1 . Chocolate makers are expected to raise prices this year because of higher costs of cocoa from exporters like Ivory Coast. The West African country is the world’s largest cocoa producer. Hershey is the largest producer of chocolate products in the United States. It said last month it plans to raise prices on all of its products because of the rising cost of ingredients. Ingredients are the things used to make a food or product.

Demand for chocolate in America increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and cocoa producers in places like Ivory Coast are struggling to keep up with that demand. Experts say one reason for that is climate change.

Harvard University researchers estimate that by 2030 parts of West Africa will be too hot and dry to produce much cocoa. The West African countries of Ghana and Ivory Coast together produce 70 percent of worldwide cocoa supply.

Cocoa farmer Raphael Konan Kouassi recently took VOA to his farm. Huge green and yellow cocoa pods hung from trees. He said his trees are producing less because of rising temperatures and less rainfall than usual.

“Almost all of the young plants die in the high season. If you have not been able to get water to them, you have no cocoa,” Kouassi said.

Kouassi receives government assistance in the form of cocoa trees. But he said the government gives out trees at the wrong time of year. Because of this, the young trees have a difficult time surviving.

Christian Bunn is with the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers, a worldwide scientific organization. Bunn said information about how the climate is changing can inform farmers about how to better care for their crops.

“What we’re seeing is that the onset of both dry and wet season can change. It’s less reliable. During the season, there may be breaks in terms of rain during the dry season, or there’s a dry spell during the wet season,” Bunn said.

The data show it may be better for farmers to stop producing cocoa and instead grow a variety of different crops, he said.

But the chief of one Ivorian company that supplies The Hershey Company said higher prices for cocoa could be welcomed by farmers. Olga Yenou said, “My opinion is that these farmers should have better prices, should earn more, because they work hard. Most are poor,” Yenou said.

Her wish appears to be coming true. As climate change continues to have effects on production, prices continue to rise.

1. What is the main reason for the rise in the price of chocolate?

A．Increase in labor costs.	B．Increase in transportation costs.
C．Increase in ingredient costs.	D．Increase in preservation cost.

2. What can we know from the passage?

A．Ivory Coast is the largest cocoa producer around the world.

B．Sales of chocolate in the America declined during the pandemic.

C．The climate in parts of West Africa is very humid.

D．The dry weather is benefit for the cocoa trees to survive.

3. Which word can best describe the feeling of Kouassi when received assistance from government?

A．Excited.

B．Thankful.

C．Surprised.

D．Disappointed.

4. What did Christian Bunn advice farmers to do according to the passage?

A．Planting various crops instead of planting coco trees.

B．Paying attention to the weather forecast every day.

C．Investing more money in coco trees.

D．Seeking help from the government.

2 . Asli Samanci, a food scientist, was driven by her childhood dream of becoming a scientist, leading her to pursue a career in food science. “It ______ everything: biology, microbiology and chemistry all together,” Samancil said.

With this passion, she established a company that ______ health products made from propolis (蜂胶), a natural substance produced by bees. Samanci’s dedication to ______ is evident in every step. of her product development process. “All products are ______ by science,” Samanci said.

The ______ behind Samanci’s venture also lies in her son, who experienced frequent health issues during his early years. Upon a doctor’s recommendation, she ______ propolis as a means to help strengthen her son’s immune system. However, not ______ with the products on the market, Samanci worked ______ with a beekeeper to craft the ideal solution for her son’s needs. Gradually, Samanci has made her specialized products ______ to a broader range of consumers.

Meanwhile, Samanci and her beekeeping partners have witnessed a significant ______ in the bee population, Recognizing that 80% of all plants rely on bees for pollination (授粉), this development has proved to contribute to ______ nature. Samanci firmly believes in the concept of a win-win business model, where ______ can make a positive impact on the environment. And she urges all entrepreneurs and scientists to find that ______ . Samanci says, “To get something from nature in a(n) ______ way, we urge more food scientists and agricultural scientists to join us. ______ , nature will not give us anymore.”

1.

A．accomplishes

B．combines

C．processes

D．maintains

2.

A．took up

B．brought about

C．held back

D．put off

3.

A．purchase

B．delivery

C．quality

D．service

4.

A．limited

B．denied

C．revealed

D．backed

5.

A．regulation

B．inspiration

C．sample

D．mystery

6.

A．explored

B．exported

C．refused

D．permitted

7.

A．patient

B．consistent

C．cautious

D．content

8.

A．equally

B．violently

C．directly

D．temporarily

9.

A．accessible

B．similar

C．responsible

D．essential

10.

A．damage

B．rise

C．change

D．loss

11.

A．conquering

B．discovering

C．impressing

D．preserving

12.

A．scientists

B．beekeepers

C．entrepreneurs

D．consumers

13.

A．balance

B．opportunity

C．fault

D．reason

14.

A．extraordinary

B．sustainable

C．lively

D．decent

15.

A．Altogether

B．Anyhow

C．Moreover

D．Otherwise

3 . Shop Sustainably

If you have to name one thing that contributes most to your ecological footprints, you may say the energy you use at home, or your car’s emissions.     1     Knowing this can make your grocery shops more planet-friendly. Here is what you can do to help shop sustainably.

●    2     Using those is a great first step. If you get some, do remember to fill them with your purchases. When you adapt yourself to reusing them, then you’ll cut your consumption of single-use plastic bags even further.

●Avoid unnecessary packing. Buy loose fruit and vegetables instead of pre-packaged produce, and avoid products that contain multiple single packages or double packaging, like grain in a box and a bag. Consider switching from tea bags and coffee pods to tea leaves and ground coffee.     3    

●Go organic when you can. In addition to the benefit organic farming has to insect biodiversity, it’s also considered more sustainable and better for the environment.     4    Choosing free-range or Marine Stewardship Council-certified products also encourages environment- and animal-friendly food production.

●Buy seasonal and native products.     5     So you can avoid buying goods that have travelled long distances to reach your plate. As well as opting for local goods, depending on where you live, in the supermarket, you can also buy directly from the source at farmers’ markets.

A．Take reusable grocery bags.

B．Select single-use plastic bags.

C．It supports local farmers and food producers.

D．You can also refill your own containers with loose-packed food.

E．When buying organic products, look for those officially certified.

F．But it’s what we eat that accounts for up to 60% of our personal demand.

G．You’ll find it convenient whenever you buy tea or coffee in the supermarket.

4 . 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。

An exhibition of zodiac (生肖) sculptures,     1     (call) Peak Life and Water, opened in Chengdu, Southwest China’s Sichuan Province on Saturday.

The 12 zodiac signs are     2     (traditional) used in Chinese culture to mark each year. Each zodiac sign also corresponds to twelve hours in the day. In addition     3     the traditional calendar function, the 12 zodiac signs are also a kind of folk custom and culture,     4     reflects Chinese people’s understanding of the year.

Each sculpture     5     (base) on a single zodiac animal. For example, the tiny golden birds     6     (stand) on the head of an ox remind visitors of birds settling on an ox, chewing the worms they have just captured. In another, a monkey balances     7     golden peach on the head. For the dragon sculpture, a golden and glorious ball floats in front of the intimidating dragon.

The expressions of these zodiac sculptures are vivid but calm. Some of them seem to be resting, content in their mediation. Only the snake has     8     (it) eyes open. If you see a snake’s eyes are closed, that     9     (mean) it is in hibernation (冬眠). The elegant and exquisite modelling has delighted visitors so much that even before the opening ceremony of the exhibition, some collectors expressed a desire     10     (buy) the sculptures.

5 . Working at a hotel, I had the pleasure of welcoming a family of five one Friday. As they entered, the youngest child greeted me with a cheerful “hi”. I always _______ well-behaved children like them, as they bring a special joy to the place. _______ around young ones in my own family, I have a talent for understanding their _______, making interactions with them enjoyable. I always like hearing about their plans for the weekend, and our hotel _______ us to engage with young guests.

During the check-in process with the parents, the youngest child _______ announced, “It’s my birthday tomorrow!” I asked how old she would be. “Nine!” she _______ with a big smile. I was impressed by her excitement.

The mother _______ they were in the area for university applications for their eldest child, but didn’t talk about any plans for the little one. As they went up to their room, I felt it necessary to do something for the birthday girl. Though we couldn’t _______ anything extravagant(奢侈的), I decided to give her a children’s book and a handwritten “Happy Birthday” _______ .

I delivered the ________ to the family’s room and later, when they returned, the mother expressed how ________ the birthday girl was with the presents. She mentioned they would read the book together, which ________ my heart.

After my shift ended, I didn’t work until Monday. Upon my return, I found a(n) ________ thank you letter and drawings from the girl directed to me. The gesture nearly brought tears of ________ to my eyes, knowing that a ________ act of kindness had made a difference in their stay.

1.

A．observe

B．imagine

C．appreciate

D．meet

2.

A．Going along

B．Growing up

C．Dropping in

D．Getting out

3.

A．behaviors

B．struggles

C．ambitions

D．dreams

4.

A．requires

B．permits

C．forces

D．encourages

5.

A．gradually

B．proudly

C．uncertainly

D．confusedly

6.

A．replied

B．appeared

C．left

D．remarked

7.

A．worried

B．insisted

C．argued

D．explained

8.

A．arrange

B．host

C．revise

D．discover

9.

A．song

B．note

C．wish

D．design

10.

A．toys

B．orders

C．gifts

D．machines

11.

A．thrilled

B．puzzled

C．shocked

D．frightened

12.

A．ceased

B．beat

C．broke

D．melted

13.

A．touching

B．interesting

C．bothering

D．convincing

14.

A．relief

B．anger

C．sorrow

D．joy

15.

A．willing

B．diverse

C．simple

D．flexible

6 . 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。

Brad Howard, a Texas father, had enough of his son’s disruptive (扰乱性的) behavior in physics class. Despite multiple warnings and complaints from the teacher about his son’s excessive (过多的) talking, the situation didn’t improve.

So, Brad decided to take matters into his own hands and gave his son, Bradley, a final warning. Brad made a bold promise to his son, saying, “Hey, if we get another call, I’m going to show up in school and sit beside you in class. ”

The 17-year-old Bradley probably thought his dad was just bluffing (唬人) and continued his chatty (爱闲聊的) ways. But when Brad received another email from the teacher, he knew he had to follow through with his threat.

On the morning of the important day, Brad’s wife woke him up and said, “Brad, it’s time for you to go to school. ” It struck him what he had said. He just couldn’t but a bit regret, “Oh, no, what have I done? ”

Despite his unwillingness, Brad was determined to keep his word and headed to his son’s high school.

The sight of Brad sitting next to Bradley in class was a source of amusement for Bradley’s friends, who found the situation ridiculous. Bradley, on the other hand, was less than thrilled.

He couldn’t believe that his dad had actually gone through with his threat, The embarrassment of having his own father sitting beside him in class was enough to make him regret his behavior. As the class started, Bradley could feel all eyes on him and his dad. He could sense the judgment and the whispers from his classmates.

“Hey, Bradley, it looks like your dad is really serious about this, ” one of his friends whispered across the hallway, trying to hold back a laugh.

“Yeah, this is so embarrassing, ” Bradley whispered, his cheeks turning a deep shade of red.

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。

But as the class progressed, something unexpected happened.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After school, Bradley hesitantly approached his dad with newfound appreciation.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7 . Fill your free time with these options on offer in New York City this month.

Pop & Rock

Dec. 1 at Webster Hall, Manhattan

On tour in support of her new release of Softscars, the singer and producer Nat Cmiel will play at Webster Hall on Sunday. A frequent subject of her songs is the solution to the tensions between digital and physical existence. Tickets are $25.

Family Concert

Dec. 10 at the Scheuer Auditorium, Manhattan

Joanie Leeds is adding her voice to those calling for children’s books in libraries and children’s classrooms. With a guitar and other musicians, she’ll celebrate the release of her new work, starting at 10: 30 a. m., in an hour-long concert intended to make young listeners first grow up and later sit down and read. Tickets to the concert are required to be reserved online, starting at $14. Children are admitted free.

Jazz

Dec. 20 at the Village Vanguard, Manhattan

Bold and carefree, Johnathan Blake has come to represent certain of present jazz. This week’s Vanguard stand features his My Life Matters, calling for people to let one another live and grow. Watching the performance of the band will have a lasting impression on you. Tickets are $40.

Sketch Comedy

Dec.22 at the Peoples Improv Theater, Manhattan

The Peoples Improv Theater is welcoming comedy troupes (剧团) across the country for a celebration and discussion of sketch comedy, with Birch & Caven as the opening show. Tickets start at $ 15 per show. Four-day passes are $79, and one-day passes are $30. Tickets are to be bought at the ticket office in person.

1. Whose song discusses digital and real-life interaction?

A．Nat Cmiel.

B．Joanie Leeds.

C．Birch & Caven.

D．Johnathan Blake.

2. Where is the performance of Joanie Leeds held?

A．At Webster Hall.	B．At the Scheuer Auditorium.
C．At the Village Vanguard.	D．At the Peoples Improv Theater.

3. What is the most economical choice to appreciate Sketch Comedy for four days?

A．Online tickets.

B．One-day passes.

C．Four-day passes.

D．Separate tickets.

8 . 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。

Another school year was beginning. I had thirteen excited first graders eager to learn and ready to fill my classroom with laughs, tears, and everything. I realized that I had a small class size and got excited about the special projects we could do. One project that I had been particularly interested in was finding a doctor in Doctors Without Borders as a pen pal for my students, which could definitely broaden my students’ horizons.

I began by sending out an e-mail to our school district employees asking for names and contact information of any doctor in Doctors Without Borders which they knew of. I sent an e-mail to each one asking if we could communicate with them, but only one reply came: Dr. Denisar, who was in Africa for humanitarian medical work. Since six-year-olds’attention spans were short and many of the students were just learning how to read and write, I thought it would be the best to correspond through e-mail. Dr. Denisar quickly became a reward system. If students practiced and could read a book fluently, I would record it and e-mail it. If they finished a writing assignment, I would scan it and e-mail it. If students were misbehaving, I caught myself saying, “What would Dr. Denisar think about that?”

We also used the information Dr. Denisar included in his e-mails as learning opportunities. As we communicated with him, we learned more about him, as well as his missions from disease outbreaks to malnutrition of the locals. We started to lighten things up by recording songs and jokes, and sending art projects and care packages. He appreciated the communication. After Dr. Denisar returned, we continued to communicate with him, as my students had got quite attached. He promised that he would make a trip to our small town in Illinois to meet my class when he could.

The school year was beginning to wrap up when he contacted me in April about coming up to visit in May. For the first time, we began talking on the phone about his visit.

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。

As the day of his visit approached, the kids began to get nervous.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A whole morning had passed before we knew it.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9 . 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。

Dating back thousands of years, Chinese art focuses on many different areas including landscapes, animals, and other     1     (beauty) with careful detail.

As a style of painting that is unlike any other in the world, Chinese art     2     (remember) today for its distinct characteristics and incredible landscapes that can be seen throughout the nation.

Wu Guanzhong, a Chinese painter, is honored as one of the most famous artists of the modern era in the history of the nation.     3     (consider) a pioneer among Chinese artists during the 1940s, Guanzhong’s career didn’t take off until later in his life     4     he developed his own unique style of painting. He painted many works that     5     (virtual) launched a new style of modern Chinese artwork in his lifetime.

His most famous work titled Water Village in Jiangnan was done in 1980s. It is a very simple painting that consists     6     large white surfaces that are outlined by sharp, bold black edges.

Guanzhong’s simple yet straightforward style of painting captured the attention of both Eastern and Western art critics and enthusiasts in     7     way that brought new focus on Chinese culture as a whole.

He painted many additional works     8     (feature) birds, plants, landscapes and other scenes, but few matched the artistic     9     (high) of this painting, which was seen to be one of the most     10     (influence) pieces in modern Chinese art. It is regarded as one of the most famous Chinese paintings of all time.

10 . “I’m sorry, but visiting hours are over,” The nurse said _________. My husband Eric had just got out of surgery. I wanted to stay with him, but the hospital’s visiting policies allowed no _________.

The nurse handed me a piece of paper. “That’s my cell number. You can _________ me tonight if you’re worried or just want a（n）_________.” I knew Eric would be _________ OK, but I couldn’t be with him when he needed me, which still _________ my heart.

I _________ Eric’s nurse once I settled in my room in a hotel. She texted back, saying he was still feeling sick. I sighed, feeling the _________ rush in. Then I turned on the TV to distract myself, which didn’t _________. Around midnight, Eric’s nurse texted me. “He’s fine now and just fell asleep. You should get some __________ now, too.”

When I had checked into the hotel, the clerk said, “We have a cabinet full of books and games in the corner. We’ll feel __________ if you use anything there during your stay.”

I made it to the hall to __________ a book. I was looking through the titles when I heard a sound behind me. It was an elderly woman, who __________ herself as Shirley, adding that she had been there to accompany her husband in hospital. During our talk, her __________ attitude made me feel much better.

The next morning, when __________, I felt much better at that time than when I came into the hotel yesterday.

1.

A．angrily

B．eagerly

C．apologetically

D．worriedly

2.

A．guidance

B．negotiation

C．comment

D．emotion

3.

A．believe

B．remind

C．assess

D．reach

4.

A．promise

B．update

C．exchange

D．prediction

5.

A．physically

B．spiritually

C．practically

D．typically

6.

A．lightened

B．melted

C．broke

D．touched

7.

A．invited

B．visited

C．emailed

D．texted

8.

A．worry

B．duty

C．sympathy

D．anger

9.

A．matter

B．work

C．count

D．show

10.

A．air

B．nutrition

C．rest

D．advice

11.

A．awkward

B．natural

C．annoyed

D．honored

12.

A．find

B．purchase

C．donate

D．publish

13.

A．introduced

B．enjoyed

C．behaved

D．regarded

14.

A．carefree

B．guilty

C．positive

D．careful

15.

A．giving up

B．waking up

C．pulling through

D．checking out