1 . Zandra Cunningham is the founder of a skincare brand. She has been recognized by the media as one of the youngest and most successful business owners in America.

When she was a kid, Zandra always loved lip balms (护唇膏) and bought a lot of them. But she found they eventually hurt her lips instead of relieving the dryness because of all the chemicals in them. She then started experimenting with different ingredients (成分) together with her mom. They tried a lot of times until they found the natural and healthy combinations they liked. Slowly, Zandra began selling her products at local farmers’ markets and trade events. Before her 10th birthday, she launched her brand and hoped it would empower other young girls.

Soon, it became a challenge for Zandra to separate her personal interests from what her customers actually wanted. “There are a lot of ideas that I feel are excellent but wouldn’t fit into the market,” she said. Being part of the younger market herself, Zandra recognized the issue and improved her products after truly listening to customers. “There are so many brands doing similar things, but there’s still so much room to grow. Your customers are out there, and you just have to reach out to them. That’s what will set you apart,” the 23-year-old shared.

When asked about her experience as a promising young businesswoman, Zandra said, “It wasn’t frightening. When you’re young, fear doesn’t have a strong hold on your mindset. ‘Maybe it’s not going to work’ never really crossed my mind.”

Characterized by encouraging statements and featuring a playful color combination, the packaging (包装) is a big part of why Zandra’s business has been so impressive. “There are a lot of products on the market that seem natural, but they actually aren’t,” she said. “I make sure my packaging can help people understand what each term means, and how to read and check ingredients.”

1. What pushed Zandra to get into the skincare business?

A．Her desire to create skin-friendly products.

B．Her interest in doing chemical experiments.

C．Her wish to set an example for other young girls.

D．Her goal of providing local people with cheap skin products.

2. How did Zandra deal with the trouble in her business?

A．She cooperated with powerful brands.

B．She stood by her own business decisions.

C．She made an effort to meet real market needs.

D．She took inspiration from successful businesswomen.

3. What plays a role in her business success according to Zandra?

A．Her work experience.	B．Her parents’ support.
C．Her creative thinking.	D．Her youthful positivity.

4. What does Zandra expect to achieve with her packaging?

A．To catch customers’ attention.

B．To collect customers’ opinions on skincare.

C．To educate customers about product knowledge.

D．To encourage environmental awareness in customers.

2 . The walls of ancient Egyptian tombs (坟墓) can teach us much about the ancient Egyptians’ life. However, many paintings in the tombs were damaged by unlawful tomb diggers. Now a new study shows how a technology called portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) can be used to better study the paintings.

Developed in the early 20th century by physicist Henry Moseley, XRF and pXRF can be used to decide materials’ elemental composition (元素组成). Rather than the huge and immovable tool often used to study historical objects in labs, the tool needed in the pXRF study weighs only a few kilograms and can be taken into the field.

The research team headed by Philippe Martinez from Sorbonne University used the new tool to perform chemical imaging on paintings on site, allowing for the study of paint composition. As the ancient Egyptians used paints made from minerals (矿物), the paints have specific chemical markers. By using pXRF, scientists can use the chemical markers to create a map of damaged areas.

The team used the pXRF tool in the study of a painting of Ramesses II found in the tomb of Nakhtamun, which has traditionally been dated at the19th dynasty of ancient Egypt. And they discovered the necklace worn by the king in the painting may have been changed.

The king was first painted to be wearing a shebyu necklace, which was trendy during the 20th dynasty, some years after Ramesses II’s death. And it appears that the necklace was later changed to a wesekh necklace, which usually appears in paintings during his time. This means the tomb painters at first painted this 19th-dynasty ruler wearing a 20th-dynasty necklace, realized their mistake and then corrected it. The technology enabled the team to learn that the tomb owner, Nakhtamun, may actually have lived in the 20th rather than the 19th dynasty, and that the painting is not of a living king, but rather of a former ruler.

According to the researchers, the pXRF technology allows in-depth studies while helping prevent further damage. And it presents important details about the technological and artistic achievements of the ancient Egyptians.

1. What can be learned about the pXRF technology from Paragraph 2?

A．It only works in laboratory settings.

B．It requires a large and fixed tool to operate.

C．It was developed to prevent painting stealing.

D．It is more convenient than the earlier technology.

2. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．The process of repairing the tombs.

B．The researchers’ working methods.

C．The introduction to the technology’s inventor.

D．The valuable materials of the paints used in the paintings.

3. What does the underlined word “trendy” in Paragraph 5 mean?

A．Confusing.

B．Acceptable.

C．Popular.

D．Expensive.

4. What does the research on the painting of Ramesses II show?

A．Ramesses II paid great attention to his appearance.

B．Ancient Egyptian painters were careless about details.

C．The new tool was important to the dating of historical objects.

D．Technology developed very quickly during Ramesses II’s time.

3 . We live in a world where we are usually exposed to (接触) news on social media that can be scary, upsetting, or confusing.     1     However, as Mr. Rogers, the beloved host of a children’s show, once said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helpful.’ ”

One of the places where we can look for “the helpers” is on social media platforms.     2     For example, Ryan Kaji is a 9-year-old boy who runs the channel Ryan’s World. He makes videos about science experiments and games that are fun and educational for kids. He also donates to charities and causes that he cares about.

    3     One problem is finding reliable (可靠) and exact sources of information. Not all content on social media platforms is trustworthy. Some content creators may just want to make money from ads. Therefore, it is important to judge the reliability of the sources before we trust their content. Another challenge is keeping a healthy balance between online and offline activities. Spending too much time online can do harm to our physical health, such as causing headaches or sleep problems. Therefore, it is important to limit our screen time by doing other activities.     4    

Looking for helpers on social media can be a valuable way to find hope and comfort in difficulty.    5     Then we will form our own opinions. We can also be helpers ourselves by sharing helpful content on social media that can make a difference in the world.

A．We’d better find some topics to talk about with the helper.

B．Exercising, reading, and learning art are all good choices.

C．Phones and computers have made information easier to gain.

D．They offer a lot of content that can educate or support young viewers.

E．It enables us to see things from different viewpoints and learn new things.

F．However, looking for helpers on social media also comes with some challenges.

G．Sometimes, it can be hard to deal with the negative thoughts that these events cause.

4 . While the classic sandwich will always have its place, there are plenty of exciting lunchbox ideas that will satisfy both kids and parents alike. When kids join in planning and packing their lunches, they’re more likely to enjoy and finish their meals. So, why not give these ideas a try?

Bento Box Bliss

Bento box lunches are gaining popularity. These containers allow you to make a meal with a variety of foods. Fill one section with colorful fruit slices, another with bite-sized vegetables, and the remaining ones with proteins (蛋白质) like chicken and eggs. Finish with a small treat like a handful of berries. The possibilities are endless, and kids will love these different kinds of food.

DIY Lunchables

Homemade Lunchables offers a healthier choice than store-bought food. Pack a selection of whole-grain biscuits, slices of cheese, and a handful of cherry tomatoes. Kids can make their own sandwiches by adding their favorite food to round out the meal. It makes lunchtime an enjoyable experience.

Wrap (包) it Up

Try using wraps instead of regular sandwiches. It is advised to use the flatbread (扁面包) instead of bread. It can be filled with lots of different things. You can make a turkey wrap with cream cheese, or a vegetable wrap if you prefer a plant-based option. Wraps are not only easy to get ready but also easy for little hands to hold.

Mini Pancake Stacks

Who says pancakes are just for breakfast? Mini pancakes can be a pleasant lunchbox surprise. Make small pancakes and sandwich them with cocoa butter and sliced bananas. Add a little honey for more sweetness. With just a few steps, you can complete them. These cute stacks are not only tasty but also fun to eat.

1. What’s an advantage of Bento box lunches?

A．Offering many sandwich options.	B．Using simple materials as food sources.
C．Helping strictly control how much kids eat.	D．Enabling kids to enjoy a well-balanced meal.

2. What do we know about homemade Lunchables?

A．It costs much time and effort.	B．It allows kids to show creative ideas.
C．It is much tastier than takeaway food.	D．It makes kids increase their food intake easily.

3. What do the last two lunchbox choices have in common?

A．Both are easy to prepare.	B．Both are popular with little kids.
C．Both suit kids enjoying sweet treats.	D．Both feature fast food with high calories.

5 . Olympian weight-lifter Thodoris Iakovidis shocked the public that he cannot continue with the multiple financial difficulties he faces.     1     In the meantime, he exposed the Greek state when he burst into tears on a live interview.

“    2    ” He said after competing in Tokyo Olympic Games. “I’m sorry if anyone thinks I’m running away.” He revealed that he receives 200 euros per month by the Greek Federation for his competing preparation. Iakovidis’parents told media that Thodoris sometimes has to stop his training in order to work and earn money to finance it.

Iakovidis’ statement shocked ordinary Greeks first of all. They launched a campaign on Twitter and Instagram to increase his followers and also attract sponsors.     3     Some sponsors reportedly got in contact with him saying they want to meet him when he returns from Tokyo.

Speaking to Open TV on Sunday, Iakovidis said thanking his new supporters: “The problem is not to fix my thing.     4     Numerous athletes need support. ”

Stressing that he will continue if the conditions change, he added, “But I do not think it’s moral to continue with sponsors for another three years. Many others have to go through the same difficulties as now. I want the state mechanism to help all the athletes.”     5    

A．I’m sorry for my failure.

B．Real actions are a necessity.

C．There are so many other Thodoris.

D．He announced that he would end his career.

E．Dozens of companies are sponsoring the event.

F．Overnight his followers rose from 3, 000 to 120, 000.

G．I’m not crying because I did not have a good performance.

6 . In 2001, UNESCO declared 21 May as UN World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. The day’s not intended to find out the uniqueness of different cultures, separating them from each other.     1     Here are a few modest and simple ways to mark the occasion.

Visiting an exhibition or a museum dedicated to other cultures comes first since it may inspire you to create something yourself, and heighten your desire to learn about a new topic or culture.     2     For example, you can see the British Museum’s collection online, and the National Gallery has a digital tour of 18 rooms that lets you get up close to the paintings.

    3     It’s a great way to expand your knowledge of the world. Many traditional folk tales have universal themes, but at the same time, shine a light on particular aspects of another culture. So now might be a great time to dive into the storybooks and read folk tales.

There is perhaps no better way to experience another culture than listening to music. Even if you don’t understand the words, you can still hear the influence of other cultures. You could allow yourself to discover music from every corner of the globe on forums.     4     After all, series of musics are on the air, often with strong international influences.

It never goes without mentioning language while embracing culture diversity. It is relatively easy to have a go at trying a new language through the many smartphone apps or through an online language exchange.     5    

A．Or you could listen to radio programmes.

B．In short, it’s never too late to learn a language.

C．You could also appreciate music in foreign films.

D．Remember language serves as a reflection and carrier of culture.

E．Learning about traditional stories from other cultures won’t disappoint you.

F．Even if you can’t visit a museum at first hand, you can select virtual exhibitions.

G．Instead, it’s a chance to unfold the similarities and celebrate the cultural diversity.

7 . The Most Beautiful Train Stations in the World

Tokyo Station Marunouchi Building

The wide-open entrance square on the Marunouchi side of Tokyo’s main train station would look more at home in Amsterdam or Paris. Kingo Tatsuno’s classical European design took over six years to complete, finally opening in 1914. The statin has received several facelifts since the Second World War, most recently in 2012. It’s one of the biggest and busiest train stations in the world.

Beijing West Railway Station

The idea of building this station in the capital of China was put forward as early as 1959 but didn’t come to reality until 1996. It was the largest station in Asia at the time, although Shanghai’s Hongqiao Station has since surpassed it. The station itself has a unique architectural (建筑的) style, with the main body of the building having quite a functional Russian look, but the rooftop is decorated with three amazing Chinese pagodas.

Duoliang Station, Taiwan

This is the smallest station on this lit by a distance. In fact we’re not really choosing Duoliang for architectural reasons. This station is all about location, location, location. Surrounded by hi top greenery on one side and amazing Pacific Ocean scenery on the other, it’s one of the most scenic spots in all of Taiwan. This isn’t even a working station anymore, but the platforms have been adapted into viewing spots, extremely popular with local train spotters.

Stazione Milano Centrale in Milan

Milan’s central train station looks pretty much exactly as you’d imagine it. There are a mix of styles at play here, from Art Nouveau to Art Deco, but the entire building is filled with a classic sense of Roman monumentality. The outer look is guarded by two statues, while its insides are equally impressive, as grand stonewalls curve (弯曲) into the station’s glass ceilings.

1. What do Tokyo Station and Beijing West Railway Station have in common?

A．Both have European features.

B．Both were built in the early 1990s.

C．Both have been rebuilt several times.

D．Both are the largest domestic stations.

2. What do train spotters favor most about Duoliang Station?

A．Its distance.	B．Its small size.
C．Its surrounding scenery.	D．Its architectural style.

3. What makes Stazione Milano Centrale impressive?

A．Roman buildings	B．Its various styles.
C．Statues on the walls	D．The curving ceilings.

8 . New research from the University of Portsmouth has shown a marked increase in shipping in the North East Atlantic. Scientists now warn that more monitoring is required to help protect sea life.

Researchers at the University of Ponsmouth have discovered that rates (率) of shipping in the North East Atlantic area rose by 34 per cent in a five-year period. The research is the first detailed survey of shipping activity in the North East Atlantic. Researchers used data from over 530 million vessel (船) positions recorded by Automatic Identification System(AIS). They looked at the change in shipping between 2013 and 2017 across ten different vessel types. In total the study area covered 1.1 million km², including waters off Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany,Iceland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal. Spain, and the UK.

Lead author, James Robbins said: “This change is likely to put more pressure on the marine (海洋的) environment, and may influence the protection of at-risk species. Renewed monitoring effort is needed to make sure that protective measures are enough to save species under threat in a changing environment.”

Some of the greatest shipping increases were found in areas close to the Spanish coast. The Espacio Marino de la Costa da Morte saw a rise of 413 percent in vessel activity. It is an area used to protect seabirds.

Dr. Sarah Marley, Visiting Researcher at the University of Portsmouth, said: “Shipping is the most widespread human activity in our oceans, carrying a set of threats-from unnoticeable effects like underwater noise pollution to serious results when ships hit whales.”

Professor Alex Ford. from the University’s Institute of Marine Sciences, said: “Given the well-documented effects that shipping can have on the marine environment, it is necessary that this situation continues to be monitored-particularly in areas used to protect vulnerable (脆弱的) species which may already be under pressure.”

1. What can we say about the new research?

A．It started in 2013.	B．It is the first of its kind.
C．It was carried out by AIS.	D．It covers the whole Atlantic.

2. What do the underlined words “This change” in paragraph 3 refer to ?

A．Rapid population growth.

B．Rising global temperatures.

C．The huge increase in shipping.

D．The disappearance of marine life.

3. What does Dr. Sarah Marley want to tell us in paragraph 5?

A．Shipping plays an important role in the local economy.

B．Shipping can be a danger to the marine environment.

C．Noise pollution is closely related to human activity.

D．Marine areas should be monitored more carefully.

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

A．New waterways across the Atlantic

B．The shipping industry in the North East Atlantic

C．New research opens windows into life under the water

D．Sea life needs better protection from an increase in shipping

9 . Artificial intelligence models can trick each other into disobeying their creators and providing banned instructions for making drugs, or even building a bomb, suggesting that preventing such AI “jailbreaks” is more difficult than it seems.

Many publicly available large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, have hard-coded rules that aim to prevent them from exhibiting racial or sexual discrimination, or answering questions with illegal or problematic answers — things they have learned from humans via training data. But that hasn’t stopped people from finding carefully designed instructions that block these protections, known as “jailbreaks”, making AI models disobey the rules.

Now, Arush Tagade at Leap Laboratories and his co-workers have found a process of jailbreaks. They found that they could simply instruct one LLM to convince other models to adopt a persona (角色), which is able to answer questions the base model has been programmed to refuse. This process is called “persona modulation (调节)”.

Tagade says this approach works because much of the training data consumed by large models comes from online conversations, and the models learn to act in certain ways in response to different inputs. By having the right conversation with a model, it is possible to make it adopt a particular persona, causing it to act differently.

There is also an idea in AI circles, one yet to be proven, that creating lots of rules for an AI to prevent it displaying unwanted behaviour can accidentally create a blueprint for a model to act that way. This potentially leaves the AI easy to be tricked into taking on an evil persona. “If you’re forcing your model to be good persona, it somewhat understands what a bad persona is,” says Tagade.

Yinzhen Li at Imperial College London says it is worrying how current models can be misused, but developers need to weigh such risks with the potential benefits of LLMs. “Like drugs, they also have side effects that need to be controlled,” she says.

1. What does the AI jailbreak refer to?

A．The technique to break restrictions of AI models.

B．The initiative to set hard-coded rules for AI models.

C．The capability of AI models improving themselves.

D．The process of AI models learning new information.

2. What can we know about the persona modulation?

A．It can help AI models understand emotions.

B．It prevents AI learning via online conversations.

C．It can make AI models adopt a particular persona.

D．It forces AI models to follow only good personas.

3. What is Yinzhen Li’s attitude towards LLMs?

A．Unclear.

B．Cautious.

C．Approving.

D．Negative.

4. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A．LLMs: Illegal Learning Models	B．LLMs: The Latest Advancement
C．AI Jailbreaks: A New Challenge	D．AI Jailbreaks: A Perfect Approach

10 . 阅读下面材料，根据要求完成对应题目。

I believe everyone has a particular childhood birthday that stands out more than any other. For me, it was the year my father’s factory closed down, casting a shadow of uncertainty over our family. I was only a child. Looking back, I cannot recall the exact year, but the events of that birthday will live forever in my heart.

Dad, who had devoted years to the factory, never let on to me that we were having financial difficulties. I knew only that Dad usually worked long hours but was now home more than I had ever remembered. Mom, a homemaker, sought work in the local clothing factories, but jobs were rare. Time after time, she was told no openings were available. With Dad’s poor unemployment check as our only income, my parents carried the weight of our situation. They made every effort to hide the difficult reality from me.

As a carefree child, my mind was filled with excitement and eagerness for my upcoming birthday. What would my birthday gift be? What surprise was waiting for me? These questions crowded my mind, and I had no idea that my parents were worried about having no extra money to buy me a gift.

One day, when Mom was cleaning the house, she found some of my old clothes. Her eyes shone as she carefully examined each piece. “I know what to do!” she cried, her voice filled with excitement.

The days leading up to my birthday seemed to be no different from usual. But every night after I went to bed, Dad and Mom would be busy at the sewing (缝纫) machine for a long time. Dad designed, and Mom cut and sewed. They poured all their love and creativity into what they were doing, working hard to transform those old clothes into something special.

My birthday finally arrived. After a simple meal together, the moment came to open my parents’ gift. As I unwrapped it, my heart sank. Inside was a dress that looked very familiar, and I realized with a pang of sadness that it was a hand-made present using some of my old clothes. Disappointment washed over me, for I had no idea about the financial difficulty our family was facing. Overwhelmed with emotions, I swiftly closed the door to my room and let my tears flow freely. In the midst of my sorrow, I noticed a card nestled in the gift box, as if waiting to be discovered.

(一)阅读理解。
阅读以上短文，从每题所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。
1. Who is the main character in this story?

A．I.

B．Dad.

C．Mom.

2. What do we know from the story?

A．The author’s parents hid the reality because they were afraid to make her angry.

B．The author’s mom was very concerned before she found some of the old clothes.

C．The author’s parents made the present themselves because they were good at it.

3. Which is most likely to be the theme of this passage?

A．The making of birthday gifts.

B．Financial difficulties.

C．Personal growth.

4. Based on the passage provided, which best describes the author?

A．Grown-up and responsible.

B．Innocent and reasonable.

C．Self-centered and mean.

5. Which is most likely to happen in Paragraph2 that starts with “I took out the card from the box of the dress.”?

A．I was so disappointed by the hand-made gift that I refused to talk to my parents.

B．I was first disappointed by the gift and the card but later cheered up by aunt’s gift.

C．I was moved by the card, understood my parents and helped out with the housework.

(二)读后续写。
6. 根据已给文章内容和下面所给段落开头语续写一段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。
注意：1. 续写词数应为75 左右；
.2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Paragraph 2:

I took out the card from the box of the dress.

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