1 . Directions: Filling in the blanks with the proper forms of the phrases given in the box. Each phrase can be used only once. There are three more phrases than you need.

to an extent；hang on；take cover；pass (oneself/something) off as take over；resort to；a handful of；be tempted to

1. The Red Typhoon Signal is a warning to ______, under metal or sod roof structures, out of the wind.
2. Internationalization of production has been developed ______ of a higher and deeper level.
3. The drink was packaged in champagne bottles and ______ the real stuff.
4. Every 10 years or so, it seems ______ new looks endure long enough to become accepted a the uniform of a generation.
5. Despite ______ keep the money to pay for bills, Mr. Carnarvon sought out the children of the home’s previous owner, who had died, and gave them the money.

2 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. celebrated       B. ideals       C. currently       D. enlarged E. formerly       F. incomparable       G. laid       H. referred I. restored       J. scale        K. seat

If you only had an afternoon to experience London on a grand     1    , the Houses of Parliament, also called Palace of Westminster would be a wise place to start. The     2     of the bicameral (两院制的) Parliament including the House of Commons and the House of Lords, is located on the left bank of the River Thames in the borough of Westminster, London.

A royal palace was said to have existed at the site under the Danish king of England Canute. The building, however, spoken of by William Fitzstephen as a(n) “    3     structure,” was built for Edward the Confessor in the 11th century and     4     by William I (the Conqueror). In 1512 the palace suffered greatly from fire and thereafter ceased to be used as a royal residence. A fire in 1834 destroyed the whole palace except the historic Westminster Hall, the Jewel Tower, the cloisters, and the crypt of St. Stephen’s Chapel.

Sir Charles Barry, assisted by A.W.N. Pugin, designed the present buildings in the Gothic Revival style. Construction was begun in 1837, the cornerstone was     5     in 1840, and work was finished in 1860. The Commons Chamber was burned out in one of the numerous air raids that targeted London during World War II, but it was     6     and reopened in 1950. The House of Lords is an ornate chamber 97 feet in length; the Commons is 70 feet long. The southwestern Victoria Tower is 336 feet high. The Elizabeth Tower,     7     St. Stephen’s Tower, about 320 feet in height, contains the famous tower clock Big Ben. Along with Westminster Abbey and St, Margaret’s Church, the Houses of Parliament were named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987, as symbols of spiritual and democratic     8    .

The Palace is one of the centers of political life in the United Kingdom; “Westminster” has become a metaphor for the UK Parliament and the British Government. The Elizabeth Tower, in particular, often     9     to by the name of its main bell, Big Ben, has become an iconic landmark of London and of the United Kingdom in general, one of the most     10     tourist attractions in the city, and a symbol of parliamentary democracy.

3 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. politely B. deserving   C. strengthened     D. hospitalization   E. cases F. under-resourced G. unsurprising H. possibly   I. reaching     J. readopted     K. unsustainable

Too many people believe that the pandemic is over, England’s deputy chief medical officer, Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, warned this week: far from it. Europe is at its centre again, WHO has said, urging governments to continue with public health measures. But though Sajid Javid, England’s health secretary, predicted last month that     1     here could hit 100,000 a day, he remains unwilling to take action — even as the latest Real-time Assessment of Community Transmission (React) findings, for late October, show that about one in 58 people is tested positive — more than double September’s levels.

The indifference of Mr Javid and his boss, Boris Johnson, is     2    , given the government’s record. (Last month’s news report on its response stressed that it had “lacked speed in making timely decisions”: if put less     3    , it was far too late, far too often). But their attitude is doubtlessly     4     by a drop in recorded cases over the past week. Some experts think the drop may have to do with the growing immunity caused by high infection rates.

While vaccines (疫苗) (and now treatments) are decreasing     5     rates, current infection levels and breakthrough cases remind us that vaccines do not stop people from catching or spreading Covid, and reduce but do not eliminate the possibility of serious health problems such as long Covid.

The government is counting on boosters (疫苗加强剂), though it says its “plan B” — forced masking, vaccine passports and encouragement to work from home — will be introduced if the pressure on the National Health Service (NHS) is     6    . The British Medical Association believe that point arrived weeks ago. Queues of ambulances are the most visible indication of the pressures. The NHS went into the pandemic     7     and, more obviously at the current stage, short-staffed. The overall impact has been exhausting. Any further increase in Covid patients, already     8     more than 9,500, would greatly weaken the ability to deal with the huge backlog (积压的工作).

Why take that risk? Forced masking on public transport and in places such as supermarkets must be     9    . The government should introduce Covid passports for crowded venues. Third doses (针剂) must be made more accessible. Adopting these minimal measures now would save lives and protect the NHS,     10     preventing the need for more drastic action later.

5 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. valuable     B. unrecognizable     C. unconsciously     D. reserved     E. heavily F. encounters   G. disrupted     H. confused   I. closeness   J. bunch   K. recomposed

Relationship in the Digital Age

People from our past whom we no longer directly communicate with but who are active on social networks can “occupy     1     space in your mind, and you think about them instead of about your close friends,” said Carlin Flora, the author of “Friend-fluence: The Surprising Ways Friends Make Us Who We are.”

“If my high school friend posts frequently about her life, it’s almost like it’s celebrity gossip, or it seems as if I am watching a reality show about her,” Ms. Flora said. “Our brains get     2     about whether we know celebrities; if we see someone a lot, our brain thinks we know them.”

Ms. Schiller, the Iowa graduate, goes out often with friends at night but also lives on a digital diet of texting     3     enough that she recently hurt her thumb, Google chat and social media. As with many young people, talking on the phone was never a big part of her routine and is now     4     for the rarest of occasions.

There are physiological benefits to face-to-face     5     however, that doesn’t belong to digital interactions or the phone. “Your blood pressure goes down, and you imitate your friends gesture     6    .” Ms. Flora said. “It’s a kind of harmony humans have developed over thousands of years, and you don’t get that when you only follow someone on social media.”

But now it’s common for the synchrony(同步性)to be     7     in person, thanks to smartphones. Imagine Edward Hopper’s 1942 painting “Nighthawks” (below)     8     today, with the three late-night diners and counterman all gazing at screens. “If there’s a(n)     9     of guys at a bar together and they’re all on their phones,” Ms. Flora said, “they’re not doing much to stimulate the body system to create the sense of     10    .”

6 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. advocate   B. commercially   C. diversify     D. analyst   E. projected     F. due G. accordingly   H. collective       I. sponsored       J. launches       K. contribute

Inspiration 4: Amateur astronauts set for orbital spaceflight

Four “amateur astronauts” are about to launch into orbit in another landmark mission for space tourism. It’s the latest flight to help open up access to space for paying customers, following on from       1     by Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos.

The trip has been paid for by Us billionaire businessman Jared Isaac-man, who will travel with three crew-mates. A healthcare worker, a science educator and a data     2     will circle the Earth with Mr Isaac-man for three days.

They hope to inspire others with their adventure and to raise money for children’s cancer medicine. The mission has been named Inspiration 4     3    .

The crew’s Dragon vehicle, manufactured by Elon Musk’s company Space X, will ride atop a Falcon-9 rocket. It is     4     to launch from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center at 20:02 EDT on Wednesday (01:02 BST, Thursday), or very shortly after.

The mission follows hot on the heels of Sir Richard Branson’s flight aboard his Virgin Galactic rocket plane on 11 July, and fellow billionaire Jeff Bezo’s trip to space nine days later in the New Shepard vehicle.

Some commentators have voiced concern about the     5     impact on the Earth’s climate of spaceflights like this one.

Space X’s Falcon-9 rocket uses highly-refined kerosene(煤油)fuel which produces the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2), along with nitrogen oxides, which also help     6     to warming. The emissions from rocket launches remain tiny compared with the aviation industry, though they are     7     to grow.

In the 60 years since Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin first went into space, fewer than 600 people have followed in his footsteps; and most of those have been military-trained personnel flying on government-     8     missions. Inspiration 4 is different. It’ll be a fully     9     purchased and operated orbital flight.

California-based Space X intends to sell many more orbital flights to interests beyond traditional space agencies. Nasa helped fund the development of a lot of the technology used by Elon Musk’s company, and did so to try to     10     the economy in low-Earth orbit. This approach is beginning to pay dividends(产生效益). Already, the Texas start-up Axiom Space has purchased four Dragon flights to take tourists to the ISS.

7 . Directions: Complete the following passages by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. public             B. inadequate             C. lowered             D. released               E. disappointment F. casting          G. possibility          H. objective          I. desperately          J. balance K. compared

Why Aren’t Women Happier?

Why aren’t women happier these days?

That’s the question raised by a thought-provoking study, The Paradox of Declining Female Happiness,     1     last month. The research showed that over the past 35 years women’s happiness has declined, both     2     to the past and relative to men even though the lives of women in the US have improved in recent decades by most     3     measures.

The research, by University of Pennsylvania economists Stevenson and Wolfers, and made     4     by the National Bureau of Economic Research, found the decline in happiness to be widespread among women across a variety of demographic(人口统计)groups. The researchers, for instance, measured similar declines in happiness among women who were single parents and married parents, “    5     doubt on the hypothesis(假设)that trends in marriage and divorce, single parenthood or work/family     6     are at the root of the happiness declines among women,” they wrote.

One theory for the decline in happiness is that expectations for workplace and general advancement were raised too high by the women’s movement and women might feel     7     for not “having it all,” as a Los Angeles Times columnist recently put it.

The researchers acknowledge that’s a     8     :

“If the women’s movement raised women’s expectations faster than society was able to meet them,” the paper says, “they would be more likely to experience     9     in their lives.” But they add things could change for the better: “As women’s expectations move into adjustment with their experiences, this decline in happiness may reverse.”

Readers, why do you think women are unhappier than in the past? Do you think that if expectations for “having it all” were     10     to “move into adjustment with experiences,” women might be happier?

8 . Directions: Complete the following passages by using the words in the box. Each word con only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. suffering     B. intensive     C. demanding     D. adopting     E. inactive     F. adapting     G. available H. guarantee     I. distinctive     J. discouraging     K. distinct

Health and diet

In recent cars, many Asian countries have noticed a worrying new problem: obesity, which is also very serious in China. More than a third of Chinese adults are overweight. Even more worrying is the level of obesity among Chinese children. It is estimated that the number of children in China     1     from obesity is increasing by 10 % every year.

There are many reasons for this situation. The simplest explanation is that food is now     2     in greater quantities than ever before. Also, Chinese society is changing and people are     3     new kinds of lifestyle. There has been an influx of Western style fast food like hamburgers and fried chicken. These foods contain a lot of calorie and are a major cause of obesity. In addition, many children in China spend too much time in front of TVs or computers. To make things worse, millions of families drive around instead of cycling or walking. This     4       lifestyle is another reason for heavier people.

Increasing obesity is worrying for many reasons. The condition can lead to serious health problems, including increased risk of heart disease and even diabetes. Dealing with their health problems seems really costly and     5     , thus affecting people’ life negatively.

The government in China is taking action to deal with obesity, however. In many primary and middle schools, young students are receiving low calorie lunches with more vegetables and less meat and fat. Also, parents are     6     children from watching TV and playing computer games. In some big cities, there are also “fat camps” where seriously obese children receive     7     training, aiming at losing extra fat.

It is not     8     if these measures will be enough to slow down or stop the obesity trend in China. It is clear, though, what we are doing now is to guide people in     9     to healthier and more active lifestyle. It is the     10     of the rise in the index of people’s happiness.

9 . 根据句意，选择单词或短语并以其适当形式填空。

A. feature        B. initiative        C. label        D. original        E. spread        F. transition     G. particular

1. It is an innovative educational strategy to raise awareness and ________knowledge about the problem of forced marriage.
2. According to investment experts, it is important for you to seek independent financial advice regarding your________ situation.
3. The fact that we________ people by their behaviour and characteristics can end up limiting our curiosity about a person.
4. To help people acquire the digital skills needed in a COVID-19 economy. Microsoft is launching a technology________ aimed at bringing people worldwide more technological skills.
5. As a matter of fact, a major ________is going on globally from small-scale family farming to industrialized agriculture with little labour.
6. Web conferences are held in real time, but if employees, clients or visitors can not attend them at the planned time, this according________ ensures that anyone can view the web conference in times that are more convenient.

10 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. applies       B. casually       C. considered       D. customary       E. empty       F. fellow G. individual       H. literally       I. longevity       J. regards       K. related

Whether you’re ringing in Chinese New Year with a bottle of champagne, making a toast at a wedding, or     1     drinking baijiu, a popular type of Chinese alcohol with your friends, knowing a few Chinese toasts to say will always liven the mood. Here is a beginner’s guide to short Chinese toasts and other Chinese drinking culture tips. Ganbei,     2     translating into “dry your cup”, essentially means “cheers”. This phrase can either be a very casual toast or sometimes this toast is an indication for each person to     3     the glass in one gulp. If it is the latter case, this only     4     to men during the first round of drinks at the beginning of the night, and women are only expected to take a sip. Suiyi is the same as “at random” or “arbitrarily”. But with     5     to giving a toast, it also means “cheers”. This toast indicates you want each person to drink as he or she wishes. Wan shou wu jiang is a toast used to wish for     6     and health.

Now that you know what to say, how do you actually give a toast? When giving a toast in Chinese, raise your glass as you give the toast. Depending on where you are, your     7     drinkers will either raise their glasses and then drink, clink glasses and then drink, or tap the bottom of the glasses against the table and then drink. If you are giving a toast with a table full of people, it is not expected that anyone clink glasses. But there will be times when you find yourself clinking glasses with a(n)     8    . If that person is your superior, it is     9     that you touch the rim (边缘) of your glass below the rim of their glass. To exaggerate that you acknowledge this person’s higher status, touch the rim of your glass to the bottom of their glass. This custom is especially important when it comes to business meetings.

The host of the party or meeting will be the first to make the toast. It is     10     rude if anyone besides the host makes the first toast. The host will also give the last toast to indicate that the event is coming to an end. Now that you know how to give a Chinese toast, drink up and enjoy socializing!