1 . 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 Loong is the fifth animal of the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle,     1    (consider) to be mythical and symbolic of fortune. Recently, sales of things with dragon elements have witnessed explosive growth on e-commerce platforms.

Data from an e-commerce platform show that searches     2     dragon-related goods via its online marketplace have reached 23 million.    3     is said that since January, goods with dragon-themed elements, such as daily necessities, alcohol and gold jewelry,     4    (prefer) by consumers.The purchasing excitement is expected to     5    (huge) boost consumer confidence and improve the recovery of consumption．

Purchases by the post-1990s and post-2000s generations accounted for nearly 55%, while consumers in Guangdong province, Beijing, Jiangsu province in that order,     6    (be) the top three spenders on dragon-featured items.Because the dragon is an important symbol of Chinese traditional culture     7     good luck, Chinese consumers are expressing their hopes for     8     better life in the new year.

“Brands should capitalize on traditional Chinese culture to launch more innovative     9    (product),” a research fellow said,     10    (stress) that Spring Festival is the traditional festival Chinese people attach the most importance to, and it’s also a peak season for consumption.

2 . What will you do when you feel like a failure? Feeling like a failure is part of the human experiences. Treat yourself with kindness and understand that failure does not define you, but it is a stepping stone on your journey. When you’re ready, take action and challenge yourself.

As some friends were deeply lost in the world of yoga and mindfulness, I’ve personally struggled with the feeling of failure, not on the yoga mat, but on the road to my entrepreneurship(创业). It all began several years ago when I threw myself into the business, driven by my passion and a dream.

In the early days, optimism flowed freely, but financial struggles and sleepless nights soon followed. I questioned my decision and felt like the biggest failure. However, every difficulty became a stepping stone towards growth. I learned more from my failures than from my successes, adapting and growing stronger with each obstacle. I reached out to instructors, friends and family, sought advice and slowly saw a ray of hope. One defining moment came when I gained my first long-term coaching partnership. It was a breakthrough, and my hard work paid off. Over the years, I faced many more failures, but I refused to let them define me.

Today, looking back at my journey, I realize that moments of feeling like a failure were essential to my success. They taught me humility, perseverance and the value of hard work. They shaped me into a successful entrepreneur I am today—someone who doesn’t fear failure but embraces it as a necessary part of the path to success. As we approach the end of the year of graduation, remember that success is not about avoiding failure, but about how we rise after we fall. Let’s support each other on this journey called life. Stay positive, stay inspired and stay true to ourselves.

1. What is the function of paragraph 1?

A．To give the definition of failure.

B．To list some examples of failure.

C．To introduce the topic of the story.

D．To stress the importance of experience.

2. What made the author start a business?

A．Internal motivation.	B．Advice from a coach.
C．Family financial crisis.	D．Encouragement from friends.

3. What can be concluded from the author’s entrepreneurial experience?

A．To teach is to learn.

B．A word spoken is past recalling.

C．Constant dropping wears away a stone.

D．Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched.

4. What does the author want to do in the last paragraph?

A．Inspire us with his lessons.

B．Persuade us to major in business.

C．Recall the key moments of his entrepreneurship.

D．Advocate avoiding obstacles on the way to success.

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。

Bobby, my brother, and I would spend our usual Saturday with Grandpa, cleaning his house. Mom would take us to his home in the early morning. Since childhood, Bobby and I   had been spending the day dusting, mopping and changing the sheets on his bed.

Grandpa grew up in a poor family. His dad died when he was a teenager. Then he had tol eave school, run the family farm and raise his brother and sister. He worked as a nightdoor keeper for a company within walking distance of his home, and the highlight of his week was the reward that he gave my brother and me for cleaning. And it was the moment when we felt the happiest.

This Saturday, after Bobby and I finished cleaning, Grandpa decided to invite us to dinner. When we finally arrived at his favorite restaurant, the waitresses greeted him as along-lost elder. Their smiles and waves followed us to our favorite table as we placed our orders. And then we laughed and ate. Grandpa praised how well we had cleaned his place, telling anyone who would like to listen about every task we had accomplished.

Regardless of who was serving us at the time, each of the other waitresses would come up to say “hi” to Grandpa and congratulate his grandkids on their work. It was a restaurant, but it was like our home. When dinner was over, the waitress would bring the check and hand it to Grandpa. This time, it was Gloria that bent close to him, and told him the amount of the check.

Grandpa carefully dug into the pocket of his trousers and brought out a worn coin purse. He carefully laid out the coins and paid the bill. Then he gave Gloria a tip, but it wasn’t enough. I was ashamed that he got the amount of the tip wrong, and we were embarrassed. I was about to say something when Gloria grabbed my hands. “Come and get some flowers, today’s gifts, Susie,” she said as she led me toward the counter.

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。

“I want you to listen carefully, Susie,” Gloria said to me seriously.

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I listened to Gloria and stared at those flowers, deep in thought.

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4 . 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。

As Chinese traditions go, few things are     1     (good) than sitting around a steaming hotpot in winter of northern China. Archaeological studies support the claim that Kublai Khan, the     2     (found) of the Yuan Dynasty, invented mutton hotpot. For a long time, only the upper classes could get their hands on mutton hotpot. It was also     3     (extraordinary) popular among many royal families of the Qing Dynasty. And according to the record, Emperor Qianlong was a true hotpot lover.

Among vegetables and meat spread out on the dinner table, mutton has been placed in the center. Many diners believe mutton has the medical effect of warming the body,     4     (make) it an ideal food for the colder months. Many folk customs favor mutton over beef in part because in the past, cattle     5     (consider) much more important as a means     6     production.

Traditional Beijing instant boiled mutton,     7     many southerners think tasteless, is known for its simplicity. It has no mouthwatering hotpot soup base, just plain water with some scallion and ginger (葱和姜) slices     8     (add). Thus, the quality of the mutton plays a major role in the hotpot experience.

Nowadays, mutton hotpot has become one of     9     favorite cuisines of the Chinese, with     10     (technology) development in mutton production allowing for year-round supplies of fresh meat across the country.

5 . A man rides at full speed on a single-wheeled bike, leaning back on a seat fixed above a recycled tyre as he performs wheelies (杂技). This machine is just one of many crazy inventions from Make It Extreme, a You Tube channel run by Michael Mavros and George Shiailis, two best friends who use old materials to create unique and innovative mechanical projects.

The partners of this DIY design make the inventions to promote the joys of mechanical engineering and inspire creativity in others.

On Make It Extreme, they transform everyday objects and vehicles into extreme versions of themselves, pushing creative boundaries in the process. They build and design their projects, film and edit the entire process, then finally showcase the results.

“By passionately crafting furniture, engines, tools, toys and vehicles while using our imagination, we try to offer innovative solutions to various mechanical challenges,” explains Mavros, “We’ve shared this passion since our early years, and now, through our channel, we share it with millions of other people in an easily understandable way.”

For its 100th video, Make It Extreme introduced the Monotrack bike, constructed entirely from recycled and old materials. They utilised a 100cc two-stroke engine from an old scooter (摩托车), cutting the sidewalls of a used car tyre and fitting it around a recycled motor. The bike reflects their commitment to sustainability and creativity, purely for the joy and curiosity it brings.

“The idea for the Monotrack bike came from an old wartime photo where we saw a similar vehicle,” says Mavros, “Our creations are often inspired by things we’ve encountered before. For example, the Monowheel, where a person sits inside a huge wheel, was inspired by similar vehicles from decades ago, and our tank chair stemmed from the idea of creating an accessible adventure vehicle for people with limited mobility.”

Make It Extreme now has almost two million subscribers who are eager to tune in every month to see the partners’ latest invention. And Mavros promises that 2024 will see them create their most daring project yet.

1. Why do Mavros and Shiailis run Make It Extreme?

A．To make profits.	B．To earn popularity.
C．To develop hobby.	D．To awaken innovation.

2. What do we think of their inventions according to paragraph 5?

A．Practical.

B．Eco-friendly.

C．Costly.

D．Convenient.

3. What is paragraph 6 mainly about?

A．Why the old things were used.	B．Where the Monowheel was found.
C．What their inspirations originated from.	D．How the Monotrack bike was invented.

4. What can we learn from Mavros and Shiailis in the text?

A．Nothing is impossible.	B．Hard work will pay off.
C．Success needs perseverance.	D．Many hands make light work.

6 . 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。

Alex sat at a table in a cafe, scrolling (滚动) through his phone. Eric, the waiter, approached him with a nervous expression. Alex ordered a double black coffee but Eric seemed not to hear clearly what Alex said and asked for pardon.

“What? Are you deaf?”Alex said unkindly. After repeating the order, Alex went back to scrolling through his phone. His father had promised to buy him a car if he got good grades in school, but Alex failed his last math test.

A few minutes later. Eris returned with a coffee with milk in it. Alex was so angry that he said if he were the boss, he would fire Eric. Eric’s face turned red and hurried away to change the coffee. Just then, Alex’s father，Bill, joined ham at his table and told him he should be more respectful of people, even if they made mis takes. Worse still, in view of Alex’s poor study grades, Bill refused to buy him a new car and decided to teach him a lesson.

Bill asked the cafe manager if they were short-staffed and said his son needed a job and could start immediately. The manager agreed. Bill promised if Alex stuck it out, then they could talk about a new car after the summer vacation.

Alex showed up for work at the cafe the next day, nervous and worried. The manager assigned him the first table with a couple. They ordered two coffees with milk in both. Alex wrote down the order and took it to the counter. He stood awkwardly in front of the coffee machine.

“How does this thing work?” Alex turned a button, and steam came pumping out, catching him by surprise.

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。

Alex looked around in panic and saw Eric watching him.

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Eric asked Alex to keep a secret that he was losing his hearing.

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7 . 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.并将答案填写在答题卡上

In downtown Xiamen, Fujian Province, a 6-meter-high mound(土堆) that stretches for 60 to 70 meters stands in contrast to the high-rise     1    (construction) all around. It is a vital place for the blue-tailed bee-eaters. Now they are under second-level state     2     (protect).

The blue-tailed bee-eater, or Merops philippinus, is known for its colorful plumage and on the Chinese mainland it     3     (find) in coastal provinces, such as Fujian and Hainan.

    4    (establish) in 2011 as Xiamen’s inaugural city-level nature reserve in an urban area, the Wuyuanwan Nature Reserve provides     5     crucial habitat for the species.

In recent years, with improved environmental conditions in Xiamen and the city government’s commitment    6     nature conservation, the blue-tailed bee-eaters have become regular visitors.

In 2015, the center     7     (observe) some 70 to 80 birds in the area while in 2023, over 200 of the birds were watched at the nesting site.

The birds,     8     are sensitive to smell, build a new nest every year. Therefore, the mound must be cleared and refilled after the blue-tailed bee-eaters fly south.

    9     (safeguard) their habitat better, the city government issued a notice in 2017, setting up a protective zone around the nesting site, where noise and pollution-producing industries are prohibited     10     (strict).

The 13-year experience of preserving blue-tailed bee-eaters has given the center a grasp of their habits and made the Wuyuanwan Nature Reserve a stable home for them.

8 . Recent studies have found that good things really do come to those who wait. Some, of these science-backed benefits are detailed below, along with three ways to develop more patience in your life.

    1    . This finding is probably easy to believe if you call to mind the typical impatient person: face red, head steaming. Patient people tend to experience less depression and negative emotions, perhaps because they can deal better with upsetting or stressful situations.

Patient people are better friends and neighbors.     2    . Think of the best friend who comforts you night atter night over the heartache that just won’t go away, or the grandchild who smiles through the story she has heard her grandfather tell countless times.

Patience helps us achieve our goals. The road to achievement is a long one, and those without patience may not be willing to walk it. Patient people make more effort and progress toward their goals.     3    .

Patience is linked to good health. Patient people are less likely to report health problems like headaches and pneumonia.     4    . If patience can reduce our daily stress, it’s reasonable to infer that it could also protect us against stress’s damaging effects.

And how to develop patience? Reframe the situation. Patience is linked to self-control, and consciously trying to regulate our emotions can help us train our self-control muscles.

Practice mindfulness. Taking a deep breath and noticing your feelings of anger or overload can help your respond with more patience.

    5    . If we’re thankful for what we have today, we’re not desperate for more stuff or better circumstances immediately.

A．Practice gratefulness

B．Patience is a form of kindness

C．Patience can be achieved through training

D．As virtues go, patience is a quiet one

E．Patient people enjoy better mental health

F．They are also more satisfied when they realize them

G．But impatient people have more health complaints and worse sleep

9 . A new report published in the Journal of Sleep Research found no evidence that using the snooze (打盹儿) function on your alarm negatively affects sleep and cognitive (认知) processes. And while learning sleepiness and shorter sleep were more common in those who snoozed, it could even have benefits if used shortly.

The research even found that a brief snooze period could relieve sleep mertia (惯性), the unclearness and performance or mood decline that occurs when waking up, without completely disturbing sleep. It could also improve one’s cognitive function compared to completely waking up after the first alarm goes off.

“The findings indicate that there is no reason to stop snoozing in the morning if you enjoy it, at least not for snooze times around 30 minutes. In fact, it may even help those with morning unclearness to be slightly more awake once they get up,” said the researcher Tina Sundelin of Stockholm University.

The research was based on two studies with the first observing the waking habits of 1,732 adults. Most of the adults (69%) reported using an alarm’s snooze function or occasionally setting multiple alarms. Snoozing ranged from 1 to 180 minutes, according to the study, with the average period being 22 minutes per morning. The second study analyzed 31 confirmed regular snoozers and found that for every 30 minutes they snoozed, they lost six minutes of sleep — for a net gain of 24 minutes. However, researchers did not find any clear effects on mood, stress, tiredness, hormone levels or overnight sleep quality.

The report also found people who snooze tended to be at least six years younger than those who don t, and those who were identified as night owls were almost four times more likely to snooze than early birds. Snoozers also had a slightly shorter sleep time on workdays, 13 minutes less on average, compared to those who never snooze.

Despite these studies finding that a certain amount of snooze time won’t damage your health, it remains key to get enough consistent sleep to avoid serious health consequences.

1. What may a short snooze period result in according to the new research?

A．Better sleep inertia.	B．Disturbed sleep processes.
C．A good mood.	D．A poor cognitive function.

2. What is Tina Sundelin’s attitude to short snoozing in the morning?

A．Critical.

B．Tolerant.

C．Doubtful.

D．Favorable.

3. How was the research carried out?

A．By consulting different experts.	B．By collecting and analyzing data.
C．By reviewing related records online.	D．By doing experiments on students.

4. What does the text suggest us do about sleep?

A．Try to be an early sleeper.	B．Sleep more on weekends.
C．Snooze as much as possible.	D．Get enough consistent sleep.

10 . My grandmother knitted Christmas stockings for each of her five children in the 1960s. Then, she made them for us, her grandchildren, too. When our grandmother died unexpectedly in 2017, it felt like the end of a tradition of handmade personalized Christmas stockings and my cousins’ chances of joining us with stockings on the fireplace were gone.

Grandma was an amazing woman, but she was hard to feel really close to when I was a child. She smiled softly when the grandkids came noisily through the door to disturb her shy, quiet peace. And instead of covering us with kisses like other grandmothers, she always had something ready for us. It took me a while to understand that the things she made meant the same as “I love you” or “I missed you”. It wasn’t that she was cold — not at all. Sometimes people as brilliant as Grandma have a hard time relating to others.

While we grew up, she was our personal Google. When I was in college, she asked if I studied the Romantic poets or how familiar I was with Aristotle. I tried my best to keep up, but there was a lot I never knew about my grandmother until she passed away. I knew and loved that every room and hallway in her house had a bookcase, and these were filled with books on every subject in several languages.

This year, I began to learn to make the Christmas stocking. At first, I considered it as a nice way to keep apart of Christmas I always loved as a child, but now I feel closer to my grandma than ever. And although my stockings will be the gifts for my cousins this year, now I understand the love and thoughts of Grandma that goes into the seemingly never-ending rows of knitting.

1. What does the author think the stockings made by Grandma were?

A．Ordinary Christmas presents.	B．Personalized warm clothing.
C．The bonds between family members.	D．A reminder of hard times.

2. How did Grandma express her love for her grandchildren?

A．By buying them gifts.	B．By giving them kisses.
C．By offering books to them.	D．By making things for them.

3. Which of the following words can best describe Grandma?

A．Determined.	B．Difficult.
C．Responsible.	D．Knowledgeable.

4. What was the author’s initial purpose in making the Christmas stocking?

A．To keep an old part of Christmas.	B．To save money on Christmas presents.
C．To honor the memory of Grandma better.	D．To pass Grandma’s knitting skills