（新高考Ⅰ卷）2024年高三模拟预测英语试卷03

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The year is 1763, and a 7-year-old Mozart is about to set off on a tour around Europe that will jump-start the Mozart legend. Mozart had a trick up his sleeve. When the young Mozart heard a note played-any note-he could immediately identify exactly which note it was. It was an ability now we know as "perfect pitch", and it seemed to be an example of the mysterious gifts that young geniuses had been born with. But is that really so?

Over my years of studying experts in various fields, like Mozart, I have found that there's no such thing as a predefined ability. Actually, those people all develop their abilities through "deliberate practice", a purposeful and systematic type of practice that makes it possible for them to do things they otherwise could not. In them, potential is an expandable vessel, shaped by the various things they do throughout their lives.

One of my testimonies came from Ray Allen, a ten-time All-Star in the NBA. Allen's jump shot was not noticeably better than his teammates' back in high school; in fact, it was poor. But with hard work and dedication, he transformed his jump shot into one so graceful and natural that people assumed he was born with it.

But it doesn't mean "Just keep working at it, and you'll get there". Heartfelt desire and hard work alone will not lead to improved performance. The right sort of practice carried out over a sufficient period of time will lead to improvement. Nothing else. And this is true whether our goal is to become a concert pianist or just play the piano well enough to amuse ourselves, to be the greatest three-point shooter or just build ourselves up. Deliberate practice is the gold standard for anyone in any field who wishes to build new skills and abilities.

Crossing paths with a wild boar (野猪) can pose fear and joy in equal measure. Despite 700years of extinction in Britain, the species' own tenacity and illegal releases from the 1980s have now led to several populations emerging. However, with impacts on both people and the countryside, their right to exist in Britain is heavily debated.

However, the boar's habitat-regenerating actions that benefit other wildlife, even if they are unloved by many. The few boar in England are threatened again by poaching and culling. Why is more not being done to prevent their re-extinction?

Naturalist, writer and science communicator Chantal Lyons addresses all these complex issues and explains what it might take for us to coexist with wild boar in her new book, Groundbreakers: The Return of Britain's Wild Boar. In this extract, she explains the history of the wild boar in Britain.

Most of the last millennium was not kind to the wild boar of Europe. But they endured when so many other large animals did not, and their star is ascendant once more. Their population status is rated as "Least Concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which reports that the species now has one of the vastest geographical distributions of all land animals, partly thanks to humans.

And so, with hindsight, the return of wild boar to Britain was inevitable. If not intentional. There'd been mutterings among environmentalists for decades that the species should be reintroduced. The market got a taste for them.

More farms sprung up, buying in animals from the Continent, where they had never been extinct and the farming of them was already long established. By the early 1990s there were 40 registered breeders in the UK.

Despite thousands of years of trying, one of the qualities that has proven most challenging to breed out of the farmed pig is escapology. Life, as a certain fictional mathematician once said, finds a way. Our woodlands had been waiting for nearly 700 years. Answering whatever call was sounding in their brains, wild boar began to escape from the farms. Or, in some cases, seem to have been variously helped out by storm damage, animal rights activists, hard-up owners and shooters. Each freed individual was a spark. Something new, something hot and bright with potential. Not all those sparks took. But enough did.

Nowadays, the term "superfood" has become the nutritional buzzword. Simply put, these superfoods are those that provide large amount of nutrients through minimal calories.

The term "superfood" may have taken the modern food scene by storm. Although only popular in recent years, the concept of certain foods with special nutritional qualities has been around for a long time. The nickname "superfood" gained widespread popularity in the early 2000s as health enthusiasts and the food industry sought to identify and market foods with special health benefits. Today, it is a trend in diet.

In an age when we share all kinds of superfoods on social media, ignoring the phenomenon is impossible. It's easy to understand. These nutritional superheroes offer a perfect combination of substance and style, tailored for the digital generation. Their lively colours, exotic origins and impressive nutrient profiles make them candidates for the next viral food trend.

They offer a lifestyle that reflects the global shift towards a more health­conscious society. As the world wrestles with an increasing burden of diseases and the fast pace of modern life, people are seeking dietary solutions from superfoods. They are rich in vitamins and minerals that can strengthen your immune system, avoid chronic diseases, and improve your overall well­being. Another remarkable benefit is their potential to promote heart health, helping you build a strong heart. Don't forget their role in skin regeneration. The antioxidants (抗氧化物) can provide a natural glow, reduce skin ageing and fight against skin conditions.

Superfoods, while nutritionally dense, should be part of a comprehensive diet rather than the only guarantee of our health.

It was like finding a needle in a haystack. Shelly Romo surveyed what was 1 of her home in Maui, which was hit by a deadly wildfire, hoping to find her wedding ring, expecting to leave 2 . But luckily, after three hours' 3 with volunteers, it finally appeared, the diamond 4 but the band completely damaged. Romo and her husband went straight to No Ka' Oi Jewelers — a local business that has been 5 fire-damaged jewelry free of charge.

No Ka' Oi owner Omi Chamdi said he was one of the 6 ones — the fires had avoided his home and storefront. That's why, in its aftermath, he immediately sprang into action and advertised 7 restorations. "When the fires here on Maui occurred, pretty 8 I decided this is something I can do and I really want to do for the 9 community."

However, Chamdi doesn't restore the jewelry himself; 10 he has been paying for the restoration services. When asked if he ever 11 that, he shook his head. "These are not just ordinary items, these are the most 12 possessions that people go back and dig through the 13 to find."

14 , Romo was not ready to say goodbye when the fires destroyed her home. But finding her wedding ring and getting it restored gave Romo some peace about 15 .

Chinese Loong Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, is a vibrant and festive celebration   (mark) the beginning of the lunar calendar. This annual event is deeply   (root) in Chinese culture, symbolizing renewal, family reunions, and guiding in of good fortune.

The festivities typically span 15 days,  colorful parades, dragon and lion dances, and dazzling fireworks shining the streets. Families come together for plentiful feasts, exchanging gifts, and paying   (respect) to ancestors. The air is filled with the sounds of joyous laughter and traditional music.

One of the  (much) iconic features of Chinese New Year is the red decorations brightening homes and streets. Red symbolizes good luck and  (prosper) in Chinese culture. People also participate in the tradition of giving and receiving red envelopes containing lucky money, known as "hongbao," as  gesture of good wish and well-being.

As the Year of the Dragon, Loong Year is particularly auspicious, believed to bring strength, vitality, and success. People across the globe join in the festivities, creating a sense of unity and  (share) celebration.

Chinese Loong Year is a time-honored tradition that  (exceed) borders emphasizing the importance of family, cultural heritage,  the hopeful anticipation of a prosperous year ahead.

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。

A Survey on Weekly Exercise Time

One morning, Father was helping Danny pack his bag for a holiday camp. "Do I really have to go, Father?" Danny asked hesitantly. "Son, sometimes the best lessons in life are learnt at camps," Father encouraged. "But I never have the right words to say when talking to someone new," Danny complained. "Alright, let's make a deal. If you learn something good at this camp, this shall be the last holiday camp I sign you up for," Father responded with a proposal. "Deal," Danny replied.

Right after dinner on the first day at camp, everyone was busy packing their bags in preparation for the night walk. Danny headed to the canteen to get a bottle of iced tea. Just as Danny was about to secure the bottle cap, he was caught off-guard as someone suddenly brushed pa st him and hit his arm. The bottle slipped out of his hands and fell to the floor. Light brown liquid flowed out, creating ugly mess on the floor. Danny caught a flash of a boy in a green T-shirt running off into the distance. "How rude!"Danny shouted, gritting his teeth. "Not even an apology!"

Just then, Mr Halim, the camp guide, approached Danny. "What are you doing here inste-" he asked but stopped midway when he saw the mess on the floor. "It wasn't me!" Danny raised his voice in his defence. "You'll fix this mess you created before we head out for the night walk," Mr Halim remarked, walking off in a hurry before Danny could explain himself.

"How unfortunate," Danny thought to himself. "It wasn't even my fault to begin with." Getting down on his knees, he started wiping up the mess. Twenty minutes passed and the floor was dry. Danny managed to calm himself down and think clearly. He recalled how Father had given him a second chance when he broke his vase by mistake a week ago. Realizing that what had happened just now might have been an accident, Danny resolved to let the past rest.

注意：

1. 续写词数应为150个左右；

2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。