1 . The holidays can be a divisive season. Because the holidays are full of merriness, some love them. Others can feel troubled by them, affected by the financial pressure and family gatherings often accompanying the holidays.    1     So, what can you do if you’re feeling like that? Roll your sleeves up. We’re going to get real, make a plan and enjoy the holiday atmosphere.

    2     This may be obvious for many— you may feel triggered owing to the stress of social events or gift-giving. But others may have a harder time detecting what is going on.

Begin tracking how you’re feeling on the day-to-day life. You can keep a journal or take a brief walk where you can reflect at the end of your day. Doing this lets you see a pattern of what may be activating your negative feelings.

After getting your triggers written down, let’s make a plan. If it is money fueling the discomfort, let’s strategize how you can cut down the financial expectations. You can select a thoughtful low-cost decoration or a bunch of flowers.     3     Don’t be afraid to let them know your financial condition. If holiday gatherings are extremely stressful, it is time to see how this can shift. Avoiding holiday gatherings altogether isn’t possible for most. However, you can consider an excuse that can serve as a reason to leave early.    4    

Rethink how to love yourself rather than care for others too much. If you have to be with someone, are you at risk of yourself because of arguments or conflicts?    5     Minimizing the time you spend with them is a wise choice.

A．Keep track of your daily actions.

B．It will help you get through the tense situation.

C．Hosting a gathering can be another costly issue.

D．Feeling joyless during the holidays can be really awful.

E．You can also offer meaningful time spent with loved ones.

F．The truth is that it is hard to engage with people who hurt you.

G．Let’s begin by identifying what is causing you the intense anxiety.

2 . I often felt there was a lack of ceremony in my life. The ceremony of passage to mark transitions was ________. Therefore, I was especially ________ when a friend invited me to go with him for a hike that would mark his ________ entry into elderhood. We would be ________ by three other companions. One of them was a wise and gentle elder who would serve as our ________. But whether it involved a ________ or not, an opportunity to walk in the backcountry with people who knew where they were going sounded ________ to me, and yes was what I said.

It was a long drive and we started out early,________ along mountain roads to a campground at the edge of a ________ area where we met our guide. We then walked along a gently rising trail. Along the way there was green grass and bursts of colorful ________, and we soon got down into a sandy creek bed, which we followed for some time. The wonders of the wilderness ________ before us, and every now and then our guide stopped to call our ________ to the shift of the environment, instructing us to ________ the spirit of attentiveness and gratitude.

________, he paused to adjust the leg brace（支架） he was wearing to support his knee, but these too were ________ moments. "Getting ________ slows us down," he said, "but when we slow down, we become aware of things. That's one of the ________ of being an elder. We are allowed to slow down and ________. Life may not have so many ceremonies, so we need to ________ changes. We should move forward with the right ________: being humble, appreciative and positive."

1.

A．happening

B．recovering

C．developing

D．missing

2.

A．curious

B．confident

C．excited

D．puzzled

3.

A．sympathetic

B．symbolic

C．severe

D．sufficient

4.

A．visited

B．accompanied

C．persuaded

D．accomplished

5.

A．guide

B．friend

C．teacher

D．partner

6.

A．lesson

B．greeting

C．ceremony

D．problem

7.

A．wonderful

B．ordinary

C．unimportant

D．unsuitable

8.

A．walking

B．climbing

C．jumping

D．winding

9.

A．fashion

B．wilderness

C．travelling

D．business

10.

A．wildflowers

B．cultures

C．clothes

D．houses

11.

A．hid

B．unfolded

C．disappeared

D．stopped

12.

A．attraction

B．attention

C．association

D．accommodation

13.

A．forget

B．break

C．keep

D．change

14.

A．Fortunately

B．Strangely

C．Occasionally

D．Interestingly

15.

A．sad

B．awkward

C．historic

D．teachable

16.

A．lighter

B．clever

C．healthier

D．older

17.

A．gifts

B．plans

C．purposes

D．disadvantages

18.

A．escape

B．rest

C．notice

D．laugh

19.

A．adapt to

B．pay for

C．wait for

D．object to

20.

A．attempt

B．influence

C．function

D．attitude

3 . Imagine a world where nothing ends up in landfill. Instead, everything can be reused and recycled, creating products that never reach their “end of life”. According to a recent report by the Circle Economy Foundation, only 7.2% of all used materials are being cycled back to be reused and recycled without creating waste.

An Italian company aims to change this by creating furniture products made from a plastic-like biomaterial, which is fully organic and biodegradable (可生物降解的), and can be used over and over again. Using fruit peel, orange seeds and coffee grounds collected from businesses in Italy, the company can redistribute products to the same businesses for use in their offices, instead of furniture made from common plastic. If, by mistake, any of the material ends up in the ocean, it doesn’t produce any microplastics.

Each product is made through a four-step process. First, the food waste is dried and crushed into a very fine powder. Then, the powder is mixed with a biodegradable plastic alternative known as polyhydroxybutyrat (PHB), with the fruit waste making the PHB more study (坚固的). The material is then turned into a filament (细丝) and, using a spool, put into a 3D printer.

Because a lot of food waste would be buried and incinerated in the landfill, which would produce lots of carbon dioxide, Reusing fruit peel and coffee grounds decrease carbon dioxide from the production of plastic, according to the director of operations in the company. He adds that the biomaterial is as sturdy as wood, and won’t begin to break down unless it’s touched by water, bacteria or acidity.

Despite its eco-friendly benefits, the biomaterial is expensive. It costs probably six times more than common plastic, and it is a very difficult and expensive process, so this is why many companies aren’t doing it.

However, the director is hopeful that in a few years, as-more consumers and businesses are forced to face the damage that unsustainable plastic is doing to the planet, the biomaterial will be much more widely used. “We really believe this is the material of the future,” says the director. “Little by little, a step at a time.”

1. What is a problem faced by the current world according to paragraph 1?

A．Pollution is becoming milder.

B．The rate of recycling is too low.

C．Plastic poses a threat to the ocean.

D．New material needs to be improved.

2. What do we know about the biomaterial?

A．It is of benefit to the environment.

B．It is cheaper than common plastic.

C．It is given a welcome by businesses.

D．It has gradually replaced common plastic.

3. What does the underlined word “incinerated” in paragraph 4 refer to?

A．Damaged.

B．Burned.

C．Selected.

D．Recovered.

4. Which can be the best title for the text?

A．New Material: One Way To Regain Fruit Peel

B．From Landfill To Furniture: The Journey Of Furniture

C．Sustainable Material: The Future Of Eco-Friendly Furniture

D．Italian Businesses Using New Strategies To Manage Industrial Waste

4 . Are aliens trying to contact the Earth? Six new mysterious blasts of radio energy are detected from deep space. While the source of the waves remains unknown, some suggest the mysterious bursts of energy could be a sign of alien life trying to contact us. The waves were detected by researchers from McGill University in Montreal.

The detection follows 11 previously recorded fast radio bursts (FRBs) from the same location, called FRB121102. This is the only known repeater of FRBs. Although there have been a number of FRBs from the site, the origin of the radio bursts remains a puzzle to researchers.

But the researchers say that the repeated FRBs imply that whatever is causing the FRBs is not a one-time event, such as an explosion or a collision. Instead, they say that flares (耀斑) from a young neutron star (中子星) are a promising candidate.

Previously when waves have been detected, astronomers have also asked Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) to take a closer look at whether they could be a message from aliens. But it is unclear whether the researchers will ask SETI to help this time.

If there were any intelligent alien life forms out there, in Stephen Hawking’s opinion, we were playing a dangerous game by trying to contact them. If alien s discovered the Earth, they would likely want to conquer and colonize our planet.

But the co-founder and former director of the SETI Institute, Jill Tarter, doesn’t think this will be the case. She argues any alien s who have managed to travel across the universe may be friendly and peaceful. “The idea of a civilization which has managed to survive far longer than we have... and the fact that the technology remains an aggressive one, to me, doesn’t make sense,” she said.

1. What is the purpose of the question in paragraph 1?

A．To draw readers’ attention.

B．To indicate commonality in astronomy.

C．To emphasize the mystery of the source.

D．To highlight the discovery’s significance.

2. What is the most likely cause of the FRBs according to the text?

A．Messages from aliens.

B．The explosion of a star.

C．Flares from a neutron star.

D．A collision between two stars.

3. Which might agree with Stephen Hawking’s view?

A．We should try to find the aliens.

B．The aliens may conquer the Earth.

C．We can play games with the aliens.

D．The aliens may live with us one day.

4. What is Jill Tarter’s attitude to contact with the aliens?

A．Doubtful.

B．Critical.

C．Indifferent.

D．Supportive.

5 . From a fish and chip stall, Jenny has come to be the toast of London’s foodie scene. She has achieved a remarkable feat by becoming a famous chef, a distinction that has been a dream coming true for her. “It’s still sinking in,” she said, expressing her surprise at the overwhelming social media response to her accomplishment.

Her restaurant is a unique space where modern West African cuisine takes center stage, highlighting the rich culinary (烹饪的) traditions of Nigeria’s Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo ethnic groups. “In my restaurant, I bring together these three culinary traditions, providing an exciting journey for diners,” Jenny described. Each dish tells a story, from a black sauce for fish, a postpartum (产后的) meal for new mothers, to a fermented tomato sauce.

Jenny’s love for food began at a young age, but she was initially guided towards a more traditional career path. She studied biological sciences in university, where she also ran a fish and chip cart. Her move to the UK in 1999 marked the beginning of her journey towards culinary success.

As for her, her restaurant is not only a restaurant but also Jenny’s way of honoring her heritage and the food her grandmother used to prepare. “The memory of my grandmother’s cooking inspires me every day,” she shared. Jenny’s cooking shows heartfelt respect for her roots, and her mission is to showcase the flavors of her culture.

Jenny longs to be a role model for chefs from diverse backgrounds. She recognizes the value of representation and hopes her success can inspire other chefs in the UK. She notes that while the industry is slowly becoming more inclusive, it’s crucial for employers, landlords, critics, and investors to expand their perspectives to support a variety of cuisines.

Her fame is a testament (证明) to her talent and dedication, but it’s the personal connection to her dishes and the memories of home-cooked meals that truly fuel her passion. Jenny’s story is a shining example of how one can achieve their dreams while staying true to their cultural identity.

1. What is the character of Jenny’s restaurant?

A．It serves traditional British cuisine.

B．It is famous for postpartum meals only.

C．It is managed by a social media influencer.

D．It features West African culinary traditions.

2. What was Jenny’s initial step to her career path?

A．Being a biological sciences student.

B．Being a social media influencer.

C．Being a corporate executive.

D．Being a professional chef.

3. What can we infer about Jenny?

A．She prioritizes commercial success over culture.

B．She aims to westernize traditional Nigerian cuisine.

C．She uses her restaurant as a medium for scientific research.

D．She integrates her personal history with her professional knowledge.

4. What does Jenny desire to contribute to the culinary world?

A．Celebrity status.	B．Culinary revolution.
C．Diversity in cooking.	D．Profits of her restaurant.

6 . Welcome to the California Science Center

Here is a guide to the California Science Center.

Accessibility Services & Facilities

We are committed to breaking down any barrier to access. If you have questions about accessibility, please call us at (213) 744-2019 or contact us online or stop by our Information Desk just inside the main entrance.

Sensory & Mobility Considerations

Light, noise and crowds vary widely throughout the building. Please feel free to bring your own noise-canceling headphones or other calming items. All spaces in the center are wheelchair accessible. All floors are accessible by elevator or stairs.

● Parking & Restrooms

Accessible parking spaces are available on the three floors of the Science Center parking lot. Accessible parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking is $15 per vehicle.

All the restrooms here are wheelchair accessible. Private family style restrooms are available upon request, please see any Guest Services Host.

● Wheelchairs & Service Animals

Standard manual wheelchairs are available for free at the Information Desk, used inside the California Science Center.

Service dogs trained to do work or perform specific tasks for a guest with a disability are welcome in all of the Science Center spaces. Emotional animals and pets are not permitted.

Language & Communication Considerations
● Language Assistance

Our Bilingual (双语的) Guest Services and Education staff members wear buttons indicating languages in which they are fluent. In addition, the Information Desk offers maps in six different languages.

● Audio Guides

Audio guides in both English and Spanish are often available for special exhibits. For special exhibits with audio guides, transcripts are available at the entrance to the exhibit upon request.

Click here for more information about the center. We want every guest to participate equally in the excitement of experiencing science!

1. How many ways to inquire about accessibility in the California Science Center are mentioned?

A．3.

B．4.

C．5.

D．6.

2. What do we know about the California Science Center?

A．It is unfriendly to the disabled.	B．Its parking spaces vary in price.
C．It offers multi-language service	D．It allows emotional pets to enter.

3. From which is the text probably taken?

A．A web page.	B．A news report.
C．A science textbook.	D．An academic paper.

7 . Years ago, I bought a blouse. That same day, I considered putting it on, but for no particular reason decided not to. That weekend, I again considered wearing the blouse, but the occasion didn’t seem special enough, so again, I passed. Fast forward to today. I have never worn that blouse.

What happened here? Why do people own so many unused possessions, treating them as though they are too special to use? To find out, I ran an experiment in which participants imagined buying a bottle of wine. We had half of the participants imagine considering opening it one night, but deciding not to. Then when we measured how special the wine seemed, and participants intentions to open it later we found that those who had imagined holding off on opening it were in fact less likely to intend to open it later. When asked the reason, most assumed they were waiting for a future occasion to open it a more special occasion.

Why do people fall into this mental trap? Prior research points to a recipe for what psychologists term “specialness spirals”. When you give up using something, if you believe that you are waiting to use it, the possession will start to feel more special. And as you search for the right occasion day after day it becomes more tempting (吸引人的) to hold out for a future occasion. The less you use it, though, the more special it feels, and the cycle continues. Ultimately, the likelihood (可能性) of using the possession becomes rarer and rarer. The more this happens, the more stuff you have lying around.

How can you fight specialness spirals? Try committing in advance to using an item on a specific occasion. When buying a dress, tell yourself you’ll wear it this weekend. Or when purchasing a candle, plan to light it that day. This strategy encourages you to actually enjoy your possessions.

1. Why has the author’s blouse sat unworn for many years?

A．She forgot where it was put.	B．She soon grew to dislike it.
C．She had no other clothes to match it.	D．She failed to find a right occasion to wear it.

2. What were the participants asked to do in the experiment?

A．Discuss how to deal with the wine.	B．List reasons for drinking the wine.
C．Decide whether to drink the wine.	D．Evaluate the quality of the wine.

3. What can we learn about specialness spirals?

A．They result from an optimistic attitude to the future.

B．They help explain the psychology of delayed rewards.

C．They can attract people into shopping traps.

D．They can lead to a collection of unused stuff.

4. What is the main purpose of the text?

A．To describe a purchase experience.	B．To explain a psychological phenomenon.
C．To criticize a wrong consumption concept.	D．To encourage people to prepare for a rainy day.

8 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Who is the speaker?

A．A sales assistant.

B．A volunteer firefighter.

C．A house designer.

2. What did the speaker do for the homeowner?

A．He saved her dog.

B．He cleared up her house.

C．He got her a pair of shoes.

3. What does the speaker think of his job?

A．It’s worthwhile.

B．It’s demanding.

C．It’s easy.

9 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the man probably doing?

A．Promoting a product.

B．Hosting a program.

C．Conducting a survey.

2. Why did Lucy give up her phone?

A．Because of a school project.

B．Because of a health problem.

C．Because of her parents’ words.

3. What did Lucy’s brother advise her to do to take her mind off the phone?

A．See movies.

B．Read books.

C．Do exercise.

4. What is the biggest advantage of being phone-free for Lucy?

A．She becomes braver.

B．She sleeps better.

C．She concentrates more.

10 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is Wing Wang good at about Chinese?

A．Vocabulary.

B．Pronunciation.

C．Grammar.

2. Who has the least Chinese teaching experience?

A．Wing Wang.

B．Melody Weng.

C．Summer Sun.

3. What do we know about Melody Weng?

A．She is a master guide.

B．She taught history before.

C．She knows Chinese music.

4. What will the man do for the woman next?

A．Tell her a site.

B．Find her a job.

C．Introduce her to a trip.