1 . In Lincoln Elementary School, the students went wild with excitement on hearing the announcement of the upcoming science fair. Among the ________ participants was Alex, a promising young scientist with a passion for ________.

Alex envisioned creating a volcano model for the fair, complete with a(n) ________ display using baking soda (小苏打) and vinegar (醋). He was busy with his project when he noticed Mia, a recent addition to the school, _________ to resolve the complexities of the science fair. Instead of being ________, Alex decided to extend a helping hand and invited Mia to ________ him.

Their working together became a lively ________ of ideas and creativity. Alex patiently explained the scientific method, ________ his knowledge with Mia, who, in turn, put forward new thoughts. They ________ searched for materials, exploring science by trial and error. Time flying, their joint project, an eye-opening solar-powered model, was ________.

On the science fair day, the school gym was full of scientific wonders. When Alex and Mia confidently introduced their project and skillfully ________ the awe-inspiring sight of volcanic eruption, the judges were deeply impressed and awarded them a special ________ for teamwork.

Alex’s decision to ________ to Mia not only made the fair memorable for them but generated positive energy among the students, who realized that ________, as well as kindness, is truly a ________ in supporting one another in the pursuit of scientific knowledge.

1.

A．daring

B．curious

C．hesitant

D．eager

2.

A．theory

B．biology

C．experiments

D．adventures

3.

A．burning

B．erupting

C．talent

D．gravity

4.

A．struggling

B．offering

C．demanding

D．managing

5.

A．well-intended

B．self-absorbed

C．hard-working

D．easy-going

6.

A．replace

B．accompany

C．join

D．instruct

7.

A．exchange

B．race

C．change

D．challenge

8.

A．sharing

B．checking

C．doubting

D．acquiring

9.

A．aimlessly

B．randomly

C．leisurely

D．tirelessly

10.

A．initiated

B．born

C．planned

D．located

11.

A．analyzed

B．designed

C．filmed

D．demonstrated

12.

A．contract

B．recognition

C．permit

D．degree

13.

A．reach out

B．get through

C．give in

D．look up

14.

A．competition

B．dignity

C．discipline

D．cooperation

15.

A．destination

B．subject

C．must

D．signal

2 . As to psychological well-being, the comfort zone is frequently perceived as a haven, a familiar location where individuals feel calm and peaceful. Pushing beyond this psychological state might have benefits.

The comfort zone can be understood as a behavioral metaphor. Within a comfort zone, an individual takes on a state of minimal anxiety without a perception of risk, responding predictably to deliver a consistent level of performance. These include behaviors that people do commonly, find relaxing, or that take them away from high-stress situations. Engaging in the same manner over time leads to a predictable and familiar zone of comfort. As creatures of habit, we become dependent on these routines that we know we can complete well to feel secure. However, by stepping outside of our comfort zone, we learn about our ability to handle new situations and control risks, leading to greater self-confidence, and lower levels of anxiety.

One study found that individuals who are more secure in stepping out of their comfort zone are more likely to be excited by and look forward to new experiences, feeling greater confidence in their ability to take them on.

One behavior that demonstrates the benefits of stepping out of a comfort zone is learning to play a musical instrument. When we consider actions outside of our comfort zone, we must assess our desire to engage in that activity. By weighing the pros and cons, we evaluate how uncomfortable a situation may seem, and whether the danger of entering such an unknown situation will be worth the risk.

Music offers a safe way to step out of your initial comfort zone because you can begin by practicing in an isolated setting, which offers a casual, safe way to build a new skill set. By picking up and practicing a new instrument, you have proven to yourself that you are capable of meeting an unfamiliar objective, thus decreasing anxiety.

1. What does the underlined word “haven” in Paragraph 1 most probably mean?

A．Habitat.

B．Shelter.

C．Community.

D．Destination.

2. Which will not be considered when we step out of our comfort zone?

A．We recall the old experience.

B．We think whether it is worth the risk.

C．We evaluate our thirsty for the activity.

D．We weigh the strengths and weaknesses.

3. What will be probably discussed in the following paragraph?

A．The definition of the comfort zone.

B．The importance of psychological well-being.

C．The process of learning a new musical instrument.

D．The benefits of stepping out of one’s comfort zone.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．How to Identify Comfort Zone

B．Staying Inside Comfort Zone is Important

C．Stepping Outside Comfort Zone Promotes Learning

D．How to Take Yourself Away from High-stress Situations

3 . Miriam Glassman, a top image consultant, is standing in front of her client, Lucy. ‘Can you give me an idea of what you are looking for?’ she asks. ‘Something cool,’ says nine-year-old Lucy. Glassman gets some jackets and marches off to the changing room with Lucy. This is a growing trend and the _________ for it are obvious: we encourage our youth to be successful and success, as everyone knows, is partly down to having the right _________. But when nine-year-olds hi re image consultants, you have to wonder: could things have gone too far?

Some of those caring most about image are _________. They know that everything — clothes, posture, voice—influences what people think of you and _________ , has to be carefully managed. In the 1960 US presidential debate, those listening on the radio believed that Nixon won, while those watching on TV believed Kennedy was the _________. The difference was that Kennedy was wearing make-up but Nixon wasn’t, and the viewers were _________ by his appearance.

Celebrities seek help from wardrobe, hair stylists, make-up artists and more just to manage their profile, and these professionals don’t come _________. Mari a Moriati, stylist to some of Hollywood’s A-listers, is said to be paid $10,000-20,000 a time to choose the clothes for a celebrity on a press tour. She will pack each outfit including detailed _________(‘roll up the sleeves twice and undo the top button of the shirt’).

It’s not just them that need an image boost. The cities, too, try to give themselves the marketing _________ of a style makeover. They know that most of the tourists don’t have the time to think in detail about where they want to go on holiday and instead __________ a few simple preconceptions of what a place is like. Those preconceptions are easy to __________ on people with an advertising campaign or a catchy slogan.

So, perhaps we should step back from our __________ in image and focus on what is important. Ignore the gossip and the websites telling us to manage our online profile and instead depend on __________ rather than image to reach decisions. All these suggestions sound sensible, but are they __________? How much research will we really do before deciding which celebrity we like or where to go on our next holiday?

And going back to our image consultant, surely Glassman must have reservations about taking on such young clients? Apparently not. ‘I get so many calls from teens,’ she says. ‘School is a(n) __________ place and image is important. Lucy is just taking control of hers.’

1.

A．challenges

B．results

C．advantages

D．reasons

2.

A．consultant

B．goal

C．attitude

D．image

3.

A．stars

B．politicians

C．managers

D．designers

4.

A．therefore

B．otherwise

C．nevertheless

D．besides

5.

A．guide

B．winner

C．lecturer

D．officer

6.

A．left over

B．looked over

C．put off

D．taken on

7.

A．true

B．easy

C．cheap

D．plain

8.

A．instructions

B．budgets

C．comparisons

D．plans

9.

A．business

B．strategy

C．agency

D．equivalent

10.

A．rely on

B．approve of

C．complain of

D．work on

11.

A．blame

B．impose

C．congratulate

D．feed

12.

A．criticism

B．belief

C．suspicion

D．desire

13.

A．opinions

B．facts

C．advertisements

D．policies

14.

A．suitable

B．popular

C．realistic

D．appealing

15.

A．competitive

B．peaceful

C．inspiring

D．delightful

4 . 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。

Tomato Changed My Life

Doing things-without being planned was never my strength.

As a 14-year-old, I would refuse to go for walks around the block with my friends if I was the least bit behind in my schoolwork.

Unlike most teenagers, I lived not in my room, but in an unused kitchen upstairs where I spread my books and papers on a large round table. I spent considerable time there, working continuously for hours, and my mother worried. She would try to lure (引诱) me away. “Come and watch the parade!” she would call from downstairs. “All neighbors are out there!” She thought of all kinds of tricks-the swimming pool, ice cream, stray cats and turtles-to remove me from my -studies, but nothing ever worked.

Later, in college, the pattern continued. The library and my college dorm replaced the unused kitchen at home. When spring came along friends would stop by my dorm or peer into my library room to persuade me to play Frisbee on the lawn. “No, I would almost always say.” I have too much to do.

My college study days were gone, but not my need and love for schedules. My friends and sisters tried to keep me away from my plans, but they were hardly ever successful.

This summer, though, while house sitting for my parents, I was persuaded to change my plans in the most unexpected way. The sight of tomatoes growing in my mother’s garden lured me out of my tightly scheduled world. They drew me with the power of a lover’s gaze. Hundreds of them were turning ripe and red by the minute, decorating the garden like decorations on a Christmas tree.

“If I have time, I’ll make tomato sauce (番茄酱).” I told myself. But my long week in the house by myself was already filled with things to do: writing, and finishing a project that I brought home from the office.

Then, watching the fascinating tomatoes continuously falling to the ground in ever-greater numbers, again I mentally argued about all the things I had planned and needed to do.

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。
Finally, I gave in.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A month later, my parents came back.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . This wasn’t the way I wanted to see Rome. Sure, it felt _________ to spend Christmas there and stand in awe of the city’s attractions. But life wasn’t meant to turn out like this.

I was supposed to go to Rome with my mom back in 2012. However, life had different _________. A week before our trip, I got a stomach infection, a condition that required a week of _________ . What’s worse, my mom _________ a cough, which later proved a stage-four cancer.

My mom spent the final months of her life _________ the terrible disease though it was a losing _________. After she passed away, I _________ a trip to Rome. And _________, you never get used to a world that mom isn’t a part of. You just deal with it because you don’t really have a _________.

I spent two weeks doing all the things we had wanted to do. Maybe she wasn’t physically there, but I __________ her presence every minute. Her presence also __________ me that life isn’t about the things we buy or the money that we have. It’s about making __________ with the people we love. They never really __________ us since they are constantly influencing our lives in __________ ways.

After my trip to Rome, I __________ knew that my mom would always be there because she had forever changed my life in the best possible way.

1.

A．surprising

B．strange

C．embarrassing

D．pleasant

2.

A．styles

B．plans

C．solutions

D．excuses

3.

A．research

B．training

C．treatment

D．waiting

4.

A．picked up

B．held back

C．heard

D．forced

5.

A．examining

B．fighting

C．studying

D．controlling

6.

A．battle

B．strategy

C．cause

D．contest

7.

A．missed

B．arranged

C．sponsored

D．rejected

8.

A．strangely

B．fortunately

C．honestly

D．interestingly

9.

A．guide

B．budget

C．destination

D．choice

10.

A．regretted

B．doubted

C．sensed

D．remembered

11.

A．warned

B．promised

C．informed

D．reminded

12.

A．memories

B．efforts

C．decisions

D．changes

13.

A．interrupt

B．leave

C．understand

D．desert

14.

A．positive

B．practical

C．flexible

D．normal

15.

A．hardly

B．probably

C．partly

D．eventually

6 . These days, many young people wonder if they would be better served by striking out on their own than pursuing a college education. In this rapidly evolving digital era, narratives of overnight success and entrepreneurial glory have flooded our social media feeds, fascinating the digital natives of Gen Z into questioning the worth of an expensive traditional college degree.

Contrary to popular belief, successful entrepreneurship is rarely seen among the young. Recent research suggests that the average age in the U. S. of founders when they launched their companies is 42, rising to 45 for those within the top 0.1% of earnings based on growth in their first five years. That’s even the case for high-tech startups. Indeed, successful entrepreneurship is frequently the result of years of learning, experimenting and risk-taking—traits cultivated over time.

Campuses create environments rich in intellectual diversity and foster cooperation among their inhabitants, promoting an entrepreneurial mindset. They encourage students to challenge established norms and develop their unique thinking patterns to create value — practices that are also key to entrepreneurial success. Thus, higher education is not just about attaining a degree; it’s more importantly about acquiring the skills and experiences that inspire and enable the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

But some may doubt since formal entrepreneurship itself isn’t typically a course of study, are all college majors capable of instilling entrepreneurial skills? Let’s examine the arts majors, which are often subjected to the most suspicion concerning their career paths. Consider a theater major. That curriculum often includes entrepreneurship-focused capabilities beyond stage direction, lighting, sound systems and performance. Students learn to mobilize resources, lead creative teams and navigate the uncertainties of a theatrical production — skills that are readily transferable to launching any entrepreneurial business.

Like a compass for the future, entrepreneurship guides us toward a society that prizes critical thinking, nurtures intellectual curiosity and champions innovation. Let’s not get swept away by short-lived trends or misleading narratives. Instead, we should appreciate the enduring value of college education.

1. What do the figures in paragraph 2 indicate?

A．The chance of success multiplies with age.	B．Young people dominate high-tech startups.
C．Quite a number of enterprises are in the red.	D．Successful entrepreneurship isn’t built in a day.

2. Which of the following practice is the most crucial to entrepreneurial success?

A．Sticking to one’s own principles.	B．Acquiring knowledge from textbooks.
C．Developing a startup mentality.	D．Following established norms and traditions.

3. Why is a theater major mentioned in paragraph 4?

A．To illustrate it is complex and demanding.

B．To prove people’s suspicion is reasonable.

C．To show entrepreneurial skills can be integrated into all majors.

D．To stress it is the launchpad for successful entrepreneurship.

4. Which section of a newspaper does the text probably come from?

A．Arts.

B．Insights.

C．Entertainment.

D．News.

7 . I used to believe that only words could catch the essence of the human soul. The literary works contained such distinct stories that they shaped the way we saw the world. Words were what composed the questions we sought to uncover and the answers to those questions themselves. Words were everything.

That belief changed.

In an ordinary math class, my teacher posed a simple question: What’s 0.99 rounded to the nearest whole number? Easy. When rounded to the nearest whole number, 0.99=1. Somehow, I thought even though 0.99 is only 0.01 away from 1, there’s still a 0.01 difference. That means even if two things are only a little different, they are still different, so doesn’t that make them completely different?

My teacher answered my question by presenting another equation (等式): 1= 0.9, which could also be expressed as 1=0.99999.... repeating itself without ever ending.

There was something mysterious but fascinating about the equation. The left side was unchangeable, objective: it contained a number that ended. On the right was something endless, number repeating itself limitless times. Yet, somehow, these two opposed things were connected by an equal sign.

Lying in bed, I thought about how much the equation paralleled our existence. The left side of the equation represents that sometimes life itself is so unchangeable and so clear. The concrete, whole number of the day when you were born and the day when you would die. But then there is that gap in between life and death. The right side means a time and space full of limitless possibilities, and endless opportunities into the open future.

So that’s what life is. Objective but imaginative. Unchangeable but limitless. Life is an equation with two sides that balances itsef out. Still, we can’t ever truly seem to put the perfect words to it. So possibly numbers can express ideas as eually well as words can. For now, let’s leave it at that: 1= 0.99999... and live a life like it.

1. What does the author emphasize about words in paragraph 1?

A．Their wide variety.	B．Their literary origins.
C．Their distinct sounds.	D．Their expressive power.

2. What made the author find the equation fascinating?

A．The repetition of a number.	B．The way two different numbers are equal.
C．The question the teacher raised.	D．The difference between the two numbers.

3. Which of the fllowing can replace the underlined word “paralleled” in paragraph 6?

A．Measured.

B．Composed.

C．Mirrored.

D．Influenced.

4. What is a suitable title for the text?

A．The Perfect Equation	B．Numbers Build Equations
C．An Attractive Question	D．Words Outperform Numbers

8 . Most of the time, we human beings are so unwilling to change that we completely ignore its beauty. I don’t get it, why?    1    I believe change is the most beautiful thing an individual can seek after.

As people connect changes with something beneficial, we all claim to believe in change being good, yet so many of us aggressively oppose it. And why? Because of familiarity.    2    

Even for those of us who say we love change, it’s hard to accept and adapt. However, sometimes change can be a frightening thing. There’s no denying that life is unpredictable and more often than not, we’re forced to make a change we didn’t really prepare for or expect. We lose jobs, we lose people, we move to another country or we find ourselves in unfavorable circumstances that we weren’t taught how to handle.    3    

Life is full of unavoidable changes. How can you develop personally and expect to stay in the same place?    4    When you start growing, you’ll notice changes in your surroundings. You’ll notice changes in your friends’ group. You’ll notice changes even in your preferences. Nothing stays the same if you want to grow as an individual.

Even though change may be painful and so hard sometimes, it’s still better than the pain of feeling powerless as you watch your dreams pass you by. Don’t be afraid of change. Embrace (拥抱) it with open arms.    5    I genuinely believe that life is too short to stay in the same place or in the same rigid mindset!

A．Not everyone can accompany you.

B．Where there’s growth, there’s change

C．Change can be scary but it can also be beautiful.

D．That’s not the only reasons you embrace changes.

E．Look forward to new experiences and learn from those new stories.

F．These things force you to change what you weren’t ready to change.

G．Sometimes we’re convinced that knowing something well means it’s right.

9 . At 20 years old, I was a confident and handsome student at the University of California at Berkey.

But that year, I ________ a bump (肿块) in my right nostril (鼻孔), and when it didn’t go away, I made an ________ with a doctor. It turned out to be a tumor (肿瘤). Then I underwent surgery. Fortunately, the procedure was ________, and I returned to classes soon.

But six months later, a new bump appeared. Numerous ________ confirmed it had reproduced a horrible, life—threatening tumor. I was advised to have another operation and ________ that I might lose part of my nose. I was too young to think about death then, but the thought of disfigurement (毁容) made me feel ________.

I awoke from the surgery with a scarred, disfigured face. As I re-entered the real world, I noticed adults ________ and children pointing—and sometimes laughing—at me. The occasional and ________ negative reactions from my friends also hurt me. My self-respect sank increasingly lower, and I constantly asked others, “Do my looks ________ you?”

Five years and 20 reconstructive surgeries later, I ________ a man receiving treatment. After hearing my question, he criticized me. My problem, he ________ me, was not my physical appearance, but my emotional insecurity. His ________ helped me realize my mental scars were far more disfiguring than my physical ones.

I began examining myself from the inside out. Later, I volunteered at a cancer support organization to offer inspiration and hope to those ________ cancer

Now, I am ________ for who I am—a much stronger person than before. To you, I offer this message: Avoid making judgements about people at ________.

1.

A．took charge of

B．took care of

C．took control of

D．took notice of

2.

A．appointment

B．arrangement

C．commitment

D．placement

3.

A．severe

B．minor

C．apparent

D．complicated

4.

A．novelists

B．specialists

C．impressionists

D．journalists

5.

A．advocated

B．predicted

C．warned

D．witnessed

6.

A．desperate

B．enthusiastic

C．delicate

D．optimistic

7.

A．smiling

B．glaring

C．glancing

D．staring

8.

A．unusually

B．unintentionally.

C．unconventionally

D．unselfishly

9.

A．bother

B．impress

C．annoy

D．restrict

10.

A．greeted

B．persuaded

C．encountered

D．grasped

11.

A．abused

B．defended

C．informed

D．motivated

12.

A．relief

B．security

C．defence

D．honesty

13.

A．going about

B．relating to

C．wrestling with

D．breaking with

14.

A．greedy

B．grateful

C．suitable

D．tolerant

15.

A．mental vitality

B．physical fitness

C．social acceptance

D．face value

10 . With new term approaching, as a new teacher, I needed to find a reference book in our school library. Therefore, I went in search of the _______. Before leaving, I struck up a(n) _______ with her and then I was completely _______ by her experience.

During the winter break, she had gone by herself to Death Valley, a rarely visited desert. She just rented a car and packed up some simple equipment. All the way, she _______ saw another human being as she drove or _______. The photos she showed me _______ me from freezing New England to the brilliant sunshine of Death Valley, where she could appreciate the appealing landscape. But what really _______ me was how fearless this woman is. So weak is she that I used to think that she was _______ to step out of the comfort zone.

I asked her if she was _______ of being out in the vast wilderness alone and she said no ________. She even loved being alone surrounded by such incredible ________, seeking the meaning of life. Further talk revealed that her life has been ________. She was a young single mother with 2 kids and worked at odd jobs day and night to ________. To her credit, she obtained her degree in education and found a decent job.

Actually, our brief talk inspired me to lead a more ________ life and she taught me to see a person beyond the ________.

1.

A．tutor

B．clerk

C．assistant

D．librarian

2.

A．conversation

B．discussion

C．complaint

D．activity

3.

A．bothered

B．attracted

C．moved

D．confused

4.

A．voluntarily

B．definitely

C．occasionally

D．barely

5.

A．hiked

B．slept

C．behaved

D．dived

6.

A．banned

B．protected

C．transported

D．dragged

7.

A．scared

B．delighted

C．upset

D．amazed

8.

A．unable

B．unaffordable

C．appointed

D．desperate

9.

A．free

B．frightened

C．incapable

D．typical

10.

A．without excuse

B．without hesitation

C．with doubt

D．with caution

11.

A．books

B．fantasy

C．sands

D．beauty

12.

A．tough

B．smooth

C．unpredictable

D．changeable

13.

A．succeed

B．escape

C．survive

D．suffer

14.

A．colorful

B．meaningful

C．comfortable

D．recreational

15.

A．restriction

B．range

C．surface

D．reach