1 . Employers are flooded with job applications on a daily basis. A recent study found that employers spend an average of six seconds reading a cover letter (求职信) before they make the initial decision on whether a candidate fits the job or not. Here's how to make sure yours gets the attention it deserves.

Add your cover letter keywords.     1     Underline keywords in the job advertisement describing the skills, training and experience that are required, and this will help you find important keywords that let you know what kind of employee the company is hoping to find. Use these same keywords throughout your cover letter.

    2     Each version of your cover letter should talk about how your skills will benefit the particular organization that you want to work for. You want to target the organization’s needs — not your own. Demonstrate how you could help them achieve their goals.     3    

Show you “get” them. Your cover letter should demonstrate that you have done some research into what the organization’s pain points are.     4     This can help your cover letter take the right tone. If you’re applying for an administrative position, be sure to mention your time-management skills; if you’re an IT professional, include your expert knowledge and skills in improving efficiency. Always ask yourself: How can I help this company?

Proofread (校对). Don’t assume spell check will catch every mistake.     5     Slowly review your cover letter to make sure everything reads properly. Having someone else read your cover letter is a good idea.

A．Actually, it won’t.

B．Adapt for the company.

C．Highlight your past achievements.

D．Address your cover letter to the proper person.

E．This helps you to tailor your cover letter to the role.

F．Remember that you’re selling yourself, but the employer has to want to buy.

G．It’s important to present yourself as a solution to a hiring manager’s problem.

2 . Once I’d reached retirement age I spent a lot of time travelling to distant countries, and after seeing a documentary on Mount Kilimanjaro, I thought perhaps I should give it a _________.

When I made ________ with my favorite travel company, I was told their age limit for the ________ was 80, and as I was 79 at the time I realized it was a question of now or never! I ________ up and the date I was given meant that if I could make it to the summit (顶峰), I’d arrive on the day before my 80th _________

When I arrived in Tanzania, Africa, I ________ a group of seven ladies and eight gentlemen, all of whom I could see were half my age. I could also tell from the _______ that the man in charge would have been ________ without me, and he gave me strict ________ to always walk immediately behind the leader. I noticed too that he’d asked two of the group to keep an eye on me, as they were ________ checking to see if I was OK.

For the first three days we had excellent weather, and hour after hour we trudged (跋涉) inline, with occasional ________ for toilet and snacks. However, halfway through day four, the boss suddenly shouted my name from the end of the line, and when I _______ in response he yelled, “Norman, you are summit material!”

From then on, no one ________ on me, and on day five we all reached the summit and then ________ to the peak. In spite of the fact that my birthday was a day away, everyone stood together and sang Happy Birthday To You. You could say we’d become a     _________.

1.

A．run

B．reach

C．walk

D．go

2.

A．inquires

B．comments

C．forecasts

D．friends

3.

A．hike

B．cycle

C．climb

D．ride

4.

A．picked

B．signed

C．caught

D．grew

5.

A．birthday

B．celebration

C．anniversary

D．ceremony

6.

A．formed

B．examined

C．obtained

D．joined

7.

A．end

B．start

C．course

D．result

8.

A．angrier

B．crazier

C．happier

D．busier

9.

A．instructions

B．deadlines

C．conversations

D．conditions

10.

A．gradually

B．constantly

C．reluctantly

D．excitedly

11.

A．chances

B．hunts

C．hopes

D．breaks

12.

A．looked up

B．came back

C．turned round

D．hung out

13.

A．checked

B．depended

C．called

D．blamed

14.

A．returned

B．progressed

C．delivered

D．reacted

15.

A．class

B．committee

C．club

D．family

3 . 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 heard the door open and knew it wouldn’t be long before my husband Paul would come through the door. I feared his arrival. Don’t get me wrong —I love him dearly, but recently he had started to ask too many questions. He was really getting on my nerves.

“Hi baby, I’m home,” came his voice. “Where are you?”

“In here,” I replied. I was lying on our bed watching the five o’clock news in my pajamas（睡衣）.

“You’re still in your pajamas, again? You would feel better if you got dressed.”

“Why? I’m not going any place,” I replied testily. He just sighed and started changing his clothes.

We weren’t fighting but we weren’t exactly getting along famously either. My early retirement had come unexpectedly and although it was due to health issues, they weren’t severe enough to “allow” me stay in pajamas all day.

Everyone kept telling me it took time to adjust, that I would be very busy if I gave myself a chance. I didn’t want to be just busy; I wanted a purpose. Meanwhile, as I searched for meaning in my life again, my husband stepped in and suggested we get a dog.

The next Wednesday morning he said, “Hey, get dressed. Today we’re going to the dog-shelter.” “Oh, no…I can’t.”

“Why not? You going, somewhere?” he asked.

“Well, um; I’m not ready for that commitment,” I replied.

“Sallie, we’re getting a dog, not adopting a baby!”

We went to the shelter and returned with a Beagle-Doxie mix. I named her Mollie, spelled with an “ie” just like my name.

I bounded out of bed the next morning, eager to take care of Mollie. I was greeted by doggie kisses and unconditional love. Mollie didn’t care that I didn’t have a career or that I have health issues. She just needed me. I fed her, bathed her, and started our daily routine of walks. Mollie and I were two needy souls who had found each other.

A funny thing happened: my energy returned.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

One recent winter evening, Mollie and I took our usual walk.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . 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。

Walking into the Suzhou Art Museum in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, the eyes of visitors are immediately drawn to an artwork hanging high on the wall     1     describes a vivid and lifelike cat,     2    (give)the surface impression of a contemporary art piece.

“Viewers mistake it     3     an oil painting at    4    (one)sight. We hope to fill the traditional craft with contemporary expressions,” says Zhang Fan, 48, one of the creators of the piece.

Next to the artwork     5    (be)two Su embroidery(苏绣)works coping with abstract photos taken by US photographer Michael Yamashita. All of these works are produced by Zhang and his mother, Zhang Meifang, 78,     6     master embroiderer who created the collision piece in cooperation with     7    (establish)physicist Tsung-dao Lee. In 2005, the Zhangs set up an embroidery innovative center, applying the ancient techniques of silk thread to modern art forms, including oil paintings, wall paintings, sculpted     8    (relief)and photos.

Su embroidery, known for its complicated techniques, elegant style and bright colors,     9    (typical)features birds, flowers, cats, landscapes, and figures. Most embroiderers in Jiangsu concentrate on Su embroidery, making     10     popular among both the upper class and the public for its delicate needlework.

6 . “Jen, do you hike?” Karen asked.

Was she talking to me? “Me? Yes, yeah, I ________”, I told her, whose sun-kissed checks suggested she was a ________.

“Great, do you want to come with us tomorrow morning? We meet in front of Bobbie’s house at 6:30, before it’s too ________, so we won’t sweat heavily. It’s about three miles total. Does that sound okay?”

Three miles. I wasn’t sure how ________ that was, partly because I didn’t hike. I ________ if hiking could be much different from walking. Being new to the town, and excited about an invitation from persons I wanted to befriend, I ________.

The next day, I got up early, showered, washed and ________ my hair. I left it a little messy, so it didn’t look like I had tried too ________. I took time to ________ comfortable “hiking clothes” and I ________ a bottle of water. When I arrived at Bobbie’s house, Karen and other three women was standing there, ________.

“Hey, Jen, I’m glad you came to hike,” she said ________ and hugged me. Then we started walking to the park. We walked rapidly along the sidewalk to the base of the Thunderbird Mountain.

That day, I became a hiker. By accepting the ________ to hike, I stretched myself, and made amazing new ________. I still enjoy hiking with them, and I imagine I will always remain ________ to these lovely women who enveloped me in their circle.

The great thing about new friends is that they bring new energy to my soul.

1.

A．check

B．hike

C．chat

D．answer

2.

A．farmer

B．teacher

C．regular

D．scholar

3.

A．hot

B．cold

C．wet

D．dry

4.

A．high

B．deep

C．wide

D．long

5.

A．suggested

B．wondered

C．promised

D．believed

6.

A．abandoned

B．hesitated

C．accepted

D．refused

7.

A．styled

B．touched

C．hid

D．sold

8.

A．little

B．hard

C．easily

D．gladly

9.

A．donate

B．produce

C．exhibit

D．select

10.

A．turned in

B．brought up

C．held on

D．took along

11.

A．hiking

B．jumping

C．waiting

D．arguing

12.

A．cheerfully

B．Curiously

C．officially

D．angrily

13.

A．message

B．invitation

C．experiment

D．exploration

14.

A．friends

B．neighbors

C．stories

D．theories

15.

A．useful

B．important

C．relaxed

D．connected

7 . Bing, also known as a Chinese pancake, is a traditional Chinese recipe, similar to pancakes. It is commonly made of dough (面团).     1    , be prepared to learn how to make these yummy recipes!

Step 1: Combine the ingredients

Combine the ingredients for the dough (flour, salt, and cooking oil). Knead (揉) the dough until it has a soft consistency that isn’t too wet. During this time, you can adjust the consistency, for example, by adding more oil or flour.     2    .

Step 2: Separate the dough

Separate the do ugh into different pieces, the size that you want.     3    , don’t separate it too much, and vice versa. You can use a rolling pin to help with making a circle. Chinese Pancake is commonly made in a circle shape, but can be any shape you want!

Step 3: Add spring onions

Add spring onions to the dough.     4     and sprinkle them on the bing. This gives the flavor for the cong you bing. The name “cong” in cong you bing actually refers to the spring onions. These can also be called scallions. green onions, and onions. You can also knead the dough again to mix the onion in.

Step 4: Fry both sides

Fry both sides of the pancake on low-medium heat until the sides are golden brown. It takes 3-5 minutes per side. Remember to take it out before the sides get dark brown. Fry for a short time if you want a soft pancake, and fry it for a longer time to make it crispier.

Step 5: Serve and enjoy!

    5    , but can be served in formal meals as well.

A．Divide it into ten equal pieces

B．Cut the onions into tiny pieces

C．It can be eaten as a casual food

D．Make sure you have enough dough

E．If this is already mouthwatering to you

F．If you want to make the pancake bigger

G．Heat up the pan while still working on the dough

8 . While conquering the world’s swimming pools in the late 1990s and the 2000s. Amanda Beard had already included breathing exercises in her training. Several years after the end of her athletic career, she discovered walking meditation. Today the seven-time US Olympic medalist practices walking meditation in nature, around the house, or while walking the dog. It’s a daily practice with the focused mindfulness of meditation that contributes positively to every aspect of her life, she says.

You don’t need equipment or a designated space to start. The idea of a walking meditation is to pay attention to the way your body feels, noticing things like the sky, trees, tuning into all of your senses. This means you can meditate “on the go” in the countryside, in the city, in your backyard, and virtually anywhere. A simple, 10-minute walking meditation for beginners requires that you just start at ease. Consider what you hear, smell and see. Think about how your feet touch the ground. Fully focus on these feelings.

A report in Health Promotion Perspectives also found that walking meditation can improve your balance, adjust your heart rate, boost your mental focus, and help you battle anxiety and depression. “The benefits of meditation are many,” says Dr. Schramm, a board-certified family physician and meditation teacher. “When we do this over and over again, we train the brain to focus on only one thing at a time and this increases both our blood flow and actual neuronal (神经元) changes within our brains.”

“The magic of meditation is to be able to help you connect with yourself; meditation shouldn’t feel a certain way,” says Tara Stiles, a yoga and wellness expert. It’s a common mistake in meditation: People fear a wandering mind. “A wandering mind is completely normal,” Stiles says. “Even experienced meditators aren’t sitting there never having a thought, but when they have the thought they choose to guide themselves back to their breath instead of getting frustrated.

1. What is walking meditation?

A．Plain walking.	B．Mindful walking.
C．A competitive sport.	D．Deep thought while stationary.

2. Which of the following is recommended to a beginner starting walking meditation?

A．A familiar environment.	B．A 10-minute walking time.
C．A relaxed but observant state.	D．A piece of special equipment.

3. What is the brain’s reaction to walking meditation according to Dr. Schramm?

A．Enhancing the blood flow.	B．Undergoing balance training.
C．Having more active thoughts.	D．Decreasing neuronal changes.

4. What is Tara Stiles’ attitude towards distractions?

A．Carefree.	B．Frustrated.
C．Concerned.	D．Positive.

9 . Working in an industry that’s constantly evolving is no small feat for musicians. Giving fans a memorable show is crucial, and some artists are looking to virtual reality to do just that. Travis Scott for example, partnered with Fortnite to bring his virtual-reality concert. Astronomical, to a global audience. The event drew in 12 million viewers. But interest in VR concerts came earlier. In 2019, the entertainment-technology company Wave launched a multichannel virtual platform for live concerts through various digital means: video games, live streaming channels, social networks, and more. Wave has since teamed up with the likes of The Weekend, Justin Bieber, and John Legend.

The appeal of such immersive concerts, by placing the audience in a digital world that stimulates both sight and sound to create an experience that makes one feel like they are truly part of the event, lies heavily in their experimental mature. Artists can try new ways to connect with listeners in digital environments. For fans skirting painful concert-ticket prices avoiding large crowds at venues, and experiencing their favorite musicians in an alternate world are convincing benefits.

VR has its downside. Only about 13% of households in the US own a VR headset so the technology isn’t common. In a survey, 67% of respondents who didn’t own a VR headset said its price tag kept them from purchasing one. Some people who paid a pretty penny have returned the headset because they simply didn’t know how to set it up or didn’t think the image quality was worth the cost. Discomfort is another issue: long-term use of a headset could cause discomfort in the neck and eyes, and according to the Food and Drug Administration, motion sickness is the most commonly reported negative side effect of VR. There’s also the possibility of VR separating users too far from reality, which could rewire their brains if they don’t moderate headset use. However, looking ahead. Amy Dorsey, the managing director of Dorsey Pictures, said that developments in advanced digital reality would pave the way for the next version of entertainment.

1. Which artist cooperated with Fortnite to deliver a virtual-reality concert?

A．Justin Bieber.	B．Wave.
C．Travis Scott.	D．Astronomical.

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

A．Cost-effective.	B．Environmentally friendly.
C．Quick and efficient.	D．Engaging and surrounding.

3. Which could be a potential drawback of VR concerts as suggested by the text?

A．VR concerts could cause a decrease in video image quality.

B．They may prevent people from attending live concerts altogether.

C．Long-time standing with VR headsets may lead to motion disability.

D．The high cost of VR headsets could limit accessibility for some fans.

4. What will the text discuss next?

A．The historical development of VR technology.

B．Future directions and innovations in VR.

C．Present market trends in VR headset sales.

D．Comparisons between VR and traditional concerts.

10 . As a big country, China’s economic and political influence is felt around the world. And its influence in education and culture has been growing too. The Confucius Institute offering free language classes has gained increasing popularity in both Hungary and Serbia. By offering opportunities to learn Chinese language and traditional arts, Confucius Institutes bring Chinese culture closer to interested learners serving as bridges between nations.

During my childhood, I held an unspoken fascination for Asian culture a passion cultivated through watching dramas such as the Monkey King. At the time, the idea of studying this captivating region didn’t occupy my mind. My turning point came when the desire to challenge myself led me to choose China for further education. It was a decision—not only for academic growth, but also to experience the responsibility of looking after myself. Taking the road that is less traveled means less company, less comfort. But it also means forging a life with an entirely different perspective I am seeking.

Undertaking Chinese language training presented a remarkable opportunity for many reasons. I firmly believe that acquiring proficiency in the language of the culture is not merely useful, but is also an effective means to truly understand that culture. The combination of learning the language in a classroom setting and applying it in everyday life offers an enriching experience. I participated in the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations held by my local Confucius Institute, such as trying my hand at Chinese crafts providing me with a first-hand experience of the culture.

If given another chance, I would explore even deeper into the rich cultural tapestry that surrounds me. Exploring renowned landmarks like the oriental Pearl Tower previously unvisited, felt like embarking on a new journey of discovery. I can say that along this path, I am gradually learning that valuable lessons unfold step by step.

1. What is the main function of the Confucius Institute in global cultural exchanges?

A．Offering language courses with a very small fee.

B．Fostering international understanding of Chinese culture.

C．Promoting Chinese tourism and business opportunities abroad.

D．Serving as a platform for economic cooperation between countries.

2. What makes the author decide on further education in China?

A．The TV drama the Monkey King.

B．The Asian cultural fascination.

C．The desire for whole-person growth.

D．The dream to study in a foreign place.

3. Why does the author share her experience with Mid-Autumn Festival?

A．To highlight the challenges of living abroad.

B．To encourage others to participate in local festivals.

C．To criticize the traditional classroom language learning.

D．To emphasize interactive learning in cultural understanding.

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．The Path Less Traveled

B．Language as a Bridge to Culture

C．Guide to Studying Abroad in China

D．Embracing Art: Beyond the Classroom