1 . It was our first Thanksgiving in the new house, and I wanted everything to be perfect. However, my husband just got a new job in retail, so our family “plan” for everyone to take part in the necessary prep work had been torpedoed. To make matters worse, a key project for me that week had claimed two days of planned vacation. John Lennon was right: Life is what happens while you are making other plans.
By Wednesday night, while my husband was selling camping equipment as Christmas gifts, my children and I were at home and into full-blown vacuum mania (吸尘狂潮). I was thankful that a kid’s pocket money did not make up salary as I put my six and eight-year-old to work, going against all child labor laws. For my part, I was as busy as a bee in the toilet bowl, heading for a breakdown.
I don’t remember what my son asked me as he was trying his best to finish the vacuuming, but I do remember twisting into that mean-and-tight mom face before barking out a rude answer. Instead of dashing out of view, my second-grader turned off the vacuum and walked the whole way around the stairwell to face me. He never said a word. He just wrapped his arms around me for a hug that made me feel ashamed of myself to this very day. My son took a risk to teach me that sometimes we need a hug most when we are least huggable.
It was the perfect Thanksgiving. The people I loved gathered around my table where a pumpkin covered up last year’s gravy stain (肉汁污渍). We dined on just one choice of pie, and my dad used a mismatched dinner fork without complaint. My daughter drew a picture of us on a paper plate where no one had their eyes closed.
I learned a lot from an eight-year-old that holiday, and I’ve tried hard to remember it. If you find a person complaining about her job or her dress size, give her a hug. It just might be what she needs most.
1. What does the underlined word “torpedoed” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．passed | B．scheduled | C．targeted | D．ruined |
| A．confident | B．humorous | C．alarmed | D．concerned |
| A．She shouted at him impatiently. | B．She hugged him right away. |
| C．She responded to him politely. | D．She continued vacuuming delightedly. |
| A．Careful planning: the route to an unforgettable Thanksgiving Day |
| B．Family happiness: the result of balancing work and life |
| C．Thanksgiving surprises: imperfect perfection and unexpected hugs |
| D．Holiday letdown: common psychological and emotional experiences |
2 . It takes eight hours and $250, 000 to get to what remains of the RMS Titanic. On Sunday, five people got into the underwater craft Titan to make that journey. The craft lost contact only an hour and 45 minutes into the eight-day expedition. Later wreckage (残骸) was found matching that of the craft. Despite the danger of traveling some 12, 500 feet below the surface, this was an irresistible opportunity — very few people get to see the Titanic with their own eyes. Actually, dives to the Titanic have been around for more than 20 years.
It wasn’t until 1985 that an expedition led by Robert Ballard and Jean-Louis Michel discovered the Titanic’s final resting place. In July 1986, Ballard placed a memorial on the ship, asking that the site be left undisturbed in memory of the more than 1, 500 people who died there.
But that didn’t happen. Instead, competition over who would be allowed to salvage (打捞) artifacts (文物) from the ship heated up. In part, it was an effort to document and conserve the artifacts - but it was also a rush for profits from artifact sales and public displays.
In 1992, a federal court ruled that TVLP was the first and exclusive salvor of the Titanic. Now known as RMS Titanic Inc. , the company has conducted eight expeditions to the Titanic, and has sold more than 5, 000 objects taken from the site, including jewelry.
While battles for visitation and salvage rights were fought in court, expeditions to the Titanic continued, giving rise to a small but pricey tourist market. Multiple companies offered public tours to explore the Titanic wreck, with prices ranging from $32, 500 to $105, 129 per person over the years. The Titanic was damaged significantly upon impact with the seabed, and slowly, iron-eating bacteria are consuming what remains. In 2019, a dive confirmed huge portions of the ship were collapsing. Today the surrounding site is littered with trash. Visitors have also littered the area with memorials. Attempts to protect the wreck are ongoing. In 2020, the United Kingdom and the United States agreed to work together to grant or deny licenses to people entering and taking artifacts from the site.
1. What is the main idea of the first paragraph?| A．How people explored the Titanic | B．The danger of diving to the Titanic. |
| C．People’s strong interest in the Titanic | D．The details of Titanic expedition. |
| A．To mark the ship for further research. | B．To honor his dead teammates. |
| C．To celebrate his achievement. | D．To protect the ship’s remains. |
| A．Scientific exploration | B．Historical research |
| C．Economic interest | D．Technological development |
| A．It is being restored | B．It is being moved to a new place. |
| C．It is preserved in a museum. | D．It is under united protection. |
3 . A road trip is not just about taking in the scenery through the car windscreen. Instead, the changes in location let you increase the scope of your holiday. Here are four recommended routes.
CCR 200It is a new coastal road trip showing off the hidden side of the Lake District. The route takes in various nature reserves as well as other attractions like beaches and castles. The road trip is aimed at campers of all kinds and has been divided into five sections that can each be done in a day.
The Explorer’s RoadThe Road extends almost the entire length of eastern England, featuring some of the country’s hidden treasures and finest attractions. Along the way you can explore breathtaking beaches, spectaculan countryside and historic landmarks, with plenty of campsites lining the route.
South West Coastal 300The South West Coastal 300 is around the southwest of Scotland. It’s a fantastic way to discover one of the UK’s hidden treasures. Inland, there are demanding hills that provide a steep one to walkers and climbers, not to mention hundreds of square miles of forestry and rolling countryside where cycling enthusiasts can clock up the miles.
Atlantic HighwayThe route roughly follows the line of the Atlantic coast. There are picturesque village views and you certainly won’t be short of things to see or do. And there is no shortage of stopovers. The only downside is that the roads round here are extremely busy occasionally, so if you want a more stress-free trip, try heading down out of summer.
1. Which road trip best suits those who enjoy challenges?| A．CCR 200. | B．The Explorer’s Road. |
| C．Atlantic Highway. | D．South West Coastal 300. |
| A．Popular beaches and castles. | B．Less-widely known spots. |
| C．Landmarks with a long history. | D．Newly-developed nature reserves. |
| A．It closes in summer. | B．The route is rough |
| C．It is crowded sometimes. | D．It charges for stopovers. |
4 . When I mentioned to some friends that we all have accents, most of them proudly replied, “Well, I speak perfect English/Chinese/etc.” But this kind of answer misses the point.
More often than not, what we mean when we say someone “has an accent” is that their accent is different from the local one, or that pronunciations are different from our own. But this definition of accents is limiting and could give rise to prejudice (偏见). Funnily enough, in terms of the language study, every person speaks with an accent. It is the regular differences in how we produce sounds that define our accents. Even if you don’t hear it yourself, you speak with some sort of accent. In this sense, it’s pointless to point out that someone “has an accent”. We all do!
Every person speaks a dialect, too. In the field of language study, a dialect is a version of a language that is characterized by its variations of structure, phrases and words. For instance, “You got eat or not?” (meaning “Have you eaten?”) is an acceptable and understood question in Singapore Oral English. The fact that this expression would cause a standard American English speaker to take pause doesn’t mean that Singapore Oral English is “wrong” or “ungrammatical”. The sentence is well-formed and clearly communicative, according to native Singapore English speakers’ solid system of grammar. Why should it be wrong just because it’s different?
We need to move beyond a narrow conception of accent s and dialects — for the benefit of everyone. Language differences like these provide insights into people’s cultural experiences and backgrounds. In a global age, the way one speaks is a distinct part of one’s identity. Most people would be happy to talk about the cultures behind their speech. We’d learn more about the world we live in and make friends along the way.
1. What does the author think of his/her friends’ response in paragraph 1?| A．It misses the real meaning of accents. | B．It reflects their language levels. |
| C．It misses the point of communication. | D．It reflects their self confidence. |
| A．To correct a grammatical mistake. | B．To show the diversity of dialects. |
| C．To show the use of dialects is reasonable. | D．To bring in a traditional approach. |
| A．Learn to speak with your local dialect. | B．Seek for an official definition of accents. |
| C．Appreciate the value of accents and dialects. | D．Tell our local languages from others’. |
| A．Accents Represent Our Identities | B．Everyone Has an Accent |
| C．Dialects Lead to Misunderstanding | D．Standard English Is at Risk |
5 . Students who are better able to understand and manage their emotions effectively, a skill known as emotional intelligence (EI), do better at school than their less-skilled classmates, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
“It’s not enough to be smart and hardworking. Students must also be able to understand and manage their emotions to succeed at school,” said Carolyn MacCann, lead author of the study. MacCann and her colleagues analyzed data from more than 160 studies, representing more than 42,000 students from 27 countries, published between 1998 and 2019. The students ranged in age from primary school to college. The researchers found that students with higher EI tended to get higher grades and better achievement test scores than those with lower EI scores. This finding held true even when controlling for intelligence and personality factors. What was most surprising to the researchers was the association held despite different ages.
As for why EI can affect academic performance, MacCann believes a number of factors may come into play. “Students with higher EI may be better able to manage negative emotions, such as anxiety, boredom and disappointment, which can negatively affect academic performance,” she said. “Also, these students may be better able to manage the social world around them, forming better relationships with teachers, classmates and family, all of which are important to academic success.” Finally, the skills required for EI, such as understanding human motivation and emotion, may overlap with (与……重叠) the skills required to master certain subjects, such as history and language, giving students an advantage in those subject areas, according to MacCann.
However, MacCann cautions against widespread testing of students to identify and target those with low EI as it may stigmatize (给……打上烙印) those students. Instead, she recommends interventions that involve the whole school, including additional teacher training and a focus on teacher well-being and emotional skills. “Programs that integrate emotional skill development into the existing curriculum would be beneficial, as research suggests that training works better when run by teachers rather than external specialists,” she said. “Increasing skills for everyone — not just those with low EI—would benefit everyone.”
1. What surprised the researchers most during MacCann’s study?| A．Intelligence mattered more than EI for academic success. |
| B．EI had an effect on learning for students of all ages. |
| C．College students benefited more from EI than pupils. |
| D．Personality affected academic performance greatly. |
| A．High-EI students hardly experience negative emotions. |
| B．High-EI students seldom develop social relationships. |
| C．High-EI students tend to easily focus on their study. |
| D．High-EI students have helpful skills for certain subjects. |
| A．Equipping teachers with emotional skills. |
| B．Designing tests to identify students with low EI. |
| C．Developing special programs for students with low EI. |
| D．Employing emotional specialists to give training to students. |
| A．Should EI be taught in school? |
| B．How can students develop high EI? |
| C．Students with high EI do better in school |
| D．Good students do better in managing emotions |
6 . Vast lands of America are dominated by corn, nearly 100macres of it, stretching from Ohio to the Dakotas. What once was forest today produces the corn that feeds people, cattle and, when made into ethanol (乙醇), cars.
Now, the nation’s airlines want to power their planes with corn, too. United Airlines signed a deal with a Nebraska ethanol company to buy enough sustainable fuel, to power 50,000 flights a year. The government could decide on its tax incentives (税收激励) for the industry as soon as December. “Mark my words, the next 20 years, corn farmers are going to provide 95% of all the sustainable airline fuel,” President Biden said in July.
The airlines’ ambitious goal would likely require nearly doubling ethanol production, which airlines say, with great expectation, would decrease their greenhouse gas emissions. If they succeed, it could transform America’s Corn Belt, stimulating farmers and ethanol producers, but potentially further damaging one of the nation’s most important resources: groundwater.
Corn requires a lot of water to grow and it can take hundreds of gallons to produce a single gallon of ethanol. But as airlines take the idea of ethanol, the vital groundwater faces serious risks. “We’re on track to massively increase water usage without any real sense of how sensitive our groundwater is,” said Jeffrey Broberg, who is concerned about groundwater in Minnesota, a major corn state.
The Department of Energy said in a statement that “water use is a critical part of the conversation surrounding bio-energy sustainability”. It pointed to a 2022 department study that concluded that the United States could significantly reduce pressure on groundwater by shifting fuel production away from water-intensive crops like corn, instead growing more crops that don’t require irrigation (灌溉), like various types of straw, grasses and trees. Hopefully, a better approach will be soon studied and adopted.
1. What can we learn from the first two paragraphs?| A．Farmers will increase 95% of their ethanol production. |
| B．The sustainable fuel will not be popular in the future. |
| C．Corn will be an influential source in the fuel industry. |
| D．The government stops the new fuel for the groundwater. |
| A．Preventing. | B．Motivating. | C．Destroying. | D．Impressing. |
| A．The shortage of corn production. |
| B．The increase in global warming. |
| C．A rise in clean-energy tax credits. |
| D．Higher stress on the groundwater. |
| A．Expand the corn planting area. |
| B．Use some alternative materials. |
| C．Cut down the daily water usage. |
| D．Turn to the government for help. |
7 . Aunt Suzy insists you have seconds before you’ve even finished your meal. Or you can count on your coworker to say things like, “I can’t believe you’re only going to have a salad for lunch! “These are both examples of food pushing.
It’s common to find yourself in a situation where someone is pressuring you to eat or commenting on your food choices. Intentional or not, the pressure to eat can make you feel uncomfortable, or worse, disturb your dietary preferences.
Change the subject. It can be helpful to change the subject immediately upon your response. You can simply say, “no thank you”, and immediately follow with a question to distract the food pusher.
Keep it positive. Avoid making negative comments about the food, your body, or health condition when declining a food pusher.
Avoid challenging situations. You know your food preferences. Take time beforehand to research the restaurant or ask about the menu so you can be sure there’s food you can eat.
Even if you can’t find the “right” way to say no, chances are no permanent damage will be done to the relationships in your life when you do, so stick to your guns. Remember, no one but you is in control of your own behavior. You have the right to make your personal health a top priority.
| A．Stay honest. |
| B．Instead, keep it light. |
| C．Hold your boundaries. |
| D．It may be something like “what are your plans for this weekend?” |
| E．It may be uncomfortable, but you’ll have to kindly repeat yourself. |
| F．Having that information will empower you to make suitable choices. |
| G．Learning how to say no will help you cope with similar experiences. |
8 . I always dreamed of studying abroad, to learn at a world-class university while further exploring the grounds on which these nations achieved new milestones of development with each passing day.
To study abroad after my graduation, I could not stop seeking my dream. To take the first step, I did some brainstorming and explored opportunities on the Internet and finally decided to go to China. There were a number of reasons behind it—its advanced education system and thousands of centuries of rich culture inspired me to study there. The primary one was my curiosity how a nation has left many nations behind in a short time at its fast pace of development.
So just like that, I applied, along with some of my friends, for a master’s degree program at Communication University of China. I was the only one who got selected in the said program and in addition, the Chinese Scholarship Council sponsored all of my expenses. This good news was welcomed by my family.
This is my seventh month in Beijing. In my experience so far, one thing that appeared to be missing was the internship (实习) which I tried to find because I want to work here after completion of my studies. After some struggles I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to work as an int ern with the Center for China and Globalization(CCG). It’s very exciting to work on their team as a researcher. Now I can proudly say that my decision to choose China as a study destination was the best decision I have ever made.
1. What is the function of the first paragraph?| A．To explain his purpose. | B．To encourage dream pursuit. |
| C．To summarize his experience. | D．To provide background information. |
| A．subscribe | B．cover | C．commit | D．involve |
| A．He is most proud of studying in China. | B．He found a job upon arriving in Beijing. |
| C．He wants to be a researcher in the future. | D．He plans to work in China after graduation. |
| A．Travel experiences in China | B．Importance of having dreams |
| C．Realization of dreams in China | D．Learning and working in China |
9 . Has it occurred to you that addressing even the smallest of conflicts between you and your friend may become a battle? There is conflict in all relationships. We disagree over many things and that is not necessarily a bad thing. What matters is how we manage the conflict at hand.
Rule 1 Don’t Control.
In every power struggle, both parties become opponents (对手). When each person tries to exercise his/her governance over the other, the situation will end in a deadlock.
Rule 2 Respect
Everyone deserves to be treated with respect even during an argument. If your friend calls you names and teases you, tell him or her to stop.
Rule 3
When everyone is talking, who will be listening? Listen to understand, not to reply. Do not be too quick to judge what you hear. Everyone should have the equal chance to voice their own opinions. Put forward your ideas and decide on the middle path. The whole idea is to solve the conflict through an open discussion in which everyone is encouraged to suggest as many ideas as possible.
Rule 4 Negotiate (谈判)
Apply the art of negotiation. Does it sound like a cliché (陈词滥调)? Absolutely not! After all, when negotiating it means someone wins and someone loses, right? Wrong! When negotiating, each side gives in a little for the sake of resolving the conflict.
Being a teenager is not easy.
| A．Listen and brainstorm |
| B．Be quiet while listening |
| C．Both will end up as losers |
| D．All of us are unwilling to lose |
| E．If your friend continues, just walk away |
| F．We often think that “our way” is the best |
| G．Both parties need to adopt some rules to reach a win-win solution |
10 . In the animal kingdom, killer whales (虎鲸) are social stars: they travel in varied family groups, care for grandchildren, and even imitate human speech. Now, scientists are adding one more behavior to the list: forming fast friendships. A new study shows killer whales can rival animals such as chimpanzees and macaques (a kind of monkey), and even humans when it comes to the kind of “social touch” that indicates strong bonds.
Some ocean animals maintain social structures — including male dolphins that learn the “names” of their close allies (盟友). But there is little data about wild killer whales. That’s where drone (无人机) technology came in. Michael Weiss, a behavioral ecologist, teamed up with his colleagues to launch drones, flying them 30 to 120 meters above a group of killer whales. That was high enough not to trouble the whales, marking the first time drones have been used to study friendly physical contact in whales.
The researchers recorded over 800 instances of physical contact between individuals. Those included hugs, back-to-back and nose-to-nose touches between pairs of whales. Other whales playfully threw young whales into the air, letting them fall into the water. Besides, the drone images revealed clear preferences among individuals, usually for one “best friend” of the same sex and age. Take J49 and J51 — two distantly related young males aged 9 and 6 — for instance. “Every time you see a group of whales, those two are right there interacting with each other,” Weiss says.
The young led most of these interactions, rather than the older females or males. Older males in particular were less important. “The young individuals really seem to be the glue holding the groups together,” Weiss says. As individuals age, this gradual loss of “centrality” is known in many social mammals, including humans. That finding is “especially appealing” to Stacey Tecot, who wasn’t involved in the study. “Scientists have long observed this social aging trend in animals, but there are still many unanswered questions,” she says. That’s certainly on the researchers’ radar. “We’re already gathering new data, with more advanced equipment,” says Weiss.
1. What does the underlined word “rival” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Benefit from. | B．Be equal to. | C．Depend on. | D．Be fond of. |
| A．The research method. | B．The variety of species. |
| C．The size of the research team. | D．The time spent on the research. |
| A．They have a stable friendship. | B．Their interactions are more complicated. |
| C．Their communicating ways change frequently. | D．They prefer playing with young female whales. |
| A．More researchers will be involved in the study. |
| B．Other scientists take a negative attitude to the research. |
| C．Researchers will collect more data to study killer whales. |
| D．Researchers will uncover the social aging trend in animals soon. |
