1 . Craig Clark is retired from his job in computers. He grew bored in his retirement and wanted to take on a challenging hobby. He decided to continue doing what he does best, which is to fix computers. In his spare time, he helps individuals and families improve their lives by giving them access to technology.

Craig places ads for his donations on the neighborhood community website. Once he fixes the old computers, he then offers them to community members for free. He was aware that many individuals struggled financially and often couldn’t afford to buy a computer due to the expense (费用). He wanted to find a way to help solve this problem. So far, he has given away more than 430 computers.

Melissa, one of Craig’s computer receivers, proves his giving nature. Her daughter needed a computer for school. But as a single mother of four children, buying a new expensive computer was not in her budget. One day she received a free computer from Craig. It was a lifesaver for her family.

A computer can influence people in many ways. It helps the elderly easily connect with health professionals from the comfort of their homes. It also saves them time and money by having their medicine and food delivered and monthly bills paid with the help of their online accounts. Computers have also connected many young students with online educational programs. They have also helped families connect with relatives living far away through email, social media, and video meetings.

Craig is excited that his labor of love is beneficial to those in need. He is known in his Florida community as the Tech Fairy. He uses his IT skills as a unique way to help improve the lives of hundreds of his community members. He now wants to inspire other technicians (技术员) to join him on his mission of kindness and become tech fairies in their own communities. Together they can improve the lives of many.

1. What does Craig prefer doing in his spare time?

A．Finding solutions to poverty.	B．Selling computers at a low price.
C．Repairing and donating computers.	D．Teaching computer-fixing skills.

2. What words can be used to describe Craig?

A．Wise and independent.	B．Clever and energetic.
C．Brave and determined.	D．Skilled and generous.

3. What does Paragraph 4 focus on?

A．Community members’ gratitude to Craig.

B．Local people’s useful advice on Craig’s business.

C．The common types of online educational programs.

D．The life-changing benefits brought by Craig’s action.

4. What is the best title of the text?

A．A tech fairy connects people with technology

B．A man calls on people to recycle used computers

C．A fun way to improve community relationships

D．A man chooses to be a volunteer in his retirement.

2 . The southwestern United States has experienced drought for more than 20 years. Arizona has increasingly pumped (抽吸) water from underground, but that meets less than half of what the state needs. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of new residents arrive every year, and more communities are built. One report shows that a large area near Phoenix doesn’t have enough groundwater for all the homes that developers want to build there. That means 800,000 people.

Some experts say the solution is to import water from outside the state. One idea is to build a $5.5 billion desalination (脱盐) plant on Mexico’s Sea of Cortez. The plant would remove salt from the water and pump that water to Arizona through a 200-mile pipeline. Supporters say this could provide a water supply for decades.

Environmentalists see a different future. Some of the salt taken out of the Sea of Cortez might end up back in the ocean, harming wildlife. The pipeline would damage land where people and animals live. And the desalination process uses lots of energy. This would create greenhouse gases, the very gases that are causing the conditions that have led to Arizona’s water problems.

Margaret Wilder is a professor at the University of Arizona, in Tucson. She warns that big projects like this one could be used to show much more unsustainable development in the desert in the future. Moreover, desalinating water would likely be a massive expenditure for Arizonans. Cities pay about $50 to $150 for 326,000 gallons. That’s enough for a family of three in Phoenix for a year. Desalinated water could charge 20 times as much.

Environmentalists say the government should focus on cutting the demand for water rather than increasing the supply. That would mean taking water-saving measures and limiting how many homes are built. Thousands of households in Tucson, Arizona, are collecting rainwater and using it for cooking, drinking, and in their gardens. Government leaders have taken notice. Tucson also helps residents pay for equipment that collects rainwater for home use.

1. What is the problem faced by the southwestern United States?

A．A population increase.	B．A serious heatwave.
C．A waste of resources.	D．A water shortage.

2. What do environmentalists probably think of the desalination project?

A．It provides a long-term solution to drought.

B．It would harm the planet from various aspects.

C．It fails to take people’s basic needs into account.

D．It draws people’s attention to environmental destruction.

3. What does the underlined part “a massive expenditure” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Affordable.

B．Costly.

C．Unsafe.

D．Beneficial.

4. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．People are unsatisfied with the government’s water measures.

B．Collecting rainwater is the key to meeting water demands.

C．People are exploring water resources with official support.

D．Public concern about water safety has increased.

3 . In a recent email to an old friend, I mentioned that our family planned on taking our four­week road trip in our motor home. My friend emailed back and said he thought I was very “brave” to set out on such an adventure with two young children (aged two and five). I laughed when I read his email and wondered if he knew how much he was missing out on by giving up the idea of such a fun RV trip (房车旅) with one’s family.

My husband and I have been “RVing” for over ten years. When we first started traveling, we certainly had some troubles that were not so funny at the time but seem to be funny now. We forgot our pillows and failed to cook dinner on an outdoor grill (烤架) for lack of a flashlight. Then we decided to make our dinner in the motor home but could not get the oven lit! So we went to bed a little hungrier than we had planned!

However, that's nothing compared with the amazing geological and natural wonders we experienced during our RV trips. In addition, we have discovered a new world of family fun and family bonding. We saw the Grand Canyon when our son was only six months old. We play games inside and out, walk together, talk together, read, solve puzzles, and enjoy music and movies. We have got used to doing things with one another. Our kids love to pick out good, old­fashioned postcards to send off via “snail mail” to different family members on every trip.

As our world gets more and more overloaded with cell phones, texting, emails and video games, our family sticks more and more tightly to the wonderfully simple idea of unplugging for a while and jumping into the seat to take a trip in our motor home. Then we come home with fun pictures of our wanderings, and we're able to build special memories for our kids. Now we want to spread the word and tell families of all kinds what enjoyment can be had from packing the family up for a trip in the RV.

1. What did the author’s friend think of her travel plan?

A．A family trip should not last four weeks.

B．It was wise of her to take children on RV trips.

C．A family RV trip might bring unexpected troubles.

D．It was an opportunity to teach children to be brave.

2. What can we learn about the first RV trip of the author’s family?

A．They found many things lost.

B．It was ruined by bad weather.

C．They didn’t prepare well for it.

D．It was quite a scary experience.

3. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To appeal families to take RV trips together.

B．To show how to make RV trips interesting.

C．To encourage kids to take part in RV trips.

D．To share an unforgettable traveling experience.

4 . Capybaras (水豚) are group animals, so they do not like being alone. In fact, leaving a capybara alone is not only uncomfortable for the animal, but it can be harmful to their physical health, as well as their mental well-being. Capybaras love to talk to each other throughout the day. Groups of capybaras spend their days sunbathing along the edge of rivers, where they enjoy swimming together in the water. They spend half of their lives in the water.

Since they spend so much time around water, it makes sense that capybaras would come into contact with a wide variety of other animals who stop in for a drink. Capybaras are gentle and peaceful river animals who enjoy napping (小睡) along the water’s edge — and often do so with other animal species as well. You can find pictures all over the Internet of these lovely animals lying beside turtles, birds, ducks, rats, and even monkeys as they enjoy a nap by the water.

Capybaras are also known to be excellent and friendly taxis in the animal world. Birds and monkeys commonly stand on the back of a capybara for a ride as capybaras search for grass to eat. Sometimes capybaras even serve as boats for other animals, letting them sit on their heads as they swim through the water!

However, if you see a capybara lying on its side with a yellow-headed caracara (长腿兀鹰) stopped on its body, don’t panic just yet. Most likely the capybara is enjoying a nice spa day. Birds often make friends with capybaras and act as a natural cleaning service, picking off bugs (虫子) that live in the capybara’s fur. It’s a symbiotic (共生的) relationship, since the yellow-headed caracara also gets to enjoy eating a bunch of tasty bugs.

1. What does the first paragraph mainly tell us about capybaras?

A．Their life habits.	B．Their survival skills.
C．Their appearance.	D．Their risks in health.

2. Why does the author call capybaras “friendly taxis”?

A．They search for food for birds and monkeys.

B．They carry their food by riding on another animal.

C．They allow other animals to stay on their backs or heads.

D．They guide other animals to swim through the water.

3. What does the author mean by saying “don’t panic just yet” in the last paragraph?

A．The caracara won’t attack you.

B．The capybara won’t suffer any injury.

C．The caracara may just take a break.

D．The capybara may be providing its cleaning service.

4. What is true about capybaras according to the passage?

A．They hate lying beside lovely animals.

B．They enjoy swimming alone.

C．They are aggressive animals.

D．They can live in harmony with other animal species.

5 . Kitchen remodeling (改造) is not easy or fun, but sometimes it produces the most surprising benefits.

When having our kitchen remodeled, I emptied all the drawers and cabinets. I was surrounded by boxes filled with dishes, cups and cooking tools, not knowing where many of the things even came from, or even what they were supposed to be used for.     1     I took a break and watched some television — one of the channels that dealt with home and garden issues.

    2     Her advice was to throw away all but the seven basic tools that are really needed for cooking the majority of our meals. The idea made me sit up straight and bring out the boxes of tools.     3     I was shocked by what were still in the boxes. I closed up the boxes of tools and put them in the basement.

As I fit my seven surviving “essential” tools into just one of my beautiful new kitchen drawers, I instantly felt lighter and freer. In the next month, my experiment produced some very surprising and interesting results.     4     Next, it was much more interesting to cook without searching in the drawers to get what I needed! And because it was more interesting to cook, I was cooking more!

Looking back over the whole thing, there is not much I would do differently. Occasionally I stand at the stove and miss a specific tool, but I only have to look at my orderly drawers and do some creative thinking to put the smile back on my face.     5    

A．First, I rarely faced a cooking project that couldn’t be done with what I had saved.

B．I dug out the seven items and set them aside.

C．My kitchen had become quite the storage space.

D．The host talked about our craze for cooking tools.

E．I took the opportunity to lighten lots of my other drawers.

F．First of all, I simply put back what I used on a regular basis.

G．It was the kitchen remodeling that produced the most amazing results ever!

6 . Theoretically some trees could live forever, according to a recent essay that reviews growing evidence on long-lived trees.

Across the board, trees do not die so much as they are killed, write the authors of the review essay. Their killers are outer factors rather than old age alone. That is, there is no evidence that harmful genetic mutations (基因突变) occur over time or that trees lose their ability to continue to grow.

“Trees might live forever, but this does not happen,” says co-author Franco Biondi. “Tree killers include environmental risks such as droughts , wildfires, terrible weather and human behaviors such as woodcutting and fires set to clear forests for hunting or grassland.”

Tree longevity (长寿) interests researchers in part because trees and other plants remove carbon from the atmosphere, and older trees are thought to store more carbon than younger ones. The rings of old trees can also serve as an invaluable record of climate history, with wider rings indicating better years.

David Stahle, a geographer and tree longevity researcher at the University of Arkansas, takes issue with the belief that trees can possibly live forever. “The likelihood, all things being equal, that trees can live forever seems unlikely to me,” he says.

This hypothesis (假设) has become popular in the past 20 years as researchers continue to report having found little genetic evidence of aging in extremely old trees. And this is one of the review essay’s most important points. But evidence of aging could be out there and just not yet found.

1. What does the recent review essay mainly indicate?

A．There are a great variety of tree killers.	B．Trees could keep on surviving forever.
C．More trees die naturally than being killed.	D．Genetic mutations stop trees from growing.

2. Why does tree longevity interest researchers?

A．Because the way trees grow rings is more interesting.

B．Because trees make clearer climate records than other plants.

C．Because older trees contribute more to the environment.

D．Because younger trees are less likely to have genetic mutations.

3. What is Stahle’s attitude to the finding of the review essay?

A．Doubtful.

B．Uninterested.

C．Reserved.

D．Favorable.

4. What does the last paragraph suggest?

A．The assumption has been proved true.	B．Evidence of aging trees might exist.
C．Tree research has grown in the past 20 years.	D．Some key points disappear in the review essay.

7 . A recent study found that temperature can be an important factor in getting a good night’s sleep. Researchers tracked 50 participants aged 65 and older for 18 months. The participants were given wearable sleep monitors and environmental sensors to determine sleep duration, efficiency and restlessness.

Given the results of the study, researchers don’t recommend keeping your bedroom warmer than 25℃. The team found a 5-10 percent drop in sleep efficiency as the nighttime temperature increased to 30℃, with participants being the most turbulent at this level. Sleep efficiency also reduced when temperatures dropped below 20℃, though not as dramatically. So what is the ideal range? Researchers suggest the thermostat (恒温器) be set to between 20℃ and 25℃.

“Sleep tends to come easier and is often deeper and more restful in a cooler environment,” lead researcher Amir Baniassadi wrote in a blog post. “This isn’t unexpected; it’s rooted in our biology. Our body temperature naturally drops at night, which helps to maintain sleep. When our sleep environment is too warm, it can interfere with this temperature drop, disturbing our sleep.”

According to the study, poor sleep can lead to health issues for older adults. These include an inability to think clearly, mood swings, and higher levels of stress. Other problems include an increased chance of getting diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

The study collected data from nearly 11,000 nights of sleep for a year and a half. But the data only came from 50 seniors, mostly white and female, and all living in the same Boston-area senior living community. This suggested that more studies with more diverse age groups and locations may be helpful for more persuasive conclusions.

1. What was the main purpose of the study for old adults?

A．To explore the risks of poor sleep.

B．To encourage seniors to sleep earlier.

C．To introduce a new wearable sleep monitor.

D．To find a more ideal sleep temperature.

2. What does the underlined word “turbulent” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Nervous.

B．Energetic.

C．Uneasy.

D．Comfortable.

3. What did the study find?

A．People sleep longer in a cooler environment.

B．Poor sleep tends to affect females’ health more.

C．Sleep environment causes the drop in body temperature.

D．Seniors enjoy a sound sleep in a room at most 25℃.

4. What does the last paragraph mainly talk about?

A．The methods used in the study.	B．The limitations of the study.
C．The valuable data of the study.	D．The further study for researchers.

8 . Karen Sturges was knitting a sweater for her daughter’s future baby. Bad news came — she was diagnosed with cancer.

“What she was most concerned about was finishing the sweater,” said her daughter Annie Gatewood. “She was just distraught when thinking she wasn’t going to be able to finish it.” Sturges worked on the sweater until four days before she died in 2021, with it unfinished. No member of the family knew how to knit.

Then in 2022, Gatewood was matched with a “finisher” Sarah in Portland, — one of the over 1,000 volunteers who complete unfinished arts projects for grieving loved ones through a group called Loose Ends. Finishing knitting the sweater, Sarah handed it off to Gatewood. “I saw her and burst into tears, because she looks like my mom,” said Gatewood. “We know for sure my mom would have been just delighted.”

Kaplan and Simonic started Loose Ends. Both are expert knitters knowing what it is like to have a loved one leave behind an unfinished project. The finisher doesn’t charge any money. The only cost is for mailing.

Opuda signed up as a finisher. She is crocheting (用钩针编织) a blue blanket for someone whose mother passed away. The blanket was one of three the mother was working on throughout her cancer treatments, and although they are not perfect, the children wanted to keep everything their mother made. “People just don’t really know how much time something takes, especially a blanket. Yet even through her illness and all her pain and challenges, she still managed to make so much progress. I didn’t want her kids to lose that,” said Opuda.

“We all experience pain,” said Simonic. “You don’t know what someone’s going through on a day-to-day basis that’s going to make them give up, but I do know these little acts of kindness make people realize there are people out there willing to help.”

1. What can be learned about Loose Ends?

A．It charges receivers lot.	B．It meets patients’ unreal wishes.
C．It consists of generous helpers.	D．It recycles valuable unfinished pieces.

2. What did Opuda want the blanket receivers to know about their mother?

A．She was a well-trained crafter.	B．She suffered a lot from cancer.
C．She hoped to keep the family tradition.	D．She had a great affection for them.

3. What does Simonic intend to tell us?

A．A small act of kindness can mean a lot.	B．Actions speak louder than words.
C．A patient’s work should be respected.	D．Love begins with a little smile.

4. What might be a suitable title for the text?

A．Loose Ends to Help Finish Undone Handicrafts	B．Artworks to Make up for Family Regrets
C．Finishers to Help Restore Family Treasures	D．Remains to Convey Love to the Beloved

9 . Four Future Technologies to Change the World in the Next Decade

Underwater gloves

Researchers have developed “octa gloves” that copy the suction (吸力) properties of an octopus (章鱼). Using a network of microsensors, the suction cups on the gloves can tighten and relax to grab underwater items without breaking them.

This technology could potentially be employed by underwater archaeologists, rescue divers, bridge architects, and other similar professionals.

Health-monitoring “Digital Twins”

A scanner has been developed, which can test hundreds of indicators within an hour. The information about these indicators can be used to create a 3D digital twin of a patient’s body, which can be monitored over time and changed with each new examination.

It is predicted that with this new technology, we will enter a new era of preventative and individualized medicine.

3D-printed bones

One of the most interesting applications of 3D printing technology is the creation of 3D-printed bones. A substance similar to human bones’ can be used to create a 3D model of the required patient-specific implantation (移植) according to the images and be used in an operation.

Due to the use of the special substance, the muscle will change these 3D-printed implants into real bones, allowing for the complete healing of bones’ functions.

Hydrogen planes

A team has put forward a proposal for a mid-sized plane powered by liquid hydrogen. It would be capable of carrying about 279 persons around the globe nonstop.

If this innovation could occur, a nonstop , zero-carbon flight connecting any two places in the world would be possible.

1. Which innovation is inspired by the feature of an animal?

A．Digital Twins.	B．3D-printed bones.
C．Octa gloves.	D．Hydrogen planes.

2. Who might be most interested in 3D-printed bones?

A．A frogman in search of sunken treasures.

B．An athlete in need of ankle replacement.

C．A student majoring in preventative medicine.

D．A navigator promoting environmental protection.

3. How will the four technologies impact us?

A．They will improve our life and work.

B．They will better our environment.

C．They will boost our work efficiency.

D．They will help prolong our life.

10 . Welcome to the North Carolina Zoo

We are excited to welcome you to the zoo. The North Carolina Zoo serves and welcomes everyone. Tickets can be bought in advance online or at the gate on the day of your visit.

Hours

The zoo is open all year round, closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

April -October 9 a. m. to 5 p. m.

November -March 9 a. m. to 4 p. m.

The last entry (进入) is one hour before closing.

Prices

Adults (ages 13 -61): $15                           Seniors (ages 62+): $13

Children (ages 2-12): $11                           Under 2: Free

Meet the Keeper

Take your zoo day to the next level and plan to attend a “Meet the Keeper” meeting where you can see a range of activities, such as animal feeding and training sessions.

Animal	When	Where
Gorillas	11:30 a.m. Saturdays &Sundays	Gorilla Habitat
Giraffe	2:30 p.m. Saturdays &Sundays	Giraffe Overlook One
Seabirds	2:00 p.m. daily	Rocky Coast
North American Porcupines	10:30 a.m. Saturdays &Sundays	Rocky Coast

Notes

We do not allow picnic-style meals inside the zoo, and bringing branded outside foods (McDonald’s for example) into the zoo is also prohibited (禁止). Guests are welcome to enjoy these foods at one of our picnic areas before entering the zoo. If you exit (出去) to picnic during your visit, please check in with our staff to get a mark on your hand.

Address

4401 Zoo Pkwy, Asheboro, NC 27205

1. How much should a middle-aged couple with their 5-year-old son pay for a visit?

A．$26.

B．$30.

C．$37.

D．$41.

2. What animals may visitors see if they join a “Meet the Keeper” meeting on weekdays?

A．Giraffe.	B．Seabirds.
C．Gorillas.	D．North American Porcupines.

3. What is a special feature of the North Carolina Zoo?

A．Same-day re-entry is allowed.

B．It provides picnic areas inside the zoo.

C．Visitors can feed animals with their own foods.

D．Ticket booking can be made at the gate in advance.