1 . More than one-third of the world’s food is wasted or thrown away, most of which ends up in landfills, producing very large amounts of planet-warming greenhouse gases. Now, many studies show that it is becoming harder to grow enough food to feed an increasing population due to climate change and soil degradation.

But one of the most promising and simplest solutions lies in the problem itself: this wasted food — if composted (堆肥) — could slow climate change and improve soil quality. Higher-quality soil also continues to absorb more carbon from the atmosphere, helping to improve plants and contributing further to fighting climate change. Returning one ton of organic matter to each hectare of soil would increase the production of cereal crops each year in Africa, Asia and South America by millions of tons.

While it is true that people can compost in their yards, community gardens, or even on their kitchen counters, larger-scale efforts, including infrastructure (基础设施) and incentives (激励) for consumers, would take it to the next level. Imagine if consumers could just leave unwanted food in a roadside bin for pickup, or drop it off at a local store, earning a few cents a bucket, just like what has been offered for recycling bottles or newspapers.

Moreover, in the case of composting, the payment incentive system would be sustainable because the end-product of compost can be sold to farmers, making it an economically workable model, something that is often lacking in recycling, especially for certain materials, like many types of plastics.

Eventually, more widespread composting of food would pave the way for solutions to additional waste challenges, such as the disposal of packaging and clothing. This will have other positive effects as well; if more consumers compost, companies will be more inspired to make and use compostable packaging, clothing, and other products. While more compostable items are starting to emerge today, additional composting will further drive demand and innovation, and offer a game-changing solution for the planet.

1. What is paragraph 1 mainly about?

A．The uneven distribution of food around the world.

B．The burden of population growth on the planet.

C．The urgency of properly dealing with wasted food.

D．The great impact of climate change on food.

2. What can be learned about the approach to composting wasted food?

A．A good system is needed to carry out it effectively.

B．It would take a long term to have an effect.

C．It is only workable on a small scale.

D．It may raise people’s awareness of reducing food waste.

3. What does the author think of the payment incentive system of composting food?

A．It is highly profitable.

B．It is easy to carry out.

C．It is a sustainable economic cycle pattern.

D．It is more effective than other recycling systems.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．How Wasted Food Could Be Reduced

B．How Wasted Food Could Save the Planet

C．How Wasted Food Could Impact Humans

D．How Wasted Food Could Become a Business

4 . When I first moved to China in 1998, I thought I would impress my class by using some Chinese in my speech about American weddings (婚礼). I told them everyone brings a gift to the wedding for the couple. As soon as I said this, all of the students looked surprised. I knew I had said something wrong. I realized that instead of telling them that everybody brings gifts to the hun li for the couple, I had said people bring gifts for them at the li hun!

I get laughs from some of my students because I often make mistakes and my Chinese sounds strange at times. But I tell them that sometimes their English is really strange too.

One asks, “What are you like to do in your free time?” And the other answers, “I very like basketball.” I find that even good English speakers make such mistakes. The second is by far the most common mistake I have heard among Chinese English speakers. It is a result of first thinking in Chinese and then translating each word in the sentence into English. This, of course, makes some Chinese people’s English sound strange.

“We should get off the car here,” a student told me. My school had asked two students to show me around the city by taxi. In English countries, we “get off” a bike, bus, or train. However, when we leave a car, we say “get out of the car”. Perhaps the student had learned “get off” means xia in Chinese and he thought the phrase (短语) could be followed by any means of transportation. To avoid such mistakes, you should take collocations (搭配) seriously. Only learning vocabulary and grammar is not enough.

Some of my students sound more like a book or machine than a human. Perhaps they have gotten used to depending on books. You can also read English books out loud or use a CD, but you need the real thing. If you have a chance to hear a native speaker from an English­speaking country, practice repeating what you hear. They can teach you how to have a conversation.

1. Why did the students feel surprised?

A．American weddings are difficult to organize.

B．The author’s Chinese was as fluent as Chinese.

C．The author used a completely wrong Chinese word.

D．Everyone must bring a gift to an American wedding.

2. What can cause strange English in China according to the author?

A．Spelling mistakes.	B．Direct translation.
C．Cultural difference.	D．Wrong pronunciations.

3. What can we infer about the student who said “We should...here”?

A．He might be poor at vocabulary.

B．He might mistake “car” for “taxi”．

C．He might know very little about the city.

D．He might pay little attention to collocations.

4. What does the author want to share in the last paragraph?

A．Common mistakes made by Chinese English learners.

B．Differences between Chinese and American culture.

C．Suggestions on improving conversational skills.

D．His experience of learning English.

5 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What does the man do?

A．An animal keeper.

B．A zoo manager.

C．A park cleaner.

2. What happened that evening?

A．A lion escaped into the zoo.

B．A lion escaped from the zoo.

C．A hurricane blew a lion away.

3. Where was the lion that afternoon?

A．In the zoo.

B．In the police station.

C．In a lady’s garden.

4. What was the lion doing when the keepers saw it?

A．Eating in the bushes.

B．Sleeping in the garden.

C．Playing in the park.

6 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. How many people spend their holiday at home now?

A．40%.

B．50%.

C．90%.

2. Where do people like to spend their holiday?

A．In big cities.

B．On the beach.

C．In a foreign country.

3. What do the speakers mainly talk about?

A．Great pleasure of travel.

B．Changes in spending vacation.

C．Costs of different travels.

7 . Fashion designers have a big say in what’s considered beautiful. They pick who’s in their shows and ads, shaping what’s celebrated as beauty. But this power also means responsibility — it can be used to leave people out or lift them up.

When I was young, fashion was my world. I pored over various fashion magazines at my local bookstore, desiring to be tall, thin, and have long, shiny hair to fit the ideal. I wanted to be like those models, so I stopped eating. It was a tough time; my eating disorder consumed me. It took years to break free from its control, allowing me to focus on my true passions.

For so long, the fashion industry has worked hard to set an ideal of beauty that celebrates thin, young, white, and able-bodied models as the ideal. It’s impossible not to be exposed to images of models that have been photoshopped to where there’s not a single spot in sight. This idea is everywhere, and it hurts people. Shockingly, around 91% of women are unhappy with their appearance. It’s sad that teens grow up in a society where they deny themselves.

There’s progress — models and musicians promote body positivity. However, the pressure to meet unrealistic standards remains. Changing these standards involves bravely celebrating diverse beauty. True inclusivity goes beyond appearances. It requires diverse decision-makers, photographers, and casting directors cooperating. Young designers often overlook this crucial aspect. Hiring plus-size or transgender photographers, diverse casting directors, or makeup artists who understand the importance of accommodating to various skin tones, is vital for an overall approach.

We aimed to redefine the “bikini body” standards. However, the goal isn’t for the consumer’s body to change but for clothes to accommodate all sizes. We need more fashion for everyone, no matter their size or where they shop. It’s our responsibility as designers to challenge this narrow beauty definition. My hope is for future teens to escape the pressures I faced, developing a fashion industry celebrating diverse identities.

1. What does the underlined phrase “pored over” in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Classified carefully.	B．Read attentively.
C．Compared thoroughly.	D．Recommended sincerely.

2. What is the impact of the initial beauty ideals set by the fashion industry?

A．Causing self-denial.	B．Generating individuality.
C．Focusing on true passions.	D．Contributing to self-confidence.

3. What can be inferred about true inclusivity?

A．It encourages personal effort.	B．It satisfies traditional standards.
C．It focuses on physical appearances.	D．It calls for diversity and cooperation.

4. Which of the following will the author probably agree with?

A．Customers will change their body shapes.

B．Future teens will redefine fashion standards.

C．Fashion should celebrate everyone’s uniqueness.

D．“Bikini body” standards should be strengthened.

8 . Kelly McKernan, a 37-year-old artist from Tennessee, is known for her striking paintings featuring energetic female figures. However, McKerman now faces a threat: artificial intelligence (Al). About a year ago, she noticed online images that were remarkably similar to her own work. She discovered that some companies were using AI systems to generate similar images by training software programs with artists’ original works.

McKernan expressed her dissatisfaction, stating, “I did not give permission for my name or artwork to be used in this way.” Despite trying to contact these companies and requesting that they shouldn’t use her work without permission, she received no response.

In January, McKernan, along with two other artists named Karla Ortiz and Sarah Andersen, filed a lawsuit against three image-generating companies, including Stability AI and the online gallery DeviantArt. They seek to protect their copyrighted (有版权的) works and their careers, claiming that AI-generated images violate (侵犯) the rights of millions of artists.

They are seeking compensation (赔偿金) and a court order to prevent AI companies from using their works without permission. McKeman expressed financial concerns, highlighting that she was short of $200 for her rent payment, saying, “It doesn’t feel right.”

Stability AI declined to comment when approached by the Associated Press. In a court filing, the company argued that their program generates new and unique images using simple words and does not violate copyrights.

Karla Ortiz, who works in the entertainment industry and had her works featured in movies such as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Jurassic World, worries that companies may view artists as costly. She questions why they would hire artists when they can pay $30 per month for AI-generated artwork.

McKernan shares the concern, wondering if she will have work in the future, stating, “Maybe in a year, I won’t have a job anymore.”

The case will be decided in San Francisco. In a recent ruling, a federal judge supported the U. S. Copyright Office’s decision — not to grant (承认) copyright on AI-generated artwork.

1. What is the challenge faced by artist McKerman according to paragraph 1?

A．AI producing works similar to hers.

B．Declining art market all over the world.

C．Financial concerns during the hard time.

D．Difficulty finding inspiration for her paintings.

2. How did Stability AI defend themselves?

A．They promised to make an apology on their website.

B．They claimed that artists were compensated for their artwork.

C．They argued that they did not use artists’ works without permission.

D．They admitted using AI to generate images but denied violation of copyright.

3. What can be learnt about AI-generated artwork according to the federal judge?

A．It represents the progress in art creation.

B．Copyright should not be granted to it.

C．It should be monitored by the government.

D．The decision on its copyright hasn’t been reached.

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

A．Artists Disapprove the Use of AI in Art Creation

B．Artists Promise to Compete with AI in Creation

C．Artists Fight Back Against AI Using Their Works

D．Artists Say No to AI-Generated Artwork

9 . “Don’t be a victim.” That’s a phrase you’ll hear a lot if you take a crime-prevention class. Basically, it means that there are steps you can take to reduce the likelihood that you’ll be mugged, assaulted, or otherwise attacked. Don’t wave your cash around like you’re a billionaire. Don’t be distracted on the subway. Walk with a purpose.

That last one is particularly important, because according to a new study from the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, some criminals are very good at sensing weakness based on the way you walk. Actually, serial killer Ted Bundy admitted in a personal interview in 1985 that “he could tell a victim by the way she walked down the street, the tilt of her head, the manner in which she carried herself, etc…” Unfortunately, research demonstrated the reality that criminals do in fact look for, or at least notice certain characters when selecting potential victims. While nothing excuses crime, knowledge is power in the sense that there are things we can do to protect ourselves when we are out alone.

In the report titled “Psychopathy and Victim Selection” the researchers surveyed 47 criminals at a maximum-security prison in Ontario and found that social predators are very good at picking victims based on their posture and gait(步伐). They noted that people might be releasing vulnerability to criminals through their postures, gestures, and exaggerated movements.

The researchers secretly filmed 12 people walking — eight women and four men, some of whom had been attacked before. Then, they showed the video to a group of criminals and asked them whether or not each person would make a good victim. These “victim ratings” were then compared against each person’s actual history of victimization. Sure enough, the people whom the criminals picked as “likely victims” were usually the ones who had been victimized in the past. These people were often said to have “walked like an easy target” — slowly, unfocused, with short steps.

The sample size here is really small. Maybe we shouldn’t give this study’s findings too much weight. Nevertheless, it emphasizes something that seems pretty unconscious. Criminals aren’t looking for a challenge. Rather, they want someone timid and inattentive. So stride down the street like you own it. Your new, aggressive gait may scare off criminals. And even if this study turns out to be total bullshit, you’ll still get where you’re going a lot faster.

1. Why does the author mention the serial killer Ted Bundy?

A．To call on more people to learn psychology.

B．To prove that someone can be a natural criminal.

C．To demonstrate some skills to distinguish criminals.

D．To emphasize the importance of the right walking habit.

2. How did the researchers conduct their research on victim selection?

A．By analyzing crime data in various neighborhoods.

B．By filming people walking and getting criminals’ opinions.

C．By filming criminals as they selected their potential victims.

D．By studying the psychology of crime victims in a maximum-security prison.

3. According to the research which gait will most attract criminals’ attention?

A．Distracted walking with short steps.

B．Purposeful walking with slow steps.

C．Walking with a group of people cheerfully.

D．Walking with confident and exaggerated movements.

4. What’s the author’s attitude toward walking confidently and aggressively?

A．Favorable.

B．Doubtful.

C．Disapproving.

D．Indifferent.

10 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或所给单词的正确形式。

Today, life as a teenager has changed greatly. The growth from childhood to adulthood is effortless for some, but difficult for others. There are many     1     (challenge) to face, decisions to make, and roads to take.

Being a teenager means we’re no longer a child     2     we’re not an adult either. We make great effort     3     (live) up to so many expectations from our friends, family members, and sometimes even our parents’ friends too.     4     (actual), in this stage of life, we’re expected to be responsible     5     something yet we’re not allowed to do just as much as adults can. All adults see us as children     6     are trying to be someone we can’t be just yet.

Many adults expect us to act just as they did, but they don’t understand that we     7     (raise) differently. Times have changed compared to 30 years ago when our parents were teenagers. Back then they     8     (have) more time away from phones, computers and TVs. They communicated face to face more. Nowadays we communicate online.

The best part of being a teenager is being able to find things at the click of a button(按钮). With the     9     (develop) of technology, today’s generation doesn’t struggle (挣扎) as much as they did 30 years ago. The new technology plays an important role in our lives. Teenagers nowadays are     10     (close) than ever. We can easily reach each other with a mobile phone or a computer.