1 . Digital reading appears to be destroying habits of “deep reading”. Amazing numbers of people with year of schooling are in effect illiterate (不识字的). Admittedly, some people have been complaining about new media since 1492, but today’s complaints have an evidential basis, Ljubljana Reading Manifesto says, “The digital area may lead to more reading than ever in history, but it also offers many attractions to read in a shallow and scattered (碎片化的) manner — or even not to read at all. This increasingly endangers higher-level reading.”

Digital literacy has changed reading. When you read a book on paper, you can be entirely inside the experience, absorbing hundreds of pages to capture the world’s complexity. Online, says Maryanne Wolf of UCLA, we are “skimming, scanning, scrolling”. The medium is the message: doing deep reading on your phone is as hard as playing tennis with your phone. Recently, a bright 11-year-old told me I was wasting time on books: he absorbed more information faster from Wikipedia. He had a point. But digital readers also absorb more misinformation. And they seldom, absorb nuanced (微妙的) ideas.

In the white paper that underlies the Ljubljana Reading Manifesto, experts catalogue the passive parts of digital reading: “Recent studies of various kinds indicate a decline of... critical and conscious reading, slow reading, non-strategic reading and long-form reading.” In the 2021 international PISA survey, 49 percent of students agreed that “I read only if I have to”, 13 percentage points higher than in 2000.

As professors from Northwestern University foresaw in 2005, we are returning to the days when only an elite (精英的) “reading class” consumes long texts — despite more people spending longer in education and book sales remaining robust.

People who lose higher-level reading skills also lose thinking skills. That’s horrible, because “higher-level reading” has been essential to civilization. It enabled the Enlightenment, and an international rise in sympathy for people who aren’t like us.

1. What is the advantage of the digital reading?

A．It makes more people start to read widely.

B．It makes more people begin to think deeper.

C．It helps the young to make use of the Internet.

D．It helps people take advantage of their spare time.

2. What is Maryanne Wolf’s attitude towards digital reading?

A．Supportive.

B．Opposed.

C．Objective.

D．Unconcerned.

3. What can be inferred about the teens now according to paragraph 3?

A．Teens should change the critical and conscious reading.

B．Nearly half of the teens never read at all.

C．They don’t believe what the experts indicate.

D．The trend of reading books is increasingly declining.

4. Which statement is fit for the underlined word in paragraph 4?

A．More and more books are purchased.

B．It’s unnecessary for people to buy books.

C．More and more people like to visit the bookstores.

D．The sales of books keep still for a really long time.

2 . Do you believe that a baby can only have one parent? It is widely understood that animals have two parents, each contributing essential DNA. However, a female shark became pregnant and gave birth to a baby shark at the Brookfield Zoo in Illinois, US,     1    , a new study documented.

This is a phenomenon called parthenogenesis (孤雌生殖), which means “virgin creation” in Greek. For most animals, an egg cell and a sperm (精子) cell are essential to create offspring (后代).     2    . However, in cases of parthenogenesis, the body finds a way to make up for the genetic material usually provided by sperm.

As the female generates an egg cell, small cells called polar bodies are produced in the process. In the case of parthenogenesis, an egg merges with one of its polar bodies, which replaces a sperm cell.     3    . So, the baby is similar to the mother but not a cloned version of her.

    4    . In 2018, a female crocodile who had been living alone for 16 years at a zoo in Costa Rica laid 14 eggs. Scientists found a fully-formed baby crocodile inside one of these eggs. In 2012, scientists incubated (培育) six snake eggs without fertilization (受精), and these eggs developed into healthy baby snakes.

Parthenogenesis may occur in “lower animals” like some species of insects, fish, reptiles and even birds.     5    . So, it is currently impossible for female mammals to reproduce without a male.

A．It is not the best way to reproduce

B．without the involvement of a male

C．with the application of a new technology

D．They each provide one-half of the genetic information for the new life

E．During this process, the mother’s genes get shuffled (打乱顺序) slightly

F．Although seemingly magical, parthenogenesis is not as rare as you might think

G．However, for mammals, including human beings, an egg can not provide all the genes required to form a viable (可存活的) offspring

3 . Birds do it. Bees do it. People do it, though often less than they would like to. Owls do it in the daytime. Sleep is an ancient, universal experience.

But partly because it is the order of the day, for a long time sleep was a subject that scientists had not woken up to. It is only in the past half-century or so that it has attracted the attention of dedicated researchers. A new book from Kenneth Miller, a science journalist, sets out to record the field’s short but fascinating history.

Its contents range from the discovery of rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep and circadian rhythms (昼夜节律) — the biological clocks that govern humanity’s days — to the effects of sleep deprivation(which can be deadly, at least in lab animals). It also explores the purpose, if any, of dreams.

Sleep is a state of lowered consciousness and reduced metabolism (新陈代谢) which takes up about one third of a person’s life. Two distinct types of sleep have been recognized: REM (rapid eye movement) and NREM(non-rapid eye movement). The latter, which accounts for the major part of sleep, starts with drowsiness (困倦); brain waves become increasingly deeper and slower until brain activity and metabolism fall to their lowest level. In REM sleep, the brain suddenly becomes more electrically active, its blood flow increases, the eyes move rapidly and dreaming occurs.

Discoveries often lead to new questions in turn. That is why neat, tidy endings are hard to achieve in most science books; this one is no different. Despite all the progress of the past 50 years, scientists are still unsure what sleep is for. The fact that it is so widespread suggests it is vital.

But why evolution would see fit to produce animals that must spend large amounts of their time unconscious and unable to respond to threats is still a mystery researchers are trying to solve. For anyone curious about asking the right questions, however, Mr Miller’s book is a good place to start.

1. Part of why scientists failed to explore sleep was because ______.

A．it was so commonplace as to be taken for granted.

B．ancient people had done thorough research into it.

C．there was no high-tech research facility.

D．they regarded sleep as too complicated a phenomenon to explain.

2. How long does the text show a person should sleep every day?

A．About 12 hours.

B．About 10 hours.

C．About 8 hours.

D．About 6 hours.

3. What does the author think of Miller’s book?

A．It is well received by readers.	B．It presents a better ending than most science books.
C．It has little to recommend it.	D．It is instructive despite its limitation.

4. In which section of a magazine may this text appear?

A．Entertainment.

B．Culture.

C．Finance.

D．Sports.

4 . Aum Gandhi, a runner from California, experienced weight changes and mental health issues due to the high stress of his job. But five years ago, once he picked up running by accident, he immediately developed a thirst for taking on greater challenges. A 5-kilometer run led to a half marathon, which led to a full marathon, and after discovering trail running (山径越野跑), he completed his first 100-mile race in April 2021.

Along the way, Gandhi discovered that his running could be more meaningful when it became a vehicle for change. When in college at California State University, Gandhi began volunteering at the Richstone Family Center — a nonprofit devoted to treating and preventing child abuse and family violence. Gandhi soon grew passionate about the cause and began fundraising for the organization in combination with his races.

“I grew up in a similar environment in the Los Angeles area and experienced things such as abuse, being around domestic violence, and seeing the damage of generational pain,” he says, “I saw how passionate their volunteers are and I just see myself in those kids.”

The athlete uses his social media platform to ask for donations, and at each race, he attaches the Richstone logo to the back of his shirt to spread people’s awareness on the trails. “To me, as long as that money and that awareness is going toward goodwill, good stuff is going to happen in the world,” he says.

For the next year, Gandhi has his eyes set on the Triple Crown of 200 Miles. He’ll have to complete all 654 miles of the series in a calendar year, and he plans to continue upping his fundraising goals — even if that means being overly ambitious. “I’ve always had the mindset of failing big instead of winning small,” he says.

1. What do we know about Aum Gandhi in paragraph 1?

A．He is a popular runner.	B．He is under great stress.
C．He has a passion for running.	D．He has gained fame from running.

2. How does Gandhi help with fundraising?

A．By stop ping violence.	B．By spreading goodwill.
C．By winning running races.	D．By setting bigger running goals.

3. Which of the following best describes Aum Gandhi as a volunteer?

A．Modest.

B．Committed.

C．Intelligent.

D．Adventurous.

4. What is a suitable title for the text?

A．Fundraising: A Key to Success.	B．Failing Big: To Run happily.
C．Volunteering: To Prevent Child Abuse.	D．Trail Running: A Path to Transformation.

5 . Around 2000 years ago, ancient Chinese divided the sun’s annual circular motion into 24 equal segments, each segment was called a ‘Solar Term’. Each solar term ______ a unique period of a year. But have you ever heard the term — “Hui Nantian”, a unique meteorological (气象) ______ that occurs ______ in southern China? This term, which translates to “the return of the south wind,” encapsulates (概括)a seasonal shift that not only ______ the weather patterns, but also deeply affects the way of life and cultural practices in this region.

“Hui Nantian” occurs during the ______ from winter to spring, when the cold, dry air of winter ______ the warm, damp air of the south. This change is not merely a meteorological shift; it’s a cultural event. People in the southern China anticipate “Hui Nantian” with a ______ of excitement and caution.

On the one hand, it signals the end of winter and the ______ of spring, a time of renewal and rebirth. On the other hand, the ______ humidity and dampness can present challenges, especially in terms of maintaining the integrity of buildings and ______ personal items. In Chinese culture, “Hui Nantian” is often associated with traditional practices and beliefs. It also reflects the importance of respect for ______ and traditional values in Chinese culture. In addition, it is also connected with the concept of “harmony with nature.” This belief encourages people to live in harmony with the natural world and respect the ______ of nature, such as the changing of the seasons and the flow of energy.

By ______ these natural rhythms, it is believed that people can achieve a state of inner peace and harmony, which is essential for leading a healthy and ______ life. Overall, Hui Nantian shows a blend of traditional practices, beliefs, and values that are unique to Chinese culture. These practices not only serve to preserve the cultural heritage of China but also ______ harmony and balance in people’s lives.

1.

A．reviewed

B．represented

C．regained

D．researched

2.

A．phenomenon

B．view

C．landscape

D．opinion

3.

A．hardly

B．seldom

C．primarily

D．never

4.

A．maintains

B．remains

C．changes

D．keeps

5.

A．transportation

B．show

C．transplant

D．shift

6.

A．gives out

B．gives up

C．gives off

D．gives way to

7.

A．result

B．force

C．mix

D．power

8.

A．end

B．approach

C．warmth

D．beauty

9.

A．decreased

B．lost

C．increased

D．regained

10.

A．arriving

B．preserving

C．serving

D．approving

11.

A．ancestors

B．wealth

C．harvest

D．descendants

12.

A．circles

B．return

C．power

D．cycles

13.

A．following

B．keeping

C．noticing

D．staying

14.

A．brilliant

B．unforgettable

C．necessary

D．satisfying

15.

A．protect

B．promote

C．preview

D．predict

6 . Festivals in March Around the World in 2024

SXSW Festival, USA

8th-16th March, 2024

SXSW is a famous festival in Austin. This media festival features plenty of film, music, and comedy events. SXSW also hosts tech panels (讨论会). Therefore, you have an opportunity to interact with celebrities and well-known businessmen. Austin is also famous for its outstanding drink and food! Travelers of all ages and interests can find something to enjoy at SXSW.

Pasifika Festival, New Zealand

9th-10th March, 2024

The Pasifika Festival showcases Pacific Island cultures. It takes place in Auckland where you can see contemporary art, music, dance, and cuisine from various Pacific communities. You’ll be able to witness and gain a deeper understanding about cultures like Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, and Maori, among others.

St Patrick’s Day, Ireland

14th-17th March, 2024

St Patrick’s Day celebrates Irish culture, music, food, and entertainment. Wrap up the party on St Patrick’s Day with a massive street carnival on 17th March. You’ll find parades, vendors (商贩), live music stages and fun across the centre of Dublin. You will find festivities all over Ireland, not just in the capital city.

Cape Town Jazz Festival, South Africa

22nd-31st March, 2024

For over twenty years, the Festival has attracted nearly 40, 000 people annually to its five major venues. It features music by dozens of musicians worldwide. Performers play Jazz, R&B, rap and so on. Enjoy the area before and after the Festival. Cape Town has extremely beautiful art and culture, restaurants, bars and outdoor activities.

1. Where can people attend a street carnival according to the text?

A．In Ireland.

B．In South Africa.

C．In the USA.

D．In New Zealand.

2. Which festival lasts the longest?

A．Pasifika Festival.	B．SXSW Festival.
C．St Patrick’s Day.	D．Cape Town Jazz Festival.

3. What can people do during the four festivals?

A．Attend technical panels.	B．Enjoy beautiful music.
C．Meet well-known people.	D．Appreciate contemporary art.

7 . 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。

Crane climbed into the last remaining lifeboat. Three men got into the boat with him. They were the ship’s captain, the cook and a sailor named Billie. For three days, the men steered the small boat through high waves along the coast of Florida. At last, they saw land.

A long stretch of coast lay before the eyes of the men. Slowly, the land rose up out of the mountainous sea. The men could see a small house against the sky. To the south, they could see a lighthouse. Tide, wind and waves were pushing the lifeboat northward. The men thought someone on land would have seen the boat by now.

The men waited and waited but nothing happened.

The waves grew stronger. They seemed always just about to break and roll over the little boat. The coast was still far away. The sailor said: “Boys, the boat won’t live three minutes more, and we’re too far out to swim. Shall I take her to sea again, captain?”

“Yes! Go ahead!” said the captain. The sailor turned the boat and took her safely out to sea again.

“It’s funny those life-saving people haven’t seen us,” one of the men said.

“Maybe they think we’re out here for sport! Maybe they think we’re fishing. Maybe they think we’re fools.”

The coast was still far away. The sun began to go down. It got dark and cold. Billie rowed, and then Crane took his turn. They rowed and rowed through the long night. The land had disappeared but they could hear the low sound of the waves hitting the shore. This was surely a quiet night.

A night on the sea in an open boat is a long night. The sailor continued to row until his head fell forward and sleep overpowered him. Then he asked Crane to row for a while. They exchanged places so the sailor could sleep in the bottom of the boat with the cook and the captain.

Crane thought that he was the one man afloat on all the oceans in the world. The wind had a sad voice as it came over the waves.

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。
Para.1:

Suddenly, there was a long, loud swishing(嗖嗖声) sound behind the boat and a shining trail of silvery blue.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Para.2:

When day came, the four men saw land again.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What will Robert do in the club?

A．Train the soccer players.

B．Hold all the meetings.

C．Collect fees from members.

2. Why does the club need the fees badly?

A．To attract more the students.

B．To open another club.

C．To buy new equipment.

3. How long has Jason worked as the head coach of the club?

A．For 3 years.

B．For 5 years.

C．For 10 years.

4. What is the talk mainly about?

A．Ways to join the soccer club.

B．Classes opened for the season.

C．Details of three club leading members.