1 . “Never give up! Never give up!” sang my two young children, Max and Charley, as they marched barefoot behind their grandmother Mimi on another adventure, off the beach where they had spent the day building sand castles and beating the waves. This time, they were seeking the ice-cream truck.

Over the years, Mimi had become our family’s source of positivity through her effort. My father’s death left her to raise me and my ten-year-old brother alone at forty. She faced tragedy that is powerful enough to cloud just about anyone’ s outlook. Instead, she challenged herself to find joy every day. She was always up for a new challenge, whether parasailing over the Gulf of Mexico, or signing up for tap-dancing classes at fifty. Leading by example, Mom taught us how much one could accomplish with a positive attitude.

She has taken the same approach in her relationship with her grandchildren. Prior to starting her adventure with Max and Charley that hot July afternoon, Mimi heard the familiar sound of the ice-cream man’s bell from her beach chair. The ice-cream man’s visit is a daily occurrence at the beach, but one must be quick to catch his truck. Max and Charley were disappointed when they didn’t catch him in time that day, until Mimi’ s eyes sparkled and explained that they could rush to find it at its next stop.

They walked block after block. My kids’ tiny legs were tired, but they went on. After about twenty minutes’ walking, Max spoke out loud, “Maybe we should give up.” Charley responded with a quick “No way! Never give up!” and resumed her singing with Mimi.

Just two blocks later, they found it. Max and Charley screamed with excitement, “Never give up!” Simple though it was, that phrase has become our battle cry (口号) for the challenges we face. Upon hearing those words, they are instantly transported to a positive state of mind—where the next ice-cream truck is just around the corner.

1. Why were Max and Charley marching barefoot?

A．To get some extra exercise on the beach.

B．To meet their grandma’ s special request.

C．To run after the truck for an ice cream.

D．To build sand castles and fight the waves.

2. What can we learn about Mimi from paragraph 2?

A．She was optimistic despite misfortune.	B．She once had a bright prospect in life.
C．She was dominant in her community.	D．She developed an interest in adventure.

3. How did Charley react to Max’s disappointment?

A．She blamed him for being loud.	B．She took the chance to be outstanding.
C．She turned to Mimi for some advice.	D．She opposed him and went on seeking.

4. What lesson can we learn from the story?

A．Self-trust is the first secret of success.	B．Remain positive in times of difficulties.
C．Seize a chance in life before it disappears.	D．Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

2 . Primary and secondary school learners, university students, and guests were invited on Wednesday and were treated to a colorful celebration at the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi, to mark the beginning of the year of the dragon which officially starts on Saturday. The place featured beautiful decorations with red and gold colors and lucky symbols.

Visitors got an opportunity to participate in cultural experiences including painting, papercutting and pot throwing as well as experiencing Chinese cuisines like spicy hotpot, steamed stuffed buns (包子) , Chinese hamburgers, dumplings and barbecue among others. They were also treated to heartwarming performances including face-changing, lion dance, dragon dance, drumming, Chinese opera, Chinese songs and a talent show featuring Chinese traditional clothes as well as a mixture of Chinese and Kenyan fashion.

Leah Muthoni, a student at the University of Nairobi lauded the Chinese cuisines served at the event, especially noodles and dumplings. She also appreciated the decorations, drawings, pictures and performances. Similar feelings were also shared by George Mwita, another student from the University of Nairobi who greatly enjoyed the pot throwing game.

In his welcoming speech, Professor Stephen Kiama, the vice headmaster of the University of Nairobi who doubles up as the Kenya director of the Confucius Institute, hoped this year will be a good year of development because the Chinese dragon horns represent power and strength, while the drums represent courage and energy.

Kiama said the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi has achieved a lot since its establishment in 2005, including winning the Confucius Institute of the Year Award seven times and pioneering the establishment of the Bachelor of Arts in the Chinese language in Kenya. “Last year, with the joint efforts of the various parties and stakeholders we established the first bachelor of education in Chinese in Kenya and we admitted the first group of students,” he said. Kiama hopes that this year the Confucius Institute will gain more force with the blessing of power, courage and vitality from the year of the Chinese dragon. He said the Confucius Institute offers a good platform for cultural exchange between China and Kenya through events like the Chinese Lunar Year celebrations. Kiama hoped that the relationship between China and Kenya would further be strengthened by the blessings of the year of the dragon.

In Chinese methodology (方法论) , the dragon has the power to control seasons, time and harvests, and it’s seen as a symbol of wealth. The Chinese consider dragons to be powerful. sympathetic, wise, kind and warm.

1. What is spoken of as one of the cultural experiences the visitors participated in?

A．Tasting Chinese cuisines.	B．Writing with brushes.
C．Reciting Chinese poems.	D．Guessing lantern riddles.

2. Which can replace the underlined word “lauded” in Paragraph 3?

A．Mixed.

B．Praised.

C．Delivered.

D．Sold.

3. What is the fact about the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi?

A．It has the biggest number of students in Africa.

B．George Mwita is one of the Chinese teachers there.

C．It has won the Confucius Institute of the Year Award seven times.

D．They set up the first bachelor of education in Chinese in Kenya in 2005.

4. What is the best title for the news report?

A．Kiama considers dragons to be powerful and sympathetic

B．Confucius Institute offers good platform for cultural exchange

C．Kiama wishes year of dragon good for development of Confucius Institute

D．Confucius Institute at University of Nairobi marks year of dragon celebrations

3 . When my school offered the opportunity to take part in a School Challenge, I didn’t hesitate to sign up for the initial meeting.     1     We decided to plan a three-week adventure in Romania.

Of course, it was not a case of simply signing up and paying the money.     2     We arranged a variety of events for the purpose. We had decided to go to a remote rural village and to work with a team of local people to improve the school buildings.

We had been warned that our trip would not be a holiday and that things would not always go to plan. We certainly experienced the difficulties during the trip.     3     This meant that they were too weak to continue walking and we were not able to travel as far as we had intended. In fact, one of the team quit the journey.

    4     I never got tired of watching the sun rise every morning over the pine forests. Feeding the bears in the sanctuary was also incredible. I would never have imagined that these powerful creatures could be so gentle and calm. My best memory, though, was working on the school building project. I will never forget the hospitality and kindness of the villagers. They cooked us amazing meals and did everything they could to make us feel comfortable and welcome.

My School Challenge trip influenced my life in so many ways. It gave me a taste for independence and adventure, and certainly made me want to travel more.     5     Not having television, internet and hot running water for three weeks was certainly a challenge, but in many ways enjoyed living a simpler life for a short time.

A．This had to be raised by us to fund the trip.

B．Despite the obstacles, it was a truly amazing trip.

C．Above all though, it has made me realise how easy my life is.

D．It was much more challenging than I thought it would be at times.

E．This was where we met other team members and chose our destination.

F．However, we wouldn’t be spending any time there until the end of the trip.

G．For example, a few people became ill because we were so high up in the mountains.

4 . The teenage years are a transformative period marked by great physical, psychological, and emotional changes.     1     They refer to the feelings that arise during interactions with others, such as gratitude, shame, sympathy, guilt, and pride.

Understanding and managing social emotions can help develop teenagers’ identities. Teenagers experience a wide range of emotions from social interactions, which significantly influences their self-understanding and social awareness. In the process, they learn to understand, and appropriately respond to both their own emotions and those of others.     2    

In academic settings, social emotional competencies like self-regulation, motivation, and social awareness directly impact a teenager’s ability to learn, participate, and engage in school activities.     3     Teenagers with strong social emotional skills are better equipped to handle stress, resist peer pressure, and avoid risky behaviors, reducing the likelihood of developing mental health issues.

Learning social emotions involves a combination of personal experience, guidance, and formal education.     4     This environment influences teenagers’ earliest understanding of how to communicate and manage their emotions. They feel safe and supportive to express their emotions freely and learn to manage them without fear of judgment. Schools also play a significant role through social emotional learning programs that teach these skills in a structured environment. Community involvement, extracurricular activities, and peer (同伴) interactions offer additional opportunities for teenagers to practice and refine their social emotional skills.

    5     It contributes to a teenager’s ability to manage their own emotions, understand others’ emotions, and face social complexities. This learning is a cornerstone for shaping their identity, influencing their interpersonal relationships, academic success, mental health, and future life outcomes.

A．What exactly are social emotions?

B．The journey into mature emotion is quite easy.

C．Social emotion learning for teenagers is essential.

D．Central to this phase is the concept of social emotions.

E．This helps shape their own personal principles and beliefs.

F．Families play a crucial role in modeling and developing these skills.

G．Moreover, social emotional skills are closely linked to mental health.

5 . Every day, people share more than 2 billion photos on the Internet. While visual content provides a fun and expressive way for people to communicate online, consuming and creating it poses challenges for people who are blind or severely visually impaired (受损的). With more than 39 million people who are blind, and over 246 million who have a severe visual impairment, many people may feel excluded from the conversation around photos on the Internet. The researchers from Harvard University want to build technology that helps the blind community appreciate photos in the same way others enjoy them.

Automatic alternative text is a new development that generates a description of a photo using advancements in object recognition technology. People using screen readers on digital devices will hear a list of items a photo may contain as they click photos on the Internet. Before today, people using screen readers would only hear the name of the person who shared the photo, followed by the term “photo” when they came upon an image. Now they can offer a richer description of what’s in a photo thanks to automatic alternative text. For instance, someone could now hear “an image containing three people, smiling, outdoors”.

This is possible because of Harvard University’s object recognition technology, which is based on a network that has billions of parameters and is trained with millions of examples. Each advancement in object recognition technology means that the researchers will be able to make technology even more accessible to more people. When people are connected, they can achieve extraordinary things as individuals and as a community, and when everyone is connected, we all benefit from it.

They are launching automatic alternative text first on cellphone screen readers set to English, but they plan to add this functionality for other languages and platforms soon. While this technology is still nascent, using its current capabilities to describe photos is an important step toward providing our visually impaired community with the same benefits and enjoyment that everyone else gets from photos.

1. Why is the technology launched?

A．There are so many photos on the Internet.

B．There are many people suffering from blindness.

C．Some digital devices are in need of the technology.

D．People with vision problems fail to enjoy photos online.

2. What is the advantage of the technology over the previous one?

A．It can offer more photos to blind people.

B．It can describe more about online photos.

C．It can recognize the person who shares photos.

D．It can satisfy the common needs of blind people.

3. What is the key to promoting the technology?

A．The photos on the Internet.	B．People’s care for blind people.
C．People’s connections to each other.	D．The object recognition technology.

4. Which can best explain the underlined word “nascent” in the last paragraph?

A．Emerging.

B．Reliable.

C．Powerful.

D．Conventional.

6 . Clair Hughes first began to research money-saving ideas to get out of her £3,500 student overdraft (透支额). The shopper started surfing the Internet for discount coupons (优惠券) and cut price offers. Revealing how she seldom pays full price for an item, Ms Hughes says, “Discounts are always there; it’s just a matter of being organized. Before starting this, I thought it’d be much work, but now I’m so used to this lifestyle that it’s automatic to me. I must have easily saved over £15,000.”

Ms Hughes first focused on saving money back in 2010, when she moved in with her partner, Shane Byrne, a phone company trainer. After turning to the web for advice, she tried out a few clever money-saving tricks like switching her overdraft to a zero-interest account. Then, several years later, she came across an online community for “couponers” and decided to give it a go.

She started spending hours surfing the web for coupons, printing them all out to take with her whenever she went shopping. Over the years, she has managed to get some impressive catches. Once, two lamps worth £140 cost her just £35.

Two years ago, Ms Hughes also began using cashback apps where you are given money back on items ranging from beers to toiletries. After each shop, she uploads pictures of her receipts, which are then scanned, and money is given back on certain items.

Among her other top money-saving tips, Ms Hughes recommends taking part in paid online surveys, which have earned her hundreds in discount coupons. She says, “I’ve heard a lot about collecting other people’s abandoned receipts from shopping trolleys to check for missed discounts. I can’t believe how much coupons and cashback apps have helped me. The community does benefit me a lot. There will always be someone on hand to explain how it works.”

1. What does saving money mean to Clair Hughes?

A．It’s part of her daily life.	B．It makes her shop less.
C．It’s a way to leave school.	D．It keeps her work organized.

2. What can we know about Clair Hughes?

A．She always asks Shane for suggestions.

B．She likes going shopping with her friends.

C．She has bought some goods in low prices.

D．She is good at discussing prices with others.

3. What does the last paragraph mainly show?

A．Hughes’ feelings of her life.	B．Hughes’ ways to get coupons.
C．Hughes’ appreciation for society.	D．Hughes’ difficulty in saving money.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．A Graduate Enjoys Shopping	B．A Community Collects Coupons
C．A Woman Focuses on Saving Money	D．A Shopper Is Famous for Saving Money

7 . Four Nominees for the Best Picture of 2024 Oscar

Here are four nominees for the Best Picture of the 96th Academy Awards.

American Fiction

American Fiction is a comedy-drama film written and directed by Cord Jefferson. Based on the 2001 novel Erasure by Percival Everett, it follows a frustrated novelist-professor who writes an outlandish satire of stereotypical “black” books. It was named one of the top 10 films of 2023 by the American Film Institute.

Anatomy of a Fall

Anatomy of a Fall is a 2023 French legal drama thriller film, directed by Justine Triet from a screenplay she co-wrote with Arthur Harari. It is about a writer trying to prove her innocence in her husband’s death, which brings the audience fear. It was released theatrically in France by Le Pacte on 23 August, 2023.The film has won two awards at the Golden Globes.

Barbie

Barbie is a 2023 fantasy comedy film directed by Greta Gerwig from a screenplay she wrote with Noah Baumbach. Based on the eponymous fashion dolls by Mattel, the film stars Margot Robbie as the title character and Ryan Gosling as Ken, and follows the pair on a journey of self-discovery through both Barbie land and the real world.

The Holdovers

The Holdovers is a 2023 American comedy-drama film directed by Alexander Payne. The film is about a strict classics teacher at a New England boarding school who is forced to look after a handful of students.

1. Anatomy of a Fall is a ____________ film.

A．war

B．horror

C．fantasy

D．disaster

2. Which film would a doll fan prefer to watch?

A．American Fiction.	B．Anatomy of a Fall.
C．Barbie.	D．The Holdovers.

3. What do the four films have in common?

A．They are comedy films.	B．They are American films.
C．They were based on screenplays.	D．They were released in the same year.

8 . For eight years, Sophie created realistic-looking limbs (肢) for those who wanted to fit in. But she longed to work on more odd designs that would stand out. Then she met Pollyanna Hope, a young amputee (被截肢者).

“She wanted something a little different on her leg: pictures of a cartoon she loved, Peppa Pig,” said Sophie, who is now based in London. So she designed a unique leg covered in tattoo-like images of Peppa and other pigs riding a bicycle and eating ice cream. Working with Hope made Sophie realize there was a potential market for limbs.

Since then, Sophie founded the Alternative Limb Project (ALP) to make artistic limbs. Her work includes an arm wrapped in sculpted snakes and a leg that looks like porcelain (瓷器) covered in a painted flowery vine. She makes about six limbs per year, always including clients’ ideas so that they receive a personal piece they can celebrate rather than hide.

Of course, a fancy-looking limb won't suit everyone. For Sophie, the basis is that each limb must satisfy a combination of comfort, beauty and functionality, and pushing too hard in one direction can weaken other areas. But for amputees who appreciate novelty, Sophie has some amazing ideas.

“I’d really like to make a candy-dispenser leg with colorful candies inside it” she says. “Or a cuckoo-clock leg with a wooden bird that pops out every hour.” Her goal is to fashion a striking limb.

“It’ll transform the limbs from an elephant in the room into a conversation piece.”

1. Why did Pollyanna Hope come to Sophie?

A．She hoped to have a tailored limb.

B．She intended to design a cartoon figure.

C．She longed to expand the market for limbs.

D．She expected to sell Sophie some odd ideas.

2. According to paragraph 3, ALP aims to ______.

A．boost users’ confidence	B．sharpen users’ creativity
C．improve Sophie’s sculpture skills	D．extend Sophie’s art business

3. What is the basis for Sophie's works?

A．The novelty of the pattern tops the list.	B．The balance of multi-needs comes first.
C．Fashion is the best policy.	D．Functionality is the key.

4. What can be inferred from the underlined sentence in the last paragraph?

A．Sophie resolves to lead the fashion of limbs.

B．Sophie plans to further transform artistic limbs.

C．Amputees will feel at ease to talk about limbs.

D．Amputees will have easy access to artistic limbs.

9 . “Sating from now on, to be healthy, I will NOT eat any snacks besides granola bars (燕麦棒),” is what I told myself yesterday, and yet here I am today chewing a Chocopie. I’m aware that I’m breaking my own promise to myself. Instead of eating this, I should be working out or something. But the thing is, chocolate is too good at this moment for me to refuse it!

As I type this, I’m experiencing what’s called instant gratification — the desire to experience pleasure or fulfillment without delaying it for a future benefit. Essentially, when you want it, you get it.

Instant gratification is also the exact opposite of what we’re taught to do-delayed gratification: deciding to put off satisfying our current want to gain something better in the future. We’ve all encountered instant gratification before. Should I sleep in or wake up early to work out? When I get home, should I rest and watch TV first or get started on my homework?

All humans have the tendency to seek pleasure and avoid pain, which is a basic but fundamental concept known as the pleasure principle. Originally coined by Sigmund Freud, it clearly states that all humans are driven, to some extent, by pleasure.

Constantly seeking quick pleasure may bring subsequent troubles. However pleasant not doing your homework may seem pleasant right now, it only results in pleasure plagued by guilt and last-minute panicking late at night. An inability to resist instant gratification may result in underachieving in the long term and failure to meet certain goals.

Instant gratification, however, is not necessarily a bad thing. You don’t always have to say no to things you want at that moment, and it’s good to treat yourself when you need it. In other words, times where you “treat yourself” are only valuable in combination with delayed gratification. While my Chocopie may taste good now, it’ll taste even better if I only eat it after I’ve worked out or done something healthy.

1. How does the author introduce the topic?

A．By making a contrast.	B．By giving a definition.
C．By citing a personal case.	D．By listing detailed problems.

2. Which of the following is an example of instant gratification?

A．Purchasing items regardless of budgets.	B．Exercising regularly for long-term health.
C．Limiting time on social media platforms.	D．Finishing homework before watching TV.

3. What does the underlined word “plagued” in paragraph 5 probably mean?

A．Reminded.

B．Highlighted.

C．Introduced.

D．Bothered.

4. What may the author agree with?

A．Delayed gratification is pointless.

B．Instant gratification should be prioritized.

C．Enjoying the moment brings in endless pleasure.

D．Instant treats paired with delayed gratification are sweeter.

10 . Upcoming Events in Essex County Environmental Center

LITTLE EXPLORERS Mondays -May 6, 20, June 3, 17
For ages 2 and 3; 10am to 1lam; For ages 2 and 5; 3pm to 4pm

Join us for explorations of nature as we study plants and animals and observe the colors, shapes, and sounds in the Center’s forest habitat. Please come dressed and prepared for all weather conditions; all classes include an outdoor adventure. All children must be walking and accompanied by an adult. Maximum of two children per adult. All sessions are limited to 10 children. Fee: $15 per child per session.

FOREST FRIENDS CLUB
Thursdays -May 9, June 6, 4pm to 5pm
For children ages 5 through 10

We’ll explore the forest to investigate nature in our wooded wetland habitat. Together we hope to raise our children’s nature responsibilities and offer an opportunity to take part in hands-on conservation projects. Fee: $12 per child per session.

SPRING WILD EDIBLE WALK
Friday, May 10, 6pm to 7:30pm
For families

Take a walk in the forest to identify and discuss the variety of forest groceries available for harvest. You’ll meet Spice Bush, Mountain Mint and others. Learn some folklore (FIA) behind the plants and we’ll discuss proper identification, growing environment and methods of preparation while walking. Fee: $40 per family (up to two adults and two children) or $12 per child, $15 per adult.

4-H YOUNG GARDENERS CLUB
Saturdays -May 4, 18, 25, 10am to 11 am
For children in grades K-12

Have you ever wondered how vegetables and flowers grow? How to find a rainbow in a garden? The 4-H Young Gardener’s Club can guide you to find the answers to these questions and more. Learning and fun happen all the time here. Meet in Garibaldi Hall. Advanced registration required; please call 973 3531337.

1. When can children join in hands-on projects?

A．On May 6.

B．On May 9.

C．On May 10.

D．On May 18.

2. How much should a couple with three kids pay at least for the Spring Wild Edible Walk?

A．$40.

B．$52.

C．$55.

D．$67.

3. What do the four events have in common?

A．They are targeted at families.	B．They focus on theoretical courses.
C．They offer experiences in nature.	D．They present local folk cultures.