1 . A famous company’s leader believes there’s only one way to know if you truly understand a subject: Can you explain it to a child? But the man with lifelong love of math recently found it didn’t always go well when he tried explaining mathematical concepts(概念)to his then-school-aged children.

He thinks that learning with kids to see what’s puzzling to them and what’s easy for them are the final test of whether you know a topic—whether you can explain it.

Teachers often ask students to give a statement on a subject to show that they understand it. Studies show that people are more likely to remember and understand concepts they’ve learned after explaining them to someone else or even to themselves.That means you can testyour own knowledge in a subject simply by trying to teach it to a friend,to see both how much information you’ve kept and how well you actually understand its concepts. If they successfully learn from you, it’s a good sign that you’re on the right track.

The leader, who studied math and computer science at university, noted that while hewas personally good at math as a high school student, he had trouble passing that enthusiasm(热情)to his three kids.

He loves doing math, but in the past his younger daughter would always say that he made it so complicated (复杂的) and he didn’t need to explain this to her. Because she just wanted to know the answer.

Today, his three children are all in their 20s.While they may not have enjoyed the math lessons, he says that one of his favorite things is teaching calculus(微积分)to the kids.There are a few very difficult concepts in calculus.He must explain why calculus is so important and why calculus has those funny symbols. It’s crazy and it’s probably the thing he enjoys the most.

1. What happened to the leader recently?

A．He explained Chinese well.

B．He developed his lifelong love of math.

C．He met a challenge in playing with his kids.

D．He had trouble explaining mathematical concepts to his kids.

2. What does the author encourage people to do in paragraph 3?

A．Communicate with others actively.

B．Build relationship with others.

C．Manage to describe themselves.

D．Know about their own learning by teaching others.

3. What did the leader’s younger daughter care about?

A．Describing an example.	B．Learning with her father.
C．Getting the final answer.	D．Keeping enthusiasm high.

4. What does the leader think of his teaching calculus to his children?

A．It brings him happiness.	B．It helps his kids grow.
C．It gives him a lesson.	D．It improves his maths.

2 . In February 2022, I began learning Chinese. Almost a year later, I found myself in Beijing, the capital of China. Before coming here, I had attended Chinese classes, and I could sense my progress in the language, albeit modest. As you might expect, studying for just one year wasn’t sufficient to claim fluency, and to be honest, I’m not there yet. But full proficiency in the language is not necessary to immerse yourself in and enjoy many attractions of life in China.

The one thing that truly makes me feel comfortable and alleviates loneliness is making friends and engaging in conversation. At Tsinghua University, where I pursued my studies in China, I made friends with many Chinese young people and relished spending time with them, be it for meals or leisure activities. I’ve been delighted to sing Chinese songs, for example, those by the famous Chinese singer Jay Chou, with my friends. I would also sing well-known Japanese songs, such as Lemon, which, as it turns out, is very popular in China. I felt that connecting with my Chinese peers through a shared passion, such as singing, was incredibly enjoyable and beautiful. It transcended language barriers and fostered a sense of unity and joy that was truly special.

During breaks from study, I frequently embarked on solo journeys across China. Although I have experienced traveling on overnight trains for over 12 hours several times and explored unfamiliar cities, I never felt fearful or unwelcome as a foreigner. Chinese people are consistently warm and welcome to foreigners, and eager to engage in conversation.

I once participated in community activities in Northwest China’s Gansu province to gain a deeper understanding of China’s rural areas and contribute to the development of local communities and education. As a volunteer teacher at a local school, I shared contemporary and traditional Japanese culture such as anime, architecture, pop music and languages with the students. Since Japanese kanji originated in China, there are many similarities between the Japanese and Chinese languages.

1. What is necessary for the author to enjoy attractions of life in China?

A．Having proficiency in Chinese.	B．Befriending with foreign tourists.
C．Setting out on solo journeys alone.	D．Communicating with Chinese locals.

2. What does the underlined word “relished” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．Advocated.

B．Enjoyed.

C．Postponed.

D．Avoided.

3. How did the author develop the text?

A．By listing numbers.	B．By giving examples.
C．By making comparison.	D．By setting questions.

4. What is the author’s impression of Chinese people?

A．Hospitable.

B．Cautious.

C．Punctual.

D．Smart.

3 . Say you’re on vacation at Niagara Falls. You want to take an amazing photo that captures(捕捉) the exceptional beauty of the waterfalls.     1     The thing is you’re not a professional photographer. So, what do you do? Here are some tips that can step up your photography game.

    2    

Before you snap (拍摄) a shot, ask yourself: What are you trying to document and why? That may be as simple as saying to yourself: “I’m going to take a picture of this painting at the museum because I like the colors.” It can help you focus on what you want to remember.

Make a shot list.

Professional photographers often create “shot lists”—a checklist of every photo they hope to capture, along with notes on style and composition—to ensure they get the coverage they need. You can try this same approach on your vacation.     3    

Capture the ordinary.

    4     These scenes may not feel impressive enough to photograph in the moment, but they’re ones you’re likely to want to remember after your trip is over. The images may be as simple as your dad napping(打盹) on the plane or your beloved backpack.

Study your photos.

It can be hard to appreciate your photos in the rush of a trip.     5     You’ll most likely find some surprises—a glance (一瞥) of a friend in the background or a dangling (悬挂的) flower from a tree branch. Keep an eye out for anything that makes you happy. Above all, what matters is that the photo is meaningful to you.

A．Learn from the professionals.

B．Think before you take a photo.

C．Try to capture moments or objects that may seem “ordinary”.

D．Thus, wait until you’re back home to study your images more carefully.

E．Making use of your senses is another way to add dimension to your pictures.

F．However, you don’t want to take the same photo that everyone else is taking.

G．Such a list can help figure out your photo goals and identify what you’re most excited about.

4 . The 2024 Science Fiction Short Story Contest

The 2023 Science Fiction Short Story Contest just came to an end. Welcome to our 2024 Science Fiction Short Story Contest sponsored by Science Fiction Association in our city. The contest is to encourage amateur and semi-professional writers to reach the next level of proficiency. We will look for engaging openings, good character development, well-structured plotting, powerful imagery, humorous language, unique word or phrasing choices, and convincing endings. Come to show the world your fantasy imagination and storytelling talents!

Requirement

A qualifying story must have strong science fiction or fantasy elements and must be shorter than 7,500 words. Your entries must be original works of fiction. If you have received prizes for your fiction writing from any source or your story has been published in any paying publication, you are no longer qualified.

Past winners of our contest are no longer qualified.

No reprints, fan fiction or poetry, please.

Judge and Prize

Judges will provide feedbacks for all qualifying contest entries. First-round judges will consist of Science Fiction Association members and volunteers. The professional writers’ decision is final.

The champions, runners-up and honorable mentions will receive prizes including cash prize, a certificate of achievement, Science Fiction Association Press books, and a free membership to Science Fiction Association, All winners can select their books and either take them immediately or ask for them to be shipped later.

Deadline

The contest will be limited to the first 60 qualifying entries. While the submission deadline is September 30th, 2024, we may close off the entry for the year sooner if the response is larger than expected. The winners will be published on December 31th.

Notice

Please place your contact information for possible awards.

There is no entry fee. Please submit only one entry per author.

1. What is the activity about?

A．Story telling.	B．Story writing.
C．Writer training.	D．Writer recommending.

2. What is a requirement for the science fiction of the contest?

A．It can come as the form of a poem.	B．It should be over 7,500 words long.
C．It must be the author’s original one.	D．It is supposed to be published before.

3. Who will finally determine the winners?

A．Professional writers.	B．Amateur writers.
C．Science Fiction Association members.	D．Science Fiction Association volunteers.

5 . Most glitter(小发光物品), which is made up of tiny pieces of plastic, is a huge danger to the environment. “Everyone talks about the mountain of plastic floating in the ocean. You can grab empty bottles from the water, but with tiny pieces, it’s impossible,” says Victor Alvarez, a chemical engineer who sells an eco-friendly alternative to glitter.

In the early 2,000s, Alvarez worked for Mercedes-Benz in Germany, where he became fond of any technology that protected the environment. A few years after leaving Mercedes-Benz, he founded Blue Sun International in Miami, which makes specialty ingredients for the skin and hair care industries.

Glitter is a popular ingredient in cosmetics, such as eye shadows and lipsticks. So Alvarez began researching an alternative that didn’t contain plastic to make his products safer for the environment. That’s when he came across Ronald Britton Ltd., a company which had developed a plastic-free, biodegradable product called Bioglitter. It is made from regenerative cellulose(纤维素) sourced from hardwoods, primarily eucalyptus(桉树). Alvarez worked with the company to become the first retailer to sell Bioglitter in America. In 2018, he formed Today Glitter in order to sell the biodegradable glitter directly to consumers through its website.

Today Glitter sells two kinds of biodegradable glitter Bioglitter Sparkle and Bioglitter Pure. Both are almost plastic-free and can biodegrade in a short time. Meanwhile, they are as shiny as regular glitter. All these products are third-party tested by TÜV, an international organization that provides testing and certification for compostable (可降解的) and biodegradable products.

Despite its benefits, the hardwoods needed to make biodegradable glitter cause it to cost about twice as much as conventional glitter. A small glass container that contains just 6 grams of Bioglitter costs $10, while the same amount of regular glitter could cost at least half that amount. Alvarez expects the price will come down over time. He also expects the company’s sales to cross $1 million next year. But more importantly, Alvarez says, his main goal is to effect a meaningful change.

1. While at Mercedes Benz, Alvarez        .

A．developed a way to grab glitter in the sea	B．became interested in the environment
C．attempted to live a plastic-free life	D．created a kind of harmless glitter

2. What do we know about Bioglitter?

A．It is a plastic-free ingredient for eye shadows.

B．It will soon be on sale in the American market.

C．It is very difficult to break down in the wild.

D．It was invented by Blue Sun International.

3. Why does the author mention TÜV in the text?

A．To show Bioglitter Sparkle and Bioglitter Pure are popular.

B．To stress it provides a broad range of testing services.

C．To prove Today Glitter’s products are eco-friendly.

D．To explain many plastic products are low-quality.

4. What is the problem faced by Today Glitter at present?

A．The complex process of making glitter.	B．How to expand its overseas market.
C．How to attract potential investors.	D．The high cost of raw materials.

6 . 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。

    1     (decorate) with cobalt blue pigment on a white ceramic body, qinghuaci ware (瓷器) in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, is considered the best     2     quality.

With a tradition of making ceramics dating back more than 2,000 years, Jingdezhen is known as the country’s “porcelain capital”,     3     (attract) artists from home and abroad.

“Ceramics embrace change. I’m here to inherit the tradition in a     4     (create) way.” Cai Wenjuan, a 36-year-old craftswoman, says. In 2012, Cai established her own company and     5     (build) the ceramics-themed brand China Story. “The charm and story behind the blue-and-white porcelain can     6     (tell) through the way the young feel connected,” Cai says, adding that porcelain can be stylish.

As a provincial-level inheritor of the blue-and-white porcelain-painting, on a video-sharing platform Douyin, Cai has posted more than 60 clips     7     (popularize) the craft and the culture.

In 2014,     8     exhibition area of ancient kiln and folk cultures in Jingdezhen,     9     covers a total space of 83 hectares, was assigned a top-grade scenic spot. Today, antique porcelain ware from Jingdezhen is still highly valued by collectors all around the world.

Like Cai, young artists are considering a career in porcelain-related businesses in Jingdezhen, with the local government rolling out supportive     10     (measure) for a variety of startups in the field.

7 . Growing up in poverty in rural Kenya, Nelly Cheboi watched her single mother work tirelessly so she could attend school.

From an early age, she realized that her family, along with others like hers in their village, was________ a cycle that left them little hope. Cheboi attended college ________ scholarship in the UnitedStates, worked odd jobs to support her family, and discovered her ________ for computer science. She________ the success in finding jobs to her computer literacy. She knew she wanted to share it with her________ back home.

Today, she’s giving 4,000 kids the chance for a ______ future through her nonprofit, TechLit Africa.The organization, whose name is short for Technologically Literate Africa, uses recycled ______ to create technology labs in schools in rural Kenya.

In 2018, she began ________ recycled computers. She started small, carrying the machines to Kenya in check-on bags and ______ customs fees and taxes herself. TechLit Africa now works with shipping companies to ______ the donated computers so it’s more cost ______.The donated hardware is ______ to partner schools in rural Kenya, where students aged 4 to 12 receive daily classes and frequent ________ to learn from professionals and gain skills that will help improve their education and prepare them for future jobs.

“My hope is that when the first TechLit kids graduate high school, they’re able to get a job online________ they will know how to code,”Cheboi said.“The world is your oyster when you are educated. By bringing the resources, by bringing these skills, we are ________ the world to them.”

1.

A．stuck in

B．applied to

C．stricken by

D．prohibited from

2.

A．beyond

B．on

C．against

D．for

3.

A．appreciation

B．sympathy

C．passion

D．attraction

4.

A．praised

B．credited

C．strengthened

D．admitted

5.

A．family

B．friends

C．colleagues

D．community

6.

A．stable

B．uncertain

C．brighter

D．peaceful

7.

A．computers

B．textbooks

C．materials

D．wastes

8.

A．programming

B．studying

C．purchasing

D．accepting

9.

A．cutting

B．handling

C．collecting

D．charging

10.

A．transplant

B．translate

C．transport

D．transform

11.

A．efficient

B．rewarding

C．accessible

D．reliable

12.

A．attached

B．committed

C．contributed

D．distributed

13.

A．alternatives

B．opportunities

C．occasions

D．meetings

14.

A．because

B．before

C．so

D．and

15.

A．caring about

B．turning on

C．opening up

D．showing off

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。

There was a girl called Cary, who was a new student in Esmarth Vil, a primary school in a small town.

She was the most hardworking girl at her school. Her marks were higher than the others. She was the best, but nobody wanted to be her friend. Her classmates didn’t want to play with her and some even laughed at her. Cary’s teacher Jared didn’t know that.

One day, Jared set an exam and Robert, a boy who was the king of all the students, signed his exam paper using Cary’s name, and changed Cary’s name for Robert’s quickly after Cary handed in her paper. It wasn’t noticed by anybody. When Jared returned all the exam Papers, everybody was shocked. Cary failed the exam, but the others seemed to be happy with that.

The next day, when Cary arrived at school, all the children wanted to be with her and invited her to play with them. Although Cary was surprised, she was happy to play with the other children. During their fun time, Jared suddenly appeared to inform Cary that there had been a mistake, and she hadn’t failed.

Jared explained to the students what had happened and punished Robert. After that, they all   stopped playing with Cary again.

Cary couldn’t stop crying this time and ran to ask her teacher why she couldn’t make friends with good school performance.

注意:1. 续写词数应为150个左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Jared was sorry to know what had happened to Cary.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After hearing Jared’s story, all the children decided to change themselves.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9 . The Pros and Cons of AI

What is artificial intelligence (AI)?

I recently spoke with Kai-Fu Lee, a famous expert on AI in China. He was in the United States to make a(n)________at a technology conference in Laguna Beach, California.

Lee became very well-known for_________the world’s first speaker-independent, continuous speech recognition system, which can translate the spoken words into text by computers. “I became interested in AI,” he said, “because of a______about this thing that replaces (取代) or improves our brain.”

“Will AI______humans in the future?” I asked. “To a certain degree,” Lee responded. “But they cannot do jobs that require______like pity and love or that need creativity. AI today is only good at particular tasks that need to be______over and over again. So it is still too early for people to______the future of our jobs.”

Lee gave ______to young people who are interested in learning more about the rapidly developing______. “Get started,” he said. “The basic programing language for AI is Python. The Internet and free online courses_______plenty of ways to learn Python. That is the first step for those who are______to make researches into it.”

“Books are another great way to advance your knowledge. Always have a programing book ____to read,” Lee said. “Learning from books and online programs is truly the quickest way to get started.”

Lee ______ that AI could cause _______if it is used for the wrong purposes. But, he added, “It also offers a huge world of ______.”

1.

A．introduction

B．speech

C．difference

D．performance

2.

A．developing

B．finding

C．discovering

D．buying

3.

A．worry

B．puzzlement

C．curiosity

D．doubt

4.

A．find

B．finish

C．create

D．replace

5.

A．experiences

B．memories

C．feelings

D．skills

6.

A．repeated

B．reviewed

C．explained

D．designed

7.

A．struggle with

B．worry about

C．think about

D．dream of

8.

A．space

B．praise

C．money

D．advice

9.

A．knowledge

B．world

C．technology

D．business

10.

A．offer

B．need

C．get

D．gain

11.

A．supposed

B．willing

C．expected

D．likely

12.

A．interesting

B．easy

C．useful

D．handy

13.

A．objected

B．considered

C．recognized

D．doubted

14.

A．dangers

B．chances

C．difficulties

D．benefits

15.

A．ideas

B．jobs

C．opportunities

D．challenges

10 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写一段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

I was invited to give a speech as a graduate representative at the graduating ceremony. Standing on the stage, overwhelmed by the thunderous applause, I couldn’t help but reflect on my life journey. I own great thanks for success to my beloved teacher and every person who had shown me kindness.

I grew up in a financially disadvantaged family with five children. The burden of poverty, compounded by the responsibility of looking after my younger brothers and sisters, made it hard to pursue my studies further. Just when we believed things couldn’t get any worse, my father suddenly fell gravely ill. His illness progressed swiftly, and we were heartbroken when he passed away. With my fathers untimely death, my mother found herself struggling with the enormous task of single-handedly raising a large family. Our situation became even worse, and I couldn’t bear to increase her burdens. It was then that I made the difficult decision to forego my education in order to support my family.

But little did I know that my life was about to take a turn that would change everything. One rainy day, my teacher Mr. Scott decided to brave the storm to find my humble home tucked away in the mountains. His determination to reach me despite the harsh weather painted a vivid image of his commitment and care. As the rain poured relentlessly, my teacher navigated the paths full of twists and turns, determined to understand the true reason behind my decision to drop out of school. Upon reaching my doorstep, he was greeted by a shabby house that reflected the hardships my family faced daily.

Sitting in my modest living room, Mr. Scott patiently listened to the challenges that burdened my family and me. The weight had become too much for me to bear, making the pursuit of education seem like an unattainable dream. Deeply touched by my story, Mr. Scott’s eyes brimmed with empathy and understanding. He recognized the potential that lay within me and refused to let my circumstances define my future.

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 that moment, he made a decision that changed my life.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

When the college entrance examination finally arrived, I faced it confidently.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________