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 . When you think of your closest friends, who will come to your mind? Perhaps your college roommates or the neighbor you played with as a child. Regardless of how you met these people, they most likely have one key thing in common:     1     A 2023 study found that, for those aged 21 to 30, over 80 percent in their social circles, were born within five years of them. Moreover, nearly 63 percent of adults have no close friends 15 years older or younger than them.

Spending our time with such a narrow group of people can fuel age segregation and increase our loneliness. These limitations also keep us from other generations’ mindsets and potentially surprising points of connection.     2     Of course, the ones that are older might offer a brief look into the coming years.

A program that runs schools out of senior centers has said a lot about it.     3     Dawn Carr, a sociology professor, said most older people get much from practical help—with new technology, for instance—their younger friends offered.     4     Having fun with someone decades younger definitely takes off their pressure to “act their age”.

    5     Lila, aged 75, was proud that her life experiences prepared her to give advice to her young friend with depression, for which the young was grateful. Also, older friends offer more examples of what growing up can look like. If someone’s parents are the only older people they know well, they might fail to picture other possibilities. A greater pool of older friends can help young people create their own blueprint.

A．You befriend those who live around.

B．They’re all roughly the same age as you.

C．Others might find joy in exposure to new ideas.

D．Brought closer, both see more than one benefit.

E．Younger friends can be a reminder of past selves.

F．Forming these kinds of friendship is particularly hard today.

G．Indeed, intergenerational relationship is never a one-way street.

3 . When my father was a teenager, he had been declared a prodigy (天才) by his art teacher. He ________ to become an art teacher and had some ________ of his paintings. But when my mother got ill, his creative life ceased.

I remembered my father’s ________ for art. One day, I asked whether he was interested in drawing a cartoon. My father was not much of a ________. When learning to drive, I had asked if it was more important to ________the cars ahead or those behind. “Both.” Then he was ________ for the next three miles.

He gave no ________ answer to my query (询问). I asked again the following day. Still no real ________. I ultimately ________ the idea. I understood he had enough on his p late already. But a week later, I received an email from my father — with a(n)________. I downloaded the file and there was the cartoon I had asked him to draw!

We began to draw cartoons. The process of creating gave hi m ________. As he built his art muscles back up, his teenage self’s enthusiasm ________.

He is now painting, drawing and talking so much I have to ________ I’m getting a call to escape his ________. If he were to ask me whether I was prouder of the cartoon or of him turning his life around, I would say, “________.”

1.

A．went on

B．agreed

C．seemed

D．happened

2.

A．records

B．copies

C．exhibits

D．celebrations

3.

A．choice

B．love

C．skill

D．idea

4.

A．talker

B．teacher

C．painter

D．thinker

5.

A．drive off

B．rush through

C．look into

D．concentrate on

6.

A．careful

B．silent

C．impatient

D．polite

7.

A．definite

B．relevant

C．simple

D．clever

8.

A．channel

B．response

C．message

D．word

9.

A．dropped

B．failed

C．forgot

D．regretted

10.

A．list

B．present

C．budget

D．attachment

11.

A．freedom

B．safety

C．purpose

D．trust

12.

A．grew

B．returned

C．appeared

D．mixed

13.

A．pretend

B．state

C．joke

D．mention

14.

A．excitement

B．disappointment

C．embarrassment

D．amusement

15.

A．Myself

B．You

C．Neither

D．Both

4 . An ancient Latin proverb says “Aquila non capit muscas” —cagles don’t hunt flies—meaning that important ones shouldn’t concern themselves with small, insignificant matters.But the lions in East Africa should concern themselves with the seemingly insignificant ants, because these ants are changing their lifestyles.

The story starts with the acacia trees(金合欢树)in an African wildlife area in central KenyaSome of these acacia trees provide food and shelter for specific ant species, which in turn defend the tree against herbivores(食草动物).The ants are actively attacking and driving away herbivores that attempt to feed on the tree’s leavesThis is highly effective; the ants not only physically harm the herbivores but also release chemicals that can deter other potential attackers.

But these ants are in trouble.Another species called the “big-headed” ant is destroying entire groups of tree-protecting ants.This, in turn, sets off an entire chain of events that ends up influencing when and how lions can hunt.

This ant invasion(入侵)affects one thing after the other.It leaves the acacia trees defenseless against herbivores especially elephants.The elephants come in and eat the acacias at five to seven times the rate observed in uninvaded areas.The lions, while hunting for food, have no more trees to use for hiding.This reduced tree cover makes lions less successful at hunting and pushes them to find different areas to hunt in．

“These tiny invaders are pulling on the ties that put an African ecosystem together, determining who is eaten andwhere,” said Todd Palmer, an ecologist from Florida.

The lions, which are already endangered, are managing to cope with this by no longer focusing their attention on zebras.The zebras, of course, can see them much better on the approach given the lack of cover.Instead, they are targeting water buffalo.But this also isn’t the end of the story.Who knows what the lions’ changing strategy will mean for the ecosystem down the line?

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

A．Direct.

B．Discourage.

C．Identify.

D．Seek.

2. What role do the elephants play in the chain reaction?

A．Cooperating with “big-headed” ants.	B．Damaging the hiding place for lions.
C．Protecting the acacias from herbivores.	D．Starting off the disturbance of the chain.

3. The author mentions lions, zebras and water buffalo to show that ______.

A．animals fall victim to bigger ones	B．the ecology is on the road to recovery
C．animals are corelated in the ecosystem	D．species are firmly positioned in the food chain

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．What ecologists find about animals.	B．Why African lions are endangered.
C．How tiny ants affect the way lions hunt.	D．How the law of the jungle works in Africa.

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 begged my mom to let me make cookies by myself. Even though I had never attempted baking before, I was nine years old and my friend Emmie had been baking cupcakes by herself for a year. I was determined to prove that I could make it.

My brother, Caleb, laughed at the idea of me cooking alone, calling it a disaster. Having a big brother can be annoying. Despite his laughing, my mom agreed to let me try. She reminded me to take my time and be careful because I’d had some messy spills before I was nine.

I raced to the kitchen and went to work. I cracked eggs and put a cold stick of butter into the bowl. I turned on the mixer at medium speed—and whoa. Whoa. Whoa! What a disaster! I had to wipe butter off my face, then off the table and floor.

Caleb made fun of me again, calling me a mess. I chased him away with a spoon and turned back to the mixing bowl. I started again with softer butter. Referring to the recipe, I poured everything needed into the bowl and mixed it. After that, I put round batter (面糊) onto the cookie sheet and put it into the oven (烤箱). Within a minute, a fantastic smell filled the kitchen—the smell of cookie success!

I was going to prove that I was responsible. No more eye-rolling from my brother. No more “You’re too young” from my parents. I was grown up and in control.

I stared into the oven, and my heart sank. The neat, little balls had melted (融化) and overflowed to the edges of the cookie sheet. I pulled the pan out just as Caleb wandered back into the kitchen.

“What in the world?” He started to laugh. “Cookie soup?”

“You just be quiet,” I whispered, trying not to cry. “Just leave me alone.”

“How’s it going in there?” Dad called from the living room.

Caleb raised his eyebrows and bit his lip. I responded that everything was fine, pouring the melted batter into the bowl quickly.

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。
Paragraph 1: I picked up the directions, wondering what had gone wrong．
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2: I brought a plate of cookies into the living room for my parents．
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 . At a conference last week, I received an interesting piece of advice:   “Assume you are wrong.” The advice came from Brian Nosek, a fellow psychology professor. He wasn’t objecting to any particular claim I’d made — he was offering a strategy for pursuing better science, and for encouraging others to do the same.

To understand the context for Nosek’s advice, we need to take a step back — to the nature of science itself. Despite what many of us learned in elementary school, there is no single scientific method. Just as scientific theories change, so do scientific methods.

Assuming you are right might be a motivating force, sustaining the enormous effort that conducting scientific work requires. But it also makes it easy to interpret criticisms as personal attacks, and for scientific arguments to develop into personal battles. Beginning, instead, from the assumption you are wrong, a criticism is easier to be viewed as a helpful pointer, a constructive suggestion for how to be less wrong — a goal that your critic probably shares.

Nosek’s advice may sound pessimistic, but it’s not so foreign to science. Philosophers of science sometimes refer to the “pessimistic meta-induction (元归纳)” on the history of science: All of our past scientific theories have been wrong, so surely our current theories will turn out to be wrong, too. That doesn’t mean we haven’t made progress, but it does indicate that there is always room for improvement—ways to be less wrong.

I like the advice because it builds in an awareness of our limitations and a readiness to accept the unknown (“there are things I do not know!”) along with a sense that we can do better (“there are things I do not know yet!”). It also builds in a sense of community — we’re all in the same boat when it comes to falling short of getting things right. Perhaps the focus on a shared goal — our goal as scientists and humans of being less wrong — can help make up for any harm in scientific motivation or communication.

1. Why did Nosek send the advice?

A．To express opinions about my claims.	B．To remind me to be open to criticism.
C．To encourage me to take up science.	D．To better my understanding of psychology.

2. How does assuming you are wrong help?

A．It motivates scientists to make efforts.	B．It addresses personal attacks and conflicts.
C．It sets a constructive improvement goal.	D．It contributes to a deeper insight into yourself.

3. What does the author think of science theories?

A．Dynamic.

B．Testable.

C．Pioneering.

D．Well-established.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．Accept the Unknown	B．Aim to Be Less Wrong
C．Get Engaged in Psychology	D．Dig into the Nature of Science

7 . The Music Educator Award, this year, went to Annie Ray, an orchestra(管弦乐队)director at Annandale High School.She was recognized for her efforts to make music accessible to all students, particularly those with disabilities.Ray got to attend the awards ceremony in Los Angeles and bring home a $10,000 prize.

Ray created the Crescendo Orchestra for students with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as a parent orchestra that teaches nearly 200 caregivers a year to play the same instrument as their child.Ray also works with a local charity to give damaged instruments a second life in her classroom.

The orchestra is about much more than just making music.The most important is to give students a chance to develop their cooperation skills, make mistakes and learn the art of refining something.Ray pushes her students to be brave, go outside their comfort zone and realize they have to learn how to make bad sounds before learning how to make good sounds.And they teach her a lot in return.” They changed my educational philosophy.I understand what it truly means to meet a student where they’re at and apply that elsewhere,” she said.

The warm reception on the ceremony was meaningful.Actually, not many people understand what exactly music educators do or how much their work matters.While her administration is supportive, that lack of understanding is a problem facing the profession in general.Another is resources.She says her school “desperately” needs new instruments.She will use some of her prize money to buy more.

Ray also plans to put some of the money towards an ongoing scholarship for students who want to pursue music when they graduate.She knows of several, those particularly interested in music, and aims to offer financial support needed to realize their musical dreams” It is hard but truly satisfying,” Ray said.“And there’s nothing else like it for them.”

1. What can we learn about Ray from the first two paragraphs?

A．She hosted the award ceremony.	B．She brought music to more people.
C．She gave away instruments to the poor.	D．She founded a local charity for children.

2. What do students benefit most from the orchestra?

A．They acquire in-depth musical knowledge.	B．They make friends with the like-minded.
C．They gain personal growth from playing music.	D．They improve their connections with educators.

3. What is paragraph 4 of the text mainly about?

A．The reception on the ceremony.	B．Importance of music education.
C．Challenges for music educators.	D．Plans to obtain resources.

4. What does Ray find satisfying according to the last paragraph?

A．Winning a scholarship.	B．Developing interest in music.
C．Making musical achievements.	D．Transforming dreams into reality.

8 . Monet: The Immersive (沉浸式) Experience

Monet: The Immersive Experience in Liège invites you to step into the world of the French painter Claude Monet, one of the greatest artistic geniuses of the nineteenth century!

Explore some of the most breathtaking paintings by Claude Monet with the help of a digital 360-degree presentation. The unique exhibition concept is staged with state-of-the-art multimedia technology, which shows very large images of Monet’s paintings on the walls and floors of the building. It has music, the smell of flowers, and voice-over in several languages to make the paintings come alive in a way never seen before.

To fully get into the world of the French painter, visitors are guided through three experience rooms. Each room is a highlight on its own and provides visitors not only with an insight, but also with new experiences and new viewpoints on Monet’s life, his work and his masterpieces.

Practical info

·Date: from March 2024

·Opening hours:

Wednesday, Thursday: 10: 00 am-7: 00 pm

Friday: 10: 00 am-8: 00 pm

Saturday: 9: 00 am-8: 00 pm

Sunday: 9: 00 am-7: 00 pm

Monday and Tuesday: Closed

·Duration: the visit will take around 60 to 75 minutes

·Location: Eglise Saint-Pholien, Rue Saint-Pholien, 4020 Liège

·Please consult the FAQs of this experience here

1. How does the exhibition help visitors explore Monet’s paintings?

A．It uses digital technology.	B．It gives lectures on art.
C．It offers stages to visitors.	D．It provides language services.

2. What will visitors experience in the three rooms?

A．An exploration on French art.	B．An introductory tour of painters.
C．A unique journey to Monet’s world.	D．An encounter with Monet-inspired artworks.

3. Which of the following is a recommended visiting time?

A．11: 30 am (Wed, Feb 21).	B．10: 00 am (Tue, Mar 19).
C．6: 30 pm (Thur, Mar 28).	D．4: 00 pm (Sun, Apr 7).

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。

I used to be the only child in the family. Everything changed when Tex was born, and I was ten at that time. It seemed to me that Tex got too much attention from Mom and Dad, and I constantly felt a sense of depression. However, my little six-year-old brother had no idea about that, sticking with me all day long, which sometimes really annoyed me.

Last week, I was creating a birthday book for Dad. I worked forever making each picture as perfect as possible. Every time I messed up, I started all over again, so the floor under the kitchen table was covered with half-finished drawings.

“It’s family chore time,” Mom announced. “And you’re on laundry-folding duty,” she told me.

“OK,” I said. “After that, I’ll just put the finishing touches on Dad’s present.”

“I can help, too!” said my little brother, Tex.

I felt a little uncomfortable. But Mom touched his head gently and said, “Of course, baby, you can.” Then she turned to me, “And, Anna, please always remember to move those papers from the floor to the recycling bin in the yard when you’re done with your project.”

I folded the laundry as fast as possible. Just as I was about to get back to the birthday book, my friend showed up. After checking with Mom, we headed to the park. But as soon as we arrived there, the sky filled with giant gray clouds and rain started pouring down. I was upset as I headed back home, dripping wet. That’s when my heart pretty much stopped. Right there, in front of the recycling bin, was a box full of wet-through papers. And not just any papers ... I ran to rescue my birthday book drawings. But it was too late. As I picked up my once-perfect pictures, they were totally ruined!

I cried, “Tex, how did they get out here in the rain?”

Nervously, he came out and said, “Sorry, but I meant to help. I heard what Mom said, and I did it for you. But I had no idea why your birthday book was in those papers.”

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。
Needless to say, I was going to explode.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
We two decided to make one big present for Dad.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 . 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。

Colors are important to Chinese culture. The three main colors     1    (consider) lucky in people’s daily lives as well as on special occasions are red, yellow, and green.

Famously popular in relation to anything Chinese, red is the national color representing happiness, good luck, success and good fortune, which is     2    (wide) used during festivals and important events like weddings. Red lanterns decorate     3    (business) and residences. Double rows of red “Xi” letters are pasted on gates and doors.

Yellow — corresponding to earth — symbolized royalty in ancient China     4     was reserved for the emperor. The first Emperor of China was known as the Yellow Emperor. China was often referred to as “Yellow Earth”, and     5    (it) mother river is the Yellow River. Looking down at the Forbidden City from Beijing Jing Mountain, one can see a sea     6     yellow-glazed tile roofs.

Green is the color of wealth, hope and growth, commonly believed to represent purity and cleanness. Many buildings     7    (paint) in green nowadays, as is often the case with banks, post offices and some restaurants.     8    (package) milk or produce in green is to indicate that the product is pollution-free.

The color legacy (遗产) that our ancestor left us can be seen in society today. What’s more, some TV dramas over the past few years     9    (present) traditional Chinese colors in costumes and architecture,     10     excites people’s interest in more ancient colors.