1 . 阅读下列材料，在空白处填入适当的内容或括号内单词的正确形式。

Chinese singer Liu Genghong posts fitness videos on Douyin,     1     he works out to the fast-paced tune of Jay Chou’s. His online fitness videos have proved     2     huge hit with people exercising at home. So far his Douyin account     3     (rocket) to 55 million followers and 53 million likes, fueling people’s interest in indoor exercise.

Pu Zhengning, associate professor of Southeast University, says the epidemic (流行病) has limited access     4     gyms and fitness centers, so simple aerobic (有氧健身) exercises requiring no     5     (equip) are perfect for people at home. And that is exactly     6     has made Liu rise to fame on his social media platforms.

As an alternative to people     7     (gather) to keep fit, the phenomenon is also helpful for epidemic prevention. In a March report, the number of fitness videos on the platform in 2021     8     (be) up by 134 percent, while followers of fitness trainers increased by 208 percent in     9     (compare) with 2020.

“Cloud fitness” is no flash in the pan, offering a great alternative to expensive gym memberships. In the past, aerobics on TV proved     10     (incredible) popular, and nowadays it’s even easier to follow along and learn from instructors on social media.

2 . Rising food prices have taken a big bite out of what Canadians are able to serve up for dinner but food economists say our ability to cope has been deteriorated by our common decline in cooking skills. “We are less able to cook than we were 30 or 40 years ago, and so it’s much more difficult for us to adapt our diet,” said Mike von Massow, an associate professor at the University of Guelph.

A 2010 federal government report called Improving Cooking and Food Preparation Skills, the most recent of its kind, said that all across the population, processed and pre-prepared foods have been permitted. “Related to this permission is the potential lack of transference of basic, traditional cooking and food preparation skills from parents to children and adolescents,” the report reads.

Moreover, the quality of pre-prepared foods in the market remains uneven, with problems related to the lack of detailed labelling on such products, as well as difficulties in logistics and distribution.

Annie Belov, a 21-year-old student, has taught herself a lot about cooking since food prices started shooting up. “When the inflation (通货膨胀) wasn’t as bad, I was constantly eating out,” said Belov. That might mean food on campus or picking up a prepared item at Safeway when the price was still around $5, she said.

Belov now often makes dishes such as Caesar salad, as well as hearty pasta salads that combine carbs with vegetables and a bit of chicken. Belov said she’s a lot more efficient in the kitchen thanks to building her skills through trial and error. “Now, definitely more than before, I can kind of look in the pantry or in the freezer and be like, ‘OK, yeah, I can make a meal quickly and easily.’”

It’s important to note, however, that cooking skills alone cannot solve the affordability problem, said Elaine Power. And in 2023, Food Banks Canada says food insecurity is rising with inflation and the high cost of living. So while cooking skills can better position people to feed themselves and their families as best they can in forced circumstances, “that doesn’t, and can’t, make up for income that is inadequate in the first place.”

1. Which is the closest in meaning to the underlined word in paragraph 1?

A．worsened.

B．interrupted.

C．puzzled.

D．upset.

2. What is a disadvantage of pre-prepared foods?

A．Failing to attract diners.

B．The loss of cooking skills.

C．Difficulties in keeping its flavors.

D．Shortage of fresh ingredients.

3. What can we say about Annie Belov?

A．She suffers a tough financial patch.

B．She ends up showing a love of cooking.

C．She used to dine out at a restaurant.

D．She receives cooking education in schools.

4. What is the key to solve the affordability problem according to Elaine Power?

A．Lower cost of living.	B．More cooking at home.
C．Food security status.	D．Increased income.

3 . Smart phones provide a palm (手掌)-size window to the world, enabling us to do almost anything at the touch of a button. Smart homes look after themselves, and virtual meeting s mean that for many, time spent commuting is a thing of the past.

So we should have more free time. Time which is now spent sleeping, relaxing or simply doing nothing-right? We recently interviewed 300 people across Europe to understand how they used digital devices in day-to-day life. This research showed that people want to avoid empty periods of time in their lives, so they fill those periods performing tasks, some of which wouldn’t be possible without technology.

Whether it was waiting for a bus, waking in the morning, or lying in bed at night, our research reported that time which would previously be “empty” was now filled with brain training apps, creating lists of things they should do or try based on their social media feed, and other life admin.

On the face of it some of these tasks may seem like examples of tech saving us time. In theory, online banking should mean I have more time because I no longer need to go to the bank in my lunch break. However, our research suggests that this is not the case.

If the idea that you have more time than ever before is making you choke on your coffee, you are not alone. There is growing evidence that while digital technology may help us to save some time, we end up using that time to do more and more things. For many people, it is no longer enough to simply eat dinner, watch TV or maybe do an exercise class. Instead, in an attempt to avoid wasting time, these activities are performed while also browsing the web in search of the ingredients for a more perfect life and trying to develop a sense of achievement.

It seems that people still see going for a walk or actually being with friends as more valuable than being online. Maybe if we put down the phone a little more, we would have the time to actually cook those recipes we watch online.

1. What conclusion can be drawn in the first paragraph?

A．Technology makes our lives easier.

B．We can’t live well without modern technology.

C．Virtual meeting is a thing of the past.

D．A smart home offers you luxury and convenience.

2. What does the research find about free time?

A．It is an essential means of relaxation.

B．It does good to perform daily tasks.

C．It is secretly stolen by technology.

D．It forces people to do more work.

3. What does the example of online banking tell us?

A．It’s not too late to get free time back.

B．Lunch break can be saved by online banking.

C．Doing little or nothing is sometimes OK.

D．Technology leads to a denser form of life.

4. Who are the target readers of the text?

A．Students in on-line learning.

B．Employees working in the bank.

C．People relying on digital devices.

D．Researchers in the technological lab.

4 . 随着信息技术的发展，网络已成为人们获取信息与知识的重要渠道之一。无论什么问题，只要输入关键词，你就能得到需要的知识，因而有人认为识记知识已过时。请结合这一现象，用英文写一篇短文。内容包括：
1.描述该现象；
2.表达你的观点及理由。
注意：1.写作词数应为80左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
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5 . Flip-flops (人字拖) are the most popular type of shoe in the world. They’re comfortable, they’re easy to wear and they’re inexpensive. Unfortunately, most of them are also terrible for the environment. In Kenya, this is a huge problem, and around 90 tons of flip-flops wash up on its shores annually.

In the late 1990s, when Julie Church was working as a marine (海洋的) conservationist in Nairobi, she found an entire beach “just covered in flip-flops”. Around that time, Church also noticed children making toys out of the thousands of flip-flops that had made their way to the country’s beaches. She began working with the kids’ mothers to encourage them to not just collect the shoes, but also turn them into artworks. The families could then sell this art at local markets, providing another means of income.

The idea took off, and in 1998, Church founded Ocean Sole as a nonprofit. This year alone, the organization has upcycled more than 750,000 flip-flops and collected more than 47,000 kilos of waste. Additionally, Ocean Sole directly impacts more than 1,000 Kenyans, many of whom work as flip-flop collectors or artists, and contributes 10% to 15% of overall income to career and educational programs for residents, as well as beach cleanup and conservation efforts.

Ocean Sole is continuously growing and looking to keep waste off Kenya’s beaches and out of its water. When it comes to growing the Ocean Sole organization, Church has three “mantras (真言)”: trust to trade, trade to awareness, and awareness to protection. Church would like to put together toolkits and other resources to bring this concept to other places around the world that have similar problems. Ocean Sole is also encouraging companies to use more eco-friendly materials when making flip-flops. “I think it’s time for us to start looking for an alternative shoe, or an alternative material, to fit that kind of fashion need,” Church has said. “Our products need to develop.”

1. What was the main reason for founding the nonprofit?

A．To help Kenyans get healthy.

B．To develop children’s hands-on skills.

C．To protect Kenya’s marine environment.

D．To provide children with artistic flip-flops.

2. What can we say about the organization according to Paragraph 3?

A．It is growing in a controlled way.

B．It has a smaller impact than expected.

C．It is running for profit since founded.

D．It has achieved many things with one move.

3. What does Church advise shoe companies to do?

A．Lead the fashion trend.	B．Advance their products.
C．Practice her three “mantras”.	D．Develop global cooperation.

4. What would be the best title for the text?

A．Environmental challenges in Kenya.

B．Flip-flops are out of date in Kenya.

C．Ocean Sole turns flip-flops into art.

D．Ocean Sole develops a new national art.

6 . 本学期一开始，你校就开展了“禁止手机进校园”活动，一些同学表示理解，一些同学表示反对，假设你是李华，就这一情况向你校报社投稿，内容包括：
1. 支持的理由；
2. 反对的原因；
3. 你的观点。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Can students bring cell phones into campus?

With the increasing popularity of smartphones, more and more students bring them to school. However, the debate over whether students should be allowed to bring phones to school continues.

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7 . The 2023 EF English Proficiency (水平) Index (EPI) that measures English language ability worldwide shows a worrying problem about English language proficiency. The index is based on test results from 2.2 million people in 113 countries.

Results were reported for the first time in 2015. Since then, the English proficiency of young people has decreased by 89 points. The EPI defines young people as being 18 to 20 years of age, and it notes that they are mostly stable with big decreases in a few large countries. India, Indonesia and Mexico showed the largest ability decreases among youth.

The report noted that the decrease appears to have taken place when the COVID-19 pandemic impacts normal education. There has been a decrease in Mexico for nearly 10 years. However, working adults, about 26 years old and older, have been improving their English since 2015. It is still widely acknowledged that the value of a shared language is most recognized in the workplace. English creates possibilities for individuals and productivity for organizations.

Results also show a difference between men and women, which is called a gender gap. Men’s English ability has improved by 14 points since 2015, while women’s has decreased by 19 points. The lack of women in international jobs is one reason for the gender gap. But the gender gap among those aged 18 to 25 might demonstrate a problem caused by educational systems themselves or a social problem schools are failing to address.

There are different opinions about why the decrease exists. Many people think artificial intelligence (or AI) tools could also be a key reason. Jeannie Tse is a country manager at EF Hong Kong and Macau. He thinks that while AI has changed the way young people work and learn, the importance of schools, teachers and face-to-face instruction remains. “I don’t believe that AI can completely replace language learning, but educators can use AI to enhance language learning methods,” said Jeannie Tse.

1. Why are working adults trying to improve their English?

A．To increase their income and knowledge.

B．To be involved in better working environment.

C．To obtain more chances and better working efficiency.

D．To create a harmonious working environment for themselves.

2. What can we learn from paragraph 4?

A．Most women don’t like international jobs.

B．Educational systems contribute to the gender gap in English proficiency.

C．Women’s English proficiency decreases with age.

D．There widely exists the phenomenon of discrimination against women.

3. What’s Jeannie Tse’s attitude to the role of AI and face-to-face teaching?

A．Objective.

B．Positive.

C．Uncertain.

D．Uncaring.

4. What is a suitable title for the text?

A．Young People’s Attitudes towards English Vary

B．English Learning Has Become a Burden Worldwide

C．Results from a Report Show some Alarming Problems

D．Young People’s English Language Ability Is Decreasing

8 . 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。

South Koreans have enjoyed their first close-up look of new baby giant pandas at a name-revealing ceremony that is also     1     early celebration of the 100 days since the twins’ birth.

What to name the twin sisters was widely discussed among netizens after they were born on July 7 in theme park Everland. The names were     2     (ultimate) decided on through two public voting     3     (procedure). One is named Rui Bao, which means wise treasure, and the other is Hui Bao or shining treasure. Half a million panda lovers helped choose their names with a handful of lucky fans     4     (invite) to the ceremony. “They are even     5     (cute) in real life than they appear on screen,” said a college student in attendance.

The baby pandas,     6     have just begun teething and crawling, are very healthy. Everland has shared videos documenting the pandas’ growth online. The twins’ birth has gained 640,000 views since it     7     (upload). “This feels like a great opportunity to call for better     8     (preserve) of pandas,” said Donghee Chung, head of the park’s zoo. Chung noted that between 40% and 50% of panda births result     9     twins.

Everland said it would monitor the twins’ health     10     (determine) when the twins are ready to be open to the public.

9 . Movie stars might think their lives are private after leaving the acting location, but they ought to know that they have much power over their audience. The power gives them an ability to change people, events, even history, making them to have the responsibility of being good role models.

With time going on, movie stars become celebrities (名人) and in the process get a large number of fans. Some of them follow their deeds, dress, and act like them. In reality, they want to be like their favorite movie stars. If a movie star engages in acts that the society does not approve, those who look up to them, especially the teens, will do the same. Movie stars should be responsible for what they do and say as following the actions is now simpler because of social media. It is important to behave like a role model even when they think no one is watching.

Nobody is perfect, and movie stars also have had their down moments. They may not have been good role models at the time, but they can change the narrative by doing the right things. They can also turn the past shortcomings into positives by opening up about problems and how they overcame the challenges. And their audience can learn to discuss their problems and seek help.

People starring in movies are the target of companies to promote their products or services for a fee. Their celebrity status is a reason enough to think beyond the payment. A movie star should not recommend something that will influence the way teens live negatively. It would be wrong to promote something like sweetened drinks or foods without health benefits. Movie stars face problems like other people, but because of their influence, they have a responsibility to be role models in the public eye.

1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?

A．Fans often follow their stars’ dress and hobbies.

B．Celebrities’ actions spread fast on social media.

C．Movie stars should be responsible for their fans.

D．Movie stars’ acts have a great impact on their fans.

2. How should movie stars deal with their down moments?

A．Lie to fans by making up a story.

B．Do the right things to overcome the problems.

C．Cover their problems with good movies.

D．Post their problems online to seek help.

3. Which is the author’s advice to celebrities?

A．Don’t tell problems to the public.

B．Don’t play roles that have a negative impact on teens.

C．Don’t ask for payment when promoting products.

D．Don’t recommend unhealthy drinks or foods.

4. What is the author’s purpose of writing this article?

A．To tell movie stars how to help people in need.

B．To stress movie stars’ impact on teens.

C．To call on movie stars to be good role models.

D．To advise movie stars to open up about their problems.

10 . Editor’s note: An increasing number of Chinese people, especially the young, are more willing to celebrate Western festivals. Should we celebrate foreign festivals? Forum (论坛) readers share their opinions. You’re welcome to add yours.

Dinah (China)

I enjoy the happy atmosphere of both Chinese and Western festivals. As long as it is meaningful for me, I will celebrate it with my boyfriend, and my parents! I like Western festivals and often celebrate them without even knowing the origins of them. Why? Because what I really appreciate is just the happy atmosphere.

SharkMinnow (Canada)

Western Festivals are more like parties or games for some Chinese. Also, spending money = good for economy. Most Chinese don’t take Western festivals as seriously as their own. It’s like a game or party in my eyes. A way to blow off steam and have fun (and spend money).

Travis (UK)

As an Englishman teaching here in China for two years, my friends have got used to, and enjoy when I celebrate my festivals. My school also likes it as well, although this year they asked me not to scare the teachers so much on Halloween. My Chinese friends enjoy taking part in my festivals, as they also learn more about my culture, and the history that goes with it…

Leesinchina (US)

Cherish your own festivals. It would be a pity if the Chinese accepted these Western days — first, because they have absolutely nothing to do with traditional Chinese culture. Second, they are a big trick by the big stores to get more money out of you. Stick to your own festivals — they actually mean something to you — rather than following western customs for no good reason.

1. What matters most according to Dinah?

A．The atmosphere when celebrating festivals.

B．The people with whom to celebrate festivals.

C．Celebrating Chinese festivals with her family.

D．Celebrating Western festivals in a good atmosphere.

2. What’s the attitude of readers 2 and 4 towards celebrating Western festivals?

A．Optimistic.

B．Indifferent.

C．Neutral.

D．Negative.

3. Which can be the best topic for this text?

A．How should we celebrate festivals?

B．Should we celebrate foreign festivals?

C．Why are more young people celebrating foreign festivals?

D．Are more Chinese people willing to celebrate foreign festivals?

4. In which of the following can this text be originally found?

A．A newspaper.

B．A debate.

C．A website.

D．A text book.