When I was seven years old, my family moved from Mexico to America. In Mexico, I was a cheerful girl who loved making people laugh with my jokes and inventing fun games to play with my friends. However, when I arrived in America, I found it hard to fit in, and I became quieter.
We lived in a small house with a modest yard where we grew vegetables—my responsibility. While I took pride in watching them grow, there were times when I dreamed of having a beautiful garden like my schoolmate Luella’s, with its delicate tulips (郁金香). Although Luella lived in the same neighborhood as me, we barely knew each other.
It was after a tornado that Luella and I finally became close friends.
The tornado struck on a Sunday afternoon.The gentle breeze transformed into a strong wind, and thick gray clouds filled the sky. Gradually, the tornado took shape, starting as a thin rope and growing into a large black funnel (漏斗). My entire family gathered in the bathroom, seeking shelter from the storm. Terrified, I sat close to my mom, knees in my chest. After the storm had passed, our worries and fears were replaced by relief that we were unharmed and that our house had remained undamaged.
As I stepped outside, I witnessed the extent of the damage the tornado had caused to our neighborhood. Across the street, a tall tree had fallen, crushing Luella’s garden in front of her yellow house. We hurried over to check on it. Fortunately, her family seemed to be away at the time, and no one was injured. However, her once-beautiful garden was in ruins, with the fallen tree destroying the tulips and debris (碎片) spread everywhere. I could only imagine how heartbroken they must feel seeing this.
Then my mom’s usual words rang in my ear, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” and my family started to think about how we could help.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Just at that moment, Luella’s family returned in their car.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Even after the debris was cleared, I could still sense Luella’s sorrow for her lost garden.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2 . As an elementary teacher, what I had experienced recently touched me a lot. Last week, my elementary school
When the day finally arrived, Bailey was so
I shared the story on my social media and contacted UT to buy a shirt, and what happened subsequently was beyond my expectation. Alumni, fans and volunteers
Bailey and I were
| A．held | B．attended | C．sponsored | D．promoted |
| A．abandon | B．select | C．afford | D．recognize |
| A．strength | B．spirit | C．experience | D．motivation |
| A．excited | B．warmhearted | C．optimistic | D．dynamic |
| A．down | B．further | C．closer | D．back |
| A．lost | B．panicked | C．focused | D．depressed |
| A．attached | B．restricted | C．exposed | D．reduced |
| A．available | B．convenient | C．precious | D．genuine |
| A．put in | B．stepped in | C．dropped in | D．gave in |
| A．mixed | B．stuffed | C．rolled | D．connected |
| A．After all | B．On the whole | C．As a result | D．In addition |
| A．win | B．grasp | C．apply | D．offer |
| A．involvements | B．assignments | C．requirements | D．achievements |
| A．embarrassed | B．confused | C．amazed | D．satisfied |
| A．determination | B．qualification | C．imagination | D．inspiration |
3 . Earthquake prediction has long been a challenge for scientists around the globe since the geological phenomenon can occur at any time and any location with little or no warning. The chance of a powerful earthquake can only be determined through long-term forecasts in a general area or region on Earth.
Throughout history, no individual or group has yet successfully predicted a major earthquake: including its date and time, location and magnitude. These are the three elements essential to make an earthquake, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). While small earthquakes occur all the time, high-intensity earthquakes are rare but is something to watch out.
Now, a new study led by researchers from Pennsylvania State University found a potential solution to the dilemma of earthquake forecast: ancient underthrust rocks. Rocks buried deep in ancient subduction (俯冲) zones — where tectonic ( 地壳的) plates bump with each other — could help scientists make better predictions of how these zones behave during the years between major earthquakes.
According to the USGS, we are still uncertain how we can make such a feat and are not expecting to perfectly predict major earthquakes any time in the foreseeable future.
Although some people in the past said they could predict earthquakes, the U. S. Government agency asserts these are all failed predictions. Their predictions are neither grounded on scientific fact nor passed through the scientific method.
Since authorities in the field of geology and other related areas acknowledged that earthquake prediction is still far from being completed, scientists continue to further understand this mystery. Unlike weather forecasts of hurricanes and other storms, earthquakes have no concrete parameters (参数) that would indicate that they would occur in the coming hours, days, weeks or months.
Regardless, the Penn State researchers have made progress in the dilemma by understanding the underthrust rocks in ancient subduction zones. Determining this area could help scientists better predict the behavior of these zones during periods between major earthquakes. Evidence of their findings was based on clues from rock formations in Alaska and Japan.
1. What is the hard nut as to earthquake prediction?| A．Earthquakes often occur in unexpected areas. | B．No scientists can tell how earthquakes happen. |
| C．The geological structure is too complicated. | D．It is hard to predict earthquakes accurately. |
| A．Take actions. | B．Achieve success. |
| C．Adopt measures. | D．Face challenges. |
| A．Because they can be tracked through the specific data. |
| B．Because they usually happen in some particular places. |
| C．Because they can be confirmed by the practical experience. |
| D．Because they often take place during hot summer time. |
| A．Ancient underthrust rocks help in earthquake prediction |
| B．Earthquake prediction remains a problem to work out |
| C．Underthrust rocks indicate coming violent earthquakes |
| D．Scientists can successfully predict destructive earthquakes |
4 . When I was five, my parents began to place me in a variety of different sports. The first
I
While
| A．game | B．activity | C．variety | D．class |
| A．joke | B．failure | C．mess | D．change |
| A．season | B．sport | C．training | D．track |
| A．account | B．answer | C．apply | D．prepare |
| A．trained | B．hesitated | C．waited | D．considered |
| A．disappointed | B．shocked | C．interested | D．moved |
| A．noise | B．condition | C．situation | D．atmosphere |
| A．approaching | B．recognizing | C．appreciating | D．finding |
| A．confident | B．anxious | C．nervous | D．content |
| A．turn out | B．go off | C．break off | D．set out |
| A．warn | B．balance | C．encourage | D．enjoy |
| A．specific | B．usual | C．attractive | D．mad |
| A．since | B．though | C．while | D．unless |
| A．terrifying | B．convincing | C．challenging | D．annoying |
| A．provided | B．persuaded | C．made | D．inspired |
5 . Have you heard yourself say “it was nothing really” when someone congratulates you on a job well done? Or when you are asked to make a list of what you have achieved, you draw a blank? Maybe you have success amnesia.
Failing to acknowledge your hard work is often a sign of “success amnesia”. People with success amnesia are often successful yet they find it difficult to admit achievements. They are people who others would describe as successful and yet they find it difficult to acknowledge their results.
Success amnesia robs them of the satisfying sense that can help them achieve a goal. And, perhaps more importantly, it robs them of confidence. Confidence does not guarantee success, but it does increases the chances of success. Think of the classic children’s story, The Little Engine That Could. The Little Blue Engine comes to the rescue of a broken-down train, working hard to pull the stranded (搁浅的) goods up and over a mountain. As she moves upwards, she continuously says “I think I can”, and finally she makes it to the mountaintop and begins downwards.
Imagine you will throw a 50th birthday celebration for your partner. If you approach the task with “I think I can” in your mind, then you’re likely to tackle it with energy. You might not have done anything similar before, but you trust yourself to work it out. You hold meetings to gather ideas and work out a plan. Approaching the task with your head full of “I can’t do this”, on the other hand, would likely result in more hesitant steps. It’s difficult to get the work finished when you hold the belief that the task is beyond you.
Confidence fuels success and success fuels confidence. Our achievements provide us with evidence of what we’re capable of, increasing our self-belief and fueling our confidence to do more. Success amnesia reduces confidence. To boost one’s confidence, it is necessary to tackle success amnesia.
1. Which student may have “success amnesia”?| A．One willing to help others. | B．One refusing to admit his mistake. |
| C．One thinking little of his achievements. | D．One speaking highly of his own composition. |
| A．To explain the reason behind success amnesia. |
| B．To praise the perseverance of The Little Blue Engine. |
| C．To give an example that confidence can guarantee success. |
| D．To prove that one is more likely to succeed with confidence. |
| A．By citing a real case. | B．By presenting supporting facts. |
| C．By analyzing contributing factors. | D．By showing comparison and contrast. |
| A．Ways to deal with success amnesia, |
| B．Different opinions on success amnesia. |
| C．Scientific research into success amnesia. |
| D．Possible consequences of success amnesia |
6 . Physical exercise can play an important role in mental well-being and can even relieve symptoms of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. While the physical health benefits of exercise are frequently discussed, the link between exercise and mental health is often overlooked.
Physical activity distracts you from negative thoughts and emotions.
Exercise can be a good source of social support. The benefits of social support are well-documented.
Have you ever noticed how your body feels when you are under stress? Your muscles may be tense, especially in your face, neck and shoulders, leaving you with back or neck pain, or painful headaches.
If you are just starting out with an exercise program, it’s important to consult with your doctor to determine the best form of exercise for your physical condition.
| A．Exercise promotes confidence. |
| B．Exercise helps reduce health risk. |
| C．Many physical activities can be social activities as well. |
| D．Physical exercise is considered to help you make a difference to others. |
| E．Research shows exercise can improve the symptoms of many existing mental illnesses. |
| F．Physical activity can take your mind off your problems and get you into a state of peace. |
| G．The worry and discomfort of all these physical symptoms can in turn lead to even more stress. |
7 . When I arrive at Falconwood Bee Farm, Kant Kaye in already deep into checking hive (蜂箱) boxes, unaware of my presence. I overhear her chatting with the bees, their soft hum (嗡嗡声) filling the air between words of encouragement and negotiation.
Kaye was born with extreme deafness. While Kaye is able to hear with the assistance of hearing aids she usually removes them when she’s working. “Sounds aren’t natural to me,” she explains, “I just love the peace and quiet. When I’m with the bees, I don’t need to hear, I can focus better when I’m not constantly disturbed.”
Equipped with only her hood (头巾), hive tool, and smoker, Kaye moves at a steady and calculated pace. I’m overdressed, having borrowed a full protective suit for the occasion. She instructs me to remove the gloves I brought and tells me where to stand so as to avoid stressing out the bees. Kaye’s gentle, careful style makes me feel at ease around her insects. The more time we spend together, the more I come to appreciate Kaye’s passion for bees, as well as the ways that being hard of hearing has influenced her unique approach to the craft.
In her practice, she emphasizes natural beekeeping techniques that employ minimal chemical interventions. And she’s able to get all the information she needs to tend to the hives by relying on her other senses. Perhaps above all else, what makes Kaye an exceptional beekeeper is almost philosophical. Excelling at her job has everything to do with adaptation, managing the countless variables that arise on any given day. Is there too much rain? Too little? When will the flowers bloom? Will they produce enough honey? She responds accordingly, making sure not to disturb the bees’ rhythm and balance.
“There is a spiritual side to beekeeping,” she said. “You can’t fully control them, like with anything in nature, really. Some years you get a great honey season. Some years are horrible and you lose 50 percent of your hive. There’s a lot of heartbreak but a lot of joy, too, in just working outside with these creatures—a living super organism.”
1. Why does Kaye work without hearing aids?| A．To feel at ease. | B．To better concentrate. |
| C．To reduce dependence on them. | D．To avoid the humming noise of the bees. |
| A．Kaye knows the bees very well. |
| B．A protective suit is necessary for Kaye. |
| C．Losing hearing brings trouble to Kaye’s work. |
| D．The author is too frightened to follow Kaye’s instructions. |
| A．Her remarkable honey production. |
| B．Her natural beekeeping techniques. |
| C．Her knowledge on weather conditions. |
| D．Her capability of handling daily uncertainties. |
| A．Creative and brave. | B．Passionate and skilled |
| C．Deaf but ambitious | D．Heartbroken but determined. |
8 . Growing evidence shows that dancing can boost brain health and help manage neurocognitive (神经认知的) disorders. So what is it about dance that’s different from other regular exercises?
Helena Blumen, a cognitive scientist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, says the complex mental multitasking that dance requires engages various parts of the brain at the same time. Basically, dancing requires more brainpower than simpler repetitive exercises.
While scientists are still learning how the mechanisms of dancing work in the brain, a clearer picture is beginning to emerge. Researchers at Otto von Guericke University in Magdeburg, Germany, did MRI scans of older adults who had participated in one of two programs over a six-month period. One group practiced dance and the other did a traditional exercise program with cycling and strength training. While both groups improved their level of physical fitness, the dancers grew more white and gray matter in the parts of the brain responsible for cognitive processes. Both white and gray matter typically decline as we get older, making communication in the brain slow.
Imagine your brain is a city with loads of roads. The researchers assume, the changes brought by dancing contribute to brain plasticity, which is like the city’s ability to build new roads, repair old ones or even change the direction of traffic based on how often the routes are used and what the city needs.
In addition to the physical and neurological(神经学的) benefits, dance can also help people accept what their bodies can and can’t do. Dawnia Baynes, 44, developed multiple sclerosis (MS) after her body lose all feeling from the chest down. She recently joined an online dance program for people with MS. Not only has it improved her range of motion, it has also helped her overcome her fear of being judged for how she moves.
“To see other people moving is like I’m moving,” she says, “and knowing that I don’t have to be professional and super technical in my dancing makes me comfortable with where I am right now.”
1. What does dancing involve according to the text?| A．Mental multitasking. | B．Picturing abstract images. |
| C．Simple repetitive exercises. | D．High level of physical fitness. |
| A．Growth. | B．Volume. | C．Flexibility | D．Damage. |
| A．She has become a professional dancer. |
| B．She has set up an online dance program. |
| C．She has broadened her range of influence. |
| D．She has developed greater self-acceptance. |
| A．Dance for Better Health | B．Choose Proper Exercise |
| C．Take Yourself as You Are | D．Manage Neurocognitive Disorders |
9 . HOW TO OVERCOME A CREATIVE BLOCK
I’m sitting at my desk, staring at a blank document, hoping my fingers will start typing and a brilliant story will appear on my screen. Even though I feel fortunate to usually be full of ideas, I still face creative blocks times — when I feel uninspired.
Fortunately, there are steps we can take to breakthrough these blocks.
Working with our inner critic
We work with our inner critic by teaching it more compassionate (有同情心的) ways of speaking to us.
We can try other creative and mindful activities to help reduce anxiety, and boost yourself-esteem (自尊). It could be singing along to your favourite music, doing some weeding, going out for a walk in nature, taking photographs on a lunchtime stroll, or having interesting conversations with friends. Then you’ll feel ready to get your creativity on the go again.
Next time you’re feeling a creative block, remind yourself that it’s OK to just get something written, or painted, or crafted and that you don’t need to share it with anyone. It’s all about making a start.
| A．Filling your creativity cup |
| B．Talking to someone you trust |
| C．We’d better be mindful of our loved ones |
| D．Perfectionism maybe another contributor |
| E．Creativity is like a muscle and gets easier once you get doing |
| F．Such a problem can be solved by understanding the causes of them |
| G．We must identify its comments as something separate from ourselves |
Teachers are a gift, especially Troy’s teacher, Donna. She always goes above and beyond for her students, but what she did for Troy’s family is truly beyond selflessness but a miracle(奇迹).
Donna is one of those teachers who pay close attention to the students in their classroom. She began to notice something odd in one of her elementary students, Troy. He was not active in class like he had been. Troy used to be a passionate student in class, engaging with teachers and his friends. Being a helping hand to the teacher and classmates, Troy was always welcomed by everybody. However, he was all of a sudden so shut down and his behavior was simply not the same. He seemed to be silent all the time, and his eyes lost light of desire for knowledge and passion for any activities. Donna grew very concerned and wondered if there was something going on that affected his performance at school. So, she reached out to Troy’s mom to express her concerns.
And that was when she discovered something wrong. For the past year, his mom had been in stage-five kidney(肾)failure. She was in pain every day and desperately needed a new kidney. But she had a rare blood type, so finding a match for a kidney transplant was virtually impossible. Her condition had been a very long and anxious journey. It had been so painful for the family, and it had definitely made an impact on Troy. And in class, he had been silently carrying the pain his mom was going through at home.
The news broke Donna’s heart. She knew that she just had to do something. She was there as a loving friend to help Troy with his studies, but she was also there for his mom. Donna researched how to become a kidney donor and discovered that she had the same rare blood type as Troy’s mom. She got tested and, surprisingly, she was a match.
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。
When Donna told the news to Troy’s family, everyone was surprised.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Soon the kidney transplant took place.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
