1 . After ten years in the same company, I found my job was no longer fun. However, I didn’t have the confidence to apply for new jobs due to lack of experience. I felt
A friend suggested another path-
During the 18 months that followed, I began to flourish(茁壮成长). Not only had I found the courage to take my life forward in a new and
I also decided to move out of home. Living in student halls was a(n)
Soon after completing my master’s, I made my way back through the university gate-this time to
| A．guilty | B．humble | C．ashamed | D．stuck |
| A．communication | B．education | C．management | D．training |
| A．competence | B．self-discipline | C．confidence | D．self-doubt |
| A．quit | B．completed | C．lost | D．switched |
| A．uncertain | B．permanent | C．exciting | D．opposite |
| A．occur | B．approach | C．fade | D．gather |
| A．equals | B．opponents | C．strangers | D．elders |
| A．cherished | B．questioned | C．ignored | D．strengthened |
| A．embarrassment | B．failure | C．challenge | D．experience |
| A．freedom | B．safety | C．independence | D．justice |
| A．attached | B．exposed | C．addicted | D．used |
| A．tough | B．rewarding | C．impossible | D．meaningless |
| A．visit | B．interview | C．lead | D．teach |
| A．look back on | B．keep away from | C．catch up with | D．hold on to |
| A．ambition | B．duty | C．potential | D．career |
2 . Nanako Hama gets a lot of mail, mostly from strangers who live in her home city of Tokyo. In light envelopes, they send locks of their hair, hoping to recycle it.
People generate a huge amount of hair waste. Nearly all of that waste ends up in landfill, where it can release harmful greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.
But hair possesses useful qualities that it’s a shame to simply throw it away. That’s why people all around the world, like Hama, have been collecting hair and finding innovative ways to recycle it, including making mats (垫子)out of it for removing oil leaks.
Hama is part of the nonprofit Matter of Trust (MoT) members working at more than 60 centers dotted across 17 countries, using machines to make hair donated from local salons and individuals into square mats, which are then used to clean up the floating oil.
Hair is particularly well-suited for this, says MoT co-founder Lisa Gautier. “That’s because its rough sort of outer layer lets oil stick to it.” MoT’s mats have been used in major oil leaks. including the 2010 Deepwater Horizon and 2007 Cosco Busan incidents.
In a 2018 study, Murray, an environmental scientist at the University of Technology Sydney, in Australia found that mats made of recycled human hair could absorb 0.84 grams of oil onto its surface for every gram of hair—significantly more than polypropylene (聚丙烯), a type of plastic that’s typically used to clean up floating oil.
Besides, hair is also useful as fertilizer (化肥). Hair contains a relatively high nitrogen (氮), a chemical element crucial for plant growth, and each lock of hair is made of roughly 16 percent of this essential nutrient. Last year, more than 560 gallons of liquid fertilizer made from human hair was sold to farmers in northern Tanzania and the feedback from the farmers has been very encouraging.
“It’s just a great way to use hair in a productive way. Hair is an answer literally hanging in front of our eyes—for oil and soil,” Hama says.
1. How does the author introduce the topic in paragraph 1?| A．By detailing the background. | B．By presenting a scene. |
| C．By describing the feedback. | D．By supporting evidences. |
| A．Fertilize the soil. | B．Prevent oil leaks. |
| C．Clear the sea of oil. | D．Take in harmful gas. |
| A．Its color and strength. |
| B．Its length and amount. |
| C．Its weight and flexibility. |
| D．Its structure and component. |
| A．Debatable. | B．Applicable. |
| C．Irreplaceable. | D．Uncontrollable. |
The lantern fair in Zigong. Southwest China’s Sichuan province, boasts a history of more than 1, 000 years. To mark the Year
In addition to the
This year’s show will run until July 30. The sets of lanterns
4 . This was the big game. The boys were
Nervously, I looked out Andy’s way. I was
Andy ran up to me at the
I suddenly realized it was nice my son would take timeout to
| A．nervous | B．scared | C．curious | D．ashamed |
| A．waited | B．struggled | C．prayed | D．run |
| A．electric | B．friendly | C．casual | D．romantic |
| A．escape | B．erupt | C．jump | D．strike |
| A．amused | B．content | C．shocked | D．proud |
| A．carrying | B．focusing | C．commenting | D．reflecting |
| A．Settled own | B．Stand up | C．Wake up | D．Lie down |
| A．informed | B．punished | C．warned | D．spared |
| A．meeting | B．break | C．corner | D．entrance |
| A．blame | B．comfort | C．entertain | D．threaten |
| A．anger | B．anxiety | C．excitement | D．confidence |
| A．teammates | B．fans | C．parents | D．stars |
| A．create | B．research | C．explain | D．appreciate |
| A．need | B．expect | C．afford | D．suspect |
| A．become | B．filmed | C．seen | D．followed |
5 . German physicist Albert Einstein is one of the most famous scientists of all time, the personification of genius and the subject of a whole industry of scholarship. In The Einsteinian Revolution, two experts on Einstein’s life and his theory of relativity―Israeli physicst Hanoch Gutfreund and German historian of science Jurgen Renn—offer an original and penetrating(厚利的) analysis of Einstein’s revolutionary contributions to physics and our view of the physical world.
By setting Einstein’s work in the long course of the evolution of scientific knowledge, Gutfreund and Renn discover the popular misconception of Einstein as an unconventional scientific genius who single-handedly created modern physics—and by pure thought alone.
As a large part of the book explains, Einstein typically argued that science progresses through steady evolution, not through revolutionary breaks with the past. He saw his theory of relativity not as something from scratch, but a natural extension of the classical physics developed by pioneers such as Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei and English physicist Isaac Newton in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, as well as nineteenth-century physicists.
The authors highlight how classical physics cannot be separated cleanly from modem Einsteinian physics. The book also includes substantial sections on Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus and Galileo whose methods inspired Einstein. When Einstein considered himself as standing on their shoulders, he meant that, without their contributions, he would not have formulated(阐述) the theory of relativity.
The Einsteinian Revolution is an important and thought-provoking contribution to the scholarly literature on Einstein and his surprising scientific creativity between 1905 and 1925. Gutfreund and Renn might not have given the final answer as to why Einstein, of all people, revolutionized physics in the way that he did. But they argue in fascinating detail that, to understand his genius, one must take into account not just the earlier history of physics but also the history of knowledge more broadly. Although not always an easy read, the book will interest physicists and historians alike.
1. Where is the text most probably taken from?| A．An essay on Albert Einstein. | B．An introduction to a book |
| C．A guidebook to a course. | D．A review of physics development |
| A．Unclear. | B．Favorable. | C．Dismissive | D．Opposing. |
| A．Up to standard | B．From nothing. |
| C．By learning from others. | D．With previous knowledge. |
| A．Their ideas were rejected by Einstein， |
| B．Their devotion to physics impressed Einstein |
| C．Their researches contributed to Einstein’s success. |
| D．Their hard work deserved the worldwide respect. |
6 . I was the only kid in college with a reason to go to the mailbox, because my mother never believed in email or cell phones. I was literally waiting to get a letter to see how her weekend had gone, which was usually the warmest comfort for a girl of my age.
So when I moved to New York and got sucker-punched in the face by depression, I did the only thing I could think of. I wrote those same kinds of letters like my mother for strangers, and slipped them all over the city. I blogged about those letters and crazily promised if asked for a hand-written letter, I would write one.
Overnight, my inbox became this harbor of heartbreak — a single mother in Sacramento, a girl being bullied in Kansas, a 22-year-old immigrant, all asking me to write them and gave them a reason to wait by the mailbox. And this is how I initiated a global organization, fueled by those trips to the mailbox.
It is awesome. In fact, the thing about these letters is that most of them have been written by people who have grownup into a paperless world where some best conversations happen on a screen. We have learned to record our pain on to Facebook, and we speak swiftly in 140 characters or less.
But it’s not about efficiency. And I could tell you about a woman whose husband was traumatized (受精神创伤) by his war experiences in Afghanistan and isolated himself, and her love letters slipped throughout the house eventually got him back to her. Or a man, who decides to take his own life, finally sleeps soundly with a stack of letters from strangers slipped beneath his pillow.
The scare the kinds of stories that convince me that letter-writing will always be needed even in these days, because it is an art now.
1. Why did the author share her experience in college?| A．To show her attachment to letters. |
| B．To convey her love for writing letters. |
| C．To prove how convenient it was to write letters. |
| D．To indicate how much she cared for her family. |
| A．The letters’ comforting effect on people. |
| B．Her intention of providing professional aid |
| C．The positive influence of modern technology. |
| D．Her mother’s fear of modern communication. |
| A．Digital generations still choose to handwrite letters. |
| B．People prefer to write strangers letters on the Internet. |
| C．So many people badly need hand-written letters to survive. |
| D．People post their sufferings and happiness on social media. |
| A．Family Letters Are Priceless |
| B．Love for Writing Never Declines |
| C．World Needs More Love Letters |
| D．Hand-written Letters Improve Efficiency |
7 . Green Line Performing Arts Center
329 E Garfield Blvd. Chicago, IL 60637
Upcoming Programs Include:
First Monday Jazz Series: Crosswind
Monday Feb.4｜7—9 p.m.
First Monday Jazz is a monthly events how easing local Chicago jazz artists.
GreenLight Series: South Side Story Time
Sunday Feb.17｜10—11 a.m.
Bring your kids to listen, learn, sing, dance, and interact! South Side Story Time is a small gathering that centres on readings for its young attendees along with the chance for their parents to socialize. Open to families with children of all ages.
Sistergirls and Freedom Fighters: Stories: in Celebration of Women’s Power and Grace
Wednesday Feb.20|7—8:30 p.m.
Join us for an evening of storytelling featuring the dynamic singing, In the Spirit by Emily Hooper Lansana. This performance will highlight a range of stories that demonstrate women’s creative and political genius from folk heroines to Nobel Peace Prize winners.
Family Saturdays:Art together
Every 1st Saturday of the Month| 3—5 p.m.
Explore your child’s artistic curiosity with hands-on artworks bops designed to stimulate creativity and play. These interdisciplinary workshops are exciting for the entire family, offering activities from music to arts and crafts. Come to learn something new! Appropriate for families with children. Registration is encouraged.
Follow Arts+Public Life on Facebook for more event details and a full list of all upcoming performances.
1. When can people enjoy jazz in February?| A．At 8 p.m. on the first Monday. | B．At 10 a.m. on the third Sunday. |
| C．At 7 p.m. on the last Wednesday. | D．At 4 p.m. on the first Saturday. |
| A．It lasts two hours | B．It is a prize-winning performance. |
| C．It celebrates women’s achievements | D．It is organized by Emily Hooper Lansana. |
| A．Activity types. | B．Event frequency. |
| C．Target participants | D．Registration requirements. |
Michael saw the trouble coming. There standing in the hallway was Frank, the boy who enjoyed making fun of anyone at any given moment. Frank was tall and strong, so few of his victims stood up to him. Michael hated the idea that Frank always got away with his wrongdoing. Yet like most kids who were picked on, he just took it quietly and waited for the unpleasant to pass.
Frank walked up, his eyes locked on the books in Michael’s arms. When they met, Frank stopped unexpectedly, “Hey, let me see those books!” Some students watched as Michael held out the books he was carrying, trying not to give away his nervousness.
Frank took a book, looked inside for a second, and then threw the book at Michael, who dropped all the other books. “Hey, those are school property,” Frank barked, “Be careful!” Then he walked away, laughing loudly.
Michael, his cheeks turning red, half kicked the fallen books. Suddenly a hand picked up one book. “You look like you could use a p ally (盟友),” a friendly voice said. It was Ramon, the most athletic boy in the high school. Michael couldn’t believe Ramon was stopping to help him as they barely spoke.
“Thanks,” Michael sighed with relief. “It’s confusing. I don’t know what his problems is.”
“Well, as I see it,” Ramon said, “you need to find a way to end this.” Michael nodded, stuck for what to say. Ramon continued, “You know my grandmother used to tell me whenever I had a problem with someone. She’d say, ‘You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar (醋).’”
Looking puzzled, Michael asked, “What does that mean?”
“It means kindness may be more effective than anger,” Ramon explained.
“Can you just tell Frank to stop picking on me?” Michael suggested.
“That’s vinegar,” Ramon laughed as he walked away. “Try honey instead.”
Ramon’s words left Michael thinking.
The next school day brought Michael’s usual pain. There stood Frank, and Michael knew it would be just seconds before he had to face him in the middle of the hall. Frank came nearer.
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。
Then, suddenly, the unexpected happened.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Michael bent down and quickly picked up Frank’s books on the floor.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________注意：
（1）写作词数应为80个左右；
（2）请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Our Cultural Festival on Campus
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________10 . Problem solving skills are increasingly valuable in the workplace and could help you achieve more in your personal life too. Here’s how to enhance your strategy.
Develop analytical thinkingThe key to effective problem solving is the ability to break down complex issues into smaller, more manageable components.
Clear and brief communication is the key to effective problem-solving, acting as the bridge that connects diverse perspectives and adjusts individuals toward a common goal. Good communication begins with the art of expression. This needs choosing the right words and structuring information logically. Active listening, on the other hand, is the skill of receiving information with focus.
Mistakes are not failures but a good way to success.
The journey to becoming an expert problem solver is an ongoing process of growth and improvement. Seeking continuous learning opportunities ensures that you stay ahead of changing challenges and acquire the necessary skills. Furthermore, networking with professionals in your field provides a good way of shared learning.
| A．Stay well informed |
| B．Seek continuous learning |
| C．Improving it requires a structured approach |
| D．Each mistake will give you a chance to think and learn |
| E．Out-of-the-box thinking is essential for problem solving |
| F．These will make sure your message is easy to understand |
| G．It involves not just hearing words but understanding the differences |
