1 . Have you ever paid attention to the color of the airplane seats? They’re almost always blue and there are very few exceptions to this rule. Some people think it reminds us of the sky. But the explanation isn’t that simple!

It is calming.

Color psychology plays an important role in selecting the fabric for airplane seats. “The idea is to help passengers feel at home, with relaxing colors and restful designs,” explained Shelly Zundell in a Boeing press release.     1     Blue is a calming color that suggests peace, calmness, and relaxation.

    2    

In a study reported by Popular Science, 48 percent of participants thought soda in a blue glass was more thirst-quenching (解渴的) than that served in glasses of other colors, probably because they connected blue with cold. Colors such as red and orange can make people feel warmer. Although it’s not unheard of, red is a less common color for airplane seats.     3    

It is a universally well-liked color.

    4     It’s a universal color that’s appealing to most. This is also the same reason why many brands have blue logos. People universally connect the color with positive things — such as clean water and blue skies — so they tend to like it. Across ages and across cultures, it’s the world’s favorite color.

The right shade hides stains (污渍) well.

Dark blue seats are also just practical. Imagine how many people sit in them per day.     5    

Darker shades are better at hiding stains and don’t show their wear as easily. Those dark blue seats will look fresher and newer for longer.

A．It physically feels cooler.

B．It reflects a cool professionalism.

C．But is there any other explanation?

D．And who knows what gets spilled on them?

E．People often connect certain colors with certain feelings.

F．Feeling hot when you board an airplane is good for no one.

G．It’s hard to find someone who has strong feelings against the color blue.

2 . I had been swimming for years but was ready to quit. My _________ reason was that I kept receiving “Honorable Mentions”, just because I showed up.

One day before a big swim meet, I decided to _________ the news to my grandma that I was _________ the swim team. When I told her, she said, “Baby, remember: Quitters never win and winners never quit.” I was _______   to say anything but “Yes, ma’am.”

The next day we arrived at the swim meet late, _________ my group. My coach _________ I swim with the older group. I knew she was _________ me in the race so our journey to the meet would not be wasted, and she had no expectations that I would _________ anything but eighth place as there weren’t nine _________.

As I was __________ the board, my grandmas words rang in my head. I shut my eyes and took a deep breath.

SPLASH! I swam harder than ever. After a little while, I was __________ to find that I had a half-body length ________ over others. However, they soon __________ the gap. Halfway through the race, the girl to my left almost ________ me. Right then, the powerful words __________ again in my ears. I __________ my arms and legs and used every last bit of __________ to swim the last 50 meters.

I made it! Narrow victory as it was, I did win my first real __________ that day. Everything felt like a dream as I stood on the winner’s __________. Back at home, I __________ replaced all the “Honorable Mentions” on my shelf.

1.

A．laid-back

B．number-one

C．first-hand

D．ground-breaking

2.

A．break

B．deliver

C．acquaint

D．remind

3.

A．choosing

B．depositing

C．joining

D．quitting

4.

A．satisfied

B．choked

C．excited

D．exhausted

5.

A．missing

B．finding

C．departing

D．building

6.

A．assumed

B．defended

C．insisted

D．expected

7.

A．telling

B．endeavoring

C．inviting

D．including

8.

A．come out

B．come about

C．come in

D．come to

9.

A．arenas

B．lanes

C．courts

D．tracks

10.

A．assessing

B．approaching

C．inspecting

D．mounting

11.

A．surprised

B．energized

C．terrified

D．refreshed

12.

A．pioneer

B．lead

C．edge

D．session

13.

A．jumped

B．bridged

C．widened

D．narrowed

14.

A．joined up with

B．put up with

C．drew level with

D．filled up with

15.

A．blessed

B．echoed

C．called

D．clarified

16.

A．willed

B．tried

C．shook

D．swung

17.

A．confidence

B．motivation

C．strength

D．pursuit

18.

A．goal

B．medal

C．reward

D．diploma

19.

A．podium

B．orbit

C．zone

D．format

20.

A．devotedly

B．awkwardly

C．hesitantly

D．joyfully

3 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Space tourism is fast becoming a reality, thanks to pioneers like Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson who have ventured to the edge of space, making it     1     (access) to individuals. The era of space vacations is on the horizon,     2     (offer) multi-day escapes that rival traditional getaways.

A space hotel will have been opened     3     2027 by Orbital Assembly Corporation (OAC). Voyager Station, the world’s first luxury space resort,     4     (accommodate) 280 guests and 112 crew members with complete facilities, providing an unparalleled space experience in the near future.

    5     space tourism may seem novel, it dates back hundreds or thousands of years, with Voyager Stations design inspired by the concept of a rotating wheel that generates artificial gravity.     6     (initial), the station will offer lunar-level gravity, like Earth’s gravity. This unique lunar environment     7     (promise) exciting possibilities for individuals with disabilities and the able-bodied.

Guests will embark on their celestial journey, arriving at a central, zero-gravity docking hub (对接枢纽) before     8     (transport) to habitation modules(独立仓) not far away. It’s at the edge of the wheel     9     centrifugal (离心的) force will provide gravity for daily activities.

As technology advances and transportation costs decrease, the dream of space tourism could soon become       10     reality. The rapidly growing space commerce industry and competition among companies further support the possibility of this ambitious vision.

4 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What is the speaker mainly talking about?

A．Cooling fans.

B．Air conditioning.

C．Room design.

2. Which country might have invented the first cooling device?

A．Egypt.

B．Rome.

C．China.

3. Which cooling method has the longest history?

A．Wet plants.

B．Cold water.

C．Hand fans.

4. Where is the passage most probably taken from?

A．A radio programme.

B．A culture magazine.

C．A history book.

5 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the woman recommending to the man?

A．A book.

B．A club.

C．A course.

2. What is the woman reading now?

A．The Beautiful Mind.

B．The Kite Runner.

C．The Great Gatsby.

3. How much time does the man have to read the book?

A．About two weeks.

B．About three weeks.

C．About one month.

6 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

In recent years, food     1     (become) one of the favorite travel themes for young people. In 2024, Tianshui in Gansu became another Zibo or Harbin due to     2     spicy hot pot. The chili peppers from Gangu in Tianshui, pepper from Wudu, wide rice noodles from Zhuanglang, potatoes from Dingxi..., these unique     3     (ingredient) are said to be the soul of Gansu’s spicy hot pot. In a spicy hot pot restaurant in Gansu, dishes are usually skewered (串) with bamboo sticks and placed in bundles. They     4     (typical) cost one or two yuan per skewer and will never be too expensive       5     (afford). After you pick     6     you like and hand them over to the boss, various ingredients are cooked in     7     (boil) soup and put into a plate without sticks; original soup is ladled onto them; two spoonfuls of chili oil are finally poured onto the dish,     8     (release) an explosion of aroma (芳香) within the bowl.

The spicy hot pot has aroused people’s interest in Tianshui, a thousand-year-old city. Besides the spicy hot pot, as an ancient city     9     a history of over 2700 years, Tianshui boasts a series of scenic spots such as Maijishan Grottoes, Nanguo Temple, and Xiguan Ancient City. Some     10     (history) figures like Jiang Wei and Li Guang were born here.

7 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What are the speakers probably doing?

A．Watching a match on TV.

B．Listening to a programme on the radio.

C．Reading advertisements in the newspaper.

2. What kind of person does the company need?

A．A junior sales manager.

B．A general manager.

C．A secretary.

3. What will the man most probably do next?

A．Make an application for the job.

B．Go and look for another job.

C．Give the job a serious thought.

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the nationality of the Bronte sisters?

A．Irish.

B．English.

C．American.

2. Why are the Brontes’ novels popular around the world?

A．They are creative.

B．They are full of humor.

C．They are interesting.

3. What did the Brontes like to do when they were young?

A．Write poems.

B．Invent.

C．Read essays.

9 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. How often does the woman watch a football match?

A．Every day.

B．Once a week.

C．Once a month.

2. What is the man’s favorite sport?

A．Football.

B．Basketball.

C．Volleyball.

3. What do we know about the woman?

A．She does not play football.

B．She’s a good basketball player.

C．She used to watch football a lot.

10 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. When did the woman start architecture studies?

A．Last week.

B．Last month.

C．Last year.

2. What can we learn from the conversation?

A．English is very useful in the woman’s job.

B．The woman will work in England after graduation.

C．The woman’s English is very good.

3. What has made the woman choose architecture as a career?

A．Her teacher’s suggestion.

B．Her parents’ expectation.

C．Her personal qualities.