1 . Every year, New York sees many visitors from Toronto. There are several ways of traveling between the two cities. You can opt to fly, drive or take a train or a bus. No matter how you choose to travel, there’s always something worth seeing and doing in New York.

	Time	Cost	Best For
Train	13 hours	from $175	stress-free travel
Flight	90 minutes	from $150	travelers in a hurry
Bus	11 — 13 hours	from $60	people on a budget
Car	8 hours, 40 minutes	varies (about 790 kilometers)	a flexible schedule

When Is the Best Time to Travel to New York?

December is a great time to visit. The weather isn’t too cold and the city is full of holiday cheer. Traffic is almost always bad in New York, especially in Manhattan, but it’s best to avoid driving during the morning and evening rush hours when commuting time is extra long.

What’s the Most Scenic Route to New York?

Driving can offer the best views on a journey to New York, especially if you choose to stop and explore around Niagara Falls. The train follows a similar path but views of the falls are unlikely.

What Is There to Do in New York?

There is enough to see and do in New York to satisfy even the pickiest travelers. The city is home to some of the best museums in the world, from The Metropolitan Museum of Art to the American Museum of Natural History. There is the chance to enjoy a Broadway show, walk in Central Park or ride the free ferry to Staten Island. It’s also well worth taking in great skyline views from the top of Empire State Building or walking to Brooklyn via the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.

1. What is the city atmosphere like in New York in December?

A．Tense.

B．Festive.

C．Creative.

D．Changeable.

2. How should visitors get to New York from Toronto to visit Niagara Falls?

A．By plane.

B．By train.

C．By bus.

D．By car.

3. Which place is good for visitors to see the full view of New York?

A．Broadway.	B．Central Park.
C．Empire State Building.	D．The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

2 . The Beauty of Creative Friendships

I recently walked through an incredible exhibition in Venice. It _________ about 75 art works that a Dutch-American artist created during the time he spent in Italy in 1959 and 1969. The pieces on show included his ink-on-paper drawings, some gestural drawings, landscapes and sculptures.

Born in 1904, de Kooning spent the majority of his artistic career as a (n) _________ but in 1969, while visiting Rome, he _________ an old friend, the sculptor Herzl Emanuel, who invited him to his studio and _________ him to try working with _________.

At age 65, de Kooning _________ his first sculptural works, 13 small clay items. It was the _________ of a new artistic era for him and, over the next 15 years, sculpture became a (n) _________ and inseparable part of his career.

Later, after I left the exhibition, I was _________ by how beautiful it was that de Kooning began making sculpture because of the initial ____________ and encouragement of his ____________. It got me thinking about the often unacknowledged role that some friendships play in the creative process of ____________ across all types.

We often think about those friendships that journey deeply with us in our private lives, ____________ us through emotional ups and downs. But friendships that develop our professional selves are also ____________.In offering courage, insight and clarity on the work that we produce, these friendships ____________ the overall quality of our lives.

1.

A．mentioned

B．sold

C．expressed

D．displayed

2.

A．architect

B．actor

C．painter

D．photographer

3.

A．argued with

B．ran into

C．dealt with

D．relied on

4.

A．requested

B．forced

C．encouraged

D．ordered

5.

A．stone

B．clay

C．wood

D．glass

6.

A．created

B．discovered

C．purchased

D．described

7.

A．rebirth

B．recovery

C．beginning

D．sign

8.

A．minor

B．irrelevant

C．hard

D．significant

9.

A．confused

B．convinced

C．struck

D．annoyed

10.

A．invitation

B．desire

C．purpose

D．decision

11.

A．follower

B．friend

C．teacher

D．neighbor

12.

A．writers

B．visitors

C．scientists

D．artists

13.

A．supporting

B．ignoring

C．lecturing

D．controlling

14.

A．close

B．priceless

C．brief

D．innocent

15.

A．maintain

B．damage

C．assess

D．improve

3 . Writing a successful English speech can be a challenging task, but with the following tips, you can create a powerful and engaging speech.

    1    

The first step in crafting a convincing speech is to know who will be listening. Consider the interests and knowledge level of them. Tailor your language, examples and tone to resonate with them and make a connection.

Organize your speeches

    2    . Start with a strong opening that grabs the audience’s attention, introduce your main points in the body of the speech, and end with a memorable conclusion that strengthens your message. Use transitions to smoothly guide your audience from one point to the next.

Make your speeches persuasive

To make your speeches persuasive, use powerful and convincing language. Choose words that evoke (唤起) emotion, imagery or action. Use rhetorical devices (修辞手法) like repetition, parallelism and metaphors to enhance your message and make it memorable.     3    .

Practice and get feedback

The key to delivering a successful speech is practice. Rehearse your speeches multiple times to improve your delivery, timing and confidence.     4    . Seek feedback from peers or teachers to get different perspectives and identify areas for improvement.

With these tips, you can deliver a wonderful speech.     5    . Remember, the more you improve your skills, the better you will become at delivering attractive speeches.

A．Understand your audience

B．Collect relevant information

C．Persuade your audience to listen carefully

D．It will leave a lasting impression on your audience

E．A well-structured speech has a clear beginning, middle and end

F．Consider recording yourself in front of a mirror to observe your gestures

G．Support your arguments with examples to add credibility to your speeches

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。

Kris and Robin are sisters who grew up in Wisconsin. They work together and serve together.

In 2017, Hurricane Harvey struck with strong force across Florence, bringing fierce winds and record-breaking rainfall. The city was destroyed by the storm’s intensity, leading to widespread damage and flooding. Emergency services worked tirelessly to rescue those trapped by the rising floodwaters, while power failure left entire neighborhoods in darkness.

In the face of such misfortune, both of Kris and Robin felt depressed and helpless, yet eager to assist. Upon discovering Convoy of Hope’s volunteer program, they didn’t hesitate to sign up. Soon after, they were invited to training, marking the start of their mission to serve together in this fighting.

However, their initial response to the arrangement was filled with anxiety for Kris. “I am kind of nervous before heading out. I wonder if I could remember my training?” said Kris Logemann, her voice with uncertainty. “Don’t worry! You see the staff do such a great job. They are incredibly supportive to us and will provide guidance and reassure every step of the way.” Robin comforted. She also added, “I am right there for you, too, Kris, we are in it together, and we’ll make it just like before.”

Robin Melcher remembered the first few rescues she and her sister went on. “We were helping a woman who had just lost her husband,” said Kris. “We were taking things out of her house, but also holding her hand and loving her. The ability to do that... it’s just really cool.” “Obviously we love it because we come back,” added Kris.

Full of power, Kris and Robin put their whole hearts into the training. During the Convoy of Hope’s detailed training program, they learned about disaster response, safety procedures, and psychological first aid. Through hands-on practice and team-building exercise, they prepared physically and mentally for the tasks ahead. As Kris and Robin continued their volunteer work, they were faced with one of their most heart-struck and unforgettable challenges.

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。

Word came that a school had been severely affected by flooding, with numerous students trapped.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After the rescue, the story of the sisters’ heroic efforts was reported.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . Standing on the South Pole at the start of the year with the wind blowing across the Antarctic, travel blogger Johnny Ward felt a wave of relief.

Just a week before, in early January 2024, he’d struggled through snow and ice to climb to the top of the Vinson Massif, Antarctica’s highest peak. Years before, in 2017, he’d become the first Irish person to visit every country in the world.

Now, after decades of traveling and mountaineering, Ward could claim another world first — the Ultimate Explorer’s Grand Slam (大满贯), which involves reaching the highest peak on every continent, and visiting both the North and South Poles in addition to visiting every country.

“I feel relieved,” Ward recalled as he slowly made his way back to his home in Thailand after climbing to the top of the Vinson Massif and then setting foot on the South Pole. “But also I’m aware I’m a normal guy, not a world-class athlete, so I guess it was more about resilience and determination more than any ability. Although I met with lots of barriers, I overcame them one by one.”

Ward had previously devoted a decade of his life, between 2007 and 2017, to visiting every country in the world. The incredible journey saw him hitchhike (搭便车) a ride on a container ship from Oman to Socotra in Yemen, travel overland from Cairo to Cape Town and travel from South Korea to Australia by bus and boat.

“It had been a huge life goal, over a decade of my life, and then when I finished that I was aimless and had no idea what to do next,” he said. “I started eating badly, drinking too much, putting on weight and I ignored my business.”

Ward decided that the best way to overcome this was to challenge himself again. He began running ultramarathons (超级马拉松) and climbing mountains, and soon found that with extreme purpose and direction, he was back to loving life again.

So where will Ward go next? Space? The bottom of the Mariana Trench, the deepest point of the ocean? “All good things come after suffering, and I want to share that with people. So that’s the next plan,” he said.

1. What did Johnny Ward achieve in early January 2024?

A．He climbed to the highest peak in Antarctica.

B．He set a new record for traveling in Antarctica.

C．He became the first person to visit the South Pole.

D．He became the first Irish person to visit every country.

2. What does the underlined word “resilience” in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A．The ability to bounce back from difficulties.	B．The quality of being strong and honest.
C．The skill of achieving goals quickly.	D．The power to control one’ s emotions.

3. How did Johnny Ward feel after achieving his life goal in 2017?

A．Relaxed.

B．Satisfied.

C．Lost.

D．Excited.

4. Which of the following can best describe Johnny Ward?

A．Helpful and motivated.	B．Athletic and generous.
C．Proud and self-centered.	D．Determined and strong-willed.

6 . Tired of having the same old travel experiences that leave you feeling unfulfilled (失望的) and disconnected? Mindful travel is offering a new way to explore the world that is meaningful and sustainable.

Mindful travel is a concept that encourages individuals to fully dive into the present moment while exploring new destinations. Individuals are aware of their surroundings, engaging all the senses, and enjoying the beauty of each experience.     1    

Mindful travel is not just about the destination but also the journey. The goal is to create a positive impact on both individuals and the world around them.     2     It is an opportunity for people to positively contribute to the world.

Mindful travel provides an opportunity to disconnect from the stresses of everyday life.     3     Whether it’s wandering through a busy market, hiking in nature, or simply sitting by the ocean, it allows us to let go of our worries and fully enjoy the beauty of our surroundings.

    4     By stepping out of our comfort zones and experiencing new cultures, we gain a fresh viewpoint on life. We become more open-minded, adaptable, and caring. Through interactions with locals and fellow travelers, we learn about different ways of life and develop a greater understanding of the world.

Mindful travel also has a positive impact on the destinations we visit. Mindful travelers are aware of their impact on the environment.     5     By choosing eco-friendly accommodations, supporting local businesses, and respecting cultural traditions, we can ensure that our travels leave a green footprint.

A．They can deeply appreciate the surroundings through it.

B．Mindful travel promotes self-reflection and personal growth.

C．When traveling, we often leave behind our routines and duties.

D．Mindful travel positively impacts our mental and physical well-being.

E．The demands of daily responsibilities often leave little time for self-care.

F．They try to reduce waste, conserve resources, and support sustainable initiatives.

G．It’s about being mindful of one’s actions and how they affect others and the environment.

7 . 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。

World Poetry Day takes place each year     1     March 21 to promote the teaching of poetry, as well as the publishing, writing, and reading of this form of writing around the world.

It     2     (declare) by UNESCO in 1999 in the hopes of supporting language diversity through poetic expression and increasing the opportunity for endangered languages     3     (hear). World Poetry Day was about giving fresh drive and     4     (recognize) to international, regional, and national poetry movements. It also focused on promoting a return to the oral (口头的) tradition of poetry recitals, as well as     5     (strengthen) the association between poetry and other forms of expression, such as dance, music, and painting.

The day is celebrated     6     (global). Government agencies, community groups and individuals get involved in promoting or participating in the day, which enables children to learn and enjoy     7     (variety) of poetry. It is a time     8     students are busy examining poets and learning about different types of poetry. Poets may be invited to read and share their work to audience at book stores and schools. Ceremonies are held to honor poets of     9     (remark) achievements.

All in all, it’s a day for poetry:     10     ancient art form that still enriches our understanding of humanity today.

8 . Much of Earth is unexplored. An ocean census (普查) hopes to change that.

“Earth” has always been an odd choice of name for the third planet from the Sun. After all, two-thirds of its surface is covered not by earth at all, but by oceans of water.

Because humans are land animals, most of the Earth remains under-explored. Marine (海洋的) biologists think the oceans might host more than 2 million species of marine animals, of which they have so far identified perhaps a tenth.

A new initiative hopes to change this. Launched in London on April 27th, Ocean Census aims to discover 100, 000 new species of marine animal over the coming decade. It is backed by Nekton, a British marine-research institute, and the Nippon foundation, Japan’s biggest charitable foundation. Its first ship, the Norwegian icebreaker Kronprins Haakon, set sail on April 29th, bound for the Barents Sea.

The initiative is happening for two reasons. One is that the longer scientists wait, the less there will be to identify. Climate change is heating the oceans, as well as making them more acidic (酸的) as carbon dioxide dissolves goes into the water. Already around half the world’s coral reefs (珊瑚)—thought to be home to around 25% of all ocean species—have been lost. Oliver Steeds, Nekton’s founder, says that one of Ocean Census’s priorities will be identifying species thought to be in the greatest danger from climate change. The second reason is technological. Marine biologist s find about 2, 000 new species a year, a rate hardly changed since Darwin’s day. Ocean Census is betting it can go faster.

Exactly what the new effort might turn up is impossible to predict. But history suggests it will be fruitful. Half a century ago scientists discovered hot vents (喷口) on the sea bed. These days, such vents are one possible candidate for the origin of all life on Earth. There are more practical benefits, too. Many drugs, for example, come originally from biological substance. An ocean full of unidentified life will almost certainly prove a rich mine from which to mine more.

1. Why is “Earth” an odd choice of name for the third planet from the Sun?

A．Its climate is changing rapidly.	B．Humans have not explored much of it.
C．Most of its surface is covered by water.	D．It hosts a large number of marine animals.

2. What can we infer from paragraph 5?

A．The rate of discovering new species won’t change.

B．The new initiative will mainly focus on coral reefs.

C．Climate change has a great impact on marine species.

D．Scientists have identified nearly all the species in the ocean.

3. What might be the potential benefits of the Ocean Census according to the last paragraph?

A．It may result in a reduction in overfishing.

B．It may lead to the discovery of new drugs.

C．It may contribute to the advancement of technology.

D．It may prove the oceans are our life-support system.

4. What’s the best title for the text?

A．The Endangered Planet	B．Reducing Sea Pollution: A Global Initiative
C．How to Protect the Oceans?	D．The Misnamed Earth: Exploring the Ocean’s Secrets

9 . Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, has become a lot more common in recent decades. Some even consider myopia an epidemic (流行病). But what causes myopia and what reduces it?

While having two myopic parents does mean you’re more likely to be nearsighted, there’s no single myopia gene. That means the causes of myopia are more behavioral than genetic.

Scientists have learned a great deal about the progression of myopia by studying visual development in baby chickens. They do so by putting little hats on baby chickens. Lenses (镜片) on the face of the hats cover the chicks’ eyes and are adjusted to affect how much they see.

Just like in humans, if visual input is wrong, a chick’s eyes grow too large, resulting in myopia. And it’s progressive. Blur (模糊) leads to eye growth, which causes more blur, which makes the eye grow even larger, and so on.

Two recent studies featuring extensive surveys of children and their parents provide strong support for the idea that an important driver of the increase in myopia is that people are spending more time focusing on objects immediately in front of our eyes, whether a screen, a book or a drawing pad.

Other research has shown that this unnatural eye growth can be interrupted by sunlight. A 2022 study, for example, found that myopia rates were more than four times greater for children who didn’t spend much time outdoors — say, once or twice a week — compared with those who were outside daily. At the same time, kids who spent more than three hours a day while not at school reading or looking at a screen close-up were four times more likely to have myopia than those who spent an hour or less doing so.

Fortunately, just a few minutes a day with glasses that correct blur stops the progression of myopia, which is why early vision testing and vision correction are important to limit the development of myopia.

1. What can we learn from the study on baby chickens?

A．Myopia in chicks is not progressive.

B．Myopia is mainly caused by genetic factors.

C．Visual input affects the growth of a chick’s eyes.

D．Lenses can prevent chicks from developing myopia.

2. What might be the main cause of myopia according to the text?

A．Absence of enough sleeping hours.	B．Too much screen time.
C．Poor and unbalanced diet.	D．Lack of high-intense activities.

3. What’s the main idea of paragraph 6?

A．Outdoor light helps prevent myopia.	B．Reading is the direct cause of myopia.
C．Researchers have found a cure for myopia.	D．Children should play outdoors twice a week at least.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards early vision testing?

A．Unclear.

B．Approving.

C．Doubtful.

D．Dismissive.

10 . Four Best Shows for Toddlers (学步的孩童)

Peppa Pig

If you’re looking for a British TV show for toddlers, look no further than Peppa Pig. This charming series will have your little one love Peppa and her family as they start their adventures through life in a colorful world.

Each episode of Peppa Pig is like a colorful storybook, combining five parts into 25 minutes of pure joy. Not only is it entertaining, but it also teaches essential social skills, such as kindness, loyalty, and thoughtfulness, making it an ideal choice for young kids and preschoolers.

Sesame Street

If you have fond memories of watching Sesame Street back in the day, why not pass on some of that magic to your little one? The show now is in its 54th season, which is the longest running program of the four shows, and the whole group is still bringing the fun. Not only is the 30-minute program still a crash course in all things smart, with numbers and words on the menu, but there’s also wonderful music.

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood

Step into the interesting world of Daniel Tiger, the lovable star of this show that’s a popular offshoot (分支) of the timeless Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. With a runtime of 30 minutes, this show offers plenty of learning opportunities through engaging stories and catchy musical numbers.

Curious George

If you have fond memories of your parents reading Curious George books, you’re in for a treat! The beloved stories were transformed into a charming lively series on PBS in 2006, ideal for toddlers. Each episode clocks in at a solid 30 minutes, and it’s all about encouraging kids to be as curious and eager to explore as George himself.

1. What can children learn from Peppa Pig?

A．Math skills.

B．Artistic abilities.

C．Social skills.

D．Scientific knowledge.

2. What do we know about Curious George?

A．It is adapted from books.	B．It was put on PBS in 2005.
C．It is less popular than other shows.	D．It has a runtime of 25 minutes each episode.

3. Which show has been on for the longest time?

A．Peppa Pig.	B．Sesame Street.
C．Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.	D．Curious George.