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。

The Chief Executive Officer of Beijing Aiqi Technology Yang Zhang has revived the Chinese cultural practice of using the mortise and tenon (榫卯) technique for construction which is on the edge of extinction.

He used the ancient mortise and tenon technique     1     (construct) the Turret of Palace Museum at a 1:81 miniscale. The choice of “Turret of Palace Museum” as the theme for the mini building block project     2     (base) on several factors.

    3     (locate) in the Forbidden City of Beijing, this architectural treasure boasts the most delicate design and elegant shape among Chinese royal buildings. It was historically responsible     4     protecting the palace. The complex layout of the turret posed     5     unprecedented (史无前例的) technical challenge for Zhang and his team of designers and developers. Unlike conventional building block     6     (toy), Zhang aimed to create a model made     7     (entire) of authentic mortise and tenon components. The entire process of design took nearly five years, with hundreds of design iterations and continuous adjustments.

The mortise and tenon technique,     8     is the primary construction method used in ancient Chinese architecture and represents the core of     9     (tradition) Chinese woodworking, is gaining increasing     10     (recognize) among the public.

2 . It isn’t every day that the future and the past meet on national television.

Peter Davies, a 100-year-old World War II veteran from Macclesfield, England struggled to find ________ in his life after his wife passed away. ________, when his daughter suggested he offer his help at the local elementary school, he decided to ________ it.

Peter ________ at Dean Valley Primary School, Bollington, and he is a huge hit with all of the children he tutors. He makes reading into a fun game, and his new ________ as a grandfatherly figure makes him feel more ________ to his community than ever before. “The kids are ________ ; they are like sponges (海绵)” said Peter．“I’m sure I get more out of it than the ________ do. I’m not this old man who lives on his own. I’m part of the ________, which is great. Plus my street ________ is extremely good because I’ll be going ________ in the village and a child will shout out ‘Hello Mr. Davies,’ and I feel ________.” In 2023, Peter received a British Empire Medal (BEM) from King Charles III!

Now, ________ being just famous locally, Peter is a national celebrity. He recently ________ on television with the youngest recipient of the BEM, 18-year-old author and environmentalist Dara McAnulty.

“He is the ________, I am the past,” Peter said of Dara.

1.

A．meaning

B．wisdom

C．standard

D．courage

2.

A．Meanwhile

B．Nevertheless

C．Therefore

D．Moreover

3.

A．prove

B．explore

C．manage

D．attempt

4.

A．works

B．volunteers

C．registers

D．engages

5.

A．reputation

B．status

C．post

D．state

6.

A．connected

B．restricted

C．equal

D．inferior

7.

A．flexible

B．naughty

C．patient

D．great

8.

A．heroes

B．humans

C．children

D．adults

9.

A．society

B．population

C．community

D．nation

10.

A．reaction

B．effort

C．devotion

D．credit

11.

A．anywhere

B．nowhere

C．somewhere

D．elsewhere

12.

A．grateful

B．honored

C．ambitious

D．surprised

13.

A．in addition to

B．instead of

C．due to

D．in spite of

14.

A．appeared

B．performed

C．advertised

D．shared

15.

A．prospect

B．trend

C．present

D．future

3 . Being late is a tendency that some people cannot seem to shake. Many factors contribute to continual lateness, including time perception, time management and personality.

We all know someone who never seems to be on time, whether it’s to a lunch date or a work meeting.     1    

“It is likely that there’s a mechanism in the brain that causes some people to be late for meetings because they underestimate the time it will take them to get there,” Hugo Spiers, a professor at University College London told Live Science.     2     Research suggests that neurons in the hippocampus(海马体)acting as “time cells” contribute to our perception and memory of events, but why exactly some people continually underestimate time is unclear.

One factor may be how familiar we are with a space. For the 2017 study, Spiers asked 20 students who had newly moved to London to sketch a map of their college district and estimate travel times to different destinations. The students’ space estimates expanded if they knew an area well.    3    “If you’re very familiar with a space, you start to discount the trouble it will take,” Spiers said.

Another environmental factor may be crowdedness. In a 2022 study in the journal Virtual Reality, researchers asked participants to estimate the length of more or less crowded simulated (模拟的)subway trips. They found that crowded commutes felt like they took 10% longer than less busy rides.     4    

    5    Certain character features, such as reduced conscientiousness(责任心), can cause some people to forget tasks that they had planned ahead of time.

A．Personality also plays a role in running late.

B．That was linked to it being an unpleasant experience.

C．We make time estimates based on how urgent the tasks are.

D．However, their estimates of travel time contracted with familiarity.

E．But is there a good explanation for why some people are always late?

F．A region of the brain, called hippocampus,processes some aspects of time.

G．That’s because people who run late tell themselves and others they can be punctual.

4 . You may have wondered how lavender is used for social anxiety. But first, just what is lavender? Lavender, also known as English or garden lavender, is a herb native to the Mediterranean region. Historically, lavender was used to mummify bodies in Egypt, in baths in Greece and Rome, and for curing the broken skin and mental health purposes. Today, lavender is used as a traditional or complementary remedy for relaxation, to reduce anxiety, and depression, as well as for diseases such as stomach upset and headaches.

No scientific studies have specifically examined the benefits of lavender use for social anxiety disorder. In a 2000 study, Cook and Ernst reported that in general, aromatherapy (芳香疗法) is helpful in reducing anxiety and stress in the short-term. A 2012 study also showed some evidence of the usefulness of lavender taken for anxiety. More research is needed to support the use of lavender for the treatment of social anxiety disorder.

Lavender is usually used in the form of an essential oil as part of aromatherapy. The scent is inhaled, or the oil is applied to the skin, which will benefit the anxious people quickly. Dried lavender can also be used to make a tea or liquid extract. Lavender may also be taken in pill form. Lavender tea can be made by using 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried leaves for 15 minutes in a cup of boiling water. In liquid extract form, no more than 60 drops of lavender should be taken in a day. Before taking lavender in liquid form, you should read the product label and discuss the dose with a qualified health care provider.

There is not enough scientific evidence to safely recommend lavender for children younger than 18 years. Lavender taken by mouth has the potential to increase the risk of bleeding. If you suffer from a bleeding disorder or are taking medicine that may increase bleeding,use caution when taking lavender.

1. What can we know about lavender from paragraph l?

A．It can help deal with mental health problems.

B．It was used to preserve dead bodies in Greece.

C．It was used to cure stomach upset and headaches.

D．It is a herb introduced into the Mediterranean region.

2. What is the main idea of paragraph 2?

A．The treatment for social anxiety disorder.

B．The history of aromatherapy reducing stress.

C．The benefits of lavender used for mental disorder.

D．The researches on the use of lavender for social anxiety.

3. How is paragraph 3 developed?

A．By collecting data.	B．By making a list.
C．By introducing concepts.	D．By making comparisons.

4. What can we learn about taking lavender from the text?

A．It may worsen the bleeding.

B．It’s proved to be unsafe for kids of 14.

C．Lavender in pill form functions better than that in liquid.

D．A dose should be decided according to the product label.

5 . Have you ever wished you could be better organised or more sociable? Perhaps you’re a constant worrier, and you’d prefer to be a little more carefree?

Many surveys show that at least two-thirds of people would like to change some elements of their personality. In the past, such desires appeared to be unachievable. Like the proverbial leopard that could never change its spots, our virtues and flaws were believed to be woven into the fabric of our minds.

Recent scientific research, however, proves this expectation of personality’s permanence wrong. With the right psychological strategies and enough effort, many people can successfully shape their core personalities into what they desire.

Our genes almost certainly play a role: it’s why people’s personalities often reflect their biological parents’ ones. The influence of our social environment was thought to end in early adulthood, as the brain reached maturity. If this were true, it wouldn’t be possible to shift personality at will. Yet that is exactly what psychology professor Nathan Hudson and his colleagues have shown with a series of groundbreaking studies.

The interventions in their studies typically involve arranging regular activities that reflect the personalities people wish to adopt. A quiet person who wished to be more outgoing, for example, might have the goal of introducing themselves to a stranger once a week, or making small talk with the cashier at their local supermarket.

The aim is for the thinking patterns and behaviours they generate to become habitual. In the first trial, provided participants actually completed those arranged tasks, their personalities shifted in the desired direction. Similarly exciting results could be seen in a later trial. The differences of participants’ personalities before and after the intervention were still apparent three months after the experiment had ended. As Aristotle argued more than 2,300 years ago, we become what we repeatedly do.

The unexpected plasticity of our minds should be good news for anyone who wishes they were a bit more sociable, organised, or happy-go-lucky. Another potential benefit is that awareness of this research could help improve mental health.

1. Why is “leopard” mentioned in paragraph 2?

A．To explain that our minds consist of virtues and flaws.

B．To show the similarity between leopards and human beings.

C．To prove a possibility that people can change their personality.

D．To demonstrate the previous belief that personalities remain fixed.

2. What can be inferred about the “interventions”?

A．The two trials reached different conclusions.	B．Activities are tailored to specific personalitites.
C．The purpose is to better people’s personalities.	D．People’s personalities can be changed but can’t last.

3. What has Nathan Hudson’s team shown through their studies?

A．The previous expectation of personality’s permanence was confirmed.

B．The influence of our social environment ends when the brain matures.

C．The desire to change some elements of our personality can be achieved.

D．Our genes play a greater role in our personality than social environment.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．We Are What We Do	B．Habits Make Things Easier
C．Your Personality Is Not Set In Stone	D．A Leopard Never Changes Its Spots

6 . On a tram smoothly pulling into the heart of Luxembourg City, Marck gives a smile and takes a look at the fabric of the seat next to him. For him, the city’s trams are more than just transport. More even than the focus of his job. They are about transforming his country and, perhaps, changing the world.

Marck is the director general of Luxtram, Luxembourg’s modern trams. It first started running services two years ago. Next year, Luxembourg will become the world’s only country to get rid of fares on all its forms of public transport. Luxembourg’s traffic problems come from its army of workers. The population of the capital city almost doubles during the working day, when more than 110,000 people travel in and out.

After three decades when its roads have become so crowded, Luxembourg is going to do something remarkable. Free fares, and a plan to persuade people to switch from cars to trams or trains. Marck, along with many others, is excited to see what happens next. “The fact that this is free means that everyone can use it — young or old, rich or poor,” he said. “Everyone can say to themselves it’s better to leave the car at home. We must continue to improve and extend the network. It must always be comfortable, well-connected, efficient.”

Lydie Polfer, the city’s mayor, says she hopes to reach the point where more than a third of people come into the city using public transport — at the moment, it’s less than one in five. She said, “It’s not practical to ban cars because some people, like the elderly, need them. But everyone has to be aware that he or she can do something to improve the situation. There is an expression in German — you are not in the traffic jam — you are the traffic jam, and that is true. I think that making it free will be the biggest arguments for people to use public transport. ”

1. Why does Marck think the city’s trams are more than just transport?

A．The trams are his goal that he strives for.

B．There are more means of transportation than trams.

C．City’s trams bring more changes beyond transport.

D．The trams are the heart of Luxembourg City transport system.

2. What does paragraph 2 mainly talk about?

A．The cause of the traffic problems.	B．The means of public transport.
C．The development of running services.	D．The increase of working population.

3. What concerns people most when using the public transport?

A．The convenience.

B．The fare.

C．The comfort.

D．The efficiency.

4. What can be inferred from what Lydie Polfer said?

A．The elderly needn’t use public transport.

B．It’s possible to persuade most people to use the trams.

C．Everyone can do his part to improve transport situation.

D．Those who don’t take public transport cause traffic jams.

7 . Here is a shortened list of books planned by TIME and TIME for Kids that are suitable for elementary schoolers. To make the list, we asked for submissions from climate and education experts. We then considered how age-appropriate the material was, and whether the tone and story line left the reader feeling engaged and empowered-rather than anxious or overwhelmed.

WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS

By Carole Lindstrom; illustrated by Michaela Goade

A tribute (致敬) to native tribes that are protecting the planet, this book metaphorically shows the harms of oil pipelines. Kids will see the value of community action, while adults will recognize the story of the Standing Rock Sioux’s fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline.

THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND

By William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer; illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon

The picture-book edition of this memoir recounts the author’s teenage experience building a windmill from scrap materials during an extreme drought - an inspiring tale for future clean-energy engineers.

THE LORAX

By Dr. Seuss

Thanks to its rhyme and fanciful illustrations, this classic tale is suitable for young children who can grasp the scarcity of natural resources, and also older kids who can see a danger in valuing profits over long-term environmental harm.

CLIMATE CHANGE, THE CHOICE IS OURS

By David Miles; illustrated by Albert Pinilla

Every left page defines a climate-change issue while every right page features a spin wheel, giving kids the “choice”of how we can either address the problem or worsen it.

1. Whose book will you prefer if you want to be a wind energy engineer?

A．Bryan Mealer.

B．David Miles.

C．Michaela Goade.

D．Dr. Seuss.

2. Which book guides readers to make options about enviornment protection?

A．THE LORAX.	B．WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS.
C．THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND.	D．CLIMATE CHANGE, THE CHOICE IS OURS.

3. What do the four books have in common?

A．They are intended for kids in the kindergarten.

B．The plots are mysterious and get the readers involved.

C．Their materials are edited by climate and education experts.

D．They are about environment protection and have pictures attached.

8 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写一段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

Palm trees seemed to speed by the car window. Eight-year-old Katrina began to get nervous, the way she always did in new surroundings. She felt a thin shine of sweat above her lip in spite of the car’s cool air. “The aquarium won’t be crowded, I bet, and people are gonna notice me. I hate wearing this prosthesis leg (假肢).” She felt tears pinprick behind her eyes. “Not being normal is the worst.”

Entering the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, around a comer of a tank, she noticed an animal that looked unusual. “Is that a dolphin with stump (假肢) instead of a tail?” she asked an aquarium staff. He nodded. “Yes, that’s Winter. She’s a very special dolphin.” “What happened to her?” “This girl dolphin was found off the coast of Florida, caught in a crab trap. The ropes from the trap cut off the blood circulation to her tail. So she lost her tail,” Katrina caught her breath. “She’s just like me. She’s just like me.” “But she struggled to survive. Now she wears a prosthetic tail part of the day to help her swim like a dolphin’s supposed to swim.” the staff continued, “Every day, Winter shows us anything is possible if we believe.”

Katrina felt her heartstring was touched. She waved at Winter. Looking at Katrina, Winter raised her flipper (鳍), came to her and lifted her head. “She’s swimming right into my arms,” Katrina said tearfully. They made eye contact. She seemed to be speaking to Katrina: We’re the same.

Back home, all Katrina talked about was Winter. For two weeks, she cried and begged her mother to take her back to Clearwater.

Unfortunately, another blow hit Katrina. She fell on the hardwood floor at home and broke her other leg. Katrina was in constant leg nerve pain. After a through examination, the doctor explained bad news that she would need another surgery on her leg. Years of a living hell came back to her.

She started fearing surgery again and refused to take any.

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。

Katrina’s mom decided to take her back to Clearwater.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Finally came the day when Katrina was in the hospital again.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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。

You’ve never heard songs quite like this before. In fact, it seems that Moyun of Hong Kong can transform just about any song into something completely new     1     the help of the Guzheng. This traditional Chinese instrument     2    (make) of 16 or more strings and movable bridges. Together, it produces some of the sweetest sounds that pair surprisingly well with     3     was originally a rock song.

“Traditional Chinese instruments aren’t suited for     4    (adapt) a band’s entire sound,” Moyun said. “Guzheng is like the bass. It’s hard to create variations with it.” Despite the     5    (limitation), Moyun has mastered the process of changing popular music for the Guzheng. In one of her many videos     6    (share) on YouTube, she does this with “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC. During her     7    (perform), Moyun is constantly moving both of her hands, each movement     8    (effortless) methodical and fascinating to watch. When she’s not plucking(弹拨) one of the instrument’s many stings, she is beating it like a drum.

By sharing videos like these, Moyun hopes that more people will come to appreciate this unique instrument. “Chinese culture tends     9    (be) abstract,” she said. “It’s not really accessible. But pop culture is accessible. By putting     10     two together, I hope the audience can appreciate my music.”

10 . Head to Flint, Michigan, on a Wednesday night, and you’ll see a blinding display of lights near the river.

The tradition _________ on a whim in 2010 with Daniel Riddick, a doctor in Hurley Children’s Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. His patient, a teenager, had been in the hospital long-term. During his stay, Daniel had _________ with the kid so deeply that he decided that on the boy’s _________ night there, he would do something _________ for the final parting.

As he left, Daniel told the boy to _________ the corner near the bus stop from his window. Daniel _________ to that spot, turned around, and flickered (闪烁) his bike light up toward the hospital. To his surprise, the teen flickered his own room lights to _________. “From a quarter mile away it was very _________ where the kid was,” says Daniel. “I figured if it _________ once I could do it again.” And so he did.

Daniel made it a __________ to ficker his bike lights to kids as he left for the night as a __________ way to say goodbye. The nightly tradition became such a __________ that customers started joining in with flashlights and cell phones too.

The tradition has __________ inspired those beyond Michigan and Daniel hopes it __________ even more. “It could happen anywhere if someone is willing to give it a try with one __________,” he says.

1.

A．developed

B．survived

C．continued

D．started

2.

A．negotiated

B．bonded

C．agreed

D．accommodated

3.

A．last

B．usual

C．scary

D．challenging

4.

A．essential

B．accurate

C．special

D．tolerant

5.

A．witness

B．appreciate

C．watch

D．explore

6.

A．slid

B．biked

C．drove

D．paced

7.

A．signal

B．warn

C．check

D．respond

8.

A．evident

B．important

C．probable

D．surprising

9.

A．worked

B．changed

C．happened

D．mattered

10.

A．duty

B．assignment

C．practice

D．commitment

11.

A．casual

B．trendy

C．strange

D．fun

12.

A．phenomenon

B．miracle

C．hit

D．celebration

13.

A．only

B．even

C．nearly

D．ever

14.

A．improves

B．spreads

C．extends

D．accelerates

15.

A．light

B．message

C．hope

D．sign