江苏省苏州市2022-2023学年高一下学期期初调研英语试卷

Countries around the world ring in the new year with unique customs and traditions, often carried out at the strike of midnight. We rounded up ways to bring international New Year's Eve experiences to you.

Japan: Eat toshikoshi soba.

Shiwasu is the end-of-the-year period in Japan, filled by many traditions like traveling to see family and thoroughly cleaning your home. To celebrate New Year's Eve, people eat toshikoshi soba, which can symbolize having a long and lucky life along with a clean break from the year.

Spain: Eat 12 grapes.

The tradition of eating grapes for good luck began in Spain, but it is now practised around the world. When the clock starts ringing at midnight, eat one grape with each ring. It's even luckier if you're wearing special New Year's Eve underwear while eating your grapes. A pair of red underwear can bring you a new year of love, while yellow may bring joy and good luck.

Denmark: Jump off a chair.

In Denmark, one does not simply let the new year happen. You go on the offense(讨厌的东西) and jump into it. Just before midnight, stop what you're doing and get on a chair to do the jump like a Dane would. Should you forget to jump, it's said that you'll bring bad luck for the following year, so please, we are begging you—do not forget to jump.

Russia: Burn, then drink, your wishes.

After a year of unrealized dreams and plans, set your sights on a fresh start with this Russian tradition. Before midnight, write down your wishes for 2023 on a piece of paper, then light the paper on fire. Once it's stopped burning, sprinkle(洒) the wish-filled ashes into a glass of wine and drink up after the clock strikes midnight.

Is there a Chinese soccer team at the Qatar 2022 World Cup? No. But one can't miss Chinese elements(元素) in and around the stadiums in this desert state. One can take a nap in a "mobile hotel" built by Chinese engineers, drink water from ponds dug by Chinese engineers, charge one's mobile phone with electricity produced at the photovoltaic(光电的) power stations built by Chinese companies, and take a bus made in China to move between hotels and stadiums.

Did we forget something? Yes, even some stadiums are built by Chinese companies, while the souvenirs(纪念品) one can buy there, too, are made in China.

That's how China has taken part in this World Cup and earlier events, and may do so in the upcoming ones too: by providing products and services to the athletes and audiences alike, thus impressing the world with its technology and products.

While "Made in China" has left its stamp on earlier soccer World Cups and other sports events, what makes the Qatar World Cup unique is the kind of technology China is providing. For example, the Stadium 974, built by Chinese companies, is the first movable and redeploy able (可重构体系的) "green stadium". It can recycle rainwater for future use and turn the garbage collected from the stadium into fertilizer(肥料). Besides, China has built an 800 MW photovoltaic station that continually turns the rich sunshine in the Middle East into electricity for the stadium.

Another reason that has made it possible for Chinese firms to perform well in the World Cup is that China has achieved good economic growth despite a global economic slowdown. While the whole world suffers because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other reasons, Chinese companies have largely continued to function normally.

Scientists have known for many years that houseplants benefit people's well-being. Now researchers have found a way to make plants even better for human health. Using a method called genetic modification(基因编辑), they raised plants that reduce indoor air pollution. GM means changing a plant or animal by fixing its DNA, including adding DNA from another species(物种).

Indoor air pollution is produced by cleaning products, cooking, and dust, among other things, and it can be bad for people's health. In 1989, research done by NASA found that houseplants could clean the air in a home. Later studies, however, showed that plants actually made too small a difference to help much. Since then, scientists have been experimenting with the DNA of certain houseplants to try to create one that will reduce more air pollution.

In 2018, scientists from the University of Washington decided to adapt a houseplant called pothos, or devil's ivy, which is popular and easy to care for. The team added new DNA based on a chemical found in a rabbit's liver. In the animal, the chemical breaks down harmful matter. The team found that the new DNA made the plant better at taking in pollution.

More recently, a company called Neoplants added more DNA, from two types of bacteria(细菌). As the devil's ivy grow, the team studied it carefully. Tests suggested that it was up to 30 times better at taking in pollution than the non-GM plants that NASA tested back in 1989. The company is also planning to add bacteria to the soil that comes with the plant, which could help break down even more polluting gases.

There is more work to be done, but the team at Neoplants plans to use this technology in other types of houseplants. If all goes well, the company hopes people in the US will be able to decorate their homes with pollution-busting plants by next year. Another company, Origen Air, sells a plant-based system that cleans the air in businesses and homes. It has already appeared on the market in Canada.

The match was nearly over and I was almost on my last legs, when I saw a chance. I picked the ball up from Sally and headed for the German penalty area(罚球区).

"Jess!" I could hear Jules shouting as she ran alongside me. "Pass!"

I looked up and hit the ball forward into space. Jules ran on to it, picked it up and hit the ball into the net. It was just as good as Beckham's last-minute goal against Greece!

Two minutes later, the referee(裁判) blew the whistle for full-time. A draw.

"Penalties," Jules said, with a wide smile on her face.

Although it wasn't usual to finish a friendly with penalties, both sides had decided that it would be a nice idea. Joe came on to the pitch(球场) to give us a quick pep talk. Maybe he wouldn't choose me.

"OK, Jules, you go first," Joe said. "Then Mel, Tina, Hannah and—Jess." I tried not to look relieved that I was last. With any luck I wouldn't have to take my turn, if the match was decided before that.

The Germans went first and scored. So did Jules. The Germans scored again. So did Mel. After a third German goal, Tina was looking nervous, but she was lucky because her shot went in off the post.

My stomach was turning over and over as Hannah stepped up to take our fourth penalty. If Hannah scored, it would be all down to the last German penalty-taker—and me.

Hannah rolled the ball smoothly into the left-hand corner of the net. I tried to take deep breaths to calm myself down. If the next German player scored, I'd have to take my turn. I closed my eyes, willing her to fail.

A loud roar around the stadium told me that she'd scored. The referee signaled me to come over and with heavy steps I walked over to place the ball on the spot. I was really tired and my legs felt like they were made of lead. Behind me I could hear the girls yelling encouragement.

I made a superhuman effort and ran towards the ball, but even as I hit it, I knew it wasn't right. I groaned as the ball hit the crossbar and bounced away into the crowd.

Make friends with your inner voice

Most people have an inner voice. What you say to yourself, and how you say it, makes a difference to how you think, feel and behave, so it's worth paying attention to it.

What is your inner voice?

Your inner voice is always with you, giving a commentary inside your head. You might notice it when you make a mistake, when you try something new, or when you solve a problem. Sometimes it sounds kind but at other times it can sound mean or scared. Young people's coach Maria Evans says it should be treated with kindness. "It gets scared when you think about doing something that feels stretchy. " Often all it needs is to be listened to and spoken to with love.

How does your inner voice affect you?

Your inner voice, also known as your self-talk, has an impact on you because you already pay attention to it. If you keep telling yourself you can't do maths or you're no good at making friends or you're not creative, over time you'll believe what your inner voice is saying. When you talk to yourself using a phrase like "I've got to tidy my room," it makes the task feel harder. If instead you say, "I choose to tidy my room, and then I'll be able to find the things I want easily", it's more positive.

Befriend your inner voice.

For example, when you do something you felt nervous about, congratulate yourself for being brave and having a go. If you're not sure what to say, imagine you're talking to your best friend and trying to support and help them inside your head.

A. Your inner voice has different tones.

B. It's the internal chatter that goes on inside your head.

C. So what you say to yourself, and what you hear, sinks in.

D. You're telling yourself how you'll benefit from tidying your room.

E. It can be helpful to talk to that voice with kindness and understanding.

F. When you make a mistake, tell yourself it's OK and you'll learn for next time.

G. Noticing your inner voice and talking encouragingly to yourself make you more confident.

Mrs. Barrow, room 501, room 501, I repeated to myself as I scanned the hallways looking for the room number. It was my first day of fifth grade and I was really 1.

I came to the end of the hall and found an open door. Stepping into the room, I suddenly felt out of 2. I tried to act normal, but Mrs. Barrow saw right through me.

"Good morning, Courtni. You may 3 your seat." I looked about the room and took an empty seat near a girl named Wendy Barber. As the year slowly 4, Wendy and I became good friends. I felt no closeness to Mrs. Barrow, 5. I saw her as "just another teacher."

Then my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. About a month later, Grandma slipped into a coma (昏迷) and died. 6 her was unbearable for me. I missed some school because I was so sad.

At the funeral, I was sitting there feeling sorry for myself when I 7 and saw Mrs. Barrow standing there. She sat down next to me and held my hand. She comforted me by 8 me that now Grandma had no more pain or suffering. It had never occurred to me that it was 9 for my grandma this way. All I thought about was how bad it was for me.

After the funeral, we went to my aunt's house to see the flowers that had been sent. My mom 10me a pretty ivy plant in a pin pot. The 11 card read:

Courtni,

I'm sorry about your grandmother. Never forget, I love you. You are like one of my children.

With love,

Mrs. Barrow

I took the plant home and put it in my grandma's old room. I am in eighth grade now and I still have that plant. I 12 thought a teacher could care that much about her students; now I know. I say this with all my heart: 13 who is lucky enough to have a teacher like Mrs. Barrow in their life is privileged (荣幸的) 14 words. She may not know it, but she means more to me than she'll ever know. I can only hope this gives her inspiration and 15 to her a tiny portion of what she has done for me.

An animated short film, based on the book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, is coming to Apple TV+ on December 25. It is about a boy who  (lose) and afraid but gets comforting (wise) from animals he meets as he looks for his home.

British illustrator(插图画家) and artist Charlie Mackesy the author of the book, co-wrote and co-directed the film. He said the (origin) inspiration for his book came from drawings he made and sent to friends. He put them in a book more people could enjoy them, and it became  bestseller.

The story's lesson, such as "Asking for help isn't giving up. It's refusing to give up," didn't come Mackesy all at once. "I just kept drawing and writing and they emerged(出现)," he said. "I think we all have things deep within us if we dare to listen." Mackesy said that at first he didn't think the book had enough in it (become) a film, but there ended up being too much. "We had to carefully select  we felt was important and keep the gentle pace," he said.

There are many important messages in the film, but there are some specific ones Mackesy would like kids to take away from it. "I hope very much that it helps children feel good about themselves, (love), and enough as they are," he said. "I hope it inspires friendships and shows that the greatest things in life (be) kindness and love."

1）给予安慰；

2）恢复期建议；

3）表示祝愿。

注意：

1）词数80左右；

2）可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear Jamie,

I'm sorry to hear that you are still not feeling very well after being infected with COVID-19.

……

Yours,

Li Hua

主题：中国剪纸艺术

剪纸是中国最古老、最流行的民间艺术之一。它是中国独特的艺术瑰宝，也是中国非物质文化遗产(intangible cultural heritage)的重要代表。这种艺术形式灵感来源于中国百姓的日常生活。它不仅可以被用来装饰家庭，也象征人们对幸福平安的美好祈愿。同中华5000年灿烂文明的其他文化瑰宝一样，剪纸自古以来代表着中国人民对美好生活的追求(pursuit)。在中外文明交流中，剪纸的文化价值正走向世界。

Chinese Paper-cutting