1 . Emily loved reading. She used to be very shy. She _________ talking to others. So she turned to _________. In 2019 her dad got sick. It was very serious. Books became an even bigger comfort for _________.

Emily’s dad got better. And she came up with a plan to _________ others.

Emily started a book drive in her hometown. She _________ books. She took them to _________ being cared for in hospitals. _________, she has collected more than 10,000 books.

Emily and her father are very close. When her father learned of her plans for the book drive, he wasn’t surprised. “She was always interested in books,” he says. “_________ she always wanted to do things for the neighborhood.” Emily runs the book drive herself, but she gets some help from her _________. “We do the driving,” her dad says.

Emily still runs the book drive. The memory of meeting the children she helps sticks with her. “It was the ____________ day of my life,” she says. “I realized I wanted to do this type of work forever.”

1.

A．was afraid of

B．was interested in

C．was good at

D．was sorry for

2.

A．music

B．sports

C．books

D．stamps

3.

A．me

B．her

C．him

D．it

4.

A．teach

B．save

C．move

D．help

5.

A．wrote

B．collected

C．read

D．bought

6.

A．kids

B．men

C．women

D．newborns

7.

A．In short

B．Hardly ever

C．So far

D．On time

8.

A．So

B．Or

C．But

D．And

9.

A．parents

B．friends

C．teachers

D．neighbors

10.

A．saddest

B．best

C．shortest

D．strangest

2 . Announcing ETC’s Ninth Annual Student Contest for International Education Week!

International Education Week (IEW) is a joint project between the US Department of State and the US Department of Education. It was created in an effort to help people from different countries understand each other and cooperate with each other through education and exchange. All ETC (Education Travel & Culture) students are highly encouraged to make cultural presentations in their host communities as part of IEW.

Where and when does it take place? IEW occurs November 18~22, 2024. You can present in school, at after-school clubs, at your local nursing home, etc. ETC encourages all students to participate in IEW and offers a contest for which the top 3 presenters win amazing prizes.

How can you get involved? Begin planning your presentation now. Ask teachers, your coordinator (协调人), or your host family where you might be able to make your presentation. Make your presentation and take lots of pictures of the event including the materials that you used. Complete the application form and have one or more adults complete the recommendation form. Be sure to submit the forms no later than December 1st.

Submit forms and pictures to:
Kara Peterson—Administrative Manager
27014 N.178th Ave Surprise, AZ 85387
E-mail: Kpeterson@edutrav.org
*1st Prize: A free trip to New York City! (ETC Trip in March, 2025, tickets not included)
*2nd Prize: $200 Gift Card
*3rd Prize: $100 Gift Card

All participants will receive a shirt! And the winners will be announced on December 15th.

1. What is the purpose of IEW?

A．To motivate students to make an impact.

B．To encourage students to speak up bravely.

C．To boost the wellness of students around the world.

D．To promote international understanding and cooperation.

2. When is the deadline for the application?

A．November 18th.	B．November 22nd.
C．December 1st.	D．December 15th.

3. What is the common gift for all participants?

A．A free trip.	B．A shirt.
C．A gift card.	D．A film ticket.

3 . A complete chicken egg estimated to be around 1,700 years old is believed to be the only of its type in the world, after scientists found it still had liquid inside.

It was discovered during a dig in Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire between 2007 and 2016, with researchers saying at the time that it was a “genuinely unique discovery”. During the course of the dig, archaeologists broke three other eggs which released a “terrible smell”, but a fourth egg remained undamaged. It is the only complete egg ever found dating back to the Roman times.

Now, a micro scan has found that the egg still contains the yolk (蛋黄) and egg white, and it is believed to be the only complete egg from that period. The recent work has been carried out by conservator Dana Goodburn-Brown, who took the egg for further analysis at the University of Kent.

Edward Biddulph, senior project manager at Oxford Archaeology, who oversaw the dig, said, “It produced an amazing image that indicated that the egg, apart from being complete — which is incredible enough — also held its liquid inside. We were absolutely blown away when we saw the contents in there, as we might have expected them to have leaked out.”

It has also been taken to London’s Natural History Museum, where Douglas Russell, the senior director of the museum, was consulted about how to conserve the egg. Mr Biddulph said, “As we found out when we visited the Natural History Museum, it appears to be the oldest known example in the world.”

The egg is now being housed at Discover Bucks Museum in Aylesbury while work continues to discover how to extract (提取) the inside without breaking the delicate shell.

“There is huge potential for further research and this is the next stage in the life of this remarkable egg,” Mr Biddulph said.

1. Why was Edward Biddulph shocked at the egg?

A．It was badly preserved.	B．It could be blown away.
C．It kept liquid contents inside.	D．It was still good enough to eat.

2. What can we infer from the last two paragraphs?

A．The egg will be broken for further study.

B．The egg will be on display in the museum.

C．More studies will be carried out about the egg.

D．More efforts will be put into studying the egg shell.

3. What is the best title for the text?

A．The Secret of an Ancient Egg Has Been Revealed

B．An Ancient Egg Reveals the History of Buckinghamshire

C．An Egg Is Said to Be the Oldest Complete One in the World

D．An Amazing Egg Is Still Full of Liquid 1,700 Years Later

4. What is the text?

A．A news report.	B．A biology essay.
C．A technical invention.	D．A geographical discovery.

4 . It lasted just 24 seconds, but it’s an unforgettable moment that has caught hearts everywhere. During a basketball game at Zeeland East High School in Zeeland, Michigan, the crowd fell quiet, giving high school junior Jules Hoogland an opportunity to take a shot.

Hoogland, who is blind, followed along as a woman tapped (轻敲) a yellow pole against the backboard and a teammate guided her to the perfect position. Thirteen seconds later, the 11th grader nailed a free throw and the silent audience erupted in roaring cheers and applause.

Zeeland Public Schools shared the extraordinary moment, filmed by Brandy Navetta, the school district’s communications and marketing director on Twitter, along with the words, “You thought national basketball tournaments were infusive, but Zeeland Public Schools Unified Basketball took over the court this morning. And the crowd went wild!”

Hoogland’s mom Karen said she was so proud of her achievement. She also praised the young students for their respect and sensitivity towards her daughter. Hoogland set a new record on what blind people can achieve and wanted this video to inspire all those who are facing challenges. “I’m hoping this video will inspire others to keep trying no matter what their challenges are,” she said.

Students from both Zeeland East and Zeeland West High School witnessed Hoogland’s uplifting shot, part of an inclusive basketball game with zLinks. Nathan VandeGuchte, a special education teacher with Zeeland West, added that inclusive sports has made a significant impact on students at Zeeland schools since the zLinks program started. “It was so moving to see Hoogland hit that shot again in front of 2,500 people,” said Nathan. “The lens (视角) with which many of our special education students are viewed has now been forever changed. They know that they are important, and they recognize that they are contributing members of our student body!”

1. Why did the crowd go wild as Hoogland nailed a free throw?

A．Because she couldn’t see.	B．Because she was competitive.
C．Because it was her first shot.	D．Because it was the end of the game.

2. What does the underlined word “infusive” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Addictive.	B．Puzzling.
C．Informative.	D．Exciting.

3. What message does Hoogland convey to us through her story?

A．Dream big, dream early.	B．Never fear to fight challenges.
C．Interest is the best teacher.	D．The more one does, the more one can do.

4. What can we infer about the special education students from Nathan’s words?

A．They were usually overestimated.

B．They got confidence from the program.

C．They should be given more opportunities.

D．They were eager to explore the unknown.

5 . Research suggests there could be a simple, safe, and economical way to relieve pain: green light. And a new animal study reveals the biological basis of how it might work.

Scientists have been exploring the pain-relieving effects of green light for at least half a decade, uncovering an occasional clue on exactly how it happens. This new mouse study, led by neuroscientist Yu-Long Tang of Fudan University in Shanghai, further specifically reveals the eye cells and brain pathways that support the pain relief sometimes felt after exposure to low-intensity green light. It was discovered that cones and rods (视锥细胞和视杆细胞) —the eye cells that sense light—contributed to the pain-relieving effects of green light in healthy mice and mice with diseases.

As scientists often do, the researchers inactivated certain cells to see what effect that had on the animals’ sense of pain. When they inactivated the rods in some mice, those animals showed only partial relief with green light, while mice without cones showed no signs of pain relief at all when bathed in green light.

“We found that cones are essential for green light analgesia (痛觉缺失), while rods play a secondary role,” explained Tang and his colleagues in their published paper. From there, they followed the path taken by electrical signals from the eye through the brain.

Bathed in green light, the cones and rods stimulated a group of brain cells, which has previously been linked to the analgesic effects of bright light in general. In this part of the brain, these neurons (神经元) express something involved in pain signaling. These cells then relay the message to another part of the brain that deals with pain, effectively turning down the sensation of severe pain.

Pain relief in animals is a far cry from humans, but this study succeeds in locating pain circuits in the brain that respond to visual inputs and expands our understanding of a safe, easy way to possibly relieve them.

1. What can we learn about the new study from paragraph 2?

A．It’s the first of its kind.

B．It’s performed on different animals.

C．It’s cooperation between universities.

D．It’s more precise than previous studies.

2. How did the researchers carry out the study?

A．By analyzing data.	B．By making surveys.
C．By classifying cases.	D．By doing experiments.

3. What is paragraph 5 mainly about?

A．The effect of green light.	B．The importance of neurons.
C．The biological basis of the finding.	D．The operating principle of brain cells.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards the study?

A．Approving.	B．Doubtful.
C．Dismissive.	D．Unclear.

6 . One time, probably at my age of 16 or 17, my motorcycle broke down at a crossing. It suddenly died while I was _________. I pulled the bike to the side of the road and onto the _________. It was nighttime and it was dark. I was so _________.

Not knowing where to seek help, I tried to _________ the problem of my bike. Then, out of nowhere a man walked up the sidewalk. He _________ next to me, looked at me, and smiled. “Do you need some help? I have a flashlight.” I told him I had no idea what was _________and I just was going to call my dad. He handed me the flashlight and helped me _________ the bike to a car wash, which was brighter.

I called my dad but he went to the wrong _________. So I had to wait twice as long for him, during which the man _________ talking to me just about life and growing up. To be frank, I was in no __________ for what he was saying. But due to his company, my fear disappeared and I __________ calmed down. In the end, my dad __________. The man helped us load the bike onto my dad’s van (小型货车), and then he waved goodbye to us and walked away.

Years have passed, but that night still __________my mind occasionally and gives me a feeling of warmth. Never hesitate to offer your __________, for you will never know what a(n) __________ it can make.

1.

A．searching

B．stretching

C．striking

D．riding

2.

A．sidewalk

B．crosswalk

C．driveway

D．highway

3.

A．angry

B．scared

C．surprised

D．curious

4.

A．sum up

B．give up

C．bring out

D．figure out

5.

A．fell

B．lived

C．stopped

D．waited

6.

A．special

B．proper

C．possible

D．wrong

7.

A．carry

B．push

C．pack

D．assess

8.

A．spot

B．target

C．court

D．station

9.

A．considered

B．avoided

C．kept

D．admitted

10.

A．way

B．mood

C．time

D．doubt

11.

A．suddenly

B．fortunately

C．accidentally

D．gradually

12.

A．stood out

B．took off

C．showed up

D．broke in

13.

A．slips

B．crosses

C．changes

D．blows

14.

A．kindness

B．guidance

C．determination

D．service

15.

A．difference

B．appointment

C．achievement

D．contribution

7 . Fear of the unknown is an intense fear of uncertain or unknown situations. Essentially, it’s a fear caused by a lack of information about other people and experiences, and a low tolerance for the uncertainty that comes with exposure. It can lead to intense distress or anxiety, and disturb your daily life.     1    

Understand your fear. Fear is not unique to you. Fear is part of our human DNA, so it is not unusual for you to feel fear when you are stepping out into the unknown.     2     It is just a whole bunch of self-limiting beliefs based on what we think may happen. Accept that you have fearful thoughts but don’t let these fearful thoughts disturb your life.

    3     An underlying cause of our fear of the unknown is based on our fear of failure. If you really understand your fear of the unknown and have looked at realistic risks in regard to stepping out of your comfort zone, then you’ll realize that failure could be acceptable.     4    There will always be a positive outcome at some point in your journey.

Adapt to change.     5     We live in a world of constant and at times overturning changes. The more we resist change, the more it will persist（持续）in our lives. Stepping out and adapting to change will open you up to a world of opportunities and growth. Change will become a fact of life that you will accept and successfully manage.

A．Nothing is set in stone.

B．Accept failure as an option.

C．Get out of your comfort zone.

D．Our fear of the unknown is not based on reality.

E．Take away the idea of failure and use setbacks as experiences.

F．Here are a few ways that help overcome your fear of the unknown.

G．However, problems will arise when people are frozen by fear of the unknown.

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。

Jack and Bruce are good friends. They are both in Grade Six and love hanging out together in their small fishing town.

One day, they decided to climb an ancient volcanic hill on a small island near their town to celebrate their last days of primary school. Though the two boys had been to the island many times before, Bruce’s parents were worried about them. With quick reassurance（保证）, Bruce raced out the door to meet Jack.

Passing by a giant sculpture of a whale, Jack thought of the whales in the sea. Both of the boys are whale lovers. They have raised hundreds of pounds towards saving them, but they know they need to do even more. Maybe being in high school will help?

Since the island is not very far away from the mainland, soon they were nearly at the island. Suddenly, they heard a strange noise. Could it be coming from the many nesting birds on the island?

Determined to work out the mystery, they began to search. To their shock, they discovered a whale that had been trapped in a fishing net. In order to free the poor creature, they repeatedly dived down into the freezing sea to cut the net, but eventually, they were worn out. With a storm rolling in, they had to admit defeat.

As they rowed back, Bruce and Jack discussed what they should do next. They knew they couldn’t leave the whale trapped like that. They had to do something.

Back at home, they told their parents what they had found, and together they came up with a plan. They would raise money to hi re a boat with a bigger engine. They would also ask local businesses and people to donate food for the whale. Then they went door to door in the town, asking for help. Luckily, many local people offered to join them to rescue the trapped whale.

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。

The next day, the storm blew over and the sky cleared.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

They stopped the boat not far away from the whale.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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。

It’s a harvest that’s almost magical: growing rice in saline (含盐的) soil and making a fortune at the same time.

Wu Zaizhou is     1     local farmer in Da’an, Jilin Province. He says his secret for success is following a     2     (science) recipe that really transforms the saline soil, a kind of soil even the scientists     3     (them) called “problematic”. But by     4     (pull) in opinions from some 1,400 scientists, a way was found to transform that unwanted soil. It’s a comprehensive     5     (solve) that involves treating and improving the soil itself, screening salt-tolerant crop varieties, and employing special planning techniques as well as caring for the overall environment.

“We call it Da’an Model,     6     improves the soil, the seed and the technique in agriculture. It’s proven cost-effective, easily repeatable, and     7     (wide) applicable and good for Jilin’s saline oil area,” said Wu.

Since 2021, lots of land (almost 5,000 square kilometers) in the province     8     (transform). That was previously almost impossible for agriculture, including Wu’s cropland.

Wu said he’s not only expanding his field, but his experience has convinced some of his     9     (neighbor) to join him. “In the new year, we will continue to work     10     (change) the saline land into fertile (肥沃的) land, and we may have a good harvest of rice from here,” he said.

10 . How to Go Green

The idea of “going green” means that you’ll try to reduce your impact on the environment. It’s a great way to improve the planet.     1    .

Walk or bike to places if you live close enough.

    2    , so they’re not a friend to the environment. Walking or biking instead of using a car is a great way to save natural resources while saving you money. When possible, walk or bike to work, school or shops.

    3    .

Communicate digitally whenever possible, and only print out items when you absolutely must. When you do use paper, recycle it or save it to reuse the other side of it.

Buy second-hand products or borrow items instead of buying something new.

Buying things produces more waste and pollution, so try not to buy things you don’t need. When you do need something, shop at local second-hand market or use online resale shops.    4    .

Skip products that have a lot of packaging.

Products that come with a lot of packaging are bad for the environment because the packaging is waste. Even if you recycle the package, it’s still an unnecessary waste of resources.    5    . This can keep more trash out of landfills and save natural resources.

A．Cars use up a lot of gas

B．Limit your use of paper

C．Use reusable bags while you’re shopping

D．If you’re ready to go green, start from the following good habits

E．Do your best to pick products that have as little packaging as possible

F．In order to save money, cut down on the cost of paper you’re using

G．If you can, borrow items that you don’t use often, like tools, from a friend