1 . Unlike most of her peers who left their rural hometowns, 34-year-old Ning Fenfang left her job in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province in 2017 and worked as a village official in her hometown— a mountainous village in Cili county in Zhangjiajie, Hunan province. Now she farms over 66.7 hectares of land.

Seeing much of the farmland had been deserted, Ning resigned from her post in 2020 and became a full-time farmer, renting the farmland and hiring villagers to work it. She founded a centre for housewives in the village to work her farmland during busy hours.

“It’s never easy,” said Ning. It is very rare for young people to become farmers in rural areas, as farming is labor-intensive and requires constant work in the mud. What’s more, farming is often seen as a job “unsuitable” for both the post-90s generation and women in general. Her decision to become a farmer confused many of her fellow villagers and farming was much more difficult than she had imagined. She experienced tremendous pain due to the intensive labour. At first, she didn’t farm much through lack of farming knowledge, so she didn’t feel pressured to succeed. Later, she decided to expand the scale and spent millions of yuan. “Most of the money is borrowed from banks, families and relatives, so there is no turning back,” she said. Weighing up the pros and cons, her husband ultimately gave up his business to work with her.

She has tried to turn farming into a “trendy” job. Instead of traditional farming methods which rely on human labor, Ning promotes mechanized farming, such as using harvesters, cultivators and drones. She also plans to explore the agricultural tourism resources in Zhangjiajie for children living in urban areas to experience farming.

Being elected to the 14th National People’s Congress has motivated Ning to feel responsible for fellow farmers. “NPC deputies from the grassroots need to consider rural farmers’ needs and bring their voices to the two sessions,” Ning said.

1. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．Ning facilitated the development of local agriculture.

B．Ning was once elected to the 14th National People’s Congress.

C．Ning was pessimistic about her work and her future in Hangzhou.

D．The locals found her decision to become a farmer realistic at first.

2. What’s Paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．Ning gradually expanded the scale of her business.

B．Ning lacked adequate knowledge about agriculture.

C．Ning did what it took to invest heavily in her business.

D．Ning faced more challenges in farming than she had figured.

3. What sets Ning’s farming apart from traditional farming?

A．The expansion of agricultural dimensions.

B．The restriction of agricultural implements.

C．The employment of agricultural machinery.

D．The exploration of agricultural tourism resources.

4. Which of the following can best describe Ning Fenfang?

A．Desperate and considerate.	B．Humble and dynamic.
C．Persevering and innovative.	D．Sensitive and aggressive.

2 . The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Grain Buds (小满), the 8th solar term of a year, begins on May 21 this year, and ends on June 5. It means that the seeds from the grain are becoming full but are not ripe. Let’s see what we can do during the “Grain Buds” period.

Eating herb of common sow thistle

Grain Buds is a season for eating the herb of the common sow thistle, which is one of the earliest edible potherbs in China. It tastes a little bitter, but also sweet. People in Ningxia Hui autonomous region like to eat it mixed with salt, vinegar, peppers or garlic. It tastes delicious and helps people feel refreshed. Some people boil the herb with water and then squeeze out the juice, which can be used to make soup.

Key period for flower management

This time is a good period of the quick growth of flowers. It is also a season when plant diseases and pests are at an all-time high, which makes caring for your garden even more critical. Flowers need a lot of water and extra care to stay healthy. Weeding should be done as they grow quickly and have to be extirpated in order to keep the soil loose and from competing with the flowers for nutrients.

Celebrating silkworm deity birthday

Silkworm rearing is a traditional byproduct for people in regions south of the Yangtze River. People in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces regard this season as the birthday of the silkworm deity. Those who engage in the silk industry thank the deity by offering sacrifices and staging performances. They pray to the deity for blessings and a boom season for the silk business.

1. Which of the following is true about Grain Buds?

A．It is seen as the birthday of the flower deity.

B．It is an essential period to tend to the garden.

C．It means that the seeds from the grain are mature.

D．It begins on May 21 this year, and ends on July 5.

2. People in the silk industry tend to ______ during the Grain Buds.

A．offer sacrifices to ancestors	B．pray for a close season
C．learn to count their blessings	D．give shows to thank the deity

3. In which column of a newspaper can we read the article?

A．Entertainment.

B．Economics.

C．Politics.

D．Culture.

3 . Engaging with the past

Imagine you’re at home, you start a role-playing game where you can enjoy views of the Nanjing Qinhuai Lantern Festival, completing set tasks along the Qinhuai River. This is one way for video games to enjoy the traditional Chinese culture without having to travel there.

    1     Perfect World Games, an online gaming company, recently invited a group of heritage experts including Chen Haitao, a designer from the Dunhuang Academy; and Zhou Xianguang, an inheritor of Longquan sword intangible (非物质的) cultural heritage — to Beijing to discuss new ways to promote traditional Chinese culture.

This year, Zhou was invited to submit designs for swords in its online mobile game Jade Dynasty. They kept the features of swords that were used during the Tang Dynasty but absorbed fairy and knight-themed elements from the game.     2     That enabled players to know another aspect of Chinese heritage. Zhou says, “Since games are welcomed by young people, we can make them familiar with traditional culture as they play.     3     ”

The trend toward combining games with cultural heritage started decades ago.     4     Traditional culture once served merely as a background to the gameplay, and failed to offer a detailed experience. Now the company digs out details and divides them into small sections, and focuses on their unique cultural points, so players can gain a deeper experience.

    5     Some overseas players also have a strong interest in Chinese culture, but may find it too difficult to understand. So the company tries to convey the culture in ways they are familiar with to help them better understand.

A．And that’s not all.

B．These games are also available to players overseas.

C．However, these early attempts were described as “vague” (含糊的).

D．Games featuring traditional culture attract more young players.

E．Several decades ago, the practice of sword-making nearly died out.

F．Besides, some figures seen in Dunhuang’s wall paintings were also added to the mobile game.

G．It increases the number of channels available to spread knowledge about our cultural heritage.

4 . Ireland: The Emerald Isle

Travelling in the Republic of Ireland is like stepping into a vivid painting where lush green landscapes meet charming villages.

Dublin

Start exploring in Dublin, Ireland’s capital, which blends the old and new. The city is steeped in history, and you can enjoy its past at landmarks like Trinity College, founded in 1592. It’s home to the Book of Kells, a medieval (中世纪的) masterpiece. After that, take a walk around Dublin Castle, a symbol of Ireland’s historical power. Then head to The Temple Bar, with its cobblestone streets and lively pubs, to experience Dublin’s contemporary culture.

Ring of Kerry

The Ring of Kerry, 1,179-kilometer circular route, showcases Ireland’s beauty. You’ll encounter green meadows, peaceful lakes and dramatic coastal cliffs. Each turn in the road reveals breathtaking views that will leave you in awe.

Cliffs of Moher

You can’t say you’ve been to Ireland if you haven’t checked out the Cliffs of Moher. These towering cliffs on the west coast rise from the Atlantic Ocean, reaching heights of over 200 meters. The sheer size of the cliffs and the roaring waves below create a fascinating and humbling experience.

Inishmore   

Take a ferry to Inishmore, one of the rugged Aran Islands. Upon your arrival, you will immediately notice the hard life of the local people. At first there was no soil on the island, so over the centuries, they made their own — from seaweed and sand. Now about 2,400 kilometers of rock walls spread around the land. Take a tour or ride a bike around the island. Then enjoy an Irish coffee before heading back to the mainland.

1. What can you probably see in the Ring of Kerry?

A．Some historical landmarks and old castles of Ireland.

B．A circular route with views of lakes, meadows and cliffs.

C．The special soil made from seaweed and sand by local people.

D．The towering cliffs on the west coast from the Atlantic Ocean.

2. What is the best way of traveling around on the island of Inishmore?

A．By plane.

B．By ferry.

C．By subway.

D．By bike.

3. What is the text?

A．A travel journal.	B．A research paper.
C．A travel brochure.	D．An autobiography.

5 . I had a great time with the film Turning Red, which follows Meilin, a thirteen-year-old girl who suddenly begins turning into a giant red panda.

The film was set in 2002 when I would’ve been around Meilin’s age. It was a joy for me to watch a film that I could relate to. The film illustrates the push-pull that many immigrant families face: how much of their culture to keep and how much to assimilate(融入). There are beautiful traces of Chinese culture throughout this film, including gorgeous food, time around the table, relationships with extended family, and more.

In the film, women in Meilin’s family suffer a curse(诅咒). As soon as they begin to blossom into womanhood, they transform into a giant red panda whenever they express any strong emotion. Thus, they have learned that emotional repression is the way to go. It was beautiful to watch this young girl choose the different path of emotional wellness instead of holding back her feelings.

It’s not a surprise that the director Domee Shi, who is around my age, chose this plotline. Many people my age are on that similar path Meilin finds herself on. We honor our parents and what they have done for us, but we’re also choosing to be more emotionally healthy and trying to live differently than we were taught.

The part of Turning Red I particularly loved is the ending. Though Meilin’s mom, grandma, and aunts see that it’s possible to integrate their red pandas into their lives, they don’t choose that path. Instead, they choose to bottle their pandas up once again. However, they do get a new perspective on this young, groundbreaking girl. It’s such a sweet reminder that not everyone can go on the same journey toward emotional health, and that’s okay.

If all of them had embraced their pandas, I think the ending would’ve felt incredibly cheese and taken away some of the power of the story. So we get a conclusion that is satisfying and heart-warming without being too much of a fairy tale.

1. Why did the author enjoy watching Turning Red?

A．She found a connection with the story.

B．She followed a life path similar to its director.

C．She adored the appealing design of the red panda.

D．She valued its emphasis on the beautiful Chinese culture.

2. What does the underlined word “repression” in the third paragraph mean?

A．Disturbance.

B．Control.

C．Wellness.

D．Expression.

3. What does the author think of the ending of the film?

A．Bittersweet.

B．Idealized.

C．Realistic.

D．Cheesy.

4. What is the central dilemma faced by Meilin in Turning Red?

A．“Can I embrace my true self?”

B．“Should I prioritize my family?”

C．“Can I uncover the curse’s secret?”

D．“Should I explore diverse cultures?”

6 . Being bored is no fun, especially at work. But new research out of the Research School of Management at Australian National University argues that while boredom is certainly boring, it isn’t all bad. The disliked mental state can actually spark precious creativity.

The study asked 52 subjects to do a pretty boring job: sort apart a bowl of red and green beans with just one hand for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, 49 other subjects — the control group — were instructed to create art projects with paper, beans and glue. Once the 30 minutes was over, each group was instructed to spend five minutes on a creative task: they had to come up with reasons why a hypothetical (假定的) person was two hours late for a meeting.

The bored group came up with not just more ideas than the control group, but more creative ideas than the control group, too. The quality and quantity of production was higher for people who were bored than those who were not. Creativity itself was measured under a standard that balanced novelty and practicality. Ideas had to fit both criteria to be considered creative.

Guiyun Park, the study’s lead author, readily admits that not every type of job permits the fun of boredom, and it can really be harmful to some important work. But for designers and anyone in a creative field, boredom is not something to fear, but to embrace. Sometimes, the best way to be productive is to expect nothing of yourself at all.

1. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The process of the research.	B．The benefits of the research.
C．The reasons for the research.	D．The disadvantage of the research.

2. Which of the following may Guiyun Park disagree with?

A．Boredom can do harm to some work.

B．All types of jobs can embrace boredom.

C．Boredom is not always something to fear.

D．Boredom can be favourable to art designers.

3. What is the author’s attitude to boredom?

A．Concerned.

B．Negative.

C．Positive.

D．Indifferent.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?

A．The Role of Boredom in Increasing Productivity

B．The Negative Impact of Boredom on the Workplace

C．Why Boredom Should Be Avoided in Creative Fields

D．Unlocking Creativity: The Unexpected Benefit of Boredom

7 . In Oak Ridge, Texas, there lived a man named Samuel who was known for his _________ to embrace change. However, one day a serious of events happened that _________ him to face his fears and embark on a journey to turn over a new leaf.

Samuel worked in the town’s bookstore. His life had been _________ and dull. But one sunny morning, the bookstore owner _________ that the shop would be closing for good. Samuel’s heart sank, and he found himself _________ an uncertain future. Yet a glimmer of hope emerged—an opportunity to start anew.

With a newfound determination, Samuel decided to _________ his dream of becoming a novelist. With pen _________ and a blank page before him, Samuel poured his soul out onto the paper. He _________ tales of adventure, love and self-discovery. As he wrote, he gave life to the _________ that danced across the page.

__________, an unexpected opportunity presented itself. A local publishing house, __________ by Samuel’s stories, offered him a chance to share his work. He __________ took a leap of faith and said yes! The once-shy clerk __________ into a confident author. His books found their way into the hands of readers near and far, touching hearts and igniting passions.

And so, in the little town of Oak Ridge, Samuel became a beacon of light, whose life was __________ the lives of others by proving that starting anew was not just surrendering to the unknown, it was an invitation to create a life filled with __________ and fulfillment.

1.

A．unwillingness

B．uneasiness

C．discomfort

D．disagreement

2.

A．led

B．forced

C．encouraged

D．persuaded

3.

A．admirable

B．challenging

C．tiring

D．predictable

4.

A．announced

B．clarified

C．explained

D．demanded

5.

A．welcoming

B．anticipating

C．facing

D．awaiting

6.

A．take after

B．climb after

C．look after

D．go after

7.

A．on hand

B．by hand

C．in hand

D．at hand

8.

A．collected

B．penned

C．drew

D．reviewed

9.

A．characters

B．actors

C．directors

D．dancers

10.

A．Subsequently

B．However

C．Therefore

D．Eventually

11.

A．refreshed

B．astonished

C．charmed

D．entertained

12.

A．actually

B．immediately

C．practically

D．literally

13.

A．transported

B．translated

C．transformed

D．transmitted

14.

A．different from

B．similar to

C．composed of

D．contrary to

15.

A．happiness

B．purpose

C．recognition

D．welfare

8 . Every afternoon for the past 11 years, 83-year-old AI Merritt has been a reliable and cheery presence in his southeast Carlsbad neighbourhood, California.

His wife, Penny Merritt said her husband’s doctor suggested he get more exercise after he had some heart trouble about 12 years ago. When their son, Kevin brought a bike to his parents’ house, AI started to pedal around the local road and hills. At first, his rides were about five miles long, then 10 to 12 miles, and gradually the length of his outings grew due to all the social stops — from an hour to two hours.

Since 2010, Merritt has been on a personal pursuit to cycle the circumference (周长) of the earth — 24,901 miles without even leaving his own neighbourhood. As a result, over the years, he got to know many of his neighbours and send them message of love and kindness. Judy Keene, one of his neighbours, has been waving to Merritt on his daily rides for the past five years.

“He is so reliable, like clockwork. Every day I see him flying by on his bike. He is totally cheerful and takes time with everybody,” Keene said. “He inspires so many people and shows everyone how you can be in your 80s and still have a good time.”

It was not until October 24 that the old man finally realized his daily bicycle trips were as important to them as they were to him. At 3 p.m. that Sunday afternoon, nearly 200 people gathered near his home to surprise and congratulate him on the completion of his “round-the-world” adventure. As he pedaled down the hill towards his house, a roar erupted from the crowd waving international flags, hand-painted signs and Earth-shaped balloons. The outpouring of love stunned and overwhelmed Merritt.

“It’s just unbelievable. I couldn’t have imagined anything like this ever happening,” he said. Although Merritt has now accomplished his cycling goal, he has no plans to change the routine that has become the highlight of his daily life.

1. Why did old AI Merritt start to cycle?

A．He has always been an athletic person.

B．His son Kevin brought him a new bike.

C．He wanted to send love and kindness to others.

D．He was advised to work out for the sake of his health.

2. The underlined phrase “social stops” in the second paragraph probably means ________.

A．Merritt stopped to help those in need.

B．Merritt tried to help build stops for social use.

C．Merritt had interactions with his neighbours.

D．Merritt was stopped for some social reasons.

3. What can we learn about AI Merritt in the text?

A．His trips mattered more to his neighbours than to him.

B．He was warmly congratulated on his completion of the plan.

C．He will keep on cycling on a different route as he has planned.

D．He accomplished his goal of cycling 24,901 miles around the earth.

4. Which of the following can best describe AI Merritt?

A．Diligent and determined.	B．Optimistic and selfless.
C．Ambitious and romantic.	D．Kind and inspirational.

9 . 阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。

Sizzle, sizzle (咝咝声)! The egg bubbled (冒泡)on the frying pan. I watched as its edges turned slightly brown then a bit black. Unfortunately, my head was stuck in the clouds, wondering if my parents would like my first attempt at cooking. I tried something simple, as I was still learning this new skill. When will the pots and pans respond to my call? How can I master steaming, boiling, frying, and the types of ingredients?

“Ah! No! My egg!” I shouted.

I quickly turned off the stove and slid (滑到)the blackened egg onto a plate. The color contrasted with the beautiful egg I had seen on YouTube previously. Mine looked nothing like the one online. Again, I wondered if my parents would appreciate the egg.

I split the egg right down the middle, hoping to see the yolk (蛋黄) flow out. To my disappointment, I discovered a firm yolk inside. I let out a frustrated sigh, turned and walked out of the kitchen with the plate in my hands.

At first, my parents were relatively pleased that the egg looked more or less like what they had imagined. But when they put it into their mouths, they tried to hide their discomfort. My Mom forced out a smile as she swallowed the egg.

“Good attempt Daniel!” she exclaimed cheerfully.

“It tastes delicious!” my Dad added in.

I could visibly see that their faces were twisted (扭曲)in disgust. It was painfully obvious that my egg tasted horrible.

“It’s fine,” I sighed. “I know the egg tastes bad.”

Disappointed, I trudged (费力地走) back into my room, unable to contain the feelings of failure bursting inside of me.

Don’t give up! I told myself. This is only your first attempt and if you persevere, you will surely improve!

With determination burning in me again, I turned on my laptop and searched for any cooking techniques I needed to master in order to cook. YouTube videos gave me a bit of reference, but I needed to seek advice.

注意： 1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式在相应位置作答。
Paragraph 1: My sister Anne is an expert at cooking! I thought.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2: After studying with Anne for a few months, I attempted once again to impress my parents.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

The 14th Beijing International Film Festival is scheduled for April 18 to 26, with Serbian director Emir Kusturica     1     (chair) the international jury (评委) for the Tiantan Award, organizers have said. A total of 15 films will compete for this year’s Tiantan Award,     2     were selected from a record-breaking application pool of 1,509 films from 118 countries     3     regions according to a press conference on Thursday afternoon.

Brazil was invited to be the guest of honor at this year’s event, as 2024     4     (mark) the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic(外交的)relations between China and Brazil. A number of Brazilian     5     (representative) of film and TV companies will attend the festival, with     6     series of Brazilian movies set to be screened in Beijing.

During the festival, over 240 domestic and international films with diverse themes will be shown across more than 20 theaters in Beijing and     7     (it) neighboring Tianjin Municipality and Hebei Province.     8     (launch) in 2011, the festival, which has attracted increasing international attention thanks     9     China’s booming film market, aims     10     (boost) exchanges between global industry players.