1 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the topic of the photos of this year?

A．Flowers.

B．Animals.

C．Food.

2. How should the photos be sent?

A．Bye-mail

B．By post.

C．In person.

3. What is the prize?

A．A cup.

B．A camera.

C．Some money.

2 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. When were the wooden houses built?

A．In the 10th century.

B．In the 13th century.

C．In the 17th century.

2. Where did the man have lunch?

A．On a hill.

B．By a river.

C．In a garden.

3. How was the weather during the man’s trip?

A．Rainy.

B．Sunny.

C．Windy.

3 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What has the boy begun to learn about in the geography class now?

A．Rivers.

B．The sea.

C．Fish.

2. What did the boy do in the geography class?

A．He watched a film.

B．He drew a picture.

C．He read the textbook.

3. What does the girl think of the homework of this week?

A．It is easier.

B．It is more interesting.

C．It is harder.

4 . Love it or hate it, we live in the digital age and there’s no going back. Distracted by endless notifications and emails, we can hardly focus on our tasks. To stay focused, we probably need some apps to keep us on track.

1. Rescue Time

Rescue Time helps you to find out how much time you’re really on-task. Label activities as productive and non-productive so you can block your biggest distractions. Get a categorized breakdown of how you spend your time.

Price: Free(Web)

2. Pomodoro Time Tracker

The Pomodoro Technique keeps your mind sharp and prevents you from becoming tired. It in volves working and taking breaks at set intervals (间隔).This popular time management method asks you to alternate focused work sessions with frequent short breaks to promote concentration.

Price: Free(Web)

3. Freedom

Freedom allows you to block the Internet, social media, and apps that eat up your time.

*Categorize how you spend your time, decide how long you Freedom need to work without interruption, and block items that take you off track. Freedom is superior to many other blockers because you can block applications-not just websites.

Price: One month free trial, $6.99 monthly (Mac, Windows, X and iOS)

4. Forest

Forest turns productivity into a game. “Plant” a virtual tree at the beginning of your work time. If you maintain focus for the duration of the timer, you’ll grow a tree to add to your “forest”.

Forest makes you think twice about traveling down Internet rabbit holes when you’re supposed to be working.

Price: $1.99(iOS and Android), Free (Chrome extension)

1. What does Pomodoro Time Tracker help us to do?

A．Manage our time.	B．Arrange our tasks.
C．Prevent all distractions.	D．Combine work with rest.

2. How is Freedom different from other blockers?

A．It blocks websites.	B．It is completely free.
C．It blocks applications.	D．It brings us to the track.

3. Which of the following uses the policy of reward?

A．Forest.

B．Freedom.

C．Rescue Time.

D．Pomodoro Time Tracker

5 . Dr. Tatiana Erukhimova is a physics professor at Texas A&M who aims to show her students, especially the young women, that there are no limits.

Only 25% of physics undergraduate students are female. Perhaps it is because boys grow up playing with machines and making drawings of fast cars and rocket explosions. But girls are just as curious about the way the world works — they just haven’t jumped into the culture of chemical reactions, energy and magnetic force with as much enthusiasm. That is, until they see one of Tatiana’s videos showing the science behind real life’s magic. Tatiana is really one of the few living female examples they could follow.

Her videos get millions of views. She is a ball of energy with a short haircut, a Russian accent and a lively personality that makes physics accessible to the younger audience. Young girls are attracted to Tatiana’s attractive demonstrations the way they flock to pop concerts. This is real. This is science they can participate in. This is an open door to endless possibilities.

“These short clips are the spark that inspires,” Tatiana says with so much excitement that it lights up the room. Everything she does involves students. She believes the magic in learning is when your peers are part of the demonstration, when you are part of the teaching process.

“She wants everything to be a celebration of science,” says one of Tatiana’s former students. And indeed, the classroom is in a party atmosphere, with students cheering when amazed by Newton’s law of motion, demonstrated by a spinning bicycle wheel held upright by the professor. It’s hard to tell who is more delighted, Tatiana or her students. She is an attraction for female students who are graduating college and working in the sciences in higher numbers than ever before.

Dr. Tatiana’s story began in Russia and her parents were both physicists. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Tatiana moved to Texas with her husband, also a physicist. They both teach at Texas A&M, and when Tatiana isn’t in the classroom, she is doing outreach with schoolchildren, amazing them with spinning lights that soon form words, liquid oxygen that shrinks objects and chemical reactions that expand matter to 10 times its size. But most importantly, she is expanding the audience of female physicists.

1. According to the passage, why do girls sometimes hesitate to jump into the culture of physics?

A．Lack of interest in chemical reactions.

B．Cultural differences in curiosity.

C．Absence of female role models.

D．Fear of liquid oxygen demonstrations.

2. Which of the following is TRUE about the videos mentioned in the passage?

A．They were made by a female physician.

B．They feature engaging demonstrations.

C．They are meant for Tatiana’s homeland.

D．They have received millions of likes online.

3. What is the primary focus of Dr. Tatiana’s outreach activities with schoolchildren?

A．Appealing to students with fascinating demonstrations.

B．Teaching students some difficult physics concepts.

C．Explaining the history of Newton’s law of motion.

D．Encouraging girls to attend parties and pop concerts.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Female Professor Rejecting Gender Barrier

B．Russian Physicist and Female Scientists

C．Physics Professor Stimulating Girls’ Passion

D．The Significance of Online Short Videos

6 . We all want to know what happiness means and try to find ways to help make our life better. Happiness — you know it when you see it, but it’s hard to define. You might call it a sense of well-being, optimism or meaningfulness in life, although those could also be treated separately.     1     we know that we want it, and that is just somehow good.

We also know that we don’t always have control over our happiness. Research suggests that genetics may play a big role in our level of happiness, so some of us may start out at a disadvantage. On top of that, environmental factors can bring down mood and dry up our thirst for living.     2    . Many studies have found a connection between psychological and physical well-being.

A 2022 review of more than 200 studies found a connection between positive psychological features, such as happiness, optimism and life satisfaction, and a lowered risk of heart disease.

    3    . If you have a good sense of well-being, it’s easier to maintain good habits: exercising, eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep.

    4    , and they do not provide hard evidence of cause and effect. But some researchers believe that positive mental states do have a direct effect on the body, perhaps by reducing damaging physical processes. For instance, they found that optimism is associated with lower levels of inflammation (炎症).

If what you mean by happiness is specifically “enjoyment of life”, there’s newer evidence to support that, too. A study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that people aged 60 and over who said they enjoyed life less were more likely to develop disability over an 8-year period.     5    . This study does not prove that physical problems are caused by less enjoyment of life, but suggests a relationship.

A．But whatever happiness really is.

B．It might take more work if your mood is low.

C．For now these studies can only show associations.

D．That refers to the person, and the situation he or she is in.

E．Being able to travel around was also related to enjoyment of life.

F．To manage our emotions is important for both our body and mind.

G．It’s not as simple as “you must be happy to prevent heart attacks”, though.

7 . That day was Nancy’s 30th birthday and she was alone at home. She was standing by the living room window, with her eyes filled with _________. She was sure her sister would _________ her like she always did.

Looking out from the window, Nancy _________ her journey. All these years, she took up different _________, from a factory worker, a waitress to a hotel clerk. Her only goal was to _________ Kate, her younger sister. To her relief, Kate was a(n) _________ student, always doing well at school. For Nancy, Kate _________ much to her. She was her dream and happiness.

As lost in thought, Nancy was _________ by footsteps approaching her room. Her eyes lit up right away. She rushed to the door and sniffed (嗅) the air to catch the _________ smell of the chocolate cake. However, unlike usual, Kate arrived, __________ this time. No cake; no beautiful gift box. Nancy’s __________ disappeared. Kate gave Nancy a big hug and said, “Happy birthday!” “Thank you,” Nancy just replied __________. And then Kate took an envelope from her pocket and said, “Here is your birthday gift.” Looking at Kate questioningly, Nancy __________ it. Inside was a(n) __________ letter. Kate continued, “I signed you up for the community college with the money I earned through part-time work. I want you to __________ from where you left.”

Nancy hugged Kate tightly, crying with joy. She finally got the best ever birthday gift.

1.

A．loneliness

B．determination

C．hope

D．longing

2.

A．surprise

B．comfort

C．forget

D．fool

3.

A．imagined

B．arranged

C．reflected on

D．broke down

4.

A．occupations

B．hobbies

C．adventures

D．examinations

5.

A．recognize

B．follow

C．support

D．inspire

6.

A．easygoing

B．outstanding

C．helpful

D．humble

7.

A．owed

B．meant

C．brought

D．left

8.

A．distracted

B．shocked

C．annoyed

D．frightened

9.

A．rare

B．strange

C．familiar

D．distinct

10.

A．open-minded

B．strong-willed

C．light-hearted

D．empty-handed

11.

A．nervousness

B．excitement

C．embarrassment

D．disappointment

12.

A．gratefully

B．coldly

C．sincerely

D．normally

13.

A．addressed

B．noticed

C．opened

D．recorded

14.

A．congratulation

B．application

C．introduction

D．admission

15.

A．pick up

B．wake up

C．get up

D．end up

8 . Jiang Shumei wasn’t educated as a child, learning her first Chinese character at the age of 60. Now, the 87-year-old grandmother is the proud author of six books. She learned her first character in 1996, after her husband died in a car accident, when her daughter Zhang Ailing suggested that she learn to read to take her mind off the loneliness and sorrow.

Zhang says that her mother had her own way of learning. Whenever she came across characters she didn’t know at bus stops or shop signs, she found someone to ask. Once Jiang had learned enough characters, Zhang started giving her books to read. Enjoying the books, Jiang told her daughter that she wanted to write down her own stories to share.

She first put pen to paper in 2012, at the age of 75. It was not easy. Sometimes,completing a single sentence could take a day. Jiang usually started writing at 3 or 4 am, and revised the pieces several times until she was satisfied.

Zhang began publishing her mother’s stories on social media platforms in 2013. When Zhang and her mother drew the attention of Zhang’s writer friends, the pair made a decision to publish them. The first book, Time of Trouble, Time of Poverty, was published later that year, and proved to be a success. Some critics even praised it as the “live history of a nation plagued by tough times”. The book earned Jiang a lot of fans and sympathy.

So far, the elderly woman has published six books, totaling more than 600, 000characters in length. She lives a healthy life, exercising every day, drinking milk and soy milk, as well as having regular exercise. “If I could live as long as 130, would you still say that it is too late for me to start after 60?” she asks, jokingly.

1. Why did Jiang learn to read in her later years?

A．To become a proud author.

B．To make up for not going to school.

C．To encourage her friends and families.

D．To reduce the impact of her husband’s death.

2. What made Jiang decide to publish her first book?

A．A strong inner desire.	B．The attention from other writers.
C．Her daughter’s encouragement.	D．The development of social media.

3. What dose the underlined word“plagued”in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Aided.

B．Enlarged.

C．Troubled.

D．Defeated.

4. What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A．One is never too old to learn.

B．All roads lead to Rome.

C．Where there is life, there is love.

D．Gold can’t be pure and man can’t be perfect.

9 . I couldn’t sleep at all last night, and my sister believes it was because I ate a bowl of really spicy (辛辣的) food before bedtime. However, I was skeptical about the connection between spicy foods and sleep. Can eating spicy foods before bedtime truly impact one’s sleep quality? Some people believe that eating spicy foods before bedtime can disrupt sleep by increasing body temperature and causing heartburn. It may be worth avoiding spicy foods close to bedtime.

To find out the relation, the researchers in Australia conducted an experiment to investigate the effects of spicy foods on sleep. They provided a group of individuals with delicious late-night meals, alternating (交替) between spicy and mild options. The results revealed that consuming spicy foods led to disrupted sleep patterns, causing participants to take longer to fall asleep and sleep for shorter time. This data supported the belief that there is a correlation between eating spicy foods and experiencing sleep disturbances.

While the exact mechanism(机制)by which spicy foods influence sleep remains unclear, researchers have proposed several possibilities. One is that stomach discomfort resulting from spicy food consumption may affect sleep quality. Additionally, the long digestion (消化) of spicy foods could delay the start of sleep. Furthermore, spicy foods contain something that can raise body temperature, which has been linked to poor sleep in previous studies.

Given these findings, it is advisable to avoid consuming spicy foods before bedtime to promote better sleep. Next time, I will follow my sister’s advice and opt for a milder meal in the evening to ensure a restful night’s sleep.

1. What do people usually think of eating spicy foods before bedtime?

A．It can make people addictive to it.

B．It can be bad for digestion.

C．It can make sleep difficult.

D．It can lead to an increase in energy levels.

2. How did Australian researchers conduct this study?

A．By analyzing data.	B．By studying papers.
C．By doing an experiment.	D．By doing interviews.

3. What can we know from the study?

A．Spicy foods take long to digest.

B．Body temperature has no effect on sleep.

C．Bad eating habit changes sleep patterns.

D．Sleep problems may be caused by bad habits.

4. What is the purpose of this text?

A．To forbid children from having spicy foods.

B．To suggest not eating spicy foods before bedtime.

C．To promote some healthy food that is not spicy.

D．To keep up with the latest healthy food research.

10 . 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。

On March 31, the Eiffel Tower celebrated its 130th anniversary since it opened.     1    (original) planned to last only 20 years, the people of Paris wisely decided to keep it standing,    2     (recognize) its importance. Millions of people     3     (visit) the tower so far, according to its official website.

The tower was created by the French engineer Gustave Eiffel and was first intended as the main entrance     4     the 1889 World’s Fair. It was built in a little over two years and faced criticism from some locals initially. However, it quickly captured the attention of fair visitors, attracting more than two million people. It also had a     5     (practice) use as a radio antenna during World War I.

Visitors today can choose to climb 1,665 steps or take one of the original elevator cars    6     (reach) the top. At the top of the tower,     7     the tower’s administrative office is located, guests can enjoy a drink at the champagne bar on the top floor.

Today, the Eiffel Tower is a symbol of France, representing a feeling of pride and thankfulness. It is a global icon that can bring together people from different     8    (background). The tower is not only     9     popular tourist destination but also a widely recognized symbol, a     10     (believe) held by many who appreciate its enduring charm.