1 . How to Be More Present

Many people have a tendency to live in the past or the future. They constantly think about the past and worry about the future, and thus find it difficult to enjoy the good things in life in the here and now. You might unfortunately be one of these people.     1     Here are some tips that might help you.

Notice Your Surroundings

One way to be in the present moment is by noticing your surroundings. How often do you take time out of your day to actually look around and see what’s going on? Now close your eyes and take a deep breath.     2     When you do, it’s easier to be more present in the moment.

Be Grateful for What You Have Now

    3     If you are constantly focused on things you don’t have, you aren’t taking the time to appreciate what you have at this moment. One way to practice gratitude is to write a list of things you are grateful for and review that list on a daily basis. Try to write at least three things you are grateful for in your life right now.

Show Acceptance

If you want to learn how to be more present, you need to let go of how you think things should be and accept them for what they are.     4     Sometimes life is going to be different than how you want it to be. Practicing acceptance will help you let go of the things in your life that are out of your control.

Find Positive Social Support

The kind of social support you have in your life can also play an important role. Surrounding yourself with positive, supportive people will increase your own positivity and happiness levels.     5    

A．Then open them and really take in where you are.

B．You should focus your attention on one thing at a time.

C．You cannot control everything that happens around you.

D．This is one way to distance yourself from what you are enjoying.

E．In turn, this will allow you to focus on what is going on right now.

F．Part of living in the present moment is to appreciate what you have now.

G．So learning how to live in the moment can greatly improve your well-being.

2 . The Mona Lisa is the famous Leonardo da Vinci painting of a woman with a mysterious smile. This week, the painting gave up a secret.

Scientists using X-rays to examine the chemical structure of a small part of the painting discovered a technique Leonardo used in the work. An oil paint used for it was a special, new chemical mixture, which suggests that the Italian artist was in an experimental mood when he worked on the painting in the 16th century.

“He loved to experiment, and each of his paintings is completely different technically,”said Victor Gonzalez, a chemist who has studied the chemical element (成分) of several works by Leonardo and other artists. The researchers found a rare lead compound (铅化合物) — plumbonacrite, in Leonardo’s first layer of paint. The discovery proved that da Vinci most likely used lead oxide to thicken and help dry his paint. The paint in the study is about the thickness of a human hair, lying in the top right area of the painting.

The scientists looked into its atomic structure using X-rays, moving particles at the speed of light, permitting researchers to look deeper into the paint structure. “ Plumbonacrite is really a fingerprint of his recipe, as it’s the first time we can chemically confirm it,” Gonzalez said.

Dutch artist Rembrandt may have used a similar mixture when he was painting in the 17th century. Gonzalez and other researchers have found plumbonacrite in his work, too. Leonardo is thought to have put lead oxide powder, which has an orange color, in the oil to make it thicker and dry faster. “What you will get is an oil that has a very nice golden color,” Gonzalez said. “It flows more like honey.”

But the Mona Lisa — said by the Louvre to be a portrait (肖像) of Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a Florentine silk businessman — and additional works by Leonardo still have other secrets to tell. “What we are saying is just a little brick in the knowledge,” Gonzalez said.

1. What’s the new discovery about the Mona Lisa?

A．A new explanation of the secret smile.

B．A new chemical element used in the painting.

C．The secret of the woman in the painting.

D．The structure of the paint da Vinci used.

2. Which best explains the underlined word “fingerprint” in paragraph 4?

A．Open secret.

B．Widespread use.

C．Hidden element.

D．Long-term dream.

3. How does Gonzalez view the use of lead oxide powder in paintings?

A．It helps to make many things into paints.

B．It helps to make paints easy to deal with.

C．It helps to keep the paintings last long.

D．It helps to make paintings rich in color.

4. What can we learn about the Mona Lisa from the last paragraph?

A．It has more secrets to tell the world.

B．It’s the portrait of a silk businessman.

C．It’s well kept in bricks in the Louvre.

D．It has a mixture of different art styles.

3 . As a child, I was fascinated by the world of theater and began taking classes at the age of 7. Throughout my teenage years, I actively _________ plays, television shows, and movies. _________ provided me with an opportunity to explore and _________ things that I may not have had the courage to attempt in real life. One of the most significant _________ of acting was the ability to step outside of my comfort zone and transform into someone else, _________ and bold on stage.

Despite this, in my everyday life, I was often plagued (困扰) by _________ and hesitance. Acting allowed me to explore different time periods and _________, as I donned (穿上) various costumes and immersed (投入) myself in different eras and worlds. I played a variety of _________, ranging from aliens to ringmasters, and _________ a diverse set of skills along the way.

Performing was an excellent way for me to __________ my shyness and inhibitions. I gained a newfound confidence in myself and learned to be more __________ and daring. __________, after a while, I grew tired of living inside someone else’s __________ and was ready to forge (打造) my own path. I was fortunate to have received unwavering __________ and guidance from my family, who had always __________ me of the importance of education and self-worth.

Looking back, my time as a __________ actor was a period of significant self-discovery and __________. Through acting, I gained __________ insights into myself and the world around me. I will always be __________ for the experiences and lessons I __________ during my time in the spotlight.

1.

A．participated in

B．carried out

C．dealt with

D．applied for

2.

A．Studying

B．Dancing

C．Acting

D．Teaching

3.

A．predict

B．confirm

C．influence

D．experience

4.

A．results

B．benefits

C．features

D．rules

5.

A．generous

B．familiar

C．confident

D．strange

6.

A．curiosity

B．excitement

C．misunderstanding

D．nervousness

7.

A．places

B．cities

C．groups

D．cultures

8.

A．sports

B．roles

C．matches

D．songs

9.

A．missed

B．challenged

C．changed

D．acquired

10.

A．overcome

B．ignore

C．remove

D．hide

11.

A．adventurous

B．casual

C．skillful

D．funny

12.

A．Moreover

B．Therefore

C．Otherwise

D．However

13.

A．task

B．plan

C．story

D．future

14.

A．persuasion

B．support

C．permission

D．comfort

15.

A．reminded

B．inform

C．assured

D．warned

16.

A．emotional

B．creative

C．popular

D．professional

17.

A．freedom

B．growth

C．adaptation

D．satisfaction

18.

A．suitable

B．acceptable

C．valuable

D．flexible

19.

A．eager

B．sorry

C．grateful

D．ready

20.

A．heard

B．supposed

C．expected

D．learned

4 . Volunteering for teens is an educational, mind-opening and life-enriching travel experience. Since 2007, IVHQ has supported thousands of high school students to volunteer in Africa, Asia, South America, Central America, North America, Europe, the Caribbean and the Pacific. There’s no need to wait till you’re 18 to volunteer abroad! International Volunteer HQ specializes in offering safe and affordable volunteer opportunities for high school students and teens in more than 17 destinations around the globe.

How to volunteer as a teenager overseas:

Applying to volunteer as a teenager is simple! Once you have decided where to volunteer and which project you would like to join, you can apply online. It’s free, only takes a few minutes and there is no commitment needed at this stage. Our team of Volunteer Travel Specialists will then guide you through the next steps to secure your spot and start preparing for your trip.

There are a number of ways you can volunteer with IVHQ depending on your age:

Under 16: You’re able to volunteer as part of a group (for example, a group of students from your high school, with your family or friends) on certain IVHQ programs. You must have parental/guardian permit and be accompanied on the program by a designated guardian over the age of 18. Contact us to find out more.

16 & 17 years old: You can join one of our teen volunteer abroad programs independently with parental permit and two satisfactory character references. You can choose from volunteer projects in more than 17 destinations and will receive 24/7 support from the local team, but not full time supervision.

1. Who are the volunteering project designed for?

A．Adults.

B．Children.

C．Teenagers

D．Students.

2. How can you apply for volunteering?

A．Through the Internet.

B．By mail.

C．In person.

D．Through calls.

3. What will a girl at 14 offer when applying?

A．A grade certificate.	B．Permit from parents.
C．A school guarantee.	D．Character references.

5 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What kind of people are “early birds”?

A．The people getting up early in the morning.

B．The people going to bed early at night.

C．The people going to bed late at night.

2. When do most teenagers go to bed?

A．Around 9: 00 p. m.

B．Around 10: 00 p. m.

C．Around midnight or later.

3. How many teenagers sleep enough?

A．One-fourth.

B．Two-fifths.

C．One-fifth.

4. What are night owls better at?

A．Some intelligence tests.

B．Getting grades in school.

C．Getting good jobs.

6 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What are the two speakers talking about?

A．Foods and activities.

B．Activities or things they don’t like to do.

C．Foods that they don’t like.

2. What is the probable relationship between the two speakers?

A．Interviewer and interviewee.

B．Teacher and student.

C．Boss and worker.

3. What can we learn about the woman?

A．She prefers washing dishes to mowing the lawn.

B．She likes both mowing the lawn and washing dishes.

C．She’d rather mow the lawn than wash dishes.

4. What does the man think of cooking?

A．He likes cooking.

B．He dislikes cooking.

C．He doesn’t mind cooking.

7 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Who is Spotty?

A．A dog belonging to the boy’s family.

B．A human who isn’t liked by the man.

C．The man’s little brother.

2. What does the man think of Spotty?

A．He appreciates him.

B．He dislikes him.

C．He likes him.

3. What can we learn from the conversation?

A．Spotty will not be in the family picture.

B．Spotty will be in the family picture with no hat.

C．Spotty will be in the family picture with a hat.

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What happened to the woman?

A．She didn’t find City Bus Company.

B．She missed the No. 22 bus yesterday.

C．She left her handbag on the bus.

2. What did the man tell the woman?

A．They didn’t find anything like that.

B．Someone found it and gave it to them.

C．It was certain that someone took it away.

9 . Many years ago, I bought a house in the Garfagnana, where we still go every summer. The first time we ______ there, we heard the chug chug-chug of a motorbike ______ its way down the hill toward us. It was ______ called Mario, coming to ______ us a box containing some tomatoes and a bottle of wine. It was a very nice ______ for him to make. But when we looked at the tomatoes, we were ______ because they were so misshapen: not at all like the nice, round, ______ things you get in a supermarket. And the wine was cloudy, in a funny old bottle with no label (标签) on it. These can’t be any ______, we thought. But we were ______ his kindness, so we ______ them.

What we discovered is that it’s ______ to judge what you eat only by its ______. Those tomatoes had ______ that reminded me of the ones my uncle used to grow when I was a child. Nowadays supermarket tomatoes ______ perfect but taste of water. Nobody’s going to have a ______ memory of those. It’s a surprise they haven’t managed to grow square ones so that they can ______ them easily. Mario’s wine may have been cloudy and come out of an old bottle, but it was ______.

It’s good to eat things at the correct time, when they’re ______, and as close as possible to where they were ______. What Mario had ______ us was the taste of the Garfagnana.

1.

A．waited

B．met

C．camped

D．stayed

2.

A．making

B．searching

C．squeezing

D．feeling

3.

A．customer

B．neighbor

C．relative

D．passenger

4.

A．lend

B．send

C．bring

D．show

5.

A．choice

B．comment

C．promise

D．gesture

6.

A．worried

B．moved

C．thrilled

D．bored

7.

A．simple

B．real

C．shiny

D．fun

8.

A．more

B．good

C．new

D．easy

9.

A．sympathetic to

B．thankful for

C．cautious about

D．interested in

10.

A．tried

B．sold

C．returned

D．mixed

11.

A．unnecessary

B．uncertain

C．unwise

D．unusual

12.

A．appearance

B．quality

C．origin

D．price

13.

A．size

B．shape

C．color

D．taste

14.

A．smell

B．look

C．become

D．work

15.

A．happy

B．vivid

C．short

D．vague

16.

A．clean

B．check

C．count

D．pack

17.

A．perfect

B．useful

C．convenient

D．familiar

18.

A．on view

B．on sale

C．in season

D．in need

19.

A．finished

B．stored

C．found

D．grown

20.

A．cooked

B．given

C．bought

D．told

10 . The impact of the man-made climate crisis on Antarctica is scientifically undeniable: stable ice shelves are retreating, air temperature increased by 3 degrees Celsius. krill(磷虾)numbers are declining, melting ice is contributing to sea level rise, and polar bears and seals are getting displaced. “Antarctic biodiversity could decline substantially by the end of the century if we continue with business as usual.” Jasmine Rachael Lee, lead author of the University of Queensland study says.

Published in the journal PLOS Biology, the study finds population declines are likely for 65% of the continent’s plants and wildlife by the year 2100. The most vulnerable(脆弱的)species is the Emperor penguins. In October 2022, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed Emperor penguins as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act(ESA), as experts predict the flightless seabird will see a 26% to 47% dip in its population by 2050. “This listing reflects the growing extinction crisis and highlights the importance of the ESA and efforts to conserve species before population declines become irreversible(不可逆转).” said Service Director Martha Williams at the time.

Aside from Emperor penguins, other Antarctic specialists, like the Adélie penguin and dry soil nematodes, were also highly vulnerable. We urgently need a combination of global and local conservation action to best conserve Antarctic species. Global action and global voices to help relieve climate change—because the biggest threat to Antarctica is coming from outside of it. And then we need local actions to help protect biodiversity against local threats and give them the best chance of adapting to climate changes. This will help to save our iconic(代表性的)species like the Emperor penguins and all of Antarctica’s unique and highly adapted inhabitants. It will also help humankind, as we rely heavily on the priceless services the Antarctic provides in regulating our climate and capturing sea level in its ice sheets.

1. What can we learn from Paragraph 1?

A．The impact of climate crisis is usually denied.

B．Conservation efforts are badly needed.

C．Air temperature on Antarctic increases 3℃ annually.

D．Sea level rise results in seabirds losing their habitats.

2. Why is the Emperor penguin mentioned in Paragraph 2?

A．To serve as a call to protect wildlife on Antarctic

B．To reflect the growing population of wild species.

C．To prove the effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act.

D．To highlight the severe impact of rising temperature.

3. What is probably the best conservation policy?

A．Reducing the chances of making a trip to Antarctic.

B．Making joint efforts to relieve climate change.

C．Attempting to provide essential nutrients to the ecosystem.

D．Continuing to carry forward the Endangered Species Act.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Plants and Wildlife on Antarctica Will Decline Quickly

B．Antarctic Species Are Vulnerable to Human Threats

C．More Action Should Be Taken to Protect Wildlife on Antarctica

D．The Best Conservation Strategy Will Be Carried Out Soon