1 . When you have to cancel your Thanksgiving plans due to the spread of the COVID-19, you may find yourself craving companionship as much as that pumpkin pie. That’s because parts of the brain respond to loneliness much like they react to hunger, according to a study in Nature Neuroscience.

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology scanned the brains of 40 healthy, social young adults after 10 hours of either fasting (禁食) or social isolation (隔离). They found that after being alone, participants’ neurological responses to social signals were similar to hungry people reacting to food — that is, certain areas of the brain linked to desire were turned on to start working.

For an isolated person, a picture of people laughing together caused the same areas of the brain to light up as when a hungry person looked at a big plate of pasta.

“Just like hunger is an unpleasant sensation that motivates us to seek out food and thirst motivates us to seek out water, loneliness is a biological need that motivates us to reconnect to others,” Holt-Lunstad told Insider.

Researchers were surprised to find that people who were prevented from socializing became much more focused on that need, and less reactive to hunger. As their loneliness increased, they became less responsive to images of food.

These latest findings suggest that the relationship between food and loneliness might be more complicated than we thought, despite the popular opinion of stress-eating to cope with social isolation. More research is needed to understand the complex ways people deal with loneliness.

Studies like this can help scientists understand how the brain processes loneliness, and possibly reduce the negative consequences. However, although loneliness may be similar to hunger, fixing it isn’t as easy as serving someone a hearty dinner because people are unique and they need varying levels of social interactions to meet their needs.

1. The underlined word “craving” in the first paragraph can be replaced by          .

A．avoiding

B．desiring

C．preferring

D．ignoring

2. Researchers scanned the brains of the young adults                        .

A．to find their brain responses to both loneliness and hunger

B．to provide explanations for their feeling lonely and hungry

C．to find how loneliness can have a negative impact on health

D．after they have been hungry and socially isolated for 10 hours

3. What conclusion can be drawn from what Holt-Lunstad said in Paragraph 4?

A．Hunger is an unpleasant sensation.

B．Hunger and thirst motivate us to feed ourselves.

C．Socializing is supposed to be basic human need as it is.

D．The effects of loneliness on health are comparable to other factors.

4. What does the last paragraph imply?

A．Loneliness may be fixed just as hunger is satisfied.

B．Situations of loneliness are complicated and hard to cope with.

C．Scientists have understood how the brain processes loneliness.

D．Loneliness is such a common and serious problem that we all have to suffer.

4 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

10-year-old Buddy was just an ordinary boy but with an extraordinary heart. He had a lot of friends but never really had a “best friend” until he met Simon — a new boy in class who used a wheelchair.

Nobody showed any interest in making friends with Simon except for Buddy. He quickly bonded with Simon because he believed true friends come in different sizes and shapes...

Buddy lived with his grandma, Doris, in their small home in the suburbs. He had lost his parents five years ago in a car crash. Doris raised him, and she was all he had. Buddy promised himself that he would do anything to make his grandma proud and happy, and his prayers (祈祷) were soon answered, but in a way he never imagined.

Buddy had always wanted to help Doris with her rent, so during his free time, he cut grass for neighbors, walked dogs, and even helped older people carry their groceries home in exchange for $1. So far, he had saved $70, but that wasn’t enough to meet their expenses. Not one to be discouraged, Buddy kept going and the only other person who comforted him was Simon.

The two boys often ventured (冒险) into the woods near their school to watch birds during their spare time. It was their favorite hobby. One afternoon before the summer vacation, they went to their favorite spot in the woods. Buddy pushed Simon’s wheelchair, discussing how exciting their adventure would be. They laughed their way into the dense forest, knowing little about what was coming.

Moments later, the boys had a problem moving forward. One of the wheels sank into a branch beneath the mud. The wheelchair broke down, making it difficult to move ahead. Worse still, it seemed the rain was around the corner. The boys could hear rolling thunder across the mountains, which scared them. They wanted to run but could not leave one another. “Wait! I’ve got a plan,” shouted Buddy, trying to lean (倾斜) over and lift his friend up from the wheelchair. His attempt failed because Simon was too heavy for him.

注意：
1. 续写词数应为150个左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Paragraph 1: But he wouldn’t give up just yet.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2: A few days later, Doris got surprising news from their landlord (房东).
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Hanfu was the standard dress code for people during the Han Dynasty and was worn by both men and women. The clothing is characterized by its long robes, wide sleeves, and     1     (flow) skirts and the designs are often inspired by nature, with flower patterns and images of birds and animals.

Nowadays, Chinese Hanfu is making     2     comeback in modern China. The revival of this ancient fashion can be put down to several factors,     3     include its promotion through social media     4     (platform) and its appeal among younger generations as a form of cultural identity.     5     (additional), the historical significance and pride     6     (associate) with Hanfu has led to increased interest and demand for authentic clothing pieces. Furthermore, modern adaptations and variations of Hanfu have made     7     more accessible and appealing to a wider audience. In recent years, events such as Hanfu festivals and competitions     8     (push) the trend further. Hanfu is no longer seen as outdated or old-fashioned     9     rather as a stylish and unique option for those seeking to express their individuality.

Overall, Chinese Hanfu continues to gain popularity as a symbol of cultural heritage and national pride, with many embracing it as a way     10     (celebrate) and preserve traditional Chinese culture.

7 . Getting a story or a book published is difficult for most ambitious authors. But in Malaysia, a unique program for ______ people offers a helping hand. The Junior Writers Programme (JWP) provides essential writing skills and a chance to be ______.

“The JWP is not just a writing program,” said Brigitte Rozario, who ______ the program. “It’s an opportunity to help young writers chase their dreams and ______ the effort required for publishing a book.”

The program focuses on writing, revising, and editing, with publication the reward. Only the most dedicated writers are ______. Those who want to be considered for the program must ______ a strict application process. Some ______ the first time and reapply.

Rozario founded the program in 2018. “A couple I knew said that their daughter was very interested in writing,” she explained, “but they didn’t know how to ______ her talent.” Rozario was ______ to help. After several months of planning, the JWP was born.

Each year, about 20 students get the chance to improve their ______. They are given a ______ to explore in the anthology (选集) of stories they create for publication. In 2022, the fifth year of the program, the topic was “Secrets and Lies.” ______ in the anthology cover everything from friendships and families to staying true to oneself. ______ from the book go to local charitable organizations. When you ______ an anthology, you know that you are supporting a ______ cause.

The JWP proves the fact that a teacher, friend, or instructor can make your talents shine. That is who Rozario is and what she believes.

1.

A．poor

B．active

C．young

D．creative

2.

A．sold

B．written

C．published

D．translated

3.

A．publicized

B．founded

C．joined

D．supported

4.

A．joint

B．describe

C．double

D．understand

5.

A．listed

B．attracted

C．noticed

D．accepted

6.

A．pass

B．record

C．design

D．study

7.

A．fail

B．hesitate

C．leave

D．miss

8.

A．measure

B．introduce

C．nurture

D．recognize

9.

A．forced

B．inspired

C．allowed

D．reminded

10.

A．habits

B．grades

C．skills

D．memories

11.

A．question

B．book

C．secret

D．theme

12.

A．Stories

B．Topics

C．Lessons

D．Pictures

13.

A．Notes

B．Profits

C．Awards

D．Examples

14.

A．buy

B．collect

C．read

D．recommend

15.

A．common

B．worthy

C．global

D．successful

8 . Actions speak louder than words — unless, of course, your partner’s love language is “words of affirmation (肯定).”     1    .

Words of affirmation are words that communicate your love, appreciation, and respect for another person.     2     What’s more, these words of encouragement don’t have to be said directly to the person. A simple hand-written note is appreciated just as much as a personal phone call.

People who give and receive love through words of affirmation tend to be the people who notice and care about the details of other people’s lives.     3     They also remember to ask the neighbor how their sick dog is doing. They may even remember to ask the cashier at the local supermarket if they are feeling any better.

    4     For a person who tends to place a great deal of importance on what their partner says, hearing words of affirmation can help them to feel valued, satisfied, and happier in a relationship. By using words of affirmation in your relationship, you are strengthening communication between you and your partner.     5     When your partner feels appreciated, they are likely to experience a deeper satisfaction with themselves and with the relationship. Offering your partner an encouraging word can have a positive impact on you, too. Studies link giving compliments (赞美) with a greater sense of well-being.

Then why not make words of affirmation a habit?

A．In this case, words are everything.

B．How do words of affirmation make a difference?

C．What are the tips for using words of affirmation?

D．They’re positive words and phrases used to uplift someone.

E．You are showing your partner that you notice and appreciate them.

F．They will likely feel a boost in spirit and appreciate you for noticing.

G．For instance, they may be the first to notice their partner’s new haircut.

9 . The world’s largest whales are more than just astonishing creatures. Much like the ocean, soil and forests, whales can help save humans from the increasing climate crisis by storing carbon. In a paper published recently, climate researchers suggest that whales are important, but often overlooked, carbon sinks.     

The enormous size of these marine mammals, which can reach 150 tons, means they can store carbon much more effectively than smaller animals. And because whales live longer than most animals, they could be “one of the largest stable living carbon pools” in the ocean. Even when whales die, their dead bodies fall down to the deepest parts of the sea and settle on the seafloor, trapping the carbon they’ve stored in their bodies. An indirect way whales can be critical carbon sinks is through their waste. Whale poop (粪便) is rich in nutrients which can be taken up by phytoplankton — tiny organisms that suck up carbon dioxide as they grow.

The process of carbon sequestration helps reduce climate impact, because it locks away carbon that otherwise would have warmed the planet somewhere else for hundreds, if not thousands of years.

Yet whales are threatened, with six out of 13 great whale species classified as endangered or vulnerable due to threats including industrial whaling, as well as trap in fishing equipment, climate change-caused shifts in prey availability, noise pollution and more.

Heidi Pearson, a researcher at the University of Alaska Southeast, said the research shows that protecting whales has a double benefit — helping to stop the biodiversity crisis as well as human-caused climate change. Protecting whales is a low risk and low regret strategy, because there’s really no downside. She said there was no risk to this strategy compared to other untested, expensive solutions to capturing and trapping carbon, such as geoengineering.   

But there remain big gaps in knowledge to fully determine how whale carbon should be used to slow down climate changes. Pearson hopes the current paper pushes policymakers to consider whales as a significant part of climate change solution.

1. What does paragraph 2 focus on about whales?

A．What their life cycles are like.	B．Why their roles are overlooked.
C．Why they are called carbon sinks.	D．Where they are on the food chain.

2. What does the underlined “it” refer to?

A．The waste of whales.	B．The carbon trap of whales.
C．The death of whales.	D．The carbon cycle in nature.

3. What does Heidi Pearson want to stress?

A．Geoengineering is costly and untested.

B．The strategy involving whales carries no risks.

C．Protecting whales can be a natural climate solution.

D．Whales’ survival is the key to stopping biodiversity crisis.

4. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To call for further research on whales.	B．To call on people to balance the ecosystem.
C．To present a new reason for protecting whales.	D．To stress the need of addressing climate changes.

10 . For the Birds! (FTB!) is a place-based city conservation education program serving 2,000+ New York City youth and community members with a focus on schools and communities across all five boroughs (行政区) that are underserved by environmental education. The mission of FTB! is to get youth excited about helping birds and the places they need to survive. FTB! not only provides knowledge of local species and habitats but also encourages a sense of ecological place in one’s own community and empowers youth to take an active interest in protecting their local environment for birds and people.

For the Birds! Program Options

In-person Programs: During a 4, 8, or 12 session program, program participants learn about birds and local habitats in their neighborhood through both in-class and outdoor lessons. The curriculum is adaptable for grades 6-12. Each program ends with a field trip to a local park and/or a habitat project designed to attract birds and other wildlife to their community. Click here for our full course catalog.

Contact FTB!

To get started, learn more, or for questions about New York City FTB! programs, please contact our New York City team member.

Located outside of New York City? Audubon New York centers also offer FTB! program and volunteer opportunities. Reach out to a center near you to learn more.

New York City Lianne D’Arcy, Senior Coordinator, Education & Volunteer Outreach lianne.darcy@audubon.org	Finger Lakes Region Montezuma Audubon Center 2295 State Route 89, Savannah, NY 13146 montezuma@audubon.org
Hudson Valley Region Rebecca Schultz, Education Manager Constitution Marsh Audubon Center and Sanctuary 127 Warren Landing Road, Garrison, NY 10524 rschultz@audubon.org	Long Island Julie Nelsen, Education Manager Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center 134 Cove Road, Oyster Bay, NY 10524 jnelsen@audubon.org

1. What is the goal of FTB!?

A．To build up community connections.	B．To get youth involved in bird protection.
C．To raise money for bird-saving programs.	D．To inform youth of endangered bird species.

2. Which can best describe FTB! programs?

A．They feature online lessons.	B．They involve hands-on activities.
C．They focus on global environment.	D．They offer 6 options for program duration.

3. Which website can help the youth in Long Island learn more about FTB!?

A．lianne.darcy@audubon.org	B．rschultz@audubon.org
C．montezuma@audubon.org	D．jnelsen@audubon.org