1 . A 12-year-old artist from Iowa is using his artwork to raise awareness and money for children’s cancer.

When Arsh Pal was eight years old, he was ________ painting supplies for his birthday. He ________ painting watercolor canvases (油画), and had made so many that he began ________ some of them to his family and friends as gifts.

As ________ went on, Pal got even better at painting, and his paintings grew in ________ in America, especially among the young people.

________, he started selling his paintings and ________ 100 percent of his proceeds (收入) to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He set a ________ to raise $1,000, which he quickly ________. Since then, Pal has ________ more than $15,000, and has donated, to at least five charities ________ St. Jude, Easterseals, Make-a-Wish foundation, Compass to Care, and the Riverview Center.

For all of his hard work and ________, Pal was recently honored with the Diana Award, a ________ youth humanitarian award named after the late Princess Diana. The ________ is given to “outstanding young people” between the ages of 9 and 25 who are “________ creating and sustaining positive social change.”

“I’m from Iowa and everybody else is from everywhere else,” Pal told Des Moines Register. “I feel really ________ that I’m getting it because it’s a pretty big award. Princess Diana ________ charitable work and helping the community, so that’s kind of what I do.”

In his free time, Pal also ________ nursing home residents how to paint. He hopes to soon start teaching free painting ________ to kids as well, particularly those who ________ from bad anxiety and emotional struggles.

1.

A．gifted

B．promised

C．advised

D．expected

2.

A．imagined

B．began

C．considered

D．finished

3.

A．going over

B．turning down

C．putting away

D．giving away

4.

A．time

B．hope

C．work

D．effort

5.

A．scale

B．content

C．popularity

D．degree

6.

A．Hopefully

B．Eventually

C．Obviously

D．Generally

7.

A．providing

B．donating

C．delivering

D．lending

8.

A．plan

B．dream

C．goal

D．purpose

9.

A．reached

B．changed

C．pursued

D．decided

10.

A．promoted

B．requested

C．gathered

D．raised

11.

A．covering

B．including

C．containing

D．demanding

12.

A．honesty

B．patience

C．generosity

D．courage

13.

A．famous

B．normal

C．similar

D．regular

14.

A．title

B．award

C．money

D．status

15.

A．naturally

B．formally

C．effectively

D．selflessly

16.

A．nervous

B．curious

C．happy

D．confused

17.

A．reflects

B．indicated

C．represents

D．Suggests

18.

A．teaches

B．observes

C．informs

D．arranges

19.

A．lectures

B．lessons

C．subjects

D．schools

20.

A．escape

B．separate

C．benefit

D．suffer

2 . If you’re currently studying in senior high school, chances are that you’ve started thinking about what your career options might be for the future.     1    

If you use a step-by-step plan, you can avoid choosing a college major that turns out to be nothing like you expected and head on a career path with more confidence and eventual success.

Start With an Aptitude (能力) Test

    2     Other people find reading, writing and learning languages easy. Taking an aptitude test, also known as a career test or career quiz, will help you determine where your study skills will help you best.

You shouldn’t pigeon-hole yourself into a profession just because a career test says it’s right for you.     3     However, aptitude tests often help you identify professions you might not have considered.

Take a Personality Test

Personality tests can help you figure out if you’re a natural leader or more of a follower.     4     How do you handle conflict? What about dealing with bullies or gossips? A personality test will help you decide if you might be comfortable working for a large corporation in a team environment, or as an entrepreneur (创业者) launching your own business.

List Jobs That Interest You

Write a list of jobs that interest you.     5     Be realistic, based on where you live and what your finances are. For example, if you want to start a restaurant, you’ll need hundreds of thousands of dollars. Working in a restaurant as a prep cook or taking cooking classes will help you see what the restaurant business is like and whether or not it might be right for you.

A．It’s never too early for you to do so.

B．Are you good at singing or drawing?

C．Many people end up doing what they don’t like.

D．For some people, subjects like math and science come easily.

E．Do you like to work in groups, or are you better on your own?

F．You shouldn’t avoid a career because a test says it’s not a good fit.

G．They can be jobs you know nothing about but are fun or challenging.

3 . New York City public schools will ban students and teachers from using ChatGPT, a powerful new AI chatbot (聊天机器人) tool, on the district’s networks and devices, an official confirmed to CNN on Thursday.

The move comes amid educators’ growing concerns that the tool, which generates frighteningly convincing responses and even essays in response to user prompts (提示), could make it easier for students to cheat on assignments. Some also worry that ChatGPT could be used to spread incorrect information.

“Due to concerns about negative impacts on student learning, and concerns regarding the safety and accuracy of content, access to ChatGPT is restricted on New York City Public Schools’ networks and devices,” Jenna Lyle, the deputy press secretary for the New York public schools, said in a statement. “While the tool may be able to provide quick and easy answers to questions, it does not build critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, which are essential for academic and lifelong success.”

OpenAI opened up access to ChatGPT in late November. It is able to provide lengthy, thoughtful and thorough responses to questions and prompts, ranging from factual questions like “Who was the president of the United States in 1955” to more open-ended questions such as “What’s the meaning of life?”

ChatGPT went viral just days after its launch. But many educators fear students will use the tool to cheat on assignments. One user, for example, fed ChatGPT an AP English exam question; it responded with a 5-paragraph essay about Wuthering Heights. Another user asked the chatbot to write an essay about the life of William Shakespeare four times; he received a unique version with the same prompt each time.

Darren Hicks, assistant professor of philosophy at Furman University, told CNN it will be harder to prove when a student misuses ChatGPT than with other forms of cheating.

1. What do educators fear about ChatGPT?

A．It will affect students’ studies.

B．It will lead to students cheating.

C．It will result in students’ long screen time.

D．It will offer unhealthy contents to students.

2. What did Jenna Lyle think of ChatGPT?

A．It provides incorrect answers.	B．It serves no practical purpose.
C．It offers inaccurate information.	D．It fails to improve students’ skills.

3. What do we learn about ChatGPT?

A．It can’t write Chinese essays.

B．It can’t answer open-ended questions.

C．It makes no mistakes when answering questions.

D．It can offer different essays for the same prompt.

4. What would be the most suitable title for the text?

A．ChatGPT Makes Cheating More Difficult to Find

B．ChatGPT Surprises the Public with Its Intelligence

C．ChatGPT Banned in New York City Public Schools

D．ChatGPT Has Negative Effects on Students Learning

4 . The idea of a four-day workweek used to be a pipedream for most workers and firms. But in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies around the world have given it a go — and gathered promising results.

In the US and Ireland, a six-month trial among 33 volunteer companies in 2022 showed a positive impact on company performance, productivity and employee wellbeing. Employees working the shortened week reported less stress and fatigue, plus improved work-life balance and satisfaction. The 27 companies that submitted a final survey rated the trial a nine out of 10. In a 2022 UK trial of 70 firms, 86% of companies said the four-day week was a great success. They cited benefits such as increased productivity and significant financial savings for employees on transport and childcare.

Yet despite the overwhelmingly positive data, a four-day workweek still seems out of reach for many workers. Tech workers in flexible, forward-thinking small companies might hope for such a benefit in the near future, but it is harder to expect the same change for schoolteachers or office workers in more traditional companies.

“In practice, what we see is more small and medium companies trialling the four-day workweek,” says Pedro Gomes, author of Friday is the new Saturday. Other organizations for which four-day workweeks are likely off the table are hourly-and service-based — like restaurants, retail and healthcare — where a shorter workweek and subsequently fewer shifts eventually means pay cuts. Creating a pathway to less labour may be impossible in these industries, if it means losing out on pay.

Even facing resistance from some leaders, experts say it is likely the four-day week will become more mainstream. In sectors that are already welcoming the shift, the 32-hour week is emerging as “a tool for competitive advantage in terms of talent, attraction and retention”, says Joe O’Connor, director of the Work Time Reduction Center of Excellence. “In tech companies, not offering a four-day week will be almost a competitive disadvantage.”

1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?

A．The popularity of a four-day workweek.

B．Why a four-day workweek is necessary.

C．How a four-day workweek is carried out.

D．The problems with a four-day workweek.

2. Which of the following would most probably adopt a four-day workweek?

A．Government officers.	B．Schools and hospitals.
C．Small tech companies.	D．Traditional big companies.

3. What does a four-day workweek mean for workers in hourly-and service-based organizations?

A．Reduced stress.	B．Lower incomes.
C．Better performance.	D．Increased productivity.

4. What does Joe O’Connor think of a four-day workweek?

A．It will be the future trend.	B．It will face great challenge.
C．It will have negative effects.	D．It will improve productivity.

5 . When Marguerite Richards made a TikTok introducing her father’s decade-old thriller novel, she was hoping to arouse a little interest. A few dozen new readers, maybe. As the first few positive comments started rolling in, she was pleased to have done something nice for a dad who definitely deserved it.

She had no idea that, within a matter of days, millions of people would see her video, and her father’s book would rocket to the top of Amazon’s Best Seller list.

Lloyd Devereux Richards first published Stone Maidens in 2012. It’s a thriller about an FBI agent following a killer in Indiana and, by his daughter’s account, it’s quite attractive. However, the original release failed to drum up excitement.

It’s a different world now, and Richards, the daughter, decided to try her luck. “I saw how much time and effort and passion my dad put into his book. I know what a lovely storyteller he is,” she told CNN. “He never stopped writing, and he always stayed positive.”

Whether it was the interesting thriller, or the efforts of a proud daughter, the story of Lloyd Devereux Richards and Stone Maidens struck a chord.

Marguerite Richards posted the first TikTok about Stone Maidens about two weeks ago. It has since received 48 million views and numerous positive responses. Richards then posted more videos of her father, the author of the hour, delighting in his unexpected success.

This particular incident falls under a social media type best described as “Young people giving their elders love and recognition on a platform the latter doesn’t understand.” It’s a fruitful one, full of parents just like Lloyd Devereux Richards who wake up one morning to find their talents, hobbies or unusual habits have been broadcast to the world—and won them a great number of admirers. The experience has breathed new life into a labor of love. It’s also driven home some lessons about inspiration and determination.

1. What did Marguerite Richards do according to the text?

A．She helped her father to publish his novel.

B．She introduced her father on social media.

C．She wrote an interesting novel about her father.

D．She made a video to promote her father’s novel.

2. What do we learn about Stone Maidens?

A．It was an instant success.

B．It wasn’t interesting indeed.

C．It didn’t attract much attention at first.

D．It was written more than fifteen years ago.

3. What is the underlined phrase “struck a chord” in Paragraph 5 closest in meaning to?

A．Satisfied people’s needs.	B．Aroused people’s interest.
C．Made people feel confused.	D．Made people feel disappointed

4. What does social media platforms mean to old people according to the last paragraph?

A．Great barriers.	B．Novel experiences.
C．Comfortable zones.	D．Unexpected surprises.

6 .

About Reader’s Digest

Reader’s Digest is America’s fourth largest-circulation magazine brand, standing out more than ever in today’s cultural landscape due to its themes of optimism, faith, heroism, trust, humor, and wellness.

Our History

Reader’s Digest was first published in 1922 by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Acheson Wallace. A man ahead of his time, DeWitt Wallace recognized that people were hungry for information but overwhelmed by choice, so he began collecting the best stories from a vast array of publications.

Reader’s Digest Worldwide

Reader’s Digest was the first print magazine to go international, starting with the United Kingdom in 1938, followed by a Spanish language edition in 1940, and eventually published in 17 languages in 34 countries. Today Reader’s Digest is published in 22 countries.

Up-to-Date News

From stress-free money-saving strategies and quick reports on the latest in healthcare to inspiring articles on world events, you’ll discover hundreds of ideas for living a richer, more satisfying life.

True-Life Stories

Cheer on America’s hometown heroes! You’ll be fascinated by these uplifting true tales of everyday people who put their lives in harm’s way to help others. Share in their amazing stories as they recall how they overcame all difficulties to accomplish the unexpected… and the extraordinary.

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Reader’s Digest annual cover price is $44.91 and is currently published 9 times annually. Frequency is subject to change without notice, and special issues may be published occasionally (which count as 2 issues).

1. What do we learn about Reader’s Digest?

A．It was created by three founders.

B．It has a history of over 100years.

C．It is the most influential magazine in America.

D．It has covered more and more countries since 1940.

2. What is special about True-Life Stories in Reader’s Digest?

A．They focus on famous people.	B．They happen all over the world.
C．They are positive and inspiring.	D．They are interesting and humourous.

3. How much will you save if you choose a two-year subscription of the magazine?

A．About $34.91.

B．About $44.91.

C．About $69.82.

D．About $74.82.

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。

Nowdays many youngsters prefer to go online in their spare time. Generally,its advantages can be seen as     1    (follow). First, through the internet, they can gain new knowledge       2     the latest news at home and abroad. Besides, the network offers them a convenient way     3     (communicate) with each other. The internet makes     4    (they) life outside class colorful. But every coin has two sides. The negative       5    (aspect) are also apparent. One of the important disadvantages is       6     some students prefer to play computer games instead of       7    (study) their lessons. To make matters       8    (bad), there are some students who are often absent       9     school for days. Through the above     10    (analyze), I believe that the positive aspects overweight the negative ones. Therefore, I would like to go online in my spare time.

8 . Kids are born with emotional reactions such as crying, frustration, hunger and pain. But they learn about other emotions as they grow older. Babies are essentially guided by emotions pre-wired into their brains. For instance, their cries are usually an attempt to avoid unpleasant things or to move towards pleasant ones (food, touch, hugs). Listening to recordings of play songs can maintain six-to nine-month-old babies in a relatively contented or neutral(中性的)state considerably longer than recordings of infant-directed or adult-directed speech.

By the time they turn one, toddlers(幼童)begin to understand that certain emotions are associated with certain situations. At this age, parents can talk to kids about emotions and encourage them to name those emotions. By the time they turn two, kids are able to adopt strategies to deal with difficult emotions. Helping toddlers avoid distressing situations or distracting them from those situations is one of the most effective emotion-regulation strategies.

Kids experience many emotions during the childhood years. Many secondary emotions come into play at this age as a child’s emotions are either validated(验证的)or invalidated, influencing future emotional reactions. Emotion regulation is not just about expressing emotions in a socially appropriate manner. It is a process that involves teaching children to identify emotions, helping them identify what triggers(引起)those emotions, and teaching them to manage those emotions by themselves. Modeling appropriate behavior is also important during the childhood years. The best way to teach your child to react to anger appropriately is to show her how.

Ultimately, helping kids manage their emotions begins by validating those emotions and providing an environment in which they feel safe to express them. As several studies have shown, kids who feel safe are more likely to develop and use appropriate emotion regulation skills to deal with difficult feelings.

1. Which of the following is got when one is born?

A．The ability to cry and feel pain.

B．The ability to name some emotions.

C．All the other emotions besides crying.

D．All the secondary emotions of humans.

2. When do people understand the relation between emotions and situations?

A．Before they are born.

B．As soon as they are born.

C．When they are one year old.

D．After they come into childhood.

3. How can a child learn to react to emotions best?

A．By learning on their own.

B．By seeing and copying their parents.

C．Through studying and living at school.

D．Through talking to children of the same age.

4. What is the best title of the text?

A．The Process of a Child’s Growth.

B．Emotions That Children May Have.

C．A New Study about Children’s Emotions.

D．An Age-by-age Guide to Helping Kids Manage Emotions.

9 . Kumar is ten years old and works with his father in New Delhi. Every morning, while carrying plastic bags on his shoulders, he runs into children walking to school, ashamed at not being in a school uniform like them. Kumar is one of India’s five million school dropouts. These are the children of villagers who moved to New Delhi but end up living in slums (贫民窟). Many of them, like Kumar’s father, can’t afford to send their children to school. Others are not able to provide birth certificates for their children, which are necessary for school admission.

However, two yellow buses — equipped as mobile schools with teaching materials such as books, whiteboard, pens and toys are helping them. They are part of the government’s project which started in 2003. The books and school bags are free. Every morning, the yellow bus mobile schools arrive near selected slums. “If the children can’t go to school, we have to take the school to them, to their doorstep,” said Sharma, a mobile school teacher. Sharma said that at first parents hesitated to send their children to the mobile school because they were afraid that their children would be cheated. It took the teachers a long time to build their confidence.

Financed by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) in India, the mobile schools project has helped reduce the number of dropouts from 25 million to 5 million. The children are proud because the mobile school comes specially for them. It has changed their lives and given them hope. After joining the bus school, eleven-year-old Meena is very happy with her new life. Although she is young, she understands that education is the key to escaping the poverty. So impressed by her progress, other mothers were convinced to let their daughters attend the mobile school.

The mobile school teachers provide children with primary education to get them up to the level and then they go on with their studies in public schools.

1. What keeps Kumar from going to school in New Delhi?

A．His father has been uneducated.	B．He has no birth certificate of his.
C．His family has no enough money.	D．He has no interest in learning.

2. How did the parents feel about the mobile schools at the beginning?

A．Proud.

B．Tolerant.

C．Impressed.

D．Skeptical.

3. Which of the following can best describe the bus schools?

A．They’ve cost India a lot.	B．They have been fruitful.
C．They’ve come to an end.	D．They are inconvenient.

4. In which section does the text appear most probably in an education magazine?

A．Kindergarten.	B．Primary school.
C．Junior high school.	D．Senior high school.

10 . How to live with an elderly person

Living with an elderly person has both rewards and challenges for everyone involved.     1    Both parties need to be patient and understand their unique living situation in order to make it work. Here are some tips to live with an elderly person.

Communicate with your elderly roommate.     2    If you don’t communicate, you won’t know each other’s problems and concerns. As a result, you won’t be able to form a relationship that respects both of your unique qualities.

    3     Both parties need to come to an agreement about each other’s space, independence, and autonomy (自主性). You need to understand what your elderly person is comfortable with when it comes to being assisted. Talk to them about their expectations about your relationship. Discuss use of shared space like the bathroom, kitchen, or living room.

Figure out finances. Figure out who pays for what ahead of time. Having finances decided and agreed upon ahead of time could save you from a headache or even legal fees in the future. Records will make a big difference here, so if you start out knowing who pays for what, and have it written down, you are ahead of the game.     4    

Give the person privacy. When possible, they should have as much privacy and personal space as it is practical to allow. Don’t turn yourself into a caregiver. Don’t become a nurse without need.     5    Always communicate first if you are concerned about your elderly roommate.

A．Decide boundaries.

B．Respect each other.

C．Don’t leave them alone.

D．Don’t enter their personal space.

E．This will help you avoid problems in the future.

F．Communication is the most important element of any relationship.

G．But we also need to respect the need of older people to feel independent.