四川雅安市高2026届高三下学期第二次诊断性考试英语试题

In Jiangxi's Huichang Hakka villages, bian'e — exquisitely carved wooden door plaques (牌匾) with 2 — 4 characters — carry family mottos, history, and values. Brought south by northern migrants in the Song Dynasty, they represent Hakka migration, scholarship, and morality. As national intangible heritage, they reflect Confucian virtues and stabilize society. Though the craft faces a shortage of successors, inheritors like Xiao Tianchang keep the tradition alive, preserving a living system of values in wood.

Behind the Clay Figure Zhang — Carving out festive spirit

As the Year of the Horse approaches, inheritors of Tianjin's intangible cultural heritage present horse-themed works. Tianjin Clay Figure Zhang draws inspiration from ancient art, combining realism and artistry to show the horse's spirit. Inheritors create lively pieces for young people and teach thousands of students for free.

A taste of home, shaped by hand

The Chinese Traditional Culture Museum in Beijing holds a Year of the Horse Spring Festival exhibition (Jan 20 — Mar 20), featuring exquisite huamo (artistic steamed buns). These decorative buns, with patterns of flowers, animals and trendy elements, are larger and more delicate than ordinary ones. Young inheritor Zhang Beiyuan innovates huamo with modern designs to attract young people, passing on the cultural heritage.

Traditional strokes, contemporary canvas

Yangliuqing New Year paintings, a northern Chinese woodblock tradition dates back to the late Ming Dynasty. They depict door gods, folk life, operas and landscapes, with complex techniques earning them fame as "China's premier New Year painting". Listed as national intangible cultural heritage in 2006, they now go beyond paper, appearing in marathons, exhibitions and cultural products, integrating traditional art into modern life.

She gave me a judgment-free space to learn from youthful mistakes and discover my true potential. Beyond teaching me literature and journalism — skills that fueled my career as a writer — she modeled how to live a fulfilling, self-driven life, which was rare for a woman I'd known then. Growing up in a small town, I struggled to imagine a life beyond it, even fearing success despite good grades; I'd have stayed forever if I could. Mrs. Korthaus changed that.

With sculpted cheekbones, straightforward speech and great enthusiasm, she celebrated students with Oprah-like joy, cheering, "YOU get an A!" We flocked to her for college recommendation letters, for she could help us see our own strengths. She opened a window to the world for us small-town kids through writing, literature and communications. Besides, she organized various after-school activities, showing us her passion for life.

Famously standing on a chair to state her point, she'd thunder "The hu-MAN-uh-teez!", wave her fist in the air like Braveheart. To her, the humanities revealed human dignity and the universal need to feel worthy, in oneself and others. She never demanded attention; her sheer joy of learning inspired it. She saw every student deeply, understanding that behavior reflects a child's sense of being loved — a gift that made us thrive in her class and in life.

More than 25 years after graduation, after building a writing career away and moving back, I still consider myself her student. It's with her as my clear role model that I answered an unexpected life call forever shaped by her wisdom and spirit.

James Irungu Mwangi, a Kenyan environmentalist, calls the area the "Great Carbon Valley". He believes the rift has two key advantages for "direct air capture" (DAC) stations: renewable energy and suitable geology to store carbon.

In fact, DAC plants need plenty of energy. Electricity drives fans to pass air over chemicals that absorb carbon dioxide, while more heat is required to make the chemicals release the gas. The Rift Valley is particularly suited to meet this energy demand due to its unique geological features. With thin Earth's outer layer and great geothermal (地热的) potential, Kenya can generate huge geothermal power, and waste steam from geothermal stations can heat DAC equipment. As most of Kenya's power is renewable, DAC will not increase global warming.

Capturing CO₂ is only part of the process; it must be safely stored. The Rift Valley's extensive porous basalt, a volcanic rock, is ideal for this: CO₂ dissolved in water is injected into the rock, reacts with basalt to form carbon-rich minerals, and will not leak back into the atmosphere.

This model is not merely theoretical. A similar combination of geothermal energy and volcanic rock has already attracted companies elsewhere. Climeworks, a Swiss firm, opened the world's biggest DAC plant in Iceland in 2021. It can remove some 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year from the atmosphere at a cost of $600 — 800 a tonne.

Kenyan startup Octavia Carbon is building the world's second-largest DAC plant in the Rift Valley. Its founder hopes to sequester carbon dioxide much more cheaply, thanks to low-cost renewable energy, geothermal steam and lower labor costs for skilled workers. Its pilot plant will be completed next year at a cost below $500 per tonne, with a goal to drop it under $100 in five years, far cheaper than industry forecasts.

Small wonder, then, that so many people worry they will soon be redundant to requirements. Earlier this year global Google searches for "AI unemployment" hit an all-time high. In cities such as London and San Francisco, "How long do you reckon you have left in your job?" is a common topic of conversation. But is ChatGPT actually putting anyone out of work?

Lots of experts claim that it is. Many point to a recent paper by Carl Benedikt Frey and Pedro Llanos-Paredes, both of the University of Oxford, which suggests a link between automation and declining demand for translators. At the same time, however, official American data suggest that the number of people employed in interpretation, translation and the like is 7% higher than a year ago. Fintech firm Klarna also reversed its AI-driven customer service automation, reaffirming human support options. Some link young college graduates' higher relative unemployment to AI replacing their entry-level knowledge-intensive tasks, but this trend began in 2009, long before generative AI emerged, and their actual 6% unemployment rate is low.

Analysis of US occupational employment data shows AI-vulnerable white-collar jobs (back-office, finance, sales, etc.) have not seen AI-related losses; their employment share even rose slightly. US unemployment is low at 4.2% with strong wage growth, contradicting claims of declining labor demand. Other wealthy economies show a similar trend: the OECD's 2024 employment rate reached a record high, with solid earnings growth in the UK, euro area and Japan.

There are two competing explanations for these trends. First, few firms actually use AI for serious work, with less than 10% of American companies employing it for production. Second, companies adopting AI tend to retain workers, as the technology mostly boosts efficiency rather than replacing jobs. Whatever the explanation, for now there is no need to panic.

In our fast-paced digital world, most people struggle with stress and feelings of being overwhelmed. More and more people are looking for effective ways to relax and improve their mental health. Among them, walking outdoors in nature has been proven to bring amazing and lasting benefits to our mind.

Studies show that walking in green spaces lowers levels of cortisol, the body's main stress hormone. Research from Stanford University found that a 90-minute walk in a natural setting significantly decreases activity in the part of the brain linked to rumination — repetitive negative thinking that fuels stress and depression.

Another key benefit is increased creativity. When you walk in nature, your brain enters a state of "soft fascination". Unlike urban environments that demand constant, directed attention, nature provides gentle, low-effort stimuli that let your brain rest and recharge.

Try to walk without your phone. Disconnecting from screens lets you fully engage with your surroundings — listening to birdsong, feeling the breeze, or watching sunlight filter through leaves. It also helps you disconnect from work or digital stress.

Research suggests that spending a total of 120 minutes in nature each week is linked to long-term improvements in mental well-being. Whether it's a lunchtime stroll, a weekend hike, or simply sitting under a tree, nature is free, accessible medicine for your mind.

A. Even small daily doses add up.

B. The mindful presence enables you to calm down.

C. However, simple and natural methods are often ignored.

D. It allows your mind to wander and make new connections.

E. Being free from digital devices affects work efficiency greatly.

F. The longer you stay in nature, the better mental health you will gain.

G. This reduction in stress leads to improved mood and reduced anxiety.

On March 4, someone1 Koko wandering around a shopping mall in Clark, New Jersey, and called the Clark Township Police Department.

Officer Nick Kurus2 to the call and brought Koko back to police headquarters. From there, staff members began working to3 her family. They eventually obtained contact information for the last recorded owner. When Kurus made the call, the reaction on the other end of the line was pure4.

Koko's owners had been searching for answers ever since she5 in Texas two years earlier. Over time, they had come to believe they might never see their beloved dog again. That changed instantly with one6 phone call.

The family7 made plans to fly to New Jersey, and a8 was scheduled. In the meantime, Koko became an honorary9 of the police department. Instead of sending her to a10, officers cared for her themselves while waiting for her family.

When the11 reunion finally happened, it was everything everyone had hoped for. Police said Koko ran straight to her mom the moment she arrived. The grateful owners thanked the department for the kindness and12 they showed their dog. For the officers who had grown attached to their temporary station mascot, the goodbye was a little13.

"We will miss you, Koko," the department wrote on Facebook.

One14 still remains: no one knows how the adventurous pup15 to travel all the way from Texas to New Jersey during the two years she was missing.

Chinese literature took center stage at the London Book Fair (LBF) on March 11, (demonstrate) active literary and publishing exchanges between China and the United Kingdom.

"Literature, as key form of cultural expression, continues to serve as a bridge for mutual understanding between civilizations," Li Liyan, minister counselor for cultural affairs at the Chinese embassy in the UK, said the opening of a series of signings and launch ceremonies. In recent years, a growing number of Chinese works (translate) and published abroad, allowing international readers to gain a vivid, multidimensional, and authentic view of contemporary China.

During the event, the "Young Chinese Writers International Promotion Program" was officially launched, marked a major step toward introducing contemporary Chinese voices to global audiences. "Over the next two years, it aims (spotlight) at least 50 emerging Chinese authors through various forms, including new media campaigns, international promotional events, author interviews, reading sessions, video productions translated works," Ni Cheng, deputy general manager of China Publishing & Media Journal, said.

Held from March 10 to 12, the London Book Fair is one of the world's most (influence) platforms for copyright trading and publishing industry exchanges. The annual event attracts more than 1,000 exhibitors and over 30,000 publishing (professional) from the UK and around the world. For many, it's a crucial opportunity to introduce (they) to the global market and establish valuable connections.

1.说明情况；

2.询问活动后续安排。

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。

Dear Mr. David,

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Yours,

Li Hua

For years, my next-door neighbor, Mark, and I had a routine. Every summer, while he visited his grandchildren in another state, I would care for his beloved garden. It was a masterpiece of colorful flowers and plump, juicy tomatoes, all carefully planned and cared for. In return for my efforts, Mark always brought me back a box of salted caramel candies from his favorite shop up north. It was a simple, perfect exchange of trust and friendship.

This year, however, was different. A major work deadline left me stressed. When Mark knocked with his usual request, I almost said no. Seeing his hopeful face, I agreed. For the first week, I was diligent, watering every evening. But as my deadline got closer, my visits became rushed. I'd quickly spray the hose (软管) over everything, not paying attention to the details.

One evening, I noticed the soil around the plants was bone dry, but my mind was on the report I had to finish. I gave everything a quick shower, my eyes fixed on my laptop screen through the window. I failed to notice I'd left the hose running against the fence, creating a steady stream flowing toward Mark's flower beds.

The next morning, I stepped outside and froze in horror. The vibrant flower bed was a muddy mess — many flowers bent and beaten-down by the water. Guilt washed over me as I tried propping up broken stems, but it was useless.

The day Mark returned, I saw him pull into his driveway. He got out, waved cheerfully at me, and then walked towards his garden. I watched from my window as his steps slowed. He stopped and just stood there, staring at the damage. He didn't turn to look at my house. He just quietly walked into his home, his shoulders slumped. The silence from his house was louder than any angry words. I wanted to go over, to explain, to apologize, but my pride and shame held me back. Days turned into a week, and we avoided each other, the comfortable wave between us replaced by a painful distance.

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。

As my conscience was tearing me apart, I knew I couldn't let this continue.

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As I turned to leave, he called out, "Hey, wait."

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