1 . Monarch butterflies (帝王蝶) are edging dangerously close to extinction despite a decision late last year to remove the orange-and-black insects from the endangered species list, a new study has found.

An annual survey led by the World Wildlife Fund(WWF)of the species wintering in central Mexico found the second-lowest number of monarch butterflies on record, meaning they took up just 2.2 acres of regional forests, 59% less than during the 2022 — 2023 winter season. The findings are troubling to scientists determined to protect the species.

Each year, monarch butterflies migrate (迁徙) thousands of miles from southern Canada and the northern and central US to the mountain forests of central Mexico. They require a large and healthy forest to protect them from winds, rain and low temperatures in the areas where they migrate for winter. Yet because of heat and drought brought on by climate change, scientists say, their natural habitat is quickly depleting. Scientists with the WWF considered this winter season’s findings serious and said they represented the second-smallest area taken up by monarch butterflies in Mexico since 1993.

What’s worse, in recent years, their breeding areas in Canada and the US have seen a reduction in milkweed leaves where female monarch butterflies lay their eggs. “Land-use changes in the United States, combined with the widespread use of chemicals, also contributed to the loss of milkweed and other plants that adult monarch butterflies feed on,” the WWF said.

Monarch butterflies play an important role in maintaining plant ecosystems and are also an important food source for birds, small animals and other insects, according to the National Park Service. It’s necessary that all governments, communities, scientists, and others continue to strengthen our protection efforts to support their unique migration.

1. Why do monarch butterflies fly to central Mexico each year?

A．To spend winter.	B．To lay eggs.
C．To search for shelter.	D．To escape from enemies.

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

A．Shifting.

B．Disappearing.

C．Recovering.

D．Increasing.

3. What may have nothing to do with the reduction in monarch butterflies’ number?

A．The loss of food sources.

B．The widespread use of chemicals.

C．The land-use changes in the United States.

D．The threat of being eaten by other animals.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To raise people’s awareness about climate change.

B．To call for more measures to protect monarch butterflies.

C．To inform people of the serious situation of monarch butterflies.

D．To prove monarch butterflies should be on the endangered species list.

2 . Scientists have long believed that Mars was wet around three billion years ago and then lost much of its water. But a new study presents evidence of water activity from about 700 million years ago, posing a new puzzle about Mars and its history for scientists to crack in their future studies.

The new study is based on data from China’s Zhurong rover (“祝融号”火星车), part of the Tianwen-1 mission that touched down on the surface of Mars in May 2021. In particular, the scientists used data the rover gathered during its first 92 Martian days, at its landing site in Utopia Planitia. Yang Liu, a researcher from the Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS), and his colleagues analyzed data from three different instruments on Zhurong. Those instruments studied minerals that suggest the presence of a large quantity of liquid water at the site about 700 million years ago, which scientists previously thought was dry.

“This is a very interesting result. We have very little recorded evidence of young liquid water systems on Mars. And for the ones we have, they were usually in the form of salt minerals,” says Dr. Scheller, a scientist at the California Institute of Technology. He explained Zhurong’s instruments spotted water molecules locked away in the rock, which was different from other young liquid water environments that have been observed.

“One of the major things we’ll have to find out and that I look forward to seeing from the Zhurong rover is how extensive these ‘young’ water-bearing minerals are,” Dr. Scheller said. “Are they common or uncommon in these ‘young’ rocks?” Zhurong has now covered about two kilometers during its more than 350 Martian days and has analyzed a range of features on its travels, meaning more new Martian insights are likely still to come from the rover.

NASA has so far sent its Mars rovers to ancient landing sites, dating back to more than 3.7 billion years ago. Zhurong is not just an extra set of wheels on Mars, but a powerful suite of instruments exploring a new, geologically young site to open new windows of opportunity for research on Mars.

1. What does the underlined word “crack” in paragraph 1 mean?

A．Keep.

B．Doubt.

C．Solve.

D．Create.

2. What does the new study show according to paragraph 2?

A．The inaccuracy of data gathered on Mars.

B．Functional limitations of instruments on Mars.

C．Main reasons for the failure of the Tianwen-1 mission.

D．The misconception of past thinking about Martian water.

3. Which of the following does Dr. Scheller convey?

A．The result has been recorded by many scientists.

B．Zhurong’s wide analyses will bring more surprises.

C．Salt minerals are younger than water-bear ing minerals.

D．Young water-bearing minerals are common in young rocks.

4. Which word can best describe Zhurong?

A．Ancient.

B．Common.

C．Alarming.

D．Promising.

3 . Steps Towards Unlocking Your Inner Wisdom

At the core of your life lies sense, a powerful force that exists within. Knowing how to follow your sense can help you guide your life.     1    

●Seek loneliness and stillness. In a world filled with noises, finding inner peace requires silencing the noise around you.    2     Try taking a relaxing walk, dipping yourself in nature, deep thinking, or simply enjoying a quiet coffee while observing the world. Engage in activities that calm your soul to achieve a state where your sense flourishes in its full glory.

●Develop self-awareness.     3     Strong intuitive people often spend time on self-examination and spare time for self-awareness training. Instead of running from their emotions, they hug them with openness and acceptance. To follow your inner voice, consider all that lies within. Ask yourself, "What am I feeling right now?" Explore desires, fears or goals that come to light. Take time to sit with your body and run through a full body scan.

●    4     Life is not foretold. Many people struggle to maintain aspects of their lives. Despite inner fear of uncertainty, following your sense may lead you down unfamiliar paths. Welcome this uncertainty with an open heart and an eager spirit. By trusting in its guidance, sense provides priceless help through each stage of life.

●Take action with intention. Once your sense gives guidance, trust yourself enough to act on it on purpose.     5     The idea of gradually progressing to more important, high-pressure decisions increases your ability to deal with discomfort more effectively.

A．Explore the unknown.

B．Stay away from unfamiliar paths.

C．You need to find a place free from any interruption.

D．It is better to think about high-pressure decisions first.

E．Learn how to believe in your sense by making small choices.

F．Raising your sense requires a deep understanding of yourself.

G．And insights gained from your sense can affect everything you do in life.

4 . Insider Flight Tips for Your Journey

Anyone can book a trip, but not everyone can plan an ultimate adventure that is affordable, accommodating and fun. At www. tripinsiders. org, we aim to provide you with the best insider secrets in the travel business. And on this website, we also offer a state-of-the-art travel comparison tool to make planning easier than ever. Here are some insider tips that we'd like to share with you about flights.

Look for Glitch (小故障) Fares

Online booking systems for airfare don’t come without a pricing mistake every once in a while. Follow deal-minded travel sites and blogs to learn about pricing mistakes that work in your favor. This is the most useful if you live near a major airport and have a flexible schedule.

Consider Alternate Airports

Some major cities have more than one airport, so make sure to check them all for the cheapest fares. For example, if you’re planning to visit the Bay Area of California, check for rates in both San Francisco International Airport and Oakland International Airport.

Cross the Border by Land

Domestic flights are often cheaper than international ones, so if you live near a border and want to fly to a neighboring country, you can save by crossing the border by land and then catching a domestic flight. For example, Toronto residents may save by crossing the American border into Buffalo and then flying to another American city.

Use a Digital Luggage Scale

There’s nothing more frustrating than learning that your bag is too heavy to fly or that it’ll cost you extra when you arrive at the airport. Digital luggage scales are great for making sure that you’re not going over the baggage limit with your new souvenirs.

1. What is the main purpose of www.tripinsiders.org ?

A．To recommend travel websites.	B．To fund the travel business.
C．To advertise a travel agency.	D．To uncover travel business secrets.

2. What is advised for air travel?

A．Selecting airports.	B．Flying the border.
C．Carrying more baggage.	D．Having a fixed schedule.

3. What do the four tips have in common?

A．They cover all aspects of a trip.	B．They help travelers save money.
C．They merely apply to businessmen.	D．They are only for Toronto residents.

5 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What did Spanish merchant take to the Americans?

A．Corn.

B．Wheat.

C．Potatoes.

2. Why did Balboa feel surprised?

A．He saw the Pacific Ocean.

B．There were many jungles.

C．Panama was so narrow.

3. When did Francisco Pizarro leave for the Inca Empire?

A．In 1513.

B．In 1524.

C．In 1533.

4. What was the Inca Empire rich in?

A．Wildlife.

B．Rocks.

C．Gold and silver.

6 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What mainly made the man hesitate to visit the White House?

A．Lack of interest.

B．The tight security.

C．The historical atmosphere.

2. How did the woman get the tour information?

A．From the website.

B．From the local paper.

C．From the travel guide.

3. Where are the speakers probably now?

A．In the White House.

B．In a dining hall.

C．At an airport.

4. What is the man like?

A．Serious.

B．Humorous.

C．Careful.

7 . 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。

I was not sure why my dad and my uncle always disagreed with each other in the beginning. They spent many Sundays sitting at opposite ends of the table, arguing about everything. I didn’t think they got along well.

When I was eighteen, I got a call in my college dorm that my dad was having a health problem. My mom picked me up at midnight, so I could be there the next day when my dad was scheduled to transfer(转移) to a better hospital. I didn’t sleep that night, not a while. I was nervous and almost crazy when we arrived at the hospital early the next morning before the transfer.

That morning, as my mom and I walked down the hallway of the hospital, we could see straight into my dad’s room. A tall man wearing a stylish suit stood beside my father’s bed with his back to us. In surprise, my mom said to me, “How nice it is for a doctor to come by to see your dad so early in the morning.” The man was quiet and still, looking down, but he was holding both of my dad’s hands in his own. It seemed not to be a typical doctor’s behavior.

“It’s not a doctor,” I whispered softly to my mom. When the man turned around, we found that it was my uncle. However, little did I know I would continue to reflect on that quiet moment for decades. And it would be the beginning of something truly wonderful.

The hours that followed were some of the most hardest time of my youth. My dad had a serious stomach problem and had to be in hospital for quite a long time. My uncle stayed with us the entire time. For one thing, my uncle tried every way to get my dad to eat something. For another thing, he brought me healthy snacks and made sure I actually ate them even though I had no appetite. When my mother and I were scared that my dad’s illness would get worse, my uncle was always by our side.

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。

Throughout those difficult days in the hospital, I watched my uncle in a new light.

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From then on, the relationship between my dad and my uncle became closer.

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8 . Travis Gienger set a record for growing the world’s heaviest pumpkin, which weighed about 1,247 kilograms, in 2023. The middle-aged man was named the winner on Monday of the 50th Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California. He won the same con test in 2022, whose pumpkin weighed 1,161 kilograms. The past world record for the heaviest pumpkin was set by a grower in Italy who produced a 1,226-kilogram pumpkin in 2021. “I was not expecting that,” Gienger said. He added that it felt good to win the world record.

Gienger is a teacher at Anoka Technical College in Anoka, Minnesota. He teaches agriculture and growing methods. And he has been producing pumpkins for nearly 30 years like his elders, especially his father, who used to raise pumpkins in the home property, which got him interested in planting. Gienger later devoted himself to working the land to plant.

Gienger first competed in Half Moon Bay’s yearly con test in 2020. He won three of the city’s last four pumpkin contests. “I put in the work so that I can put a smile on people’s faces, and it’s just so nice coming out here to see everyone in this town,” Gienger said.

Gienger, who grew the pumpkins on the farm, had given his plants more care. This included watering them up to 12 times a day and feeding or fertilizing them, a little more than usual. Those contributed to his greater success in 2023.

The pumpkin champion won a $30,000 prize for growing the biggest pumpkin and setting a world record. Gienger’s pumpkin would be shown along with the second-place winners at the city’s upcoming Pumpkin Festival. At the event, visitors would be able to look at the pumpkin prize and take pictures with the growers.

In the United States, pumpkins are popular throughout the autumn. During the US holiday Halloween, on October 31, many people turn them into “jack-o’-lanterns”. A jack-o’-lantern is a pumpkin that has been carved, usually to show a frightening or funny face.

1. How did Gienger feel about his winning the world record?

A．Surprised.

B．Suspicious.

C．Expected.

D．Embarrassed.

2. What affected Gienger’s career choice?

A．His family tradition.	B．His love for his farm.
C．His promise to his father.	D．His desire for winning a prize.

3. What does the author want to explain in paragraph 4?

A．How many awards Gienger got in 2023.

B．How long Gienger worked a day in 2023.

C．Why Gienger grew pumpkins on the farm.

D．Why Gienger’s pumpkin was heavier than before.

4. What do we know about the award-winning pumpkin in 2023?

A．It would be given to a visitor.

B．It would be made into a lantern.

C．It would be on show at a festival.

D．It would be used to decorate pictures.

9 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Where are the speakers?

A．In a park.

B．In a hospital.

C．In a gym.

2. What happened to the woman yesterday?

A．She fell off the bed.

B．She had trouble in breathing.

C．She felt painful in her heart.

3. What was the woman’s decision?

A．To have a physical examination regularly.

B．To get more sleep every night.

C．To change her lifestyle.

4. What annoys the woman most?

A．Getting up early.

B．Giving up fried chips.

C．Having terrible dreams.

10 . 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。

Mother’s Day was around the corner. Everyone in the class was discussing what gift they should give to their beloved moms. Their teacher, Ms. Jenkins, was instructing them to make pretty postcards with a soulful message.

On Monday morning, Ms. Jenkins entered the classroom. Before she could say something to greet the kids as usual, 8-year-old Simon raised his hand as quickly as possible.

“Yes, Simon?” asked the teacher with a questioning look and the big smile often hanging on her face.

“Excuse me, Ms. Jenkins. What did you get for Mother’s Day?” he inquired.

All his classmates looked at their teacher and Ms. Jenkins smiled again, struggling to hide her sadness, which flashed across her face. “Sadly, nothing. Simon, I don’t have kids.”

Simon felt sorry for his teacher. He could not figure why. It seemed unfair that she didn’t receive anything for Mother’s Day when she was surrounded by kids all the time. She should have received something. Suddenly a good idea hit him.

That afternoon, school over, Simon flew home like a rabbit. After having finished counting the few dollars in his piggy bank, he asked his mother to take him to the flower shop nearby.

When they got in the car, Simon explained to his mother what he would do. Having understood the whole story, his mother looked at him with a loving expression.

The following day, Simon arrived at his classroom with a bunch of flowers and presented it to Ms. Jenkins with a bright smile. “I know you’re not a mother, but you treat us with kindness, affection and patience. You surely deserve a Mother’s Day gift, too,” he said to his teacher, whose jaw dropped in shock. The other kids applauded as Simon hugged Ms. Jenkins.

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。

Astonished and joyful, Ms. Jenkins stood there still.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The other kids came up one by one.

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