1 . Imagine your home on its messages today. Legos spread over the floor. Dirty socks are jammed between couch cushions. Receipts and pieces of mail litter on the table. Though many of us feel shame when your homes end up in this state, a messy house is not a moral failing. The only thing that actually matters is whether your house is functional and livable.     1    .

Collect trash. First get a trash bag or a trash can. Then move around the room, collecting the garbage. But don’t take out the trash yet.     2    .

Pile up dirty dishes.     3    . Or you can pile them up. Maybe do the dishes. With unwashed plates in the kitchen and dining table, we are sure to be distracted and upset.

Pick up clothing and laundry. Collect the laundry that’s lying around. You can use a laundry basket or a bag. Bring the laundry to the machine and start it, if you want.

Put back things that have a place. This one is pretty straightforward.     4    . But if some items be long in another part of the house, put them in a basket or pile them up by the door for now.

    5    . Sometimes our belongings become disordered because we’ve never chosen a place to store them. We may decide to gather all the stuff that doesn’t have a place, put it in a basket and set it aside. At this point, you may also decide to create a home for these random odds and ends. Some people call this a “junk drawer.”

Once you’ve gone through the five methods, then use your space! Might we suggest a celebratory dance party?

A．Gather things that don’t have a place

B．You can put them in the sink if it’s nearby

C．If that book belongs on the shelf, put it back

D．Pick out your belongings and throw away those unwanted

E．We can’t concentrate with too much trash all around the house

F．The more you leave that room, the less likely you are concentrated

G．This five-step method can quickly get a messy room back to functioning

2 . Young people are spending more time in digital spaces. The Internet allows us to connect with people, share ideas, be creative, have fun and discover new things. Unfortunately, young people also face risks online. Common problems include cyberbullying (网络欺凌), receiving unwanted messages, seeing images and content you don’t want to see, or having your private information or photos shared without your permission.

Safer Internet Day (SID) is organized in the second week of February every year, and over 180 countries take part. The aim is to raise awareness of online issues and make the Internet a safer place. SID invites everyone to be part of a big conversation about online issues. This is particularly important for teenagers because they often experience unpleasant situations online, but they don’t always feel they can talk about them.

Cyberbullying is when someone uses the Internet to embarrass, threaten or hurt another person. If you experience cyberbullying, talk to an adult you trust as soon as possible. Don’t reply to any messages but save the evidence.

Going online often means spending time alone. When you feel down, social media can make you feel lonelier. Using social media might be related to higher levels of depression. So you need healthy social media use.

Whatever app you use, make sure you know who sees your posts and personal information. Limit what people can see, decide who can comment on your content and thwart other users’ comment. It may be illegal to share a photo or video of someone without their permission. The SID’s website has advice about what to do if someone shares pictures of you that you feel embarrassed about.

There is still a lot we don’t know about how time spent online affects people’s well-being. But talking about all the issues helps everyone understand common problems and know how to deal with them.

1. What can we learn from paragraph 1?

A．The Internet has both good and bad sides.

B．The Internet is a safe place to share photos.

C．Young people should avoid going online.

D．Young people face more risks than adults.

2. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．What we can do on SID.	B．How to take part in SID.
C．The time of organizing SID.	D．Some information about SID.

3. What should you do if you experience cyberbullying according to the text?

A．Use other social media.	B．Turn to adults for help.
C．Reply to the messages.	D．Deal with it with classmates.

4. What does the underlined word “thwart” in paragraph 5 mean?

A．Admit.

B．Replace.

C．Prevent.

D．Change.

3 . A team in Europe are working with wood, but not in the usual ways. They are not carpenters (木匠). Instead, they are scientists exploring how wood can lead to a greener electronic device, a transistor (晶体管) made from balsa wood, whose production releases less climate-warming gas into the air.

Transistors play an important role in computers and other devices. They act like tiny switches to control the flow of electricity. Engineers use them to process and store data. Today’s laptops may host billions of them. So they must be tiny — only a little wider than a strand of DNA.

The new transistor being built by physicist Isak Engquist and his team at Sweden’s Linkoping University isn’t as small as those. Big enough to see and hold, it can stand only an electric pressure that pushes electrons along. And it controls a current using charged particles (粒子) called ions.

This new technology shows a “proof of concept” that the idea can work, even if the new device is not yet ready to put into today’s electronics. “While it seems large by today’s standards, such a transistor still might prove useful for electronics that require low electric pressures,” says Engquist.

“The new transistor suggests that future electronic devices might be made in living plants,” Daniel Simon, a physicist in the team, says. “Imagine peeling away some bark from a living tree,” he says, “and stamping electronic circuits into the living wood.”

In fact, Engquist says, “There are so many ways we can use wood and the components of wood that we would never have thought of.” For instance, he can now imagine a wood-based sensor that could monitor crop health, measure pollution or survey a forest for fire risk.

1. Which can best describe the transistor?

A．Costly.	B．Widely used.
C．Time-saving.	D．More environmentally friendly.

2. What is the new transistor’s disadvantage compared to common transistors?

A．It is much bigger.	B．It can’t stand electric pressure.
C．It can’t be seen.	D．It is made from metal.

3. What is Engquist’s attitude to the new transistor’s future?

A．Uncertain.

B．Doubtful.

C．Positive.

D．Indifferent.

4. What may be the best title for the text?

A．Wood’s surprising roles in modern electronic design

B．Wood-made transistors: a step toward greener electronics

C．Scientists are researching the history of transistors

D．Scientists are working as carpenters to invent transistors

4 . Everyone in the Smiths shares the housework. Let’s see what they usually do.

Prepare (准备) breakfast Monday to Wednesday: Mrs. Smith Thursday and Friday: Mr. Smith Saturday: Sam & Bob Sunday: Linda	Help in the kitchen Mrs. Smith cooks dinners. Mr. Smith does the dishes. Sam sets the table. Bob clears the table. Linda cleans the kitchen.
Tidy the living room Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: Mrs. Smith and Linda The other days: Mr. Smith and the boys. ●The kids clean their rooms every Thursday and Sunday. ●The kids take out the rubbish in turn (轮流).

1. When does Linda prepare breakfast?

A．On Monday.

B．On Friday.

C．On Saturday.

D．On Sunday.

2. What does Mr. Smith do to help in the kitchen?

A．He cleans the kitchen.	B．He does the dishes.
C．He clears the table.	D．He cooks dinners.

3. How often do the kids clean their rooms?

A．Once a week.	B．Three times a week.
C．Twice a week.	D．Three times a month.

5 . All students have bad times. What do they usually do when they get into trouble?

My mom is like my friend. I talk about everything to her. Whenever I have some trouble, I can get good advice from her. I have another good friend — my diary. It knows all my secrets. Talking with my two friends always makes me feel better.

                                                                                             —— Linda

Laughing helps me when I’m upset. I usually watch funny movies and TV shows. I also love spending my hard time with my best friend Dave. He is humorous and always makes me laugh.

                                                                                               —— Peter

Every time I feel bad, I go climbing alone. The study says exercising can help cheer one up (精神振奋). And the beautiful view at the top of the mountain makes me forget all my troubles. Sometimes I shout at the mountain top. It feels fantastic.

                                                                                                 —— John

1. Linda’s ________ knows all her secrets.

A．sister

B．teacher

C．diary

D．computer

2. The underlined word “humorous” probably means “________”.

A．quiet

B．funny

C．careful

D．serious

3. John always ________ when he feels bad.

A．goes climbing	B．watches movies
C．talks with his friends	D．reads books

4. Which of the following is TRUE?

A．Linda often asks her teacher for advice.

B．Dave often helps Peter with his homework.

C．John likes climbing mountains with his friends.

D．Exercising can help people feel good.

6 . Lion dance is a valued tradition deeply rooted in South China’s Guangdong province and among Chinese communities in Southeast Asian countries. Historically, this art form was only practiced by men. However, a unique team consisting entirely of teenage girls stands out among all the male groups — they are the Nanxing Hexingtang Women’s Lion Dance Team from the town of Ren he in Guangzhou.

Nearly every village in Guangzhou has its own lion dance team. Yet as of 2018, Hexingtang had only male participants. As there was a decline in the number of young people practicing lion dance, it accepted a few young girls. The journey was far from smooth for the girls. They were once hired to perform for a family on the first day of Chinese New Year. When the family realized that it was the girls who would be performing, they erupted in anger and chased them away. Then Hexingtang decided to formally establish a women’s team to make the female lion dance leagal. They customized flags and banners printed with “women’s team”, crafted pink and purple lion heads, which are rarely seen in male lion dance, and even fashioned a lion head looking like the image of the female general Mu Guiying, a famous figure in Yue Opera.

It was hoped that after the girls won awards and proved themselves, they might be accepted by more people. Their breakthrough came in 2021 when the girls beat all-male teams and won the first prize in a competition in Guangzhou’s Baiyun district. The following year, at the 16th Guangdong Provincial Games, the girls once again got the top prize in the junior group, representing Guangzhou. Since then, they have continued to win awards. In the recent Maofeng Mountain competition just before Spring Festival in Guangzhou, the team performed a routine titled “Tramping Over Mountains and Hills Step by Step”, which mirrors the growth journey of these girls themselves as they navigate through numerous challenges. Behind this near-perfect performance is girls’ dedication and hard work.

Lion dance is not easy, especially for girls, as it demands significant strength and mastery of martial arts movements. However, girls possess unique advantages and can cultivate a distinctive style. Girls typically have a keen understanding of music, performing perfectly in both lion and instrument roles. Furthermore, their superior physical flexibility allows them to complete difficult moves. Most importantly, their sensitivity enables them to capture the expressions and behaviors of lions.

1. What do we know about lion dance?

A．It is a tradition rooted in all Asian countries.

B．Only men could practice lion dance in the past.

C．Every village in Guangzhou has its own lion dance team.

D．It’s easy for people to practice.

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

A．made.

B．bought.

C．painted.

D．had.

3. What was the turning point for women’s team?

A．They performed for a family on the first day of Chinese New Year.

B．They performed a routine titled “Tramping Over Mountains and Hills Step by Step”.

C．They won the first prize in a competition in Guangzhou’s Baiyun district.

D．They won the top prize in the junior group at the 16th Guangdang Provincial Games.

4. Which is not a unique advantage of girls in lion dance?

A．They can complete difficult moves with superior physical flexibility.

B．They have great strength and master martial arts movements.

C．They have a keen understanding of music, performing perfectly in different roles.

D．They can capture the expressions and behaviors of lions with sensitivity.

7 . How to Go Green

The idea of “going green” means that you’ll try to reduce your impact on the environment. It’s a great way to improve the planet.     1    .

Walk or bike to places if you live close enough.

    2    , so they’re not a friend to the environment. Walking or biking instead of using a car is a great way to save natural resources while saving you money. When possible, walk or bike to work, school or shops.

    3    .

Communicate digitally whenever possible, and only print out items when you absolutely must. When you do use paper, recycle it or save it to reuse the other side of it.

Buy second-hand products or borrow items instead of buying something new.

Buying things produces more waste and pollution, so try not to buy things you don’t need. When you do need something, shop at local second-hand market or use online resale shops.    4    .

Skip products that have a lot of packaging.

Products that come with a lot of packaging are bad for the environment because the packaging is waste. Even if you recycle the package, it’s still an unnecessary waste of resources.    5    . This can keep more trash out of landfills and save natural resources.

A．Cars use up a lot of gas

B．Limit your use of paper

C．Use reusable bags while you’re shopping

D．If you’re ready to go green, start from the following good habits

E．Do your best to pick products that have as little packaging as possible

F．In order to save money, cut down on the cost of paper you’re using

G．If you can, borrow items that you don’t use often, like tools, from a friend

8 . Two and a half months before the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season officially begins, and almost six months before it enters its peak (高峰), weathermen are already predicting (预测) that it could be particularly active.

Officially, hurricane season begins from June 1 and runs through November. One reason is that sea surface temperatures in the tropical (热带的) Atlantic are already at record highs.

Meanwhile, another significant potential factor in this year’s hurricane season is taking shape thousands of miles away in the Pacific. Over periods ranging from three to seven years, the waters of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean warm and cool in turn as a result of a repeating climate pattern called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). El Niño makes Atlantic hurricanes less likely to form but La Niña does.

During the 2023 season, ENSO was in an El Niño period. However, by the time the 2024 season starts, it will have changed into a “neutral(中立)” period, but that by the peak months, it is likely to have changed fully into a La Niña.

“How quickly that change occurs can affect everything as well,” says DaSilva, a lead hurricane weatherman. “There’s a lag time. So, while we expect the change to occur in mid-summer, it may not be until late summer or fall where we really see those effects across the Atlantic basin.” As a result, he says, this year’s hurricane season could remain particularly active deep into November.

Of course, no report can predict when individual storms will come or the paths they will take, but DaSilva warns that those who live in areas likely to suffer hurricanes, especially around the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, should prepare. “If a tropical storm system comes into this area, it could rapidly strengthen, potentially close to land,” he also warns. “And that’s why people need to be careful and have their hurricane plans ready. Because any system with these kinds of conditions can explode very quickly. That’s what we’re concerned about.”

1. What is the function of Paragraph 1?

A．To give advice.	B．To explain the season.
C．To introduce the topic.	D．To inform a weather report.

2. What is a reason for this year’s hurricane season?

A．The hurricane season has entered its peak.

B．A repeating climate has changed weather in summer.

C．The sea surface temperatures are the highest of all time.

D．El Niño makes Atlantic hurricanes more likely to form.

3. What do the underlined words “a lag time” in Paragraph 5 probably mean?

A．A time delay.	B．A time in a zone.
C．A time waste.	D．A time in advance.

4. What does DaSilva agree with about this year’s hurricane season?

A．It can be exactly predicted ahead of time.

B．People needn’t worry about hurricane season.

C．It may be eventually controlled by weathermen.

D．People can’t be more careful about hurricane season.

9 . Gaining real-world work experience through volunteering is a great way for students to build skills, increase employability and enjoy a range of other benefits.

Become a leader

Regular volunteers, regardless of their age, are often trusted with important roles, giving students a chance to develop their confidence and communication skills, while being treated like a valued member of a team.     1     However, a trusting and supportive manager will encourage students to speak up when they think something could be improved.

Students volunteering stand out from the crowd

Students volunteering gain valuable experience that they can add to their CV (简历). Employers will look very favorably on students’ volunteer work experience. Volunteering gives students the opportunity to put what they learn in the classroom into practice.     2     They’ll be one step ahead when it comes to entering the workplace, already equipped with some of the key skills needed for the role.

Improve mental and physical health

Perhaps the biggest benefit that students can gain from volunteering is the positive boost to mental and physical health. A recent study found that 77% of volunteers benefited from improved mental health after volunteering.     3     And it makes sense, with many volunteer roles involving physical activities such as walking, manning drink stations at sporting events, playing with children at camps and more.

Work in a team

    4     It’s a great way to gain experience working in a team. Many workplaces are shifting toward cross-function al collaborative teams, so being able to give concrete examples of working in a team to future employers will be a big plus.

Students volunteering can test out a career

Often students choose to study a degree without really knowing what the career involves. Perhaps it’s what their parents do, or they think it sounds interesting, or it was simply a subject they were good at during school. But without gaining real-world experience in the career, it might end up being a big waste of time and money.     5    

A．Volunteering is cooperative in nature.

B．Taking the initiative (采取主动) is a hard skill to train.

C．This is especially useful in highly practical fields.

D．Volunteering is a course to show your compassion.

E．And over half improved their physical health too.

F．Volunteering can help determine whether it is suitable.

G．This is vital for everyone to take advantage of in reality.

10 . In many movies, the clothing the actors wear is an important part of the story. In Rome, there is a workshop that has been a big part of Italian and international film history for 60 years.

Tirelli Costumes in Rome is a workshop that makes special clothing and costumes. It has earned the name the “Oscar tailor’s shop” for its work in film costume design.

In recent years, its workers helped create the costumes for Ridley Scott’s movie Napoleon. The film’s costume designers were nominated (提名) for an Oscar. “Maybe it will win! Let’s add another medal to the medal collection,” the shop’s current head, Dino Trappetti said. “Of course, the Oscar is not won by the shop. The Oscar is won by the costume designers. But the tailor’s shop has the honor of having participated to make it win.”

Umberto Tirelli started the shop in November 1964. It has been behind 17 Academy Awards for best costume design. The beginning of the workshop started with Tirelli’s passion for collecting old clothes. He searched for clothing in the markets worldwide. He slowly collected more than 15,000 real pieces of clothing that date from 1750 to 1980. At the start, the shop had a sewing machine and two cutters.

Tirelli could have accepted many international projects because the market was immediately interested. But Tirelli, who died in 1990, was not sure enough though the co-workers agreed on expanding the market. Dino Trappetti remembered him saying: “I’m not going to America. If America wants, America will come looking for me.”

Over 60 years, the tailor’s shop has created more than 300,000 costumes which feature hand-cut, hand-sewn creations. Costume designers come up with ideas from historical information.

1. Why is Tirelli Costumes called the “Oscar tailor’s shop”?

A．It makes contributions to film costume design.

B．Its costumes are popular with many Oscar actors.

C．It is a film workshop and shoots many Oscar films.

D．It offers interesting stories about costume designers.

2. Why is the film Naploeon mentioned?

A．To promote the film.

B．To praise Tirelli Costumes.

C．To show the film’s achievements.

D．To explain the importance of costume designers.

3. What lesson can we draw from the starting of the workshop?

A．Time waits for no man.	B．Well begun is half done.
C．Hobbies make for success.	D．All roads lead to Rome.

4. What stopped Tirelli expanding the market of America?

A．His sudden death.	B．Trappetti’s opinion.
C．The co-workers’ protest.	D．His lack of confidence in the market.