阅读理解

Volunteer Day

What better way is there to enjoy your own hobbies while helping others at the same time? Come to Volunteer Day and choose an activity you'd like to join for the day. See below for a schedule of events on Volunteer Day.

Volunteer Day Schedule:

7:30 a.m.: Meet at the Community Centre for juice and bagels.

8:00-8:30 a.m.: Choose which activity you'd like to help with for the day. 8:30 a.m.: Board the bus to your activity site.

9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.: Work as a volunteer.

3:30 p.m.: Board the bus that will take you back to the Community Centre.

See below for a list of volunteer opportunities for Volunteer Day so you can begin thinking about which activity you might want to join.

A list of volunteer activities:

Paint houses: Happy Homes is a local organization that provides home

painting. For elderly or physically disabled people who cannot do repairs to their homes, Happy Homes provides volunteer painters to repaint old houses.

Plant flowers: Help plant flowers and bushes in city parks, help lay paths at Cave Springs Park, or help pick up rubbish around the river banks.

Read to children: Love and Learning is an organization that provides volunteers to help children with learning disabilities. Read books out loud to groups of children four to six years old, or read one- on-one with struggling readers seven to eight years old.

Play with animals Lovely Friends is an organization that visits local animal shelters and provides volunteers to spend time with the animals while their cages are being cleaned.

If you take interest in it, please call 0195242 for more information.

1. （1） At what time do volunteers leave for their activity sites?

   A . 7:30 a.m. B . 8:00 a.m. C . 8:30 a.m. D . 9:00 a.m.
3. （2） What do Lovely Friends volunteers do?

   A . Read books to children. B . Pick up garbage along the river. C . Help plant bushes in parks. D . Spend time with animals.
5. （3） The purpose of the passage is to______.

   A . attract volunteers B . educate volunteers C . praise volunteers D . help volunteers

阅读理解

One night, I received a message from my former classmate, someone I hadn't spoken to in 15 years. "Hey Mary," she said. "I know you've always been an animal lover. I have a mini pig that is not getting along with my dogs. So I can't keep the pig." Of course, the whole situation was strange, but I've always been a trusting person. I replied "Let me do some research and I'll get back to you."

I knew nothing about mini pigs. I didn't know what they ate; and I had no idea how big they got. Once I started doing some Internet research, I found a few people claiming that "there's no such thing as a mini pig," but I was blinded by my sudden obsession and my faith in my onetime friend. She had said the pig was six months old and this mini pig would grow to be about 70 pounds, maximum. That was pretty close to the size of Shelly, one of my dogs. So I told my former classmate that I'd take the animal.

It's intractable enough bringing a pig back to the house I share with two dogs, two cats, and my husband, Derek. But I knew I wanted the pig and the day finally came. When Derek went back, he stood in the doorway like a statue. Every emotion other than happiness flashed across his face. He was extremely angry. The only positive thing I could say was, "She's a mini pig! She'll stay small!" Surprisingly, soon enough, the lovely pig smoothed things over by itself. Derek started talking about where the pig's liter would go. You don't care about "litter" of someone you're getting rid of.

However, a few months later, she'd started closing in on 80 pounds. It was becoming clear that I'd probably adopted a commercial pig and she was going to be enormous. While it might be unexpected, it's more than worth it for the happiness she has added to our world.

1. （1） What does the underlined word "intractable" mean in Paragraph3?

   A . Easy. B . Interesting. C . Tricky. D . Urgent.
3. （2） Why did Derek ask about the pig's litter?

   A . He already accepted the pig. B . He disliked everything about the pig. C . He planned to get rid of the pig. D . He wanted his wife to be responsible for it.
5. （3） What do we know about the pig?

   A . It will maintain its mini size. B . It will grow bigger than a dog. C . In won't grow more than 80 pounds. D . Its minimum weight is about 70 pounds.
7. （4） What can we infer about author's friend?

   A . She was an animal lover. B . She knew nothing about the pig. C . She cheated the author on purpose. D . She was forced to give up keeping the pig.

阅读理解

The world's biggest electric vehicle — a 45-ton mining dump truck named the eDumper — may have to give up its throne. The newcomer, powered with both electricity and a reserve of hydrogen fuel, is going to steal that title as the largest electric mining truck.

London-based Anglo American is developing the beast of a machine — it weighs 290 tons — as part of its sustainable mining vision. The conceptual work is done, but U.K-based Williams Advanced Engineering will bring the truck to life.

The idea is to replace the vehicle's diesel engine (柴油机) with a high-power modular lithium-ion battery (锂电池). "We are delighted to be involved in this innovative and exciting project which shows the potential of battery technology that can adapt to increased demands, from automotive and motorsport to ‘heavy duty' industrial applications," Craig Wilson, managing director of Williams Advanced Engineering, said.

While the eDumper — a mining truck used to move stones from the sides of mountains in Switzerland — relies entirely on pure electricity and pure physics for power, the Anglo American truck will use both a lithium-ion battery and a hydrogen fuel cell (电池) module. Altogether, the new truck will have over 1,000 Kilowatt hours of energy storage.

Hydrogen fuel is a clear fuel that produces only water as a by-product when consumed in a fuel cell. It's typically produced from natural gas nuclear power, or renewable wind and solar power. Adding hydrogen fuel cells to the vehicle's battery will allow the truck to run for longer periods of time without recharging.

There's also a third type of power that comes into play with the Anglo American truck: kinetic (动力的) energy created through the process of regenerative braking (再生制动系统). When an electric vehicle — be it the Anglo American truck, or the eDumper — rolls down a hill, that movement creates electrical energy for the battery as you brake. The electric motors power the car through the battery's stored energy, but can also become mini generators that return some energy back to the battery.

After Anglo American finishes test trials with the truck, the firm will conduct studies to understand how the truck's power units can be used to provide energy storage in other applications.

1. （1） What can be known about "the eDumper"?

   A . It weighs more than 290 tons. B . It is powered by hydrogen fuel. C . It will no longer be the largest electric truck. D . It will discourage buyers for being expensive.
3. （2） What can be inferred from Craig Wilson's words?

   A . Battery technology is the key to updating vehicles. B . Battery technology is the basis of manufacturing trucks. C . The development of the lithium-ion battery is limited. D . The future of the lithium-ion battery is promising.
5. （3） What is the benefit of adopting hydrogen fuel cells?

   A . It can save a lot of money. B . Vehicles become more eco-friendly. C . It has no environmental impact at all. D . Vehicles no longer need to be recharged.
7. （4） According to paragraph 5, which of the following can be a feature of regenerative braking?

   A . Autonomous braking. B . Energy transformation. C . Simple operation. D . zero-carbon emission.

阅读理解

Everyone knows how to fake a smile. We learn when to show and hide our genuine emotions from early face-to-face exchanges. As we grow, we have been developing a social smile to hide unacceptable emotions.

The social smile is often activated automatically. We may not be fully aware of it. We might smile to put the brakes on showing too much negative emotion in public. We may maintain a calm, relaxed smile to prevent fear from upwelling and getting the best of us. We can also intentionally use the social smile to pepper our communication.

Now that many of us are wearing face masks in public, how does it influence our communication of emotion?

Some people are finding it a relief. Those suffering from social anxiety may welcome wearing face masks precisely because they prefer to veil their emotional state from the outside world as much as possible. Others appreciate the freedom from the obligation to put others at ease with a warm, friendly smile. By wearing a face mask, you don't have to smile if you don't feel like it.

However, without the social smile, it may be more challenging to manage others' reactions to us. How do we react to seeing someone wearing a mask? Research finds that observers rely mostly on the eye and mouth regions to recognize emotions successfully. Different emotions are most easily detected in different areas of the face. When the whole face is visible, we focus on the eyes to spot sadness and fear, whereas disgust and happiness are more reliably detected by concentrating on the mouth area. These two parts of the face can work in isolation or complex coordination.

The face mask only hides the fake smiles, not the real ones. Consider that by only seeing the eyes, it may be easier to get an accurate read of people's genuine emotions.

1. （1） Why do we fake a smile sometimes?

   A . To be socially acceptable. B . To show one's kindness. C . To prevent hurting others. D . To take up a positive attitude.
3. （2） What is the impact of wearing face masks?

   A . It relieves some people of social obligation. B . It puts one at ease with a decent manner. C . It may bring some trouble in communication. D . It allows people to express emotions at will.
5. （3） What idea does the author try to present in the last two paragraphs?

   A . Mouth area reflects positive emotions while eyes negative. B . True feelings can't be recognized without observing the eyes. C . Eyes and mouth regions work separately to express one's emotions. D . Eyes are the window to the soul and reveal one's true emotional state.
7. （4） Which of the following would be the best title of the text?

   A . What is Social Smile? B . Smile: Real or Fake? C . To Wear or Not to Wear? D . Masking Genuine Emotions?

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

You've heard them before. Perfect voices, matching their speakers' attitude, style, and appearance. Most people know how to recognize a good voice simply because they like it and feel attracted to it. There are reasons why specific voices feel much easier on the ears, and people describe them as smooth.

Good voices usually sound warmer, friendlier, expressive, and controlled. However, a bad voice is the complete opposite.

The question is: When we have a good conversation with someone, we tend to adjust the pitch (音高) of our own voice towards theirs. But when we find someone attractive, the opposite is true. For men, their pitch goes down, while for women, their pitch goes up. What's more, lowering or raising your pitch might be a sign of how attractive we find our date, but it also makes the other person more attracted to us.

But could putting on an accent help you to appear younger or more masculine (男子汉的)? Humans have a remarkable vocal range, but also a good ability to detect fakers. — if we could go around deceiving (欺骗) people all the time with our voices , then the entire communication system would fail. At the end of the day, making your voice sound more attractive, better, or deeper is a matter of trying. Practice your breathing, keep your pitch in mind, copy good speakers, and learn how to position your voice after you've examined it. Record yourself, and see what works and what doesn't.

A. So humans are not easily deceived.

B. However, it's not only a matter of taste.

C. Spend some time in front of your mirror.

D. Start more conversations with your friends.

E. Do men and women always use the same pitch of voice?

F. It often sounds annoying, hesitant, boring and never changes.

G. Can we use our voice in the right setting to adapt to our needs?

阅读下面短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

Sometimes simple words can arouse great sentiments(情感). If a(n1tells you "I'm so proud of you," you can bet it will2your heart. Or in the3of Jensen Weiss, millions of them.

In a video his mom Christina Weiss posted to TikTok late last year and then4recently, the 2-year-old tells his mom he's "so proud" of her. Why?

"You cleaned my room. You're so5,"he says. The original video was6more than 6 million times. Weiss told Fox News Digital she had cleaned her son's room while he was out7with his dad. "I heard him run into his room and say ' woooooooow' and then heard his little feet running to find me and I knew it was going to be8!"

She said she reposted it at the request of her followers in late March "to9joy whenever and wherever we can."

Weiss said she's had many10in her life, including mental health issues. Her recovery journey has11influenced the way she raises her kids.

"I12in an intensive recovery program that many of my bad choices were13my lack of self-love and the tough environment I grew up in," the Moorefield, West Virginia mom told Fox News Digital. "I hope to raise children who love themselves more than anything and won't ever let14factors change how they feel about themselves."

Weiss added, "I hope they always know they are loved, they are enough, and they will always be amazing humans to their15, no matter what."

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。

The lion dance is one of the most famous Chinese cultural traditions. While it is held during festivals, you can also see a lion dance when a new company is opened or an activity  (organize). The dance is believed  (bring) good luck and wealth and drive away bad fortune.

The dance begins with the lion walking style, where the eyes of the lion are opened. Lettuce and celery (芹菜) are hung up on the doorway of the new company. The Chinese  (pronounce) for these words are similar to those for making money and working hard. Lucky money is tied to the lettuce  part of the pay for the lion dance performers. (profession) lion dance companies offer this service and there are different prices for different levels. Most dances include at least two lions and drummer. Each lion is performed by two people,use their feet to copy the lion feet's movements. Famous Chinese lion dancing bands truly own wonderful  (flexible) and skill, which take years of practice to improve. While staying in China,  (keep) your ears open for drums so that you can head over to the show for (you).

假定你是李华。为了帮助英国交换生了解中国文化，学校社团将举办"中国文化节"活动。 请根据以下提示，写一封信邀请社团的交换生John。

内容包括: 1)活动目的; 2)活动内容; (3)期待参加。

注意： 1)写作词数应为80 左右; 2)可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear John,

Yours,

Li Hua

阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

I moved to a new place. After the first day at my new school, I walked home alone. Mom told me she had to work. I was still hoping she'd meet me after the bell.

I opened the door. I was hungry. I wandered into the kitchen, tearing tape from the packed boxes while I searched for a clean plate. My fingers slipped, and something went crashing to the ground.

"Benjamin!" cried Mom from the doorway. I didn't hear her come in. "What just broke?" she asked, bending to pick up the shards (碎片). In her hands, I recognized the pieces. It was Grandma's bowl, the one Mom put out for special occasions.

 "Why couldn't you have waited for me to unpack? I couldn't believe you broke this," she said.

Words burst from my mouth and spilled across the room. "Well, I can't believe we have to live here now! I can't believe I have to switch schools when there are only a few weeks left before summer!" I ran into my room, shutting the door behind me violently.

The broom (扫帚) swept across the kitchen floor. Then the click of Mom's bedroom door closed behind her. I stole out into the kitchen and picked out the shards in the dustbin. There were so many pieces in here, but maybe I could put them back together.

"I' m sorry I yelled," said Mom, as she opened her door. "Please just throw out the pieces. We can't make a fresh start with broken things."

As I wandered down the hall, Mr. Sato, my neighbor, was emptying his garbage.

"Are you sure you want to throw that out?" he asked, gesturing towards the bowl. "It's broken," I whispered. "This is all my fault."

"Things break, Benjamin. That isn't anyone's fault. Besides, this is a simple repair.

Come. I'll show you." Taking a thin knife, Mr. Sato started to repair the bowl. After a long time, Mr. Sato said to me, "This needs to dry. Come back on Saturday, and we will finish it."

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。

Saturday morning, I stole out early and knocked on the Sato's door.

I was a little nervous to show Mom the bowl, but that night I brought it into her room.