2 . Sunday evening, October 30, 1938, was peaceful in New York City. Some people were returning home from a trip to the countryside, and others were sitting down to dinner. In those days, televisions were not very common. Most people listened to the radio for news and entertainment.

At eight o’clock that evening, there was a concert of dance music, but Suddenly, the programme was cut off by a news report: a large spaceship had landed in a field and an army of Martians (火星人) was moving towards New York City and then the radio went silent.

People felt worried. Some drove out of the city as quickly as possible, but soon the roads were crowded with cars. Some people put wet towels on their faces because they thought there was a gas attack. In New Jersey, some farmers went out with guns. Although it was dark, they found a large cylinder (圆柱体) standing in a field, and, thinking it was the Martian spaceship, the shot at it many times.

Many people were so frightened that they did not hear the next announcement on the radio: “Ladies and gentlemen, you are listening to a radio play called The War of the Worlds.”

A message was sent to police stations that there was no real Martian attack, and the police Offices soon returned calm to New York City.

Many people were very angry that they had been fooled by the play, and complained to the radio station. But what about the spaceship that the farmers found in the field? The next morning, they found that they had damaged a large water tank (罐)!

1. According to the news report, ___________.

A．a Martian spaceship had landed	B．a spaceship was found at the airport
C．there would be a concert that evening	D．there was a gas attack in New York City

2. The road was crowded with cars because ___________.

A．many people wanted to see the Martians

B．the Martian army was standing in the way

C．people were trying to get home from work

D．many people were trying to leave New York City

3. Who went out in the fields with guns to fight the Martians?

A．Policemen.

B．Firemen.

C．Dancers.

D．Farmers.

4. What can we learn about the radio station from the article?

A．it was fooled by a news reporter.

B．It played a joke on the listeners.

C．It called the police to catch the Martians.

D．It often announced the news about spaceships.

4 .

Aron Ralston will forever be known as the guy who cut his handoff to escape an accident that left him stuck between two huge rocks.

Ralston was_________in Blue John Canyon in Utah alone. As he came down a canyon, a rock became loose and_________his hand. No one knew he was there, and he only had a little bit of water and a little bit of food. It was up to him to_________himself. He decided to self-amputate (截肢) in order to save himself after_________for three days. But after two days of trying_________methods, he nearly gave up.

That is until an idea came to him on day six: he could_________apart of his own arm. After an hour of work with a cheap multitool (多刃刀具), he made a successful_________and had to get back to his vehicle, going down a 65-footwall with one hand.

He was _________discovered by a European family on a_________out, and six hours after his self-amputation, he was rescued by authorities. He was found just in time: Ralston was on the brink (边缘) of__________from blood loss. He survives today, still taking outdoor expeditions and climbing__________when not giving speeches or having movies made about his incredible __________

Born on Oct. 27, 1975, Ralston grew up in Ohio before his family__________to Colorado in 1987. After working for several years, he decided that working in a company wasn’t__________for him and quit this job to__________more time to mountaineering.

1.

A．hiking

B．jogging

C．climbing

D．escaping

2.

A．trapped

B．touched

C．raised

D．covered

3.

A．adapt

B．attract

C．encourage

D．rescue

4.

A．crying

B．struggling

C．preparing

D．exploring

5.

A．scientific

B．unusual

C．various

D．effective

6.

A．break off

B．take off

C．put off

D．cut off

7.

A．effort

B．plan

C．prediction

D．experiment

8.

A．actively

B．eventually

C．immediately

D．surprisingly

9.

A．camp

B．voyage

C．flight

D．research

10.

A．escape

B．death

C．fall

D．survival

11.

A．journeys

B．competitions

C．adventures

D．surprises

12.

A．discovery

B．courage

C．determination

D．experience

13.

A．turned

B．connected

C．compared

D．moved

14.

A．fit

B．healthy

C．useful

D．hopeful

15.

A．spend

B．devote

C．took

D．prefer

7 . After more than 2 months trapped in a collapsed copper (铜) and gold mine in the desert, all of 33 Chilean miners (矿工) were rescued Wednesday. With ingenuity and cutting-edge technology, the men have survived for 69 days, some 700 meters underground fending off hunger, anxiety and illness in a record-setting feat of survival. How did they survive the ordeal? Have a close look.

Before the miners were reached, they survived for 17 days on food already stored in the emergency shelter. They rationed themselves to 2 spoonfuls of tuna, half a cookie and a half-full glass of milk every 48 hours. Then a 6-inch diameter bore hole allowed food and water supplies to be sent down to the mine. Doctors then put the men on a solid diet of meat and rice, with a strict 2,200-calorie limit to keep them slim enough to fit in the evacuation shaft, which is just 66cm in diameter.

Yonny Barrios Rojas, 50, used knowledge gained on a nursing course he attended to administer medicine to the group and perform daily health checks.

“I was with God and I was with the devil. They fought and God won,” Mario Sepulveda, the second to be rescued, told CNN. He said he grabbed God’s hand and never doubted that he would be rescued.

1. What can we learn about the miners from the passage?

A．The miners were trapped in the mine in the desert on Wednesday.

B．The miners survived for 69 days on the food stored in the emergency shelter.

C．The miners were rescued after more than two months trapped.

D．Doctor Yonny Barrios Rojas administered medicine to the group and made daily health checks.

2. Why did doctor limit the calorie intake of the miners?

A．Because the food was limited.

B．Because the food had been eaten up already.

C．Because the miners couldn’t eat too much due to their bad condition.

D．Because the miners must be slim enough to get into the evacuation shaft.

3. What were the keys to the miners’ rescue?

A．Intelligence and advanced technology.	B．Luck and Persistence.
C．Courage and wisdom.	D．Experiences and bravery.

4. What’s the best title for the passage?

A．Miners trapped in a mine	B．Miners survival miracle
C．A collapsed copper and gold mine	D．A rescue mission

8 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A .address     B. launched     C. charge        D. highlights       E. mentioned     F. blocking          G. involving   H. potential     I. previously     J. fortunately     K. authorities

A fire that broke out in an apartment building in Nanjing on February 23 left 15 people dead and another 44 injured. Local     1     said the fire started on the ground floor of the building where several electric bikes were parked.

In China, it is forbidden (禁止) to park or     2     electric bikes in public areas of high-rise buildings. However, violations (违规行为) are common. The management of such electric vehicles has remained a challenge.

The recent tragedy (悲剧) further     3     the safety risks posed by electric bikes in densely populated communities. Data showed that, by the end of 2022, there were 350million electric bikes in China. This means, on average, one out of every four Chinese people has an electric bike. Meanwhile, the number of fire accidents     4     electric bikes has also increased. In 2023, there were 21,000 cases in total, a year-on-year (同比) increase of 17.4%. Some 80% of those fires occurred during charging, with over half taking place at night. About 90% of the deadly fires began in lobbies (大厅), corridors and stairwells (楼梯井).

“For many communities, builders didn’t take into consideration the infrastructure (基础施) for parking and charging electric bikes. Therefore, they often lack a corresponding (相应的) safety plan,” said Yang Zhimin, a Shenzhen official.

The latest incident in Nanjing isn’t the first electric bike fire that has happened in the community involved. Residents     5     a similar one in 2019. That fire, luckily, did not result in any injuries. In 2022, it was reported that over 180 electric bikes were parked overnight in one building. Many residents have     6     voiced concerns over the safety risks posed by these electric bikes.

Following the tragedy, Nanjing authorities announced a thorough (面) review of safety risks. This covers high-rise buildings, commercial spaces (商业区) and other densely populated areas. They aim to     7     high-risk activities, especially those related to electric bikes. Among them are     8     fire evacuation routes, charging electric bikes indoors, and using unsafe wiring (线路系统) for charging.

Other cities across China have also taken action to remove     9     fire hazards. Shanghai has     10     citywide safety inspections of electric bikes in residential areas. On February 25, Huainan in Anhui province issued a notice stressing stricter electric bike management.

“We will work to ensure that all electric bikes in China are parked outdoors,” said the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM, 应急管理部) on February 26.

10 . In a breathtaking incident in Berlin, a young man narrowly escaped a life-threatening situation where he became trapped beneath a bus.

The 16-year-old found himself unable to move beneath a tyre (轮胎) of the bus when   he fell down during an attempt to catch the departing vehicle at a local stop on a Monday afternoon. The quick response of the bus driver, who immediately stopped the vehicle, coupled with the assistance of roughly 40 people, including both passengers and bystanders, led to a remarkable achievement. Together, they managed to lift the right side of the bus sufficiently to free the young man.

Frank Kurze, one of the courageous volunteers who participated in the rescue, recalled the messy scene, stating, “I saw the men trying to lift the bus, and it was clear to me that I also had to help lift the bus and try to pull the young man from underneath.”

Nearby medical professionals from a healthcare center in the Spandau neighborhood of Berlin instantly arrived at the scene to provide vital first aid. Michelle Rueckborn, one of the nurses on duty, shared their response, saying, “We were at work when we heard screams, and our coworker looked out of the window and saw what had happened, and said ‘Grab the doctor’s kit and run.’”

Sandra Grunwald, another nurse present at the scene, added, “He was responsive but understandably confused, unsure of what was unfolding around him.” Despite the frightening circumstances, the young man unbelievably survived with only minor injuries, thanks to the collective effort of around 40 individuals who came together to perform a heroic rescue.

The Berlin police department praised the collective efforts of those involved in the rescue as “heroes” and expressed their gratitude on social media, stating, “Thank you, Spandau. Thank you, Berlin.”

1. What was the accident at the bus stop?

A．A teenager got caught under a bus.	B．The tyre of a bus suddenly blew out.
C．A young passenger fell from his seat.	D．The driver found the bus uncontrollable.

2. What did Frank Kurze do at the rescue scene?

A．He recorded the whole event.	B．He stepped forward bravely.
C．He turned to medical staff.	D．He called more volunteers in.

3. Which of the following best describes the medical professionals?

A．Tolerant.

B．Creative.

C．Patient.

D．Decisive.

4. What message does the text try to convey?

A．One good turn deserves another.	B．Kindness brings mental rewards.
C．Many hands make light work.	D．Opportunity is for the prepared.