相关试卷

注意：
1. 写作词数应为80个左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Dear Martin,

How are you doing? 

……

Yours sincerely,

Li Hua

A lot of the growth of the street libraries can be due to the Covid pandemic (新冠疫情). In Hervey Bay, Denise Campbell set up her library during the lockdown (封禁). Her (neighbor) were used to borrowing books from her extensive library and she saw this as a way (keep) it going. "It just helped our street to still communicate each other although we weren't able to go to each other's houses," she said. Her library also provided puzzles and games, attracted many kids.

"Those adult readers didn't like going to the library in beginning, but it gave (they)an easier way to get through the lockdowns. It was nice to be able to give back, and I (feel) that improved my spirits at the time as well."

These Little Street Libraries provided a  (value) service during the pandemic and the popularity has not decreased. People use them to find books on specific hobbies like cooking and children are developing a love of reading books. It is more convenient than  (go) to a bookstore or a brick-and-mortar library. But even more  (important), with a shared interest, the libraries are bringing communities closer together.

My son, daughter and I all needed new glasses this year. After searching for an optometrist (验光师) we scheduled a(n) 1 . The exams went well and we all 2  our new glasses. The 3  was enough to make my wallet weep, though.

When the new glasses arrived, we all tried them on and 4 seeing clearly again. Like I always do, I put the 5 ones in an old shoe box, which was full of glasses 6 stored. I felt bad about all of them just sitting there 7 dust. My daughter soon found a company that accepts second-hand glasses and then gives them to those who need but can't 8 new ones.

As we packed all the 9 to mail out, my mind went back to a time when I was the one in need. I can still remember 10 my broken, plastic glasses' frames for the twelfth time because we couldn't afford new ones. I didn't know why we 11 so much when my young family didn't do anything wrong. It was one of those questions I asked but never expected to get a 12 .

At present I think I 13  know what that answer is. The truth is that we all 14  pain, struggles and suffering in this life. We can use them to grow selfish and bitter or we can use them to grow loving and kind. May you always choose 15 . May you always choose love.

How to Learn Several Languages at a Time

Learning a new language is a challenging and wonderfully rewarding experience. At some point, you may find yourself needing or wanting to learn several languages at the same time. However, it also allows you to challenge your brain and take advantage of the similarities and differences between the languages you're learning.

 If you have a choice, choose to learn one language that is easier for you, and another or others that are more difficult. An easier language will be one that is similar to your native language or another language that you know, while a more difficult language will be one that is less similar.

Make one language your priority.  This way, at the end of your hard work, you are more likely to be skilled in at least one of your languages, rather than only knowing a small amount of each of them.

Translate between the languages you're learning. One way to keep all the languages you are learning active in your mind is to try translating between them, rather than translating them back to your native language.

Add all of the languages to a language-learning app or website. Several language-learning apps and websites, such as Duolingo, Memrise, Clozemaster, Anki and Lingvist allow you to add several languages at once.  This way, when you are on-the-go, you have quick access to a way to study any of the languages you are trying to learn.

A. This process can be very difficult.

B. Choose languages that vary in difficulty.

C. Study the same topic in all of the languages.

D. You can use a website to find a group like this.

E. This can help you understand the languages on a deeper level.

F. It is helpful to give one of the languages the most time and attention.

G. Download an app, and then add all of your languages, if they are available on it.

Indoor food growing operations are seeing both successes and failures in the United States. Some companies in the food industry are investing (投资) even as competitors fail.

California-based Plenty Unlimited this summer began working on $300 million indoor plants, while Kroger announced that it would be increasing its availability of vertically (垂直地) farmed produce. Meanwhile, two indoor farming companies that got strong backing—New Jersey's AeroFarms and Kentucky's AppHarvest—filed for financial failure and reorganization. And a five-year-old company in Detroit, Planted Detroit, shut its doors this summer.

The industry changes do not worry Jacob Portillo, a grower with Eden Green Technology, an indoor farming company. "The fact that some people are failing and other people are succeeding is going to happen in any industry you go to," he said.

Indoor farming refers to growing crops indoors, which experts sometimes call "controlled environment agriculture". There are different methods. One method called vertical farming involves putting produce from floor to ceiling, often under artificial lights and with the plants growing in nutrient-enriched water. Other growers are trying very large greenhouses, indoor beds of soil in big buildings and using special robots for parts of the farming process.

Supporters say growing indoors uses less water and land and permits food to be grown closer to consumers, saving on transport. Indoor growing is also a way to protect crops from increasingly extreme weather caused by climate change.

But critics question the sustainability (可持续性) of operations that can require a lot of energy for artificial lights. And they say paying for that light can make profitability impossible. Curt Covington of AgAmerica Lending, a private investment company centered on agriculture, is not convinced that indoor farming operations can work—except in special cases. Given the high cost of indoor operations, Covington said, "It's just hard to be very profitable."

While temperatures continue to climb, visitors are still coming to see Death Valley National Park on the California-Nevada border. The park is known as the hottest place on Earth. This past weekend, the temperatures climbed to 53.33℃. Most visitors at this time of year make it only a short distance to any area in the park before returning to the cool air in their vehicles.

Early information from the park service shows that across the nation's 424 national parks, at least four people have died this year from heat-related causes. That includes a 65-year-old man from San Diego who was found dead at Death Valley earlier this month.

Death Valley National Park suggests visitors be careful and not have expectations of rescue. While park rangers (护林员) drive on park roads and can aid tourists in need, it is unsure that lost visitors will get help in time.

Physical activity can make the heat feel even worse and leave people exhausted. Alessia Dempster, who was visiting from Edinburgh, Scotland, said, "It's very hot especially when there's a gentle wind. You would think maybe that would give you some slight relief from the heat, but it just really does feel like an air blow dryer just going back in your face."

Death Valley is a narrow area that is below sea level and surrounded by high mountains, the park service's website says. The dry air and small plant coverage let sunlight heat up the park surface. The heat then becomes trapped in the valley.

Still, several areas in Death Valley continue to draw tourists. Badwater Basin, made up of salt flats, is considered the lowest point in all of North America. The 183-meter Ubehebe Crater dates back over 2,000 years. And Zabriskie Point is a great sunrise viewing spot.

Josh Miller, a visitor from Indianapolis who has been to 20 national parks so far, shared that feeling. "It's hot, but the scenery is awesome," he said.

Nobel Prize-winning theoretical physicist Frank Wilczek has been honored with this year's Templeton Prize. The award recognizes individuals whose life's work brings together science and spirituality.

Wilczek is known for his research into the laws of nature. In a statement, the John Templeton Foundation said his work changes "our understanding of the forces that govern our universe." It said he used physics to address "the great questions of meaning and purpose pondered by generations of religious thinkers."

John Templeton created the prize in 1972. It is one of the most highly valued prizes at more than $1.3 million. Past winners include Jane Goodall, Mother Teresa and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Wilczek told The Associated Press, "It's a company I'm very glad to join in." He added, "It's encouragement in a direction that I've really only taken up in a big way quite recently... which is thinking about not just what the world is and how it came to be this way but what we should do about it."

Over a long career, Wilczek had many successes. He won the 2004 Nobel Prize along with David J. Gross, and H. David Politzer for their 1973 research explaining the unusual properties of the strong force. Wilczek is currently a physics professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Arizona State University and Stockholm University. He is also the founding director of Shanghai Jiao Tong University's T. D. Lee Institute. He has also written several books that are informed by science but look into spiritual and philosophical questions.

Heather Dill is the Templeton Foundation president. In a statement, she said, "Like Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein, he is a natural philosopher who unites a curiosity about the behavior of nature with a playful and profound philosophical mind."

Four Self-Portraits (自画像) by Famous Artists

Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino)—"Self-Portrait", 1506

One of the beautiful self-portraits by famous artist Raphael was drawn at the age of 23. It measures around 45cm×33cm and is located at the world-famous Uffizi Gallery. The Italian painter used oil on board to draw his self-portrait, which was the clearest and the most recognizable self-portraits of Raphael himself.

Leonardo da Vinci—"Portrait of a Man in Red Chalk", 1512

"Portrait of a Man in Red Chalk" is a self-portrait of da Vinci at the age of 60 and measures around 33.3cm×21.6cm, which is on display in Biblioteca Reale, Turin, Italy. It is drawn with red chalk on paper and represents the head of an elderly man in a three-quarter view. In the portrait, the length of the hair is uncommon in Renaissance (文艺复兴) portraits.

Rembrandt van Rijn—"Self-Portrait with Beret and Turned-up Collar", 1659

Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn painted his self-portrait in 1659 when he was 53 years old. It shows his worried expression that clearly portrays the troubled condition of his mind at that point of his life since the year 1659 was a year of anxiety for him. This self-portrait found its place among the Benjamin Altman Collection, which has been exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum of Art since 1913.

Edgar Degas—"Degas Au Porte-Fusain", 1855

Edgar Degas made this self-portrait only when he was twenty-one years old. It was one of the most remarkable of his fifteen self-portraits. Degas was seated as seemingly without fear and anxiety. The pose in the painting was formal and academic. The painting is located in the musée d'Orsay, Paris, France.

Maggie had always been keen on singing, but she never believed in herself enough to enter a competition. That all changed when her friend, who had heard her sing and believed she had a talent, advised her to try out for the campus singing competition. Maggie was hesitant at first, but she decided to give it a shot.

The competition was only a few weeks away, and Maggie spent every spare moment practicing. She sang in the shower, in her car, and even in the library when she thought no one was listening. Her roommate, who was also her biggest cheerleader, helped her pick out the perfect outfit for the competition.

As the competition day approached, Maggie's nerves started to get the best of her. She had never performed in front of such a large audience before, and the thought of being judged made her nervous. However, Maggie knew that she had to push herself out of her comfort zone if she wanted to pursue her passion. She reminded herself that she was doing this to prove to herself that she could do it and that she was good enough.

On the day of the competition, Maggie woke up with a sense of determination. She spent the morning rehearsing (排练) and getting into the right mindset. She arrived at the venue (会场) early and was surprised to see so many people had shown up to watch the competition.

As she waited for her turn to perform, Maggie observed the other contestants (参赛选手). She was amazed at the level of talent on display and wondered if she had what it took to win. However, she didn't let her doubts get the better of her. She focused on her own performance and was determined to give it her all.

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。

When it was Maggie's turn to perform, she took a deep breath before walking onto the stage. 

……

Finally, the judges announced the winner — Maggie won the first prize.

注意：
1. 词数80左右；
2. 开头和结尾已给出，可以适当增加细节，使行文连贯。

Dear all,

……

Sincerely,

Li Hua