Daniel, a young architect, had recently moved to a new city for a promising job opportunity. Although excited about his new life, he found it difficult to adjust to the busy pace and distance from his family, particularly his younger brother, Vincent. Growing up, the two brothers had been inseparable, sharing a close bond despite their six-year age difference. Daniel had always taken on the role of Vincent’s protector and friend, guiding him through the ups and downs of childhood and adolescence, and supporting him in his pursuits.
One evening, after a particularly challenging day at work and feeling homesick, Daniel received a phone call from his mother. She told him that Vincent had been struggling with school and his personal life, and she believed that he needed his older brother’s guidance now more than ever. Feeling a sense of responsibility and concern for his brother, Daniel decided to take some time off work and return home for a surprise visit.
Upon arriving in his hometown, Daniel was greeted with a sense of nostalgia (怀旧) and familiarity. He immediately noticed the changes that had taken place in Vincent’s life during his absence, as well as the undeniable signs of his brother’s distress. Determined to help, Daniel took Vincent under his wing, spending hours talking and reconnecting with him. Together, they revisited their favorite childhood spots, looking back upon the happy memories they had shared and the lessons they had learned together.
Through their conversations, Daniel discovered that Vincent had been facing significant academic pressure and was struggling with feelings of loneliness and isolation. The once-confident and outgoing teenager now seemed lost and unsure of himself. As the brothers continued to spend time together, they openly discussed their fears and aspirations, strengthening the bond they had always shared, and finding comfort in each other’s company.
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。
As the days went by, Daniel could see the positive impact their time together was having on Vincent.
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On the last day of his visit, Daniel had a heart-to-heart conversation with Vincent.
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2 . Matt and Leah Prior have quit their jobs and set off on a round-the-world overland journey with their two children: Jack, 3, and Charlotte, 1.
The couple once ran into the Zapp family, who had traveled globally for 22 years, which
The Priors had been prepared for their journey. Leah worked as a teacher and Matt held many roles. Then something unexpected happened,
While weighing their options, they still
By including their kids in the journey, the Priors hope to
Now the journey is on. The Priors will travel through 100 countries over the next five years.
1.| A．Travel | B．Education | C．Charity | D．Exchange |
| A．planted | B．removed | C．selected | D．distributed |
| A．extraordinary | B．similar | C．real | D．typical |
| A．encouraging | B．forcing | C．persuading | D．forbidding |
| A．replace | B．renew | C．repeat | D．reconsider |
| A．showing off | B．giving up | C．looking at | D．getting over |
| A．impression | B．disaster | C．decision | D．sacrifice |
| A．individually | B．temporarily | C．desperately | D．perfectly |
| A．applied | B．preferred | C．continued | D．struggled |
| A．evaluate | B．calculate | C．dedicate | D．save |
| A．success | B．conservation | C．power | D．connection |
| A．accounting | B．photographing | C．interacting | D．storytelling |
| A．adapt | B．change | C．shine | D．follow |
| A．submit | B．apply | C．attach | D．expose |
| A．advanced | B．effortless | C．unprepared | D．priceless |
3 . Pieces of houses and big trees are tossed around like toys during extreme weather, but palm trees seem able to stand their ground. Given their location they are obviously well suited to stand up to angry storms, but how?
Most palm trees have a large number of short roots spreading across the upper levels of the soil, which work to secure a large amount of soil around the root ball. As long as the soil is relatively dry, this works to create a super large, heavy anchor. As opposed to having just a few very strong roots, this wider network creates a bottom-heavy base that helps keep the tree in place.
The trunk of a pine or oak tree grows in a radial pattern; the annual rings effectively make a series of hollow cylinders (圆柱体) inside each other. Meanwhile, the stem of a palm tree is made of many small bundles of woody material, like the bundles of wires inside a telephone cable. The cylinder approach provides great strength to support weight, which means that an oak tree’s trunk can support a huge weight of branches, but with limited flexibility compared to the bundle approach, which allows the palm stem to bend over through 40 or 50 degrees without snapping (折断).
While most trees rely on their beautiful canopy (树冠) of branches, twigs, and leaves to spread out and grab as much sunlight as possible, the canopy can also grab a lot of wind and water. In a bad storm, the canopy can act as a sail and pull the poor thing over. Branches can easily be torn off, as well as the detachment of the whole canopy.
Meanwhile, think of a palm tree. They have no wide-spreading branches, rather huge leaves with a central, flexible spine— like enormous feathers. In nice weather, the leaves spread out and make a fine canopy, but in instances of strong wind and water, they fold up. With less resistance against the elements, they are much more likely to make it through without much damage. Of course some leaves may suffer and are part and parcel of storm clean-up, but they are much “cheaper” for the palm to replace than a whole canopy of branches would be.
1. The trees with the stems growing in the bundle approach have ________.| A．stronger branches | B．more annual rings |
| C．more flexible trunks | D．greater weight capacity |
| A．By acting like a sail to stand up to wind. |
| B．By grabbing a lot of wind and water. |
| C．By spreading out to protect the spine. |
| D．By folding themselves up to resist bad weather. |
| A．Strong wind and water. | B．Huge leaves. |
| C．Enormous feathers. | D．The canopies of branches. |
| A．Rare. | B．Adaptable. | C．Nutritious. | D．Delicate. |
4 . Free Summer Concerts in Downtown Gastonia
Gastonia presents 4 downtown concert events. As usual, profits from adult beverage sales support local charities.
May 19: On the Border with Garrett Huffman
Garrett Huffman 6:00 pm
Garrett Huffman entertains audiences with a variety of musical styles, including 80’s hits, country, and alternative pop.
On the Border: The Ultimate Eagles Tribute 7:30 pm
On the Border treats fans to an authentic concert experience while journeying through the Eagles songbook. The band covers every big hit, from ballads such as “Desperado” to rockin’ hits like “Heartache Tonight”.
June 23: The Voltage Brothers with Emerald Empire
Emerald Empire 6:00 pm
Playing all your favorite songs from the 70’s to the 90’s, Emerald Empire will get you dancing all night long.
The Voltage Brothers 7:30 pm
The Voltage Brothers’ repertoire consists of your favorite R & B, Swing, Disco, Funk, Hip Hop, Jazz, Motown, and even Classic Rock hits.
August 11: Caleb Davis with Tangerine Trees
Tangerine Trees 6:00 pm
Tangerine Trees is the Carolinas premier Beatles tribute band, recreating the authentic sounds of the original The Beatles.
Caleb Davis 7:30 pm
Caleb Davis takes crowds to experience a diverse mix of blues, rock, pop, and dance hits from the 60’s through the 90’s.
Sept 15: Kids in America with Akita
Akita 6:00 pm
A funk band, Akita creates a wave of infectious beats that draws a crowd and gets your feet moving.
Kids in America 7:30 pm
Kids in America is a high-energy, power-packed fun band. It covers from new wave, pop, dance, rock, hair metal, and sing along iconic ballads.
New in 2023!
Games, activities, and toys are provided for kids!
Local favorite food vendors (摊贩) are on hand for tasty treats!
In addition to beer, we’ve got seltzers, IPAs, and sodas.
Water is available free of charge.
1. Who originally sings the song “Desperado”?| A．Garrett Huffman. | B．Caleb Davis. |
| C．Eagles. | D．Emerald Empire. |
| A．May 19. | B．June 23. | C．August 11. | D．September 15. |
| A．On the Border with Garrett Huffman. |
| B．The Voltage Brothers with Emerald Empire. |
| C．Caleb Davis with Tangerine Trees. |
| D．Kids in America with Akita. |
Hotpot is one of China’s favorite dishes. The recommended place in the country to enjoy the food is Chongqing in Southwest China. Hotpot is not a one-person meal. The atmosphere in hotpot restaurants is
Though the origin of hotpot
It is said that Chongqing hotpot
There is a health consideration for eating hotpot in the summer from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine. Chongqing is very humid which increases the dampness in the body, so
The shelves in most supermarkets are full of family-size this and multi-buy that. However, if you’re shopping for one, buying extra
Of course, shops are not charities — they price goods in the way
Many supermarkets are no longer doing “buy one get one free” promotions because of the
If your supermarket sells loose produce, then buying smaller quantities is easier. Over the last two years, some supermarkets
Who knows, perhaps some of the more forward-looking
7 . Dmitry was an artist. He lost his sketchbook (速写本) while
Dmitry felt a deep sense of loss when he found his sketchbook missing.
Then he decided to
“And then I lectured him like his elder,” Chris
Dmitry tried to present Chris with a finder’s
“I am left with a deep sense of
| A．driving | B．cycling | C．walking | D．running |
| A．precious | B．accessible | C．favorable | D．visible |
| A．Hearing | B．Assuming | C．Announcing | D．Predicting |
| A．temporarily | B．aimlessly | C．secretly | D．hurriedly |
| A．turn to | B．bring in | C．stand for | D．look over |
| A．interest | B．principle | C．career | D．trouble |
| A．However | B．Instead | C．Meanwhile | D．Therefore |
| A．variation | B．value | C．style | D．content |
| A．suggested | B．admitted | C．considered | D．enjoyed |
| A．repay | B．remind | C．thank | D．locate |
| A．video | B．letter | C．post | D．introduction |
| A．recalled | B．explained | C．promised | D．reported |
| A．title | B．reward | C．qualification | D．ceremony |
| A．lucky | B．shy | C．confident | D．pleased |
| A．direction | B．achievement | C．gratitude | D．responsibility |
I could hear one of my classmates expressing her impatience with my slow crawl up the ladder (梯子),“If she’s afraid of heights, why would she sign up for a Bungee Jumping (蹦极) class?” My friend was at the top of the ladder, trying to cheer me up. How did I wind up on a ladder hanging above the Hudson River?
It was my friend who invited me to the Bungee Jumping class. At first, I was doubtful, but her enthusiasm and guarantees of strict safety procedures won me over.
I had been fearful of heights since primary school. Avoiding my fear of heights became second nature. I tried not to look down at balconies or staircases. I avoided traveling by plane as much as possible. I declined invitations from friends to join them on roller coasters (过山车).
But here I was, at age twenty-six, facing my fear of heights in a rather extreme way. I had come around to the idea of trying Bungee Jumping. I figured it wasn’t much different from swinging on the monkey bars as a kid. The one obstacle I didn’t expect was the ladder. In order to reach the Bungee Jumping, I had to climb up a twenty-two-foot ladder.
My friend’s distraction techniques helped to take my mind off my dangerous task. I found a rhythm and kept going. With a slow and steady (稳定的) pace, I made it to the top.
An instructor tied me to a safety belt and told me to step to the edge of the platform. I held the Bungee Jumping bar with sweaty hands, surprised that it was too thick to fix my hand around. Instead of a firm grasp, my hands were in a weak, bear-claw position.
The cheers from my classmates rang out below. An instructor reminded me of the safety rules, including the net below that would catch me at the bottom. He reminded me to listen to the directions while in the air, so I could perform well.
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。
I stood face to face with my fear of heights.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________My second round of Bungee Jumping went a bit more smoothly.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________9 . The boulders (巨石) look generally unremarkable, besides the fact that they stretch up and down the ridge in a curved line. Most people who don’t know their story would probably choose to look at the sweeping view of San Jose below them instead.
The timeworn line of boulder, is part of a system of stone walls, the remains of which stretch along the East Bay Hills all the way from Grimly Peak in Berkeley to where I watched a man tie his shoes at the Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve above East San Jose.
They exist only in sections, and some are better preserved than others — where I found the man, the walls are short and thick and half-sunk into the earth, hut further north at Ed R. Levin County Park in Milpitas, they remain almost perfectly assembled and stand several feet tall.
The first recorded mention of the walls is from an article in the San Francisco Chronicle from 1896. “Half a mile east of Grizzly Peak stand the remains of stone walls which have long baffled the researchers. By whom they were built, when and why is an unsolved mystery,” the article stated. The unnamed author went on to write a generally-accepted theory of the walls that they were constructed by “some long-forgotten race, possibly Aztec”.
Of course, the people who originally inhabited the hills and the land surrounding them are far from forgotten. The Ohlone people thrived in the area for thousands of years until they were largely displaced by European settlers — however, there’re no records of them constructing stone walls.
“Some of my colleagues have heard the rocks were placed there by Spanish settlers clearing their fields, and there have been speculations that it could have been part of Indigenous practice,” said Charlotte Graham, a spokesperson for the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority. “We’ve also heard it could be a natural occurrence.”
However, there isn’t enough evidence on the walls to be entirely certain. A study dated lichen (地衣) on the walls in Berkeley as being from 1851 to 1880, though other sections of the walls haven’t been tested, and there’re few historical accounts on their presence.
1. How may most people never hearing about the boulders react when seeing them?| A．Ignore them. | B．Collect them. |
| C．Post the photos of them online. | D．Report them to the government. |
| A．The one along the East Bay Hills. |
| B．The one near Grizzly Peak in Berkeley. |
| C．The one at Ed R. Levin County Park in Milpitas. |
| D．The one at the Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve. |
| A．Prevented. | B．Confused. | C．Annoyed. | D．Inspired. |
| A．Functions of stone walls | B．Newly-found boulders |
| C．The history of boulders | D．Stories behind mystery walls |
10 . Under a midday summer sun in California’s Sacramento Valley, rice farmer Peter Rystrom walks across a dusty and bare plot of land, dry soil crunching (碎裂) beneath each step. In a typical year, he’d be walking across green rice fields in inches of water. But today the soil is dry and baking in the 35℃ heat. It hasn’t rained for 4 weeks in a row.
“Climate change is expected to worsen the state’s extreme swings in rainfall,” researchers reported in Nature Climate Change in 2018. Low water levels in rivers have forced farmers like Rystrom, whose family has been growing rice on this land for four generations, to reduce their water use.
“If we lose our rice crops, we have to deal with severe food crisis. Climate change is already threatening rice-growing regions around the world. This is not a future problem. This is happening now,” says plant geneticist Pamela Ronald of the University of California, Davis, who identifies genes in rice that help the plant stand up to dryness, disease, flood, etc.
To save and even boost production, rice growers, engineers and researchers have turned to water-saving irrigation (灌溉) routines. Building canal systems and reservoirs (水库) can help farmers dampen their fields. But for some, the solution to rice’s climate-related problems lies in enhancing the plant itself. They hold that establishing rice gene banks that store hundreds of thousands of rice varieties ready to be bred into new, dryness-tolerant varieties is more practical and effective. Solutions may be hidden in the DNA of those older breeds.
Three decades have passed since its initial development, and some researchers are looking beyond the genetic variability preserved in rice gene banks, searching instead for useful genes from other species, including plants and bacteria. But picking genes from one species and putting them into another, or genetic recombination, remains debatable. The most famous example of genetically changed rice is Golden Rice (GR). “Looking ahead, it will be crucial for countries to embrace GR rice. But it will take time,” says Ismail, principal scientist at IRRI,
1. What problem does Rystrom have to deal with?| A．Thirst. | B．Drought. | C．Hot sun. | D．Dusty weather. |
| A．Downtrend of rice-growing areas is severe now. |
| B．Climate change is a threatening factor in the future. |
| C．Humans will face starvation if crop failure happens. |
| D．Food crisis is a common occurrence around the world. |
| A．To store as many seeds as possible. | B．To cultivate climate-adapted varieties. |
| C．To improve the efficiency of breeding. | D．To show the technology of gene mapping. |
| A．Favourable. | B．Impractical. | C．Disapproving. | D．Insecure. |
