1 . 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。

As night falls, the sound of drums fills the air as an 8-meter fish-shaped lantern swims through the streets of Wangmantian village, Huangshan, in East China’s Anhui province.

Within the crowd, Wang Lijun — a 27-year-old villager who serves     1     the “head fish” — leads the procession, sometimes cheering on those behind her. Traditionally     2     (hold) by respected elders, the position of “head fish” has attracted younger participants to take on the role     3     (voluntary).

Every year between     4     13th and 16th of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar, villagers hold fish-shaped lantern     5     (parade). In old times, the mountain village,     6     (consist) of a lot of wooden structures, faced the risk of frequent fires. Therefore, villagers used to gather to parade with fish-shaped lanterns,     7     symbolic meaning is “water overcoming fire”.

With a history of over 600 years, the fish-shaped lantern     8     (recognize) as a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage in 2022. Villagers in Wangmantian have established     9     (profession) fish lantern performance teams. These teams have gone to cities such as Shanghai and Nanjing, Jiangsu province     10     (give) performances.

As fish-shaped lanterns continue to benefit local tourism and related industries, the future looks brighter than ever.

2 . I turned 65 this February, a big milestone. The last 12 months has indeed been a time of profound thinking for me, but not for the reasons you may think.

Recently our culture has started to acknowledge that a perfect woman image is totally unrealistic. I suppose there are a small minority of women born with incredible genes. But for most of us, short of starving ourselves, having plastic surgery, or airbrushing our photos, perfection is an unattainable goal.

I applaud many celebrity women who have come forward recently and said, “Hey, you see that picture of me on the magazine cover. This is what I really looked like before specialized hair and makeup and the magic of Photoshop.” I am so happy that our daughters and granddaughters are being raised with a much more realistic concept of what beauty is.

Being a woman of a certain age, that old message of feminine (女性的) perfection took hold long ago and has been hard to shake. My legs, waist and stomach are bigger than the charts say they should be. I would avoid looking for too long in the mirror. A swimsuit always required a cover-up to be worn over it. I had been very successfully taught to be ashamed of my imperfect body.

However, after a pretty serious health issue last year, I started to have a different feeling about my body. This body has given me two incredible children and endured too many surgeries. My belly, back, feet and knees are marked with countless scars but finally I see what they truly are — my battle scars. My extra pounds are the result of countless dinners I have made and enjoyed with those I love. My scars remind me of all the talented and kind doctors and nurses who have looked after me.

My body has allowed me a wonderful life thus far. I thought my body was not ideal, but now I thank it for being a source of strength, endurance and pleasure. At 65, I finally realize it is truly beautiful.

1. Why did the author mention celebrity women in Paragraph 3?

A．To show perfection is difficult for celebrities to achieve.

B．To indicate the concept of beauty is becoming more realistic.

C．To suggest only a minority of women are born with incredible genes.

D．To prove a perfect body image requires a strict diet and much exercise.

2. What does Paragraph 4 mainly talk about?

A．The body parts that the author felt unsatisfied with.

B．The body image that a woman should keep at a certain age.

C．The tricks that the author used to avoid facing her imperfect body.

D．The effect that the traditional feminine perfection had on the author.

3. What made the author feel different about her body?

A．A severe health problem.	B．The impact of celebrity women.
C．The social concept of beauty.	D．Encouragement from her family.

4. What is the author’s main purpose in writing the article?

A．To tell us what a perfect woman image should be.

B．To express her gratitude to the doctors and nurses.

C．To share her understanding of beauty after going through a lot.

D．To compare the beauty standards between the past and the present.

3 . Amazing Castles in Spain: Four of the Best

The Alcázar of Segovia

Fans of old Disney movies will know what Snow White’s castle looks like. But did you know that it’s said to be based on a real castle in Spain — the Alcázar of Segovia? This castle is almost the shape of the front of a ship — built on a rock between two rivers. First used by the Romans, its location made it a very difficult place to attack. It’s one of thousands of amazing castles in Spain.

Bellver Castle

Many people visit Mallorca for its bars and beaches, but if you’re on this island, take a trip to Bellver Castle, just outside the main city of Palma. This 14th century castle is known for the large ring at its center, something that is unusual in European castles. People can also walk around the top of the central ring, which offers views of the castle below, as well as over the town and out to sea.

The Alhambra

One of the most popular places in the country to visit, Granada’s Alhambra is a fortress (堡垒) built by the North Africans who ruled Spain for more than seven centuries. Visitors love the palaces inside known as the Palacios Nazaries, with their beautiful wooden ceilings. Travel website Lonely Planet says these palaces are the most beautiful Islamic buildings in Europe.

Coca Castle

From far away, this castle in central Spain looks a little like a wedding cake — if wedding cakes were brown - brick and in the Gothic style. This castle isn’t on the top of a hill but on flat land — it was protected instead by a deep moat (护城河). It’s not too difficult to get to by car from Madrid, the Spanish capital.

1. What can people do in Bellver Castle?

A．Watch old Disney movies.	B．Enjoy the wooden ceilings inside.
C．Have a good time on the beaches.	D．Walk around a large ring to enjoy views.

2. What do The Alcázar of Segovia and Coca Castle have in common?

A．They were built by the Romans.	B．They were made of brown brick.
C．They have distinctive appearance.	D．They are on the top of mountain.

3. Who will most probably be interested in the passage?

A．Those who like to surf the Internet.	B．Those who intend to take boat trips.
C．Those who are keen on natural landscape.	D．Those who plan to visit different buildings.

4 . Isabel Allende, born in 1942 in Peru, is a Chilean-American writer. When she was a young girl, her father Tomas was appointed to work in Chile, causing them to move from Peru to Chile. During the 1960s, she began work in television journalism and eventually became a television hostess. From 1969 to 1973, she was an editor of a children’s magazine.

Allende is the author of over twenty books which have been translated into numerous languages and sold over 65 million copies. In addition to writing novels, she has also penned short fiction, plays and stories for children. A letter to her sick, elderly grandfather became the manuscript of her first novel. She rose to prominence in Latin American literature after the success of this novel. Allende’s own experiences from Chile have filled much of her writing through the years, and her book Paula is a memoir of her childhood and youth in Chile and her departure from that country.

Allende has been a highly influential voice in Latin American literature, often providing an important female perspective on the world. Allende’s writing style combines realistic writing with surprising elements of magic. Her work is sometimes compared to the work of Gabriel Marquez, a famous Colombian novelist known for his work in the magical realist style — “magical realism”. However, her voice is also considered distinct with a style that combines concern for the inner, personal lives of her characters with their physical and social environments.

Two of Allende’s works have been adapted for feature films. She has won many awards, including the Dorothy and Lilian Gish Prize, which is given to whoever has contributed to the beauty of the world and to our understanding of it. Although she has an international reputation for writing, she states she doesn’t consider her books her greatest achievement, but her family and her time devoted to assisting others to be more vital.

1. Why did Allende move to Chile?

A．To live with her father.	B．To obtain more job offers.
C．To look after her grandfather.	D．To get more writing materials.

2. Which is closest in meaning to “rose to prominence” in Paragraph 2?

A．Became famous.	B．Gained wealth.
C．Remained unknown.	D．Changed a profession.

3. What can we learn about Allende’s works?

A．The topics basically focus on women’s world.

B．The materials come from her experience as a TV hostess.

C．The writing style can be considered as“magical realism”.

D．The content mainly highlights private lives of the characters.

4. What does Allende consider to be more meaningful?

A．Winning many awards.	B．Spending her time helping others.
C．Earning an international fame.	D．Adapting two works for feature films.

5 . Mountain lions are not commonly thought of as animals that swim well. But at least for one adventurous cat, that couldn’t be further from the truth. A new study recorded a young male mountain lion paddling (划水) two - thirds of a mile from the mainland of Washington State to an uninhabited island in Puget Sound. The GPS-collared mountain lion, known as Nolan, took a winding path through the suburbs of Olympia, and along the coast, before taking to the sea.

The researchers also combed through historical records and found evidence of mountain lions inhabiting an additional four islands outside of the range of this youngster’s swim, all of over a mile from shore or the nearest island. This suggests the animals can swim even farther at times, perhaps close to a mile and a quarter. Young male mountain lions often undertake difficult and long journeys in search of new territory, as was the case for Nolan.

“We’re redefining the mountain lion in our minds as an animal that can swim and is willing to swim,” says study co-author Mark Elbroch. “Water shouldn’t be seen as a barrier to movement to any large animal.” In Brazil’s Pantanal, mountain lions regularly swim in the vast wetland during the wet season. In 2010, Elbroch and his colleagues documented a tagged cat repeatedly swimming across a large lake in Chilean Patagonia to eat domestic sheep on an island, swimming 0.6 miles at a time.

Since mountain lion numbers are much lower than they once were and the animals avoid people, behaviors like swimming remain underappreciated, experts say.

National Geographic Explorer Audra Huffmeyer agrees. While she wasn’t surprised that mountain lions can island-hop in the Salish Sea, “the distances covered are incredible... the capacity of large mountain lions to get to extreme habitats is pretty amazing”.

Nolan’s journey and all the data collected will help land managers understand where mountain lions travel, and help identify corridors (走廊) that need to be protected, says Jim Williams, a biologist. And the Olympic Peninsula certainly needs such guidance and protection, as its mountain lions have the lowest genetic diversity of any in the area, records show.

1. Why did Nolan swim long distances?

A．To seek its partners.	B．To reach a new habitat.
C．To hide from humans.	D．To adapt to the wet climate.

2. How does the author support the underlined statement in Paragraph 3?

A．By presenting the research record.	B．By providing numerous data.
C．By describing the study process.	D．By quoting experts’ opinions.

3. What does Huffmeyer think of mountain lions’swimming ability?

A．Common.

B．Limited.

C．Unbelievable.

D．Changeable.

4. What does the author intend to show in the last paragraph?

A．The advice on protecting mountain lions.

B．The threats mountain lions meet along their routes.

C．The corridors where mountain lions choose to travel.

D．The significance of the findings about mountain lions.

6 . Love has no borders when it comes to children’s birthday wishes. Zack Winton was ________ in his farm near the border between the US and Mexico when he came across a ________ site. A red balloon was caught in the grass and a note was ________ to it.

On it was written one word — Myra — ________ inside, was a numbered list of things, which was a list of birthday gifts she ________. Zack guessed that the balloon had been ________ from the neighbour city, Nogales, in Mexico. As a soon-to-be grandfather, he ________ hoped he could do something for Myra.

He ________ the information on the Internet hoping to see if anyone would respond to it but drew a ________ there. With Myra’s birthday drawing near and time running out, Zack got in touch with the local radio station in Nogales, which then played the information out ________. Within 24 hours, the radio station ________ Zack back.

With the radio station ________ for the two to meet the next morning, Zack took the day off from work, rushed to a ________, and bought the items on the list — clothes, art supplies, and a doll — and some ________ stuff as well after finding that Myra had a 4-year-old sister.

Zack and his wife packaged all the ________, drove across the border and arrived at the radio station, carrying presents for two ________ girls. The couple watched the young children happily ________ the gifts. Myra’s parents thanked them for their amazing act of ________.

Although there is a 20-foot wall at the border which ________ the two cities, Zack and his wife prove that when it comes to a child having her birthday wishes ________, love has no borders.

1.

A．waiting

B．wandering

C．camping

D．chasing

2.

A．beautiful

B．steep

C．curious

D．familiar

3.

A．attached

B．connected

C．applied

D．committed

4.

A．once

B．while

C．although

D．if

5.

A．obtained

B．meant

C．shaped

D．desired

6.

A．bought

B．provided

C．ordered

D．sent

7.

A．passively

B．casually

C．desperately

D．rarely

8.

A．posted

B．added

C．updated

D．removed

9.

A．case

B．voice

C．notice

D．blank

10.

A．on air

B．on earth

C．on water

D．on fire

11.

A．invited

B．welcomed

C．called

D．followed

12.

A．arranging

B．preparing

C．searching

D．hoping

13.

A．farm

B．border

C．store

D．station

14.

A．expensive

B．helpful

C．new

D．extra

15.

A．lists

B．supplies

C．gifts

D．balloons

16.

A．disappointed

B．thrilled

C．embarrassed

D．moved

17.

A．tear off

B．shake down

C．turn over

D．knock on

18.

A．bravery

B．gentleness

C．kindness

D．will

19.

A．extends

B．separates

C．builds

D．completes

20.

A．afforded

B．identified

C．challenged

D．fulfilled

7 . 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。

I can’t be late. Not today! Malia thought as she raced across the park. Today her hula (裙舞) teacher would choose some students to dance at the luau (夏威夷派对).

Malia reached the end of the park. “Hello, Uncle Charles,” she greeted her teacher. All the dancers called him “Uncle” in the local way. Malia joined her hula sisters beneath a shady monkeypod tree. She pulled on a colorful skirt.

Uncle Charles knelt on a woven mat and beat a rhythm on a drum. The dancers warmed up with basic hula moves. Malia placed her hands on her waist and stepped back and forth.

“Swing your hips (臀部),” Uncle Charles called out. Malia stood in one spot and swung her hips side to side.

After the warm-up, Uncle took out his ukulele. It was time to practice their special dance for the luau. Malia took a deep breath and bent her knees.

“Remember to use expressions. You want to tell the story with your hands and faces,” Uncle said. Twang, twang went the ukulele. Malia lifted her arms. She and her hula sisters danced in a row across the grass. They stretched out their arms like birds in flight. Their movements matched the meaning of the happy song. There was no time to be nervous. Malia was too busy watching her hand motions and remembering her footwork. She also remembered to smile.

“Together! Watch your line,” Uncle called. Malia’s smile grew. She had made no mistakes. She spun to the rhythm of the ukulele and danced over to one side, as if she were on areal stage. Oh no! Malia had danced in the wrong direction. Malia felt her face burn, but she kept dancing and smiling. She turned in time to the music and danced in the proper direction—two steps behind and two beats late.

The music stopped, and Malia shook her head. “I’ll never be picked now.”

注意：
1.续写部分词数应为120个左右；
2.续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好。
Paragraph 1

The class was over for the day.

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Paragraph 2

Suddenly, Uncle’s voice interrupted Malia’s thought.

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8 . Self-improvement doesn’t have to be a terrifying task. It can be a fun and exciting adventure that takes you on a journey of discovery and growth. With some simple tricks, you can transform yourself into a better version of you.

First off, remember that self-improvement is a marathon, not a dash.     1     Take it one step at a time, and enjoy the ride. Think of it like climbing a mountain: you take one step after another, admiring the view as you go, until you reach the summit.

Start with small, achievable goals. Whether it’s reading a book a week, going for a daily walk, or learning a new skill, these little milestones will help you stay motivated and feel accomplished.     2    

Don’t be afraid to fail. Failure is part of the learning process. If you stumble or fall short of your goals, don’t beat yourself up.     3     Keep in mind, failure is just a temporary setback — it doesn’t define you.

    4     Share your goals with friends or family, and ask them to hold you accountable. Join a self-improvement group or find someone who can guide and encourage you on your journey. You’ll find that makes the process even more enjoyable.

And finally, don’t forget to celebrate your progress.     5     Whether it’s a small accomplishment or a major milestone, take a moment to appreciate your efforts and feel proud of yourself. You can even create a reward system for yourself — maybe a delicious treat or a fun activity for every goal you achieve.

A．Choose your circle wisely.

B．Seek support and inspiration.

C．Instead, dust yourself off, and start out again.

D．Make time for activities that will fuel your soul.

E．No one can expect to change everything overnight.

F．Remember, every step counts, however small it is!

G．Every little win is well worth acknowledging and rewarding.

9 . The Academy Awards are fast approaching and we’ve got you covered. Before you head off to an Oscars party, check below for details and coverage of four films nominated (提名).

Past Lives

Celine Song’s film about a woman, played by Greta Lee, who reconnects with her childhood sweetheart and tries to understand both the path she took and the many paths she didn’t.

Nominations: Best picture, original screenplay

Where: In theaters. Rent or buy it on Amazon

Review: Past Lives is the most affecting love story in ages.

Poor Things

Director Yorgos Lanthimos’ dark comedy about a young woman in Victorian London, who is found and experimented upon by a twisted scientist.

Nominations: Best picture, costume design, film editing, makeup and hairstyling

Where: In theaters

Review: Poor Things built its weird, unforgettable world from scratch.

The Color Purple

Blitz Bazawule’s adaptation of the Broadway musical is based on the Alice Walker novel. It tells the story of Celie, who survives the abuse by the men in her life and longs to be reunited with the sister who was taken from her.

Nominations: Supporting actress

Where: In theaters. Rent or buy it on Google Play

Review: The new Color Purple exudes (散发) joy, but dances past some deeper complexities.

Anatomy of a Fall

Directed by Justine Triet, this French drama follows a wife who becomes the chief suspect (嫌疑人) when her husband is found dead, and rifts (关系不和) in their marriage are exposed.

Nominations: Best picture, director, actress, original screenplay

Where: In theaters. Rent or buy it on YouTube

Review: If you love courtroom dramas, this is not to be missed.

1. Which film gets the most nominations?

A．Past Lives.

B．Poor Things.

C．The Color Purple.

D．Anatomy of a Fall.

2. What do the movies have in common?

A．They are tragedies.	B．They are nominated for best picture.
C．They are all lady-related.	D．They can be viewed both in theaters and on media.

3. Who is the passage intended for?

A．Critics who will comment on the films.	B．Movie-goers who are hunting for films.
C．Celebrities who will attend the Oscars.	D．Audience who have watched the films.

10 . 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。

I didn’t like Del so much. He always called me the nickname “Germy”, which meant “dirty”, instead of my real name “Jamie”. Besides, he was known as a trouble-maker in school. So when the head teacher Mr. Smith asked Del to come to his office, I naturally thought that Del had done something mean to someone. Through the window, I caught sight of a smaller boy crying. Del seemed unhappy, too.

He did not return to class that day. All of us were discussing what had happened to him. What else could such an annoying boy do? “He must have hit the boy and was sent home,” I whispered to my friends. Their eyes widened. It felt good to see them so interested in what I said.

The next morning, the whole school was talking about Del being expelled(开除) for beating up a kid. I was surprised that my assumptions were passed on so quickly. So when Del walked into the classroom, all the kids were shocked. The kids next to him shift ed their desks away. “What’s your problem?” Del asked. “I don’t want you to attack me,” one kid said. Some laughed. “Yeah, I might,” said Del. I could tell he was joking, but many kids thought he admitted he did beat up someone.

During recess(课间休息), Del tried to join the kickball game. “Neither team wants you,” one of the players said. “Why?” Del asked, looking confused. “I always play with you guys.” They ignored him and went on playing. Del sat by himself while the rest of the school enjoyed their recess away from him. Del looked lonely and sad, much different from before. I started to feel sorry for him.

Later that day, I learned what really happened. The kid was Del’s little brother and he was crying because their mother fell ill and was sent to hospital. I felt even sorrier for what I said before. I started a rumor(谣言).

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。

At recess the next day, I saw Del sitting alone watching the kickball game.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Now that Del had forgiven me, I decided to do more before the recess was over.
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