1 . I was at a new school in a new state and needed something solid to stand on: a place to feel grounded. I also needed to do laundry, so I walked to a nearby self-service laundry and stuffed a machine with my clothes. As I struggled to close the washer door, the woman working behind the counter told me to give it a good hit with my hand. The washer did its job, yet even after an hour, the dryer seemed to have barely warmed my clothes. I left, having decided to air-dry them on my car in the August heat.
A month later, I learned her name was Sandy, which she told me after I’d helped her stop a washing machine from moving across the floor. I was grading poems at a table when one of the washers broke loose and skipped an inch into the air. I jumped to the machine and held on while she unplugged it. The next week, Sandy told me dryer No. 8 was the fastest.
It went on like this. I’d do laundry once a week, usually Thursday or Friday. Sandy worked Tuesday through Saturday and we’d talk small while I folded clothes. She told me about her son and his grades, as well as the new dog they’d just adopted. She was fascinated that I was studying poetry. She teased (开玩笑) that it was harder making a living as a poet than as a laundry attendant. Even then I knew she was probably right.
I began to recognize others there: workers taking breaks by the door, a mother and her baby, and even some delivery drivers. But Sandy was the center of my community. For nearly three years and almost every week, I’d do laundry and talk with her. We checked on each other, expecting the other to be there. We asked where the other had gone when we missed a week. There was a note of concern for the other’s absence, a note of joy at their return.
I’d found a place to stand on solid ground.
1. Why did the author leave with his wet clothes?A.He liked the August heat better. | B.He had to go back to the meeting. |
C.He wanted to show off his new car. | D.He didn’t think the dryer worked well. |
A.She was warm-hearted. | B.She needed a volunteer. |
C.She wanted to thank him. | D.She was sorry for the mess. |
A.It was harder to fulfill. | B.It was really fascinating. |
C.It was badly-paid work. | D.It needed a lot of effort. |
A.He formed a close friendship with Sandy. |
B.He made a lot of friends in college. |
C.He expected Sandy to do laundry for him. |
D.He often wrote to Sandy after graduation. |
1.写信目的;
2.比赛简介(时间、地点和参与者等)。
注意:1.写作词数应为80左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Dear Lily,
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours sincerely.
Li Hua
For many years there has been a standing yoga position
Instead of
A gentle sway (摇摆) may start, and soon we realize we have the support of each person in the circle, trusting them
4 . This morning, my daughter, Helen, and I arrived at a town in Xi’an, China. We came to
The next day, James was busy with his work. So Helen and I
Walking around, I was
After Helen
A.meet up with | B.break up with | C.send for | D.stand for |
A.offered | B.confirmed | C.left | D.got |
A.grateful | B.merry | C.upset | D.desperate |
A.promoted | B.dominated | C.described | D.explored |
A.anxious | B.sensitive | C.curious | D.honest |
A.memory | B.desire | C.proposal | D.evidence |
A.talk | B.work | C.fight | D.argue |
A.classroom | B.apartment | C.club | D.crowd |
A.never | B.well | C.professionally | D.shallowly |
A.impressed | B.delayed | C.frightened | D.trapped |
A.doubtful | B.stressful | C.hopeful | D.careful |
A.attended | B.decorated | C.visited | D.built |
A.comments | B.demands | C.friends | D.wishes |
A.fashion | B.race | C.expense | D.devotion |
A.admitted | B.applied | C.turned | D.returned |
5 . Whether in work or study, great people always do things as effectively as possible. Productive (高效的) people have one thing in common: A solid routine made up of small habits that helps them to keep a healthy mindset and lifestyle. Research shows a habit takes about 2l days to become normal behavior.
●Make daily to-do lists.
●
●Have a rest. Whatever you are working on, you do not have to use up every ounce of energy you have.
●Clean up and organize for tomorrow.
A.Keep a journal. |
B.Make great progress. |
C.Making a list of tasks for the day helps you to stay on track. |
D.After a long day, the last thing you may want to do is clean. |
E.Take a break at the same time each day, despite just 10 minutes. |
F.You should be energetic all day and spare no effort to finish your work. |
G.Here are some habits you can start practicing to become more productive. |
6 . Objects in the night sky are disappearing from view because of light pollution, according to a new study. Outdoor lighting from street lamps, office buildings and vehicle headlights leads to sky less bright, which is when the night sky gets brighter. The brighter it is at night, the harder it is to see stars and planets from Earth.
Christopher Kyba, an astronomer with the GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences, led his team studying 50,000 star observations between 2011 and 2022. “If the brightening of the night sky continues at the current rate,” Kyba said, “a child born in a place where 250 stars are visible will only be able to see 100 stars by the time he or she turned 18.”
The issue is global but particularly common in North America, where 80% of people cannot see the Milky Way galaxy(银河系). This huge group of billions of stars should look like a wide strip of light in the dark night sky. However, only very remote places, such as the Sahara Desert and the Amazon rainforest, have a truly dark night sky.
Light pollution makes it harder for astronomers to study stars and planets. It also causes problems for animals. Animals active at night like bats become confused and crash into objects. Turtles that hatch(孵化) at night need moonlight to find the sea, but artificial lights can confuse them and make them head inland instead. Birds in cities often wake up and start singing earlier than they should. Human lights also cause themselves to produce less of a chemical called melatonin (褪黑激素). This can lead to sleep problems, headaches, tiredness, and mood issues.
To help, scientists want to raise awareness of light pollution. They suggest that people use outdoor lighting that causes less light pollution, such as motion-sensitive lights that switch on only when they’re needed.
1. How does the author lead in the topic of the text?A.By asking a question. |
B.By referring to a study. |
C.By making comparisons. |
D.By showing experiments. |
A.Light pollution is becoming serious. |
B.Stars are becoming fewer year by year. |
C.Kids are losing interest in watching stars. |
D.It’s easier for adults to see stars than kids. |
A.Humans produce more melatonin. |
B.Turtles are forced to hatch at sea. |
C.Birds in cities wake up much later. |
D.Bats can get lost during the flight. |
A.Pollution does affect children. |
B.Light causes human sleep problems. |
C.Light pollution is making stars disappear. |
D.There are some ways to deal with light pollution. |
7 . Enjoy Yourself in Cape Town
Cape Town is a port city in South Africa. You can enjoy the beauty of nature in the coastal area.
Boulders Beach
Boulders Beach is an unusual beach, home to endangered African penguins. These charming animals are a must-see for any nature lover, and Boulders Beach is the only place in the world where you can have a chance to see these incredible creatures. In addition to the penguins. Boulders Beach is famous for granite boulders (花岗岩巨石), which make it a popular spot for photographers.
Clifton Beach
Clifton is one of Cape Town’s most special coastal areas outside the city. With the beautiful beaches, it is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. The area is known for its clear waters and white-sand beaches, which are perfect for sunbathing. If you are looking for a peaceful escape from the noisy city, Clifton Beach is the perfect place to relax yourself.
Llandudno Beach
Llandudno is popular with hikers, who can explore the attractive coastal paths that wind through the surrounding mountains. Located on the western side of the Cape Peninsula, Llandudno Beach is a hidden place between the cliffs that line Cape Town’s Atlantic coast. It is one of the city’s quietest beaches, and its unspoiled beauty is breathtaking.
Muizenberg Beach
It is famous for beginner-friendly waves, making it the perfect place for surfers. Even if you are not a surfer, Muizenberg Beach is still an excellent place to spend the day. The beachfront is lined with colorful bathing boxes or beach huts, which were originally used as changing rooms for Victorian-era bathers and are now a beloved feature of the Muizenberg’s beachfront.
1. What is special about Boulders Beach?A.It is famous for clear waters. |
B.It is home to African penguins. |
C.It is a coastal area in Cape Town. |
D.It is the quietest place to relax oneself. |
A.Hike in the mountains. |
B.Admire granite boulders. |
C.Play in colorful bathing boxes. |
D.Explore the city’s noisiest beach. |
A.Boulders Beach. | B.Clifton Beach. |
C.Llandudno Beach. | D.Muizenberg Beach. |
8 . The Masai(马赛人) are continually trying to keep their own ways in an increasingly modern world. They live along the border of Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa, moving their homes from time to time to follow their cattle, the source of their livelihood. They rely on their cattle in many parts of their life. They like drinking the cows’ milk.
They don’t kill their cattle for food. But if a cow is killed, the parts of its body are used to make containers, shoes, clothin, ropes, bed coverings and so on. Not all of the men have cows. The more cattle a man owns, the richer he is considered to be. A man who owns 50 or fewer cattle is considered poor. Rich men have a thousand or more. The cattle, though owned by the man, are considered to belong to the man’s entire family. The family names the cattle and can recognize each animal’s special voice.
The Masai men have become known as warriors(勇士), protecting their cattle against other wild animals. They wear their red long hair. Most women often take care of their children, cook food, clean clothes and make clothing at home. They also make necklaces dresses and headdresses. A few women can also become authorities once they are powerful enough. They speak a language called Maa.
The houses of Masai made from sticks and grass, which are held together with a mixture of mud, are not very firm or safe. These plain houses with some basic supplies are built in a circle and make up a Masai village. They are not meant to last long since the migration(迁徙) of the cow population means that the Masai move as well. In the meantime, in order to prevent animals from entering, they also form a wall of branches. The whole setup is to protect the cattle, which sleep at night in the middle of the village. They seem to live a natural and self-sufficient life but lack modern civilisation.
1. What do we know about the Masai?A.They don’t move in their lives. |
B.They each have their own cows. |
C.They don’t kill their cattle at all. |
D.They are heavily dependent on cattle. |
A.Designers. | B.Authorities. |
C.Housewives. | D.Warriors. |
A.Modern. | B.Lasting | C.Simple. | D.Safe. |
A.Africans: Living a Moving life |
B.Africans: Brave People in the World |
C.The Masai: Rich People in East Africa |
D.The Masai: Maintaining a Traditional Lifestyle |
9 . In Phoenix, Arizona, about one in five children is identified with dyslexia(阅读障碍).That means about four students in a classroom of twenty have the problem.
Christine Alm, who has the virtue of being ready to help others, is the co-founder of Dyslexia Road and the mother of four children with dyslexia. According to Alm, each diagnosis(诊断)is unique. That can make it difficult to understand a child’s learning needs. Alm has recently co-founded Dyslexia Road with three other moms whose children also have dyslexia.The nonprofit organization provides learning resources for children who have the learning disability.
Dyslexia means a person has trouble processing written words due to the difficulty of identifying speech sounds. Alm explains that people with dyslexia need more assistance in training their brain to read. But she adds that many people with dyslexia are extremely creative and smart. Whoopi Goldberg, Dav Pilkey and Steven Spielberg are among the famous Americans who have dyslexia.
For Alm, the biggest challenge dealing with dyslexia with her own children is the stigma surrounding the topic. She believes that it’s helpful to have open and honest discussions. “Dyslexia is nothing good or bad, ”she says.“ So children don’t need to feel shameful and embarrassed.”
Alm and the other co-founders of Dyslexia Road host community events to share resources about dyslexia. On March 2, the organization celebrated its launch with a community gathering. Many people turned up, suggesting to Alm the “power of community”. Dyslexia Road will also host three additional events to connect families with learning experts. Guests will discuss the available educational options, how to get a diagnostic evaluation and more. Additionally, the Dyslexia Road website offers resources like books.
“We’re excited to get out there and start pushing forward so that people can come together and figure out how to direct this journey,” Alm says.
1. What do the co-founders of Dyslexia Road have in common?A.Their kids are unique and perfect. |
B.Their kids have the same problem. |
C.They suffer from learning disability. |
D.They ignore children’s learning needs. |
A.Helping them do more brain exercises. |
B.Making them realise they lack creativity. |
C.Creating special reading materials for them. |
D.Encouraging them to turn to their own families. |
A.Shame. | B.Selection. |
C.Principle | D.Origin. |
A.To find out kids with dyslexia. |
B.To provide the professional services |
C.To sell books about mental disability. |
D.To introduce great people with dyslexia. |
增加:在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧),并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除:把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉
修改:在错的词下画一横线,并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意:1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词;
2.只允许修改10处,多者(从第11处起)不计分。
I enjoy learning English but can remember individual words easy. However, when it comes to reading comprehension, it’s really the challenge. Last weekend, I tried to read a storybook write in English to improve my reading. At first, I refer to the dictionary every time I came across a new word, which I found it not very helpful. I often felt puzzling about what I had read. Then I tried to finish a chapter completely with looking up the new words. What surprised me was I could understand the story merely from the context. I hope I will make great progresses in English in this way.