. |
| A．Curious and wise. | B．Talented and educated. |
| C．Creative and devoted. | D．Determined and caring. |
| A．She was most experienced in her training unit. |
| B．Her dream came true because of her childhood calling. |
| C．Her aviation technology enabled her to realize her dream. |
| D．Years of attending her husband contributed to realizing her dream. |
A few days ago, the Palace Museum and the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe signed a cooperation agreement on promotion of the Kunqu Opera. The cooperation has created
The Palace Museum is one of the
The Kunqu Opera is one of the oldest types of opera in China.
The cooperation
According to the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe, this cooperative project is “a dream coming true after three years. We aim to bring to life the opera relics
Some traditional plays recorded and kept in the Palace Museum will be selected and put on show. In addition, the Troupe will also recover a series of plays and perform
8 . Removing footwear before going into someone else’s house is seen as a sign of respect in certain cultures. Yet in the U.S., many worry that this request comes across as rude. But there may be good reason for you to ban shoes indoors.
A 2018 survey showed that a significant 87% of Americans report taking off their shoes while at home. 31% say they will “always” remove their shoes inside their house, while 26% say they do so “most of the time.”
But when it comes to asking guests to do the same, the prevalence is much lower. Around 50% of Americans admit that they never ask guests to take off their shoes. And out of those who specifically say they always take off their own shoes at home, only 25 % said they expect that the same from their visitors.
Maybe you think it’s rude to do so. Or maybe you see it as an inconvenience. Regardless of the reason for your hesitation, experts say you really should be making sure people leave their footwear at the front door. A no shoe policy can help maintain cleanliness and hygiene (卫生).
According to Godoy, a cleaning expert, banning outdoor footwear can “significantly reduce” the amount of dirt being tracked indoors.
Wearing shoes indoors can introduce bacteria and other stuff to your floors, which can build up over time and turn into a real problem. In fact, a major study from microbiologist Charles Gerba found that harmful bacteria such as coliform and E. coli can be detected on the outside of 96% of shoes. These contaminants (污染物) can then be spread throughout the home when people walk around indoors with their shoes on.
“Removing shoes at the door can help prevent the spread of these contaminants and promote a cleaner, healthier living environment,” says Zeeshan Afzal, a medical doctor.
1. What can be learned about the 2018 survey?| A．26% of those surveyed ask guests to take off their shoes. |
| B．31% of those surveyed take off their shoes when visiting friends. |
| C．More than half of those surveyed tend to take off shoes at home. |
| D．Most of those surveyed realize the benefits of taking off shoes at home. |
| A．Popularity. | B．Suggestion. | C．Introduction. | D．Similarity. |
| A．To keep out bnetern | B．To protect | C．To meet hosts’ need | D．To remove communicate |
| A．Taking off Shoes Indoors Convenient? |
| B．Taking off Shoes Indoors a Custom? |
| C．Taking off Shoes Indoors a Must? |
| D．Taking off Shoes Indoors Fashlonnble? |
In recent days, I have watched a TV series named The Awakening Age. It narrates the story of how the Communist Party of China
This “red” TV drama reminded me
Having visited some of the most sacred places
Now I can proudly say that I have come to understand the whole history and am familiar with almost all of the stories of our Communist Party. To tell the
Random Acts of Kindness
I was driving along Clarendon Street in South Melbourne on my way to Castlemaine to visit my parents. As I stopped at a traffic light, I noticed a man lying on a bench seat on the footpath beside the road. It was early evening and his rough appearance and the fact that he was holding a bottle wrapped in newspaper confirmed my immediate suspicions — he was a drunk.
As soon as I saw him, I felt a strong feeling of sympathy for him. But like so many other people, I had other places to be and other things to do. As I watched, I saw two policemen approach and instantly I felt relieved. After all, it was their responsibility to clean up the streets and make sure men like him got a chance to be somewhere safe for the night. As I sat waiting for the traffic lights to turn green, I couldn’t believe what I saw. The two police walked around and when they reached the man, both of whom turned their heads the other way, as if not to see, and walked right past. Suddenly, a firm belief streamed through my mind, “Life is never so busy that there is no time to serve.”
Right then I looked up and the traffic lights turned green — and I had a decision to make. I knew that if I drove off, I would have no peace, so I turned left, drove around the block, parked the car and walked back to the man. As I approached him, I felt completely unconfident to deal with the situation and even a little foolish. What was I going to say? What was I going to do? At the very least I could drive him home — if he had a home. I found him sleeping soundly and at first, he didn’t respond to me at all, so I reached out and gently shook him awake.
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 woke up, staring at me angrily.
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Much to my relief, the man agreed to get into my car.
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