• 1、Dealing with negativity can be difficult, especially when you're not happy with who you are. However, laughing at yourself is a surprisingly effective way to deal with negative circumstances. Here are some tips to learn to laugh at yourself more in life.

    Accept yourself. You know that nobody is perfect. When talking about the "negatives", it's extremely important to know which parts of yourself can be changed and which can't. For example, there's no point in being angry at yourself because you aren't as tall as you'd like to be. You can try all you want, but you'll never change those features of yourself.

    Accepting yourself is often so hard because you aren't even looking at yourself — you're just looking at how well you do a certain thing. You've probably done it yourself. You didn't lift as much weight in the gym as the guy next to you? You're weak. You didn't finish all of the work you planned to do? You're lazy. So instead, you should realize that a single action doesn't determine who you are. This means that laughing about a mistake you once made doesn't mean you're laughing at who you are as a person.

    Be humble. You can't laugh at yourself while at the same time trying to maintain the image that you're awesome at everything you do. In other words, you'd better avoid showing off and be more humble instead. A good tip is to think of how insignificant you are in the universe. It reminds you that whatever problems you're dealing with right now don't matter in the end.


    ​​​​​​​A. Be mindful of others.

    B. This knowledge can be freeing in a way.

    C. Separate yourself from your performance.

    D. So how can you learn to laugh about yourself?

    E. So why would you expect yourself to be any different?

    F. You can make a mistake, but that doesn't make you the mistake.

    G. The last thing you want at this point is for someone to laugh at you.

  • 2、Amir Goldberg discovered a funny thing about American culture on his way to researching the complex topic. Goldberg and his colleagues at Stanford and Yale universities analyzed millions of Yelp and Netflix reviews to reveal that people considered the most culturally adventurous are actually the most resistant to experiences perceived as "crossing the line."

    That is, those described as "cultural omnivores (杂食动物)" — because they eat Thai for lunch, play bocce ball after work, and stream a French film that night — are the very ones opposed to mixing it up. No hummus on their hot dogs, forget about spaghetti Westerns, and do not mention Switched-On Bach. Those offerings are not considered culturally authentic. They are a hodgepodge (混杂物) to which these folks would likely wrinkle their collective noses.

    "We find these people hate the most atypical offerings," says Goldberg. "They can pretend to be the most open, but it turns out they are not. By being multicultural, they are the most conservative and the most resistant to changes."

    The findings are opposite to previous research, which viewed omnivorousness as synonymous with openness. Instead, Goldberg, along with Michael T. Hannan, professor emeritus of organizational behavior at Stanford GSB and Balazs Kovacs of Yale University, write in their paper that "a taste for variety decreases one's receptivity to cultural innovation."

    But as the team's research points out, there is a subset of consumers who are open to change. "For cultural novelty to have an impact and occasionally drive change, some agents must be tolerant to breaking traditional boundaries," he says.

    The trick is to find and develop them, as Steve Jobs did with the iPhone. Goldberg notes that when the iPhone was first introduced, it confused the public. What is it? A phone? A computer? Many saw the product and dismissed it, deciding phones are for personal communication and computers are for the office. The professor notes that it was Jobs and his loyal followers who changed minds, changed habits, and ultimately changed the global culture.

    (1)、What do we know about "cultural omnivores"?
    A、They are unwilling to change. B、They are adventurous customers. C、They prioritize American culture. D、They hate culturally authentic offerings.
    (2)、What does the underlined phrase "synonymous with" in paragraph 4 mean?
    A、Heavily dependent on. B、Greatly superior to. C、Closely connected with. D、Completely contrary to.
    (3)、What does Goldberg think of the iPhone?
    A、Confusing. B、Pioneering. C、Convenient. D、Effective.
    (4)、What is the key to overcoming cultural resistance according to the text?
    A、Educating the public. B、Setting traditional boundaries. C、Developing innovative products. D、Making use of the open-minded.
  • 3、You've seen it happen: you present a fact — clear, undeniable — and instead of reconsidering their position, the other person doubles down. "I just don't believe it," they say. This confusing resistance isn't just frustrating; it's deeply human. Our brains are wired not merely to seek truth, but to defend identity. Welcome to the mind's firewall — our internal system that protects beliefs from intruding (侵入的) evidence. And yet, understanding this firewall is the first step to disarming it, for ourselves and others.

    In Elizabeth Kolbert's article "Why Facts Don't Change Our Minds," she draws on studies in cognitive science to show that reasoning evolved not to find truth, but to win arguments. Our brains often favor "motivated reasoning" — seeking information that supports our views and discounting evidence that challenges them. This tendency, known as "confirmation bias (偏见)", helps us maintain a consistent sense of self and stay in line with our social groups. This makes conversations less about learning and more about defending one's territory.

    Think of your mind like a computer. Facts are like data packets trying to get through your firewall. But unless they meet certain criteria — emotional relevance, social safety, identity compatibility (兼容) — they're blocked. The mind doesn't simply take in raw information; it tries to make sense of it. Facts alone aren't enough to truly connect or stick. This is especially true in emotionally charged fields like politics, health, or identity. When we feel threatened, the emotional brain overrides the rational (理智的) brain. What feels true outweighs what is true.

    If facts can't get past the firewall, what can? As discussed in my book The Art of Change, it's not about tearing down the firewall, but about finding alternative paths around it — narrative, emotion, and relationship.

    Next time you're trying to change someone's mind — or your own — remember: lead with connection, not argument. Start with shared experiences or values. Use stories, not just analytics. And stay open yourself. Try this: Think of a belief you hold strongly. Then write down three reasons someone might see it differently — not arguments, but genuinely thoughtful reasons. Doing this won't make you weaker in your beliefs. It'll make you wiser in your understanding.

    (1)、What does the author think of the mind's firewall?
    A、It is natural. B、It is confusing. C、It is beneficial. D、It is necessary.
    (2)、Why do our brains favor "motivated reasoning"?
    A、It helps people seek truth. B、It allows people to defend identity. C、It makes people learn more about themselves. D、It enables people to overcome any challenges.
    (3)、What is paragraph 3 mainly about?
    A、The scientific method for processing facts. B、The underlying logic of the mind's firewall. C、The biological structure of the human brain. D、The conflict between emotional and rational brains.
    (4)、What does the author suggest readers do to change others' minds?
    A、Argue against their beliefs. B、Present a through analysis to them. C、Form an emotional bond with them. D、Train them to be more open-minded.
  • 4、A few years ago, a chance encounter with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) excited my deep interest in this ancient culture. Greatly fascinated, I decided to pursue a systematic study.

    I applied to Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, and I was overjoyed the day I received my admission letter. At the beginning, the ancient Chinese classics and complex processes of herb collection, identification and combination were quite challenging to me. Fortunately, I had the patient guidance of professors and the enthusiastic help of classmates to rely on.

    I remember when I first started learning acupuncture (针灸), I was often too hesitant to actually use the needles. To encourage me, my senior classmates generously acted as patients, braving the discomfort to let me practice acupuncture techniques on their bodies. With their support and motivation, my acupuncture skills steadily improved, and my studies quickly got on track.

    During my learning journey, the most memorable experience was my internship (实习) at the Yunnan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. There, I had the opportunity to participate directly in patient care. I looked forward to every Saturday afternoon when I could shadow my teacher. After each patient consultation, she would give me a detailed explanation: what the patient's pulse (脉搏) indicated, what it represented in terms of their conditions, and the role of each herb in the prescription (处方). This approach helped shape my diagnostic thinking and was incredibly beneficial to me. Even though this meant she could never leave work on time, she never complained. As an ancient Chinese saying goes, "It's easier to get a teacher of classics than a teacher of character."

    My every day in China has been filled with challenges and surprises. TCM has taught me not just the skills to heal and save lives but how to view life. I have come to understand that the power of culture lies more in its ability to connect hearts than in its uniqueness. People from different cultural backgrounds can actually form strong connections.

    (1)、Which of the following did the author find difficult when starting studying TCM?
    A、How to collect ancient Chinese classics. B、How to combine different herbs properly. C、How to communicate effectively with professors. D、How to understand the ancient Chinese philosophy.
    (2)、Why does the author mention the experience of learning acupuncture?
    A、To show the complexity of acupuncture. B、To introduce the procedures of studying TCM. C、To illustrate the supportive learning environment. D、To stress the dangers of improper acupuncture techniques.
    (3)、What does the author mean by the saying in paragraph 4?
    A、His TCM teacher is highly professional. B、His TCM teacher is selfless and devoted. C、His TCM teacher is strict and demanding. D、His TCM teacher is easy to get along with.
    (4)、What does the author learn from the experience of studying TCM?
    A、Life is precious. B、Hard work pays off. C、Uniqueness unites, not divides. D、Culture is a bridge, not a wall.
  • 5、College of Arts and Sciences at UP

    The oldest and largest school at University of Portland (UP), the College of Arts and Sciences offers degrees in the humanities, natural sciences, performing arts, social sciences, and interdisciplinary fields. A liberal arts and sciences degree provides a versatile (灵活多向的) pathway to a wide range of careers, and the College takes full advantage of UP's ideal location in creating hands-on career-building experiences out in the field, whichever one you choose!

    Popular Programs

    ·Environmental Science/Environmental Ethics & Policy

    ·Psychology

    ·Pre-Health

    ·Political Science and Pre-Law

    ·Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies

    ·Ethnic Studies

    ·Humanities

    The Portland Advantage

    With close proximity (临近) to the outdoors, government agencies, leading medical institutions, arts and culture venues, and more, UP gives students a great variety of opportunities to connect with the community and gain valuable hands-on experiences in a wide range of careers.

    R1-Level Research

    UP goes head-to-head with Research 1 (R1) institutions, with unmatched opportunities for hands-on research work with faculty (全体教员) members throughout the academic year and summer in disciplines as varied as theology, biology, ethnic studies, and mathematics.

    Hands-on Connections

    While R1 universities increasingly rely on graduate students as instructors, at UP all classes are taught by our professional and admirable faculty. That means your professors will really get to know you and will provide expert guidance, advice, and unique academic opportunities!

    (1)、What can we learn about College of Arts and Sciences?
    A、It is located in the countryside. B、It is the most popular school at UP. C、It seeks employment for its students. D、It prepares its students for various careers.
    (2)、What advantage does UP have over R1 universities?
    A、Its disciplines are more varied. B、Its professors are more admirable. C、It offers more tailored learning experiences. D、It provides more chances for hands-on research.
    (3)、Where is this text probably taken from?
    A、A course plan. B、A program proposal. C、An admission brochure. D、An educational report.
  • 6、如果你是李华,你从WWF了解到目前只有1000只天鹅,为了保护生态平衡,倡议同学们保护天鹅(swan)。内容包括:

    1. 保护天鹅的原因和措施:向WWF专家了解信息;网络搜索相关信息,同时查阅资料;聘请更多工人帮忙等。

    2. 希望和呼吁。

    要求:

    1. 字数80词左右。2. 开头已给。

    Dear classmates,

    Hi everyone! My name is Li Hua. I'm in Class 8 , Grade 3 in senior.

    ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Li Hua

  • 7、The London Marathon is an annual event and of the thousands of runners who take part, many of them have a story to tell as for why they are running the 26. 2 mile (42. 2 km)1 around London.

    The men's race was2 by Kenyan, Martin Lel, who finished the3 in just two hours and five minutes, a personal best time for him. Irina Mikitenko was the4 of the women's race and this was astonishingly only her second race at marathon5!

    There was also a group of 24 runners who have6 in every single one of the 28 London marathons. Jeff Aston is one of them and at 60 years old, he7 in just over three and a half hours. He felt8, then came back with his wife.

    A lot of the non-competitive runners take part in the marathon to9 money for charity. Jeff estimates he has raised about £25,000 (350,000 RMB) for the 28 years during which he has been running.

    Jane Tomlinson is a well-known name in the UK. She raised millions for charity by doing long cycle10, marathons and triathlons (铁人三项赛) while11 against terminal cancer (晚期癌症), a battle she12 lost last year.13 Jane, her husband and daughter took part in the marathon. They managed to raise £20,000 (280,000 RMB) for a charity14 in Jane's name.

    Another astonishing one was a blind runner, Dave Heeley, completing the marathon. As if that wasn't enough, this was his seventh marathon in seven days, as he took part in a special15 which took him to seven countries.

    (1)
    A 、road-way B 、line C 、course D 、silk
    (2)
    A 、run B 、won C 、joined D 、achieved
    (3)
    A 、match B 、dinner C 、shop D 、race
    (4)
    A 、winner B 、worker C 、judge D 、opponent
    (5)
    A 、game B 、distance C 、competitor D 、joint
    (6)
    A 、competed B 、helped C 、nursed D 、performed
    (7)
    A 、walked B 、comprised C 、considered D 、finished
    (8)
    A 、sad B 、excited C 、interested D 、frightened
    (9)
    A 、use B 、receive C 、raise D 、possess
    (10)
    A 、rides B 、procedures C 、drives D 、journeys
    (11)
    A 、relaying B 、jogging C 、pacing D 、struggling
    (12)
    A 、actively B 、creatively C 、sadly D 、curiously
    (13)
    A 、in need of B 、in honor of C 、in favor of D 、in charge of
    (14)
    A 、brought up B 、came up C 、set up D 、call up
    (15)
    A 、training B 、amusement C 、joy D 、challenge
  • 8、A venus flytrap (捕蝇草) is a representative insect-eating plant. It has complete roots, stems (茎), leaves, flowers and seeds, and its leaves grow directly from the roots. The leaf consists of a wing-shaped insect trap on it..

    . There are burrs (毛刺) on the edge of the insect trap, and there are three pairs of sensory hairs inside the insect trap. If an insect touches these sensory hairs, it will open and close quickly, just like opening its mouth. Its predation (捕食) speed is about 0.1 — 0.5 seconds.

    It can digest the insects. Its insect trap will not be opened for a period of 7 to 10 days., it will be opened again after about 20 minutes. The insect trap on a leaf will only be opened and closed 2 to 3 times (6 to 7 times without eating).

    It has a very poor memory.. Two or more sensory hairs are touched at the same time or one sensory hair is touched twice. If the time interval (时间间隔) is over 49 seconds, the insect trap will not be closed. A kind of sensory hair that must be touched twice constantly, will be closed. The characteristic of insect trap is to distinguish the situation that it is touched by wind or fallen leaves.

    It is very fast. The plant is much faster than the Sabina vulgaris (貂藻)., which shows that there are people outside, and there are days behind.

    A. It can catch insects

    B. It can be aware of wind

    C. It lives on wind and fallen leaves

    D. Here are its special and surprising structures, features and functions

    E. The plant catches 100 times as fast as it does

    F. If you touch its sensory hair with your finger or pencil

    G. There are two situations when it closes the insect trap

  • 9、In life, each of us may have encountered or faced a lot of temptations (诱惑). For example, when really desiring something but not so easy to get it, whenever someone mentions it, or we accidentally see it, we will have an idea of taking it for ourselves. It is because of this psychological effect that many people lose themselves in front of the temptation. Therefore, when hearing the word induced feeling (诱惑感), many people will think that something bad will happen.

    "When we are faced with choices, there may be many conditions that tempt (诱惑) us. Different people and children may be tempted by the delicious food before doing things they don't like. Those in power may have done something against their own principles because of the temptation of money and power, finally punished. When a thing reaches a certain degree of temptation, most people may ignore the consequences for their own selfish desires. I once read a story that when catching monkeys, Indians put delicious nuts in a special small box, and a small opening just fits into the monkey's front paws. The monkey reached into his hand to grab the nut, holding his fist firmly. Finally, his paws couldn't reach out. As a result, many monkeys were caught in this way." A researcher said, "Sometimes most people do the same, knowing that things are not good, but thinking about their own interests, but finally doing it. It can be seen how fragile our hearts are in the face of bad temptations, and we have to do the opposite when finding us deeply hurt. As a result, many people have suffered from it."

    "Be bias overconfidence. Behavioral finance research found that when people make investment decisions, they often overestimate their judgment ability and show excessive self-confidence, while ignoring the influence of changes in objective conditions on the final decision, resulting in the possibility of mistakes. Psychological research shows that if people claim to be 90% sure of something, the probability of success is only about 70%." said Daniel Kahneman, an American psychologist, who discovered the irrationality (非理性) in human investment decision-making.

    "Greed, fear and over-optimism, people's emotions can sometimes influence people's decisions more than reasoning. Greed and fear are the number one enemies of any investor. Investors who have just entered the capital market are often entangled (纠缠) in these two bad emotions because they pay too much attention to the short-term fluctuation (波动) of stock prices (股价), which leads them to make wrong decisions. When the stock price rises, investors are always greedily imagining that it will rise higher; When the stock price falls, investors often cut their meat out in fear a few days before the stock price rebounds (出局)." said Daniel Kahneman. "Sometimes emotions can overcome reasons. Over-optimism makes investors underestimate risks and overestimate returns; over-optimism will lead investors to ignore objective analysis, and persistent over-optimism will lead to price bubbles."

    "Firstly, in order not to be really hurt by temptation, we must first learn to distinguish between good and bad, and we should actively complete those temptations that are beneficial to ourselves and others. We resolutely resist the temptation that may cause harm. Secondly, to learn to resist temptation, we must first recognize the possible consequences of the harmfulness of things. Do not be disturbed by interests in the face of temptation, make correct choices, and reduce the coefficient (系数) of bad temptation. Thirdly, we should strengthen our own political mental. While doing a good job, we should actively publicize the harmfulness of this bad temptation, enlighten those who have no choice in the face of temptation, and guide them to make the right choice in the face of temptation." explained Daniel.

    "Today in the 21st century, with the continuous development and progress, temptation will come to us from time to time like ants." explained Daniel again. "As long as we correct our attitude and take the insecticide tightly in our hands, we will certainly be able to defeat the temptation."

    (1)、What do we know about temptation ?
    A、Explain temptation. B、Support the theme. C、Clear the opinion. D、List the usage.
    (2)、A researcher gave a lesson that we have to control our desire even if ________.
    A、achieve the delicious food B、obtain money and power C、catch the monkeys D、dominated by temptation
    (3)、What has led to the biases according to Daniel?
    A、Greed, fear and over-optimism. B、Combine with temptation. C、The factor of irrationality. D、Escape from temptation.
    (4)、What is Daniel's suggestion towards temptation?
    A、Predict temptations. B、Identify good. C、Prevent temptations. D、Improve the abilities of recognition and estimation.
  • 10、The present situation and prospect of the AI industry are very broad and to make the case convenient and fast, with continuous progress in technology, wide application fields and strong policy support.

    At present, the AI industry is in a rapid development stage, and remarkable achievements have been made in technology, mainly including machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, and natural language processing. The application scope of these technologies is constantly expanding, covering smart home, driverless, medical health, financial technology and many other fields. For example, in the medical field, AI technology is used to assist diagnosis (诊断) and disease prediction. "AI will be universal in the world by 2029." Elon Musk said.

    Judging from the market trend, the market scale of the AI industry is growing rapidly. According to statistics, the number of AI-related enterprises in China has reached 376,600, showing the industry's flourishing development. It is expected that in the next few years, AI technology will further penetrate into more fields and promote the transformation and upgrading of the social economy. For example, in the field of education, AI technology can provide personalized teaching and intelligent consulting.

    In terms of policy, China attaches great importance to the AI industry and has issued a series of support measures. These policies provide a solid guarantee for the development of the AI industry. They closely follow the trend of technological progress and industrial development. The performance of policies has promoted the deep integration of policies, industries, enterprises and talents, covering industrial development, technological innovation, industrial application, product creation, personnel training, and promoted the deep integration of policies, industries, enterprises and talents. This strategy will further promote the deep integration of AI and the real economy, and accelerate the intelligent transformation of traditional industries. At the same time, it also means that AI will be closer to people's daily life.

    In short, the AI industry has shown great potential and broad prospects in technology, application and market, and will continue to grow rapidly in the next few years and play an important role in more fields.

    (1)、What is the AI technology aimed at?
    A、Advocating diagnosis and disease. B、Affecting teaching. C、Promoting the use of AI. D、Solving the AI problems
    (2)、What is presented in Paragraph 2 ?
    A、Developing history. B、Diagnosis course. C、Medical value. D、Application scale.
    (3)、What does the underlined word "penetrate" in paragraph 3 mean?
    A、Melt-into. B、Break-out. C、Hold-on. D、Build-up.
    (4)、What does the author suggest readers do with the policies?
    A、Use them as needed. B、Introduce their advantage to people. C、Evaluate their effect. D、Identify the idea behind them.
  • 11、Older women who walk a little over three kilometers each day might live longer than less active women of the same age, a new study suggests. Actually, it's worth questions. What is the effect of walking? How much does the intensity (强度) of step or speed matter ?

    "Many Americans hoping to stay healthy set a daily goal of 10,000 steps, or about eight kilometers. They often have this goal because they are wearing electronic devices which set that target", note researchers in the United States. Their findings appeared recently in the publication JAMA Internal Medicine.

    "But it is not clear how much intensity (强度) or speed matters when counting the health benefits of every step", the researchers write. "They add that 10,000 steps per day might not be the right goal for everyone."

    For the study, researchers observed 17,000 women, all in their early 70s. They asked the women to wear accelerometers for at least four days. Accelerometers are small devices that measure the number of steps and the intensity of movement. The researchers followed up with the women much later, around 4.3 years later, on average. Since the beginning of the study, 504 women have died. Compared to women who took no more than 2, 718 steps daily, the women who took at least 4,363 steps per day were 41 percent less likely to die.

    "Even a modest amount of steps is associated with lower death rates," said Li Min Lee, the lead writer of a report on the study. The rate of stepping did not matter in these older women: it was the number of steps that mattered.

    The study had a few limitations. For example, the researchers only measured women's movements once, at the start of the study period. It is possible that the women's behaviors changed over time. "Still, the results are good news for older adults who may have difficulty walking at faster paces," said Keith Diaz, a researcher at Columbia University. He was not involved in the study.

    "Any walking is better than nothing", Diaz said by email. With even small amounts of walking, your risk of death will be sharply reduced "For those who have difficulty walking, other research shows that any form of aerobic activity provides health benefits," he added. Swimming, cycling or any form of activity that is continuous in nature will provide health benefits.

    (1)、What can we learn about the author from the first paragraph?
    A、He loved active women. B、He thought older women lived longer. C、He had an inquiring mind. D、He was a coach.
    (2)、Why did the author mention Min Lee ?
    A、To erase doubts about walking interests B、To compare step and swimming. C、To wear electronic devices D、To show proper steps.
    (3)、What is the object of the study?
    A、The person walking difficultly. B、The older women. C、The person walking at faster paces. D、Li Min Lee and Diaz.
    (4)、What did Diaz think of the activities?
    A、To promote exercise. B、To improve life. C、To strengthen women's bodies. D、To encourage old women.
  • 12、Homage to 1953

    Here are many real object and picture exhibitions, at home and abroad, from the ancient to now, worth checking out in the near future.

    History

    The museum shows the culture and history of the Beisong Dynasty, which is of great significance to the study of ancient civilization in China. In memory of the first National Folk Art and Crafts Exhibition held in 1953. This exhibit at Tsinghua University Art Museum showcases 3,000 pieces of folk arts and crafts from all across China.

    Time and price

    Time

    Weekday

    Weekend

    Price

    Adult: ¥10 each one

    children: ¥5 each one

    Adult with two children or more: ¥ 4 each one

    Adult:¥10 each one

    children: free

    Features

    The museum's design is full of futurism, and corridors and overpasses overlap and connect with each other, creating a dynamic space with vitality. Concrete arc wall, suspended black staircase and open ceiling adopting natural light are its main elements, which covers an artist, Li Chun's entire career through the ideas of materiality of the body, and immateriality of art.

    (1)、What do we know about the exhibit at Tsinghua University Art Museum?
    A、similar one was held in China in 1953. B、It has a unique titanium roof. C、It has a unique spherical architectural design. D、It will last from August 30 to October 8.
    (2)、How much should a couple with a child pay if they go to the museum on Monday?
    A、RMB 24. B、RMB 15. C、RMB 25. D、RMB 18.
    (3)、What does the museum have ?
    A、The museum has muddy wall. B、The museum just features Li Chun's artwork. C、The museum has attracted much attention for its unique spherical architectural design and rich marine culture display. D、The museum has become a landmark building.
  • 13、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。

    Summer vacation starting, Steve and I planned to play baseball every day, aiming to join the freshman team. "If you make it into the team, I'll buy you a new baseball glove as a present." My mom's promise echoed in my mind as I excitedly waited for Steve, staring at my worn-out glove.

    But today I had to clean Mrs. Thompson's garage first. She was weakened by old age, so my mom always volunteered me to help her. Mom wouldn't let me accept any money, thinking she didn't have much, and literally, I never minded — after all, Mrs. Thompson had knitted me five sweaters and always made me cakes. Most importantly, it was the right thing to do.

    Steve came rushing out of his house, and I explained the situation. As expected, he immediately said, "Alright, I'll help."

    We instantly got to work. The garage was a mess of boxes, but we gathered all our energy and soon brought the cleanup to an end. When arranging the last box, however, I nudged the shelf accidentally. Before I could react, a vase fell and crashed to the ground, broken into pieces.

    I froze, my heart pounding. The vase was beautiful with delicate designs, which must have cost a fortune. Glancing at the open garage door, I suggested, "Maybe I can just sweep this up. Mrs. Thompson won't even notice." I responded fast and piled the pieces into the trash bin. But Steve's expression darkened. "That's not how it works. You should tell her what happened."

    I tried to justify myself, telling all the chores I'd done for Mrs. Thompson without pay. I even argued that it wasn't my responsibility to pay for something I didn't destroy on purpose. However, Steve wasn't buying it, his voice firm. "You're better than that. Be responsible."

    We stood there in silence, the weight of the moment hanging between us. Just then, Mrs. Thompson walked in, giving us a scare. She smiled warmly, unaware of the whole thing. "Boys, I baked a chocolate cake. Now come in for a piece. I really appreciate all your help."

    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。

    Hesitantly, we entered the room and I noticed a gift box on the table beside the cake.

    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Having said that, I waited nervously for Mrs. Thompson to speak up.

    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  • 14、假定你是李华,你的英国笔友Susan想学中国民族乐器,但不知道该学哪一种。请你就此给她回一封邮件,内容包括:

    1. 你的建议:

    2. 你的理由。

    注意:

    1. 写作词数应为80左右;

    2. 请按如下格式在相应位置作答。

    Dear Susan,

    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Best regards,

    Li Hua

  • 15、阅读下面短文,在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

    In the face of economic struggles and limited chances, increasing number of young Kenyans are finding hope and purpose in the ancient Chinese martial art of kung fu. (realistic), it has become more than just a sport for many—it's a pathway towards self-discipline, financial prospects, and an opportunity to enable their lives (transform).

    Among them is 31-year-old Evans Munzaa. He faced years of unemployment and financial hardship. "I was forced to survive odd jobs like farming, comedy, and hard labor," he shared. Now, Munzaa is devoting his time to kung fu training, hoping to turn it into a full-time career.

    Munzaa's story (mirror) that of many young Kenyans who struggle with high unemployment rates, particularly among those under 35, where the figure stands at an (alarm) 67%. This broader crisis has driven interest in kung fu, is gaining popularity as an alternative to other sports like taekwondo among young Kenyans.

    Besides, (provide) free sessions in local kung fu clubs, young Kenyans can have access to a productive outlet and a potential career path. At present, doing kung fu has become one of the general (phenomenon) in Kenya and its impact on the lives of young people is undeniable. Beyond the physical benefits, it provides a lifeline for those who now (seek) discipline, community and hope in challenging times.

  • 16、When I was in third grade, my family and I took on an unforgettable trip across the country. It turned out to be more than just a1 journey; it was a journey of discovery into our2.

    Every day, Dad3 us with his trusty road map. Mom, the heart of our family, shared folk tales and painted pictures about the upcoming4 . We went through diverse5 from the thick forests to the vast deserts of the West.

    One day, while hiking through the Grand Canyon, I6 a particularly rough path. Frightened, I7, not knowing how to proceed. That's when my parents8.

    As Dad showed me footholds, Mom coached me with calming9 and reminded me of the breathtaking views that lay ahead. Then, I10 the confidence as my feet11 solid ground again. When I finally overcame my fear, I felt we became12 as a family.

    From then on, every evening, we'd gather around a campfire for what we13 called "Family Reflection Time". During these sessions, we'd share laughter,14, and insights from the day's experiences.

    The trip taught me that the true meaning of travel isn't merely about reaching the destination but about the personal growth that happens on the route, and the family bonds form when we face15 together.

    (1)
    A 、crowded B 、physical C 、creative D 、necessary
    (2)
    A 、relationships B 、potentials C 、dreams D 、inspirations
    (3)
    A 、guided B 、encouraged C 、comforted D 、attracted
    (4)
    A 、events B 、stations C 、locations D 、shows
    (5)
    A 、cultures B 、landscapes C 、groups D 、countries
    (6)
    A 、imagined B 、constructed C 、smoothed D 、encountered
    (7)
    A 、froze B 、flew C 、fell D 、forgot
    (8)
    A 、reached down B 、stood aside C 、stepped in D 、turned back
    (9)
    A 、words B 、worries C 、noises D 、thoughts
    (10)
    A 、lost B 、maintained C 、demonstrated D 、restored
    (11)
    A 、left B 、broke C 、found D 、dug
    (12)
    A 、nicer B 、tougher C 、braver D 、closer
    (13)
    A 、originally B 、affectionately C 、frequently D 、nearly
    (14)
    A 、sympathies B 、conflicts C 、tears D 、profits
    (15)
    A 、challenges B 、defeats C 、oppositions D 、uncertainties
  • 17、Growing up, I found the word Saturday almost equaled cleaning in my family. As soon as any child was able to use a dust cloth, he or she was assigned a chore. Exceptions were made of course, but the older we grew, the more my parents expected us to balance these responsibilities.

    Chores were part of my family's way of functioning. We complained and tried to avoid them, but we never questioned why we did them. As a family, we all had roles in keeping the home running smoothly, and the responsibility grew with age.

    When I was a kid, I knew when doing chores I was helping my family. It wasn't until I grew into adulthood that I realized that chores are more than a list of tasks. Being assigned chores communicates that each family member is needed and that their action or non-action affects every single other person living under the same roof.

    Handling daily household chores is never easy, but doing them out of love for my family makes it manageable. I enjoy jumping in to help whenever my parents need a hand. While working together, we have the chance to have meaningful conversations, share experiences, and build memories.

    Household chores mean learning how to manage responsibility and understand kids' role, not to mention practicing discipline, time management, and selflessness. All these consequences would seem to tip the scales (天平) in favor of chores.

    A. It made sense to us, as much as we disliked it.

    B. They also create a sense of belonging within a family.

    C. Household chores were a source of great stress for us.

    D. Actually, doing chores alongside my family can make them a joy.

    E. Allowing children to share burdens helps them recognize their strengths.

    F. It also comes as no surprise that chores are important for personal growth.

    G. We had to complete our assigned chores before school assignments on that day.

  • 18、Old buildings tend to be regarded as throwaways and suitable for being torn down. Most people have not fully realized the "green" values that are linked with the upkeep of existing buildings. Actually, in fact, keeping and making use of old architectures is one of the most environmentally-sound things we can do—more than the construction of any new structures that claims to be "green".

    Aged communities, which have developed and changed organically over an extended period, possess unique cultures of their own. The buildings within them are irreplaceable to the environment. Opting not to sustain such architectures essentially is like sentencing a special community to disappearance. Building "green" can be about preserving time-honored, local building traditions that respect regional cultures, rather than just using the latest and greatest technologies.

    The building materials and craftsmanship (工艺) are also entitled to respect, not simply due to the environmental cost of the extraction (开采), transportation and production of them, but on account of the reality that some of such materials and the craftsmanship related will no longer exist. My little river cottage in West Virginia, which is constructed with chestnut sourced from the period prior to the die-off of the chestnut trees, is such that the material in question may never again be obtained. However, the prospective purchaser planned to tear it down, which, in my view, is not only a mark of disrespect for the material but also goes against the concept of sustainable development.

    As the Preservation Green Lab report demonstrates, it takes 10 to 80 years for a new building that is 30 percent more efficient than an average-performing existing building to overcome the negative climate change consequences linked to the construction, which emphasizes the necessity of ongoing utilization (使用) of pre-existing buildings and communities, effectively preventing or minimizing the utilization of forests, farms, wildlife habitats, and open areas for novel construction undertakings.

    As Carl Elefante of Quinn-Evans Architects brilliantly said, "The greenest building is one that is already built." Hopefully, the public will come to a uniform opinion that buildings currently existing are worthy of more care and attention.

    (1)、How do most people deal with old buildings?
    A、They treat them lightly. B、They treasure them heartily. C、They explore them fully. D、They restore them actively.
    (2)、Why does the author mention his little river cottage in Paragraph 3?
    A、To explain the complexity of building houses. B、To demonstrate the shortage of building materials. C、To display the attachment to the old constructions. D、To highlight the virtue of keeping old constructions.
    (3)、What do the data in Paragraph 4 imply about old buildings?
    A、They are more efficient than the new buildings. B、They can help avoid more environmental pollution. C、They can clear away the bad effects on farms nearby. D、They consumed less energy in the construction process.
    (4)、What is the text mainly about?
    A、Culture values lie in green buildings. B、Old buildings are environment-friendly. C、Old constructions should be given priority. D、Building craftsmanship should be respected.
  • 19、Dancing lowers the depression associated with Parkinson's disease, and the benefits can be seen in multiple ways, a new study shows.

    "It was very cool to see dance had a positive effect on the mood circuits in the brain, which we could see in the imaging from MRI brain scans (扫描)," says Joseph DeSouza, author of the study. "These improvements were also reported by the participants via survey. Our study is the first to demonstrate these benefits across these two detection methods."

    The study followed 23 participants with Parkinson's disease from the Sharing Dance Parkinson's program at Canada's National Ballet School, along with family members or caregivers. Participants took weekly dance classes for 8 months, progressing from simple leg and foot work to more complex movements like waltzes and more. The research team focused on the subcallosal cingulate gyrus (SCG), a brain region linked to depression. They measured mood and depression before and after each class using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) (老年抑郁量表) and conducted regular MRI scans.

    The researchers found that after each dance class, reported depression rates dropped, and the effect was increasing from class to class, with significant improvements after 8 months. "We showed that SCG's BOLD (blood oxygen level dependent) signal decreases while dancing, which means the SCG was not functioning as fast as it would if you had depression," says DeSouza. "Parkinson's disease is often accompanied by depression long before motor symptoms (症状) appear."

    Dance is thought to have a double benefit, with music activating the brain's reward centers, and the movement acting on sensory and motor circuits. DeSouza, dancing with participants for 14 years, says that while dancing is not a treatment for Parkinson's disease by itself, the benefits are clear. "We're not trying to cure it with dance," he says. "What we're trying to do is to have people live a better quality of life. This goes for both the patients, and their families that take care of them."

    (1)、What do we know about the results of the two detection methods?
    A、They fall short of expectations. B、They are more accurate than before. C、They are distinct from each other. D、They show consistent conclusions.
    (2)、How did the researchers conduct the study?
    A、By referring to previous studies. B、By making pre-post comparisons. C、By employing computer modeling. D、By conducting drug experiments.
    (3)、What did the researchers find about the SCG?
    A、It is in charge of motor system. B、It can be measured by the GDS. C、Dancing slows down its functioning. D、Depression weakens its BOLD signal.
    (4)、What is the best title of the text?
    A、Dancing Away Parkinson's Blues B、Dancing: Multiple Benefits To Be Seen C、Dancing With Your Mood Circuits D、Dancing: A Journey To Mental Well-being
  • 20、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。

    Alisa who had stayed at home all her life to look after her three children lost her husband in a car accident, so she had to step out and earn money to make ends meet. With zero work experience and no professional degree, her chances of getting hired for a well-paid job were next to zero.

    One day, after dropping her children at school, Alisa spotted a construction site. "I think I can work here," she thought and approached the manager.

    "Hi, are you hiring?" she asked. "Yes, we are," the manager looked at Alisa from head to toe. "Are you sure you can work here? This job requires a lot of hard work." "I'm ready for it," she told the manager and signed a contract to work a 12-hour shift.

    However, Alisa kept her new job a secret from her children. She thought they would feel embarrassed after learning their mother worked at a construction site.

    Every morning, after dropping her children to school, she would go to the construction site and work until her shift ended. She would pick up heavy bricks on her shoulder to transport them from one part of the site to the other. One evening, Alisa's son, David, told her about an upcoming contest in school that required mothers to participate. In the competition, students will wear blindfolds and have to recognize their mothers without looking at them. "That sounds like such a cool event, David!" Alisa said excitedly, "I can't wait for it!" "I won't go there with you, mom," David replied. "But why?" What her son said next was something Alisa wasn't prepared to hear.

    "Mom, I would have to touch your hands to recognize you, and everyone would look at them," David explained. "Your hands are so ugly. They're so hard and rough," he added. "I will feel so embarrassed when my classmates look at your hands," the boy said. "I won't attend the event." Alisa felt terrible but couldn't say anything in her defense.

    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。

    A few weeks later, David was walking home when something unexpected caught his attention.

    ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    On his way back home, he kept thinking about how he would apologize to his mother.

    ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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