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。

Walking through his neighborhood supermarket in Australia,     1     packs of Chinese sauerkraut (酸菜) line the shelves, Huang Xiqing feels like he’s shopping in his hometown of Shenyang in Liaoning province. “The sauerkraut soup tastes just like home,” says the 45-year-old Chinese living in Canberra,     2     (sound) a little homesick.

Chinese sauerkraut, a pickle which     3     (make) of Chinese cabbage, is a traditional specialty of the northeastern region and is now sold around the country     4     exported overseas. Chinese cabbage has gained     5     (popular) with ordinary household, because it is cheap and can be stored for a relatively long period of time.

During the last decades, Chinese businessmen have set     6     several sauerkraut companies. Among them, the Xinmin agricultural product company of the Heilongjiang Cuihua Group has sold its Chinese sauerkraut not only     7     (domestic), but also to countries including Canada, Japan and the United States. When people were making purchases for Spring Festival, sales of Chinese sauerkraut on Douyin increased more than10-fold,     8     (compare) to the previous year.

But for Huang, Chinese sauerkraut is an everlasting link to home. “Although I have tried delicacies from across     9     globe. Chinese sauerkraut is still one of my     10     (favourite), and reminds me of my hometown,” Huang says.

2 . Lying in my hospital bed, I was flicking through (快速转换) the channels when I suddenly paused. Muscular women were competing in a body sculpting competition on the _______ . “Wow, they are _______ ,” I thought in amazement.

It was 2004, and I’d been hospitalized with asthma, which gave me the desire to _______ a more healthy lifestyle. I didn’t know how to exercise correctly and found it hard to _______ healthy diets. But now at 49, it was time for a _______ . Therefore, the day after I left the hospital, I joined the gym with one _______ : to look like the women I’d seen on TV.

The first sessions were so _______ that I could barely walk back down the stairs afterwards. But I kept _______ for several hours, four days a week, slowly building my strength. After six months of training, I _______ my first competition—Masters Over Forty. Standing on the stage, my heart nearly leapt from my chest when they ________ I was the winner.

Over the next 14 years, I ________ 35 titles in body sculpting competitions worldwide. During this time, I decided to use my experience to help other women over 40 achieve their ________ goals. I became a personal trainer and wrote a book to help people eat ________ food during their training. With the right diet, everyone can stay healthy and strong longer.

I know many older women have never been in the ________ or picked up a weight. But it’s never too ________ to make changes.

1.

A．screen

B．bed

C．way

D．mind

2.

A．intelligent

B．reliable

C．wealthy

D．incredible

3.

A．abandon

B．continue

C．adopt

D．alter

4.

A．mix up

B．stick to

C．show off

D．put aside

5.

A．rest

B．celebration

C．chat

D．change

6.

A．suggestion

B．goal

C．order

D．bonus

7.

A．hard

B．dull

C．ridiculous

D．dangerous

8.

A．staying up

B．standing by

C．working out

D．passing out

9.

A．organized

B．sponsored

C．hosted

D．entered

10.

A．announced

B．whispered

C．predicted

D．assumed

11.

A．witnessed

B．lost

C．defended

D．won

12.

A．career

B．fitness

C．education

D．finance

13.

A．tasty

B．fresh

C．appropriate

D．abundant

14.

A．gym

B．hospital

C．session

D．building

15.

A．soon

B．young

C．late

D．fun

3 . Food labels seem to provide all the information a thoughtful consumer needs, so counting calories should be simple.     1     They say how many calories a food contains, and yet what they don’t say is that how many calories you actually get out of your food depends on how highly processed it is.

Food-processing includes cooking, mixing and mashing (捣烂).     2     It can also be completed in your home when you prepare a meal. Highly processed foods are more digestible, whose effects can be big. If you eat the food raw you will tend to lose weight. If you eat the same food cooked, you will tend to gain weight.     3    

As a result, when we are losing weight, we should reject processed food. And to do so would be much easier if our food labels gave us some advice about how many calories we would save by eating less-processed food.     4     The problem lies in a shortage of information. They find it hard to predict precisely how many extra calories will be gained when our food is more highly processed.

    5     The first gives a precise number of calories but takes no account of the known effects of food-processing, and therefore mismeasures what our bodies are actually harvesting from the food. The second would take account of food-processing, but without any precise numbers. Faced by this difficult choice, every country has opted to ignore the effect of processing and the result is that consumers are confused.

A．Same calories, different outcomes.

B．Processed foods should be given more restrictions.

C．It can be done by the food industry before you buy.

D．Food labels fail to offer a specific number of calories.

E．So why do our nutrition advisers keep silent on the topic?

F．But things get tricky because food labels tell only half the story.

G．Our food labeling therefore faces a choice between two systems.

4 . For the critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphin, fishing equipment is a deadly threat to their lives. In Indonesia’s Mahakam River, two-thirds of dolphin deaths in the past 25 years were drownings caused by being trapped in fishing nets. Now a relatively inexpensive and practical electronic device known as Pinger shows promise for preventing dolphins from becoming trapped. These underwater noisemakers have been used to protect various marine life, but this is the first time they’ve been proven effective at protecting freshwater dolphins.

The small sound device, about the size of a banana, is attached to a fishing net and sends out a pulsing noise (脉冲噪声) that annoys the dolphins but doesn’t harm them. Dolphins are capable of avoiding the nets, being scared of trying to seize fish from them, and can therefore feed and swim more safely in their habitat. Fishers’ nets, meanwhile, sustain less damage and this can make fishers control the cost.

Pingers are lucrative to fishers’ livelihoods. A six-month study, led by conservation organization Yayasan Konservasi RASI and supported by WWF, recently revealed that fishers who used the devices saw a 40% increase in their daily catch — an additional 350 to 500 pounds of fish — and tended to catch larger fish, thus increasing their profits.

Approximately 80 Irrawaddy dolphins live in the Mahakam River. Small populations are found in the Mekong and Ayeyarwady rivers, where, in addition to being trapped by the fishing nets, they’re impacted by the worsening habitat, unsustainable fishing practices, as well as water pollution.

During the study, the reduction in dolphin bycatch was significant. 100% of participating fishers kept using the devices after the trial ended, which proves that the action of using the device to protect dolphins from being harmed or killed is becoming effective.

1. Why is the undewater sound device applied?

A．To examine the health of dolphins.	B．To scare fish away from dolphins.
C．To decrease noise around dolphins.	D．To keep dolphins safe from fishing nets.

2. What does the second paragraph mainly talk about?

A．Pinger’s efficiency.	B．Pinger’s working principle.
C．Pinger’s limitations.	D．Pinger’s working conditions.

3. What does the underlined word “lucrative” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Sensitive.

B．Familiar.

C．Risky.

D．Beneficial.

4. What can be inferred from the last two paragraphs?

A．Further research will be carried out.	B．The number of dolphins may increase.
C．Dolphins will move to new habitats.	D．All fishers have employed the devices.

5 . What kind of images does “blue sky” create? A breath-taking scenery, broad-mindedness, or a promising future? For Ruslan, a young Kazakh student in China, it means something special. Ruslan’s microblog ID is “Ruslan Blue Sky,” so he is adorably called Mr. Blue Sky. With his sincere smile, selfless dedication, and goodwill toward the Chinese people, this name cannot be more fitting.

In 2023, Ruslan came to China to study Chinese. He did not feel out of place in the warm and wet Hainan, but found local people and customs charming. He had developed a strong interest in the Chinese culture in his childhood, watching Chinese TV series Journey to the West. While absorbed in studying at Hainan University, he made blood donation for the first time, and learned that he had the rare RH negative blood. With only 0.1% to 0.3% of the population having this blood, RH negative blood is referred to as “panda blood”. A dozen thousand women with this blood type get pregnant in China every year. Local RH negative blood banks are often in urgent need of supplies.

Having acknowledged how rare his blood is, Ruslan became a regular donor, making blood donation twice a year. In eight years, he has donated over 5,000 milliliters of blood. In order to help more people, he asked blood banks to leave his phone number with patients in urgent need. Learning a girl in a car accident needing this type of blood, he rushed to contact relevant hospitals to offer help and encouraged the girl with a microblog post—“Mr. Blue Sky is here to help!”

When receiving praise, he says that blood donation is what he and everyone else should do, and he offers help simply because helping others can be a rainbow in someone else’ cloud.

1. What can we know about Ruslan during his studying in Hainan?

A．He found his new life there fascinating.	B．He was called “Panda Blood Boy”.
C．He started watching Journey to the West.	D．He could hardly adapt to the local climate.

2. What did Ruslan do after knowing his blood type?

A．He saved a pregnant woman.	B．He donated blood regularly.
C．He contacted patients directly.	D．He went to work in blood banks.

3. Which of the following can best describe Ruslan?

A．Considerate and humorous.	B．Curious and diligent.
C．Warm-hearted and selfless.	D．Strong-willed and ambitious.

4. What can be the-best title for the text?

A．The Road to a Big Fame	B．Ruslan’s Learning Journey
C．Life in a Friendly Country	D．Mr. Blue Sky’s Panda Blood

6 . What’s on

The Grand Expedition

The Grand Expedition combines interactive design and the special “food” theme in one cultural performance. Performers will play various roles such as boat captains and chefs to interact with participants while offering them international dishes to try. The show has experimented with this “food + theater” theme for more than 10 years.

Where: Loire, Paris

When: April 22 to May 1, 2024

Price: From $111

Cyber Rhapsody of Da Vinci

Did you ever imagine one day technology could bring classic master Leonardo da Vinci right in front of our eyes? This data painting exhibition is attempting to achieve just that by using AI. The AI art team OUCHHH has allowed AI to study the works of Da Vinci, Einstein and Galileo.

Where: Uffizi gallery, Florence

When: April 19 to April 28, 2024

Price: From $13

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

This music event is a candlelight concert of classical music. Classical pieces from great composers will be played. The stage, lit with hundreds of candles, will allow audience to take as many photos as they like. With lit candles, great musicians and music, it is an excellent way for people to relax and enjoy music.

Where: Waverley, Edinburgh

When: April 22 to May 5, 2024

Price: From $12

The Playful World of Eric

This exhibition is a solo show for Eric Carle, a US author, designer and illustrator of children's books. Children and parents will definitely have fun at the exhibition. The art gallery showcases 24 illustrations by Eric and 15 interactive activities are available for families, providing visitors a memorable experience.

Where: Wenceslas, Prague

When: April 16 to April 26, 2024

Price: From $13

1. Which of the four events lasts the longest?

A．Cyber Rhapsody of Da Vinci.	B．The Grand Expedition.
C．A Midsummer Night's Dream.	D．The Playful World of Eric.

2. What do The Grand Expedition and The Playful World of Eric have in common?

A．They include interactive activities.	B．They cover a wide range of themes.
C．They provide various kinds of food.	D．They involve role-play games for kids.

3. Where is this text most probably taken from?

A．A review of classic music.	B．An introduction to a book.
C．A guidebook to travelling.	D．A magazine of technology.

7 . 阅读下面材料, 在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

Temples used to play a key role in hutong community life in Beijing. Many people may be surprised     1     (learn)that there were about 1,500 temples in Beijing from 1740 to 1950. During this time, there were two to three temples in every hutong. In the 1930s, visitors to Beijing,     2     (lead)by tour guides, in most cases, visited some temples during their stay.

Besides prayer, temples had many functions at that time. For example, Fayuan Temple, known     3     its lilac (丁香) blossoms, functioned as parks, where the public could enjoy the nature. Local residents’ lives were closely involved with the temples. For instance, when children were ill, their parents might take them to a temple and turned to masters in the temples for help,     4     had medical skills. And children reaching school age would     5     (usual)go to temples for lessons. When people failed to make ends meet, they might become a temple monk, which then was viewed as a good     6     (choose). In downtown Beijing, Guanyin Temple acted as a small public square for people     7     (live)in the nearby hutong. For a long time, it functioned as a nursing home for     8     elderly and provided accommodations for the homeless.

Temples, by providing a place where local groups could gather,     9     (be)one of the best and most unforgettable     10     (memory)for the local residents in the 20th century.

8 . As human beings, we’re all guilty of getting things wrong occasionally, whether we are at work or in our personal lives.     1    

●Step away from being perfect

When you’re not sure of your own self-worth, you wonder how other people are going to see you. If you don’t feel good about yourself, you might feel like there’s less room for error. The smallest mistake can feel like a disastrous error. Nobody’s perfect. You may make mistakes, especially when you’re starting out.     2    

●Turn to social support

Your mistake might feel like a huge event in your life, but chances are others won’t see it as such a big deal. Reaching out to friends or family can help you see the bigger picture and feel more confident.     3    . When you have that softness, and you have relationships that give you confidence, you might be able to take some of life’s challenges with a lighter eye.

●     4    

Accepting unavoidable mistakes might help to soften your blow. What you can do after making a mistake is accept that you’ve messed up and promise to be better tomorrow.     5    . Instead of beating yourself up, take a moment to reflect on what you’ve learned from your mistake and how you could handle things for the better in future.

Forgiving yourself after making a mistake isn’t always an easy thing, and beating yourself up doesn’t benefit anyone—So it’s better for you to make changes and move on.

A．Promise to do better.

B．Forgive others’ mistakes.

C．Some people are perfectionists.

D．That’s the way to forgive yourself.

E．Don’t expect perfection in everything you do.

F．However, the value of social support is often overlooked.

G．Here’s how we can forgive ourselves when facing our mistakes.

9 . A great many studies have been conducted to distinguish between babies learning their first language and children or adults learning a second language.

A baby’s brain comes into the world prepared to learn any human language they hear spoken around them. The brain gets the same stimulation(刺激)from exposure to any language, although it adapts to certain features of the language such as specific sounds. Learning a language is natural for all babies, like learning to walk.

In fact, babies can even acquire two or more languages together, if they hear them regularly. The languages can be similar, like Portuguese and Spanish, or very different, like English and Chinese. Their bilingual(双语的)brains already understand something about the ways that languages can be different.

But scientists found that changes exist if people already speak a language and are learning a second one. A language that is very different to the one they already know is going to seem harder than the one that’s quite similar to their first language.

For example, if your first language is English, Spanish words like león for “lion” or sal for “salt” are going to be easier to learn than, say, Chinese shīzi and yán, or Turkish aslan and tuz. To make English words plural(复数), you usually add-s or-es, and the same is true in Spanish, so “lions” is leones. But in Turkish “lions” is aslanlar, and in Chinese there’s no difference between “lion” and “lions” at all. It’s mainly the difference from your first language that can make another language “easier” or “harder”, not the language itself.

Scientists used to think that there was a cutoff point, at around the age of 12 or 13, after which it was impossible to learn a new language completely. We now know that young people can learn another language throughout their teen years. After that, it does become harder — but not impossible — to reach high levels of fluency in a new language.

1. Why can babies acquire different languages according to the text?

A．They receive more stimulation.	B．They can make specific sounds.
C．They have well-developed brains.	D．They are natural language learners.

2. What is the purpose of giving examples in Paragraph 5?

A．To arouse interest.	B．To make predictions.
C．To show the diversity.	D．To explain the finding.

3. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Adults can learn a new language easily.

B．Teenagers can not reach high levels of fluency.

C．Languages should be learned at a younger age.

D．The cutoff point makes no difference in language study.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Benefits of acquiring languages.	B．Learning difficulties in language.
C．Age influence on language learning.	D．Differences between children and adults.

10 . Joseph Dituri hasn’t seen the sun for days. And he won’t see it again for months. Since March 1, the bio-medical engineer has been underwater, with the goal of spending 100 days there—for science.

The underwater living, if successful, will also break the current world record for time spent living underwater, which was set by two Tennessee biologists in 2014 when they stayed beneath the surface for 73 days.

Dituri, who uses the nickname Dr. Deep Sea, is living in Jules’ Undersea Lodge (小屋) in Key Largo, Florida—the same underwater spot where the previous record was set. The 100-square-foot hotel, which sits 30 feet below the surface, is his intended home until June 9, where he’ll be carrying out research and giving virtual lectures for his students at the University of South Florida.

As part of this research, Dituri is researching the effects of living in a high-pressure environment for an extended period. To keep water from entering the lodge, air must constantly be pumped into the space, which creates a pressure about 1.6 times that of Earth’s surface.

“The human body has never been underwater that long, so I will be monitored closely,” Dituri says in a press release. “This study will examine every way this journey affects my body.” Before taking the dive, Dituri had psychosocial, psychological and medical tests. He will continue to have testing during and after his 100 days at the lodge. He’s also taking doses of Vitamin D and keeping regular psychological appointments.

Beyond research, the project is also a chance to promote ocean protection and encourage young scientists. “The oceans are in a bit of trouble―the coral reefs are under attack, and the fishing industry is collapsing,” Thane Milhoan, habitat operations manager for Jules’ Undersea Lodge, says in a video. “We wanted to make use of the attention that the 100-day mission would demand to inspire the youth, more so than anybody, to get involved and start taking action.”

1. What is the reason for Joseph Dituri’s living underwater?

A．To enjoy a unique hotel.	B．To do scientific research.
C．To break the world record.	D．To promote an undersea lodge.

2. How do the researchers keep water out of the lodge?

A．By pumping air into the lodge.	B．By increasing the water pressure.
C．By changing the underwater spot.	D．By extending the surface of the hotel.

3. Why is Dituri always taking tests?

A．To keep a positive mood.	B．To adapt to the environment.
C．To see the effects of the study on him.	D．To examine the change of the surroundings.

4. What does the underlined word “collapsing” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Breaking down.	B．Coming out.
C．Operating well.	D．Growing fast.