江苏省苏州市2024-2025学年高三上学期学业质量阳光指标调研卷英语试题

苏州市2024～2025学年高三第一学期学情调研考试 英　　语 2025.1 本试卷分四个部分。满分150分，考试用时120分钟。 第一部分　听力(共两节，满分30分) 第一节(共5小题；每小题1.5分，满分7.5分) 听下面5段对话。每段对话后有一个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。听完每段对话后，你都有10秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。每段对话仅读一遍。 (　　)1. What has the woman begun doing lately? A. Doing gardening. B. Learning cooking. C. Recycling rainwater. (　　)2. What does the man say about virtual classrooms? A. They are convenient. B. They are expensive. C. They require travel. (　　)3. What does the man plan to do tomorrow? A. Take an athletic test. B. Join a study group. C. Watch a sports race. (　　)4. How many more trees can the machine plant than a person? A. About a quarter more. B. About a third more. C. About a half more. (　　)5. Where are the speakers probably? A. In the classroom. B. At a hospital. C. On a ski field. 第二节(共15小题；每小题1.5分，满分22.5分) 听下面5段对话或独白。每段对话或独白后有几个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。听每段对话或独白前，你将有时间阅读各个小题，每小题5秒钟；听完后，各小题将给出5秒钟的作答时间。每段对话或独白读两遍。 听第6段材料，回答第6和第7两个小题。 (　　)6. What are the speakers mainly discussing? A. Challenges with technology. 　　　　B. Careers in artificial intelligence. C. Benefits of artificial intelligence. (　　)7. What field is the man interested in? A. Smart homes. B. Self­driving cars. C. Machine learning. 听第7段材料，回答第8至第10三个小题。 (　　)8. What surprises the man about the library? A. The variety of books. B. The extra services. C. The spacious rooms. (　　)9. Why did the man go to the library last week? A. To improve his computer skills. 　　　　B. To borrow a book on technology. C. To give a lecture on using computers. (　　)10. What's the most probable relationship between the speakers? A. Friends. B. Strangers. C. Family members. 听第8段材料，回答第11至第13三个小题。 (　　)11. How did the speakers go to school when they were young? A. By bike. B. On foot. C. By car. (　　)12. What is David's attitude toward having Johnny go to school on his own? A. Much concerned. B. Totally disapproving. C. Fairly optimistic. (　　)13. What do the speakers agree on? A. That they should teach Johnny to ride. B. That they should get Johnny a bike first. C. That they should give Johnny chances to exercise. 听第9段材料，回答第14至第17四个小题。 (　　)14. Why did Marisol start posting her food forest online at first? A. To fill up her time. 　　　　B. To document her daily life. C. To connect with other gardeners. (　　)15. Why does Marisol recommend beginners to start with herbs? A. They need no care at all. 　　　　B. They don't attract insects. C. They are easy to grow well. (　　)16. What is difficult for Marisol to grow? A. Strawberries. B. Cabbage. C. Nuts. (　　)17. What is Marisol's main advice for someone starting a food forest? A. Have a variety of plants. 　　　　B. Grow useful plants only. C. Plan it thoughtfully. 听第10段材料，回答第18至第20三个小题。 (　　)18. How did the couple keep in touch with the speaker about Benny? A. They often made video calls. B. They shared Benny's photos frequently. C. They took Benny there for training regularly. (　　)19. What does the speaker learn from his experience? A. The value of pets in life. 　　　　B. The power of story­telling. C. The importance of volunteering. (　　)20. Who is the speaker probably talking to? A. People who wish to join the team. 　　　　　　B. People who want to adopt dogs. C. People who plan to form a rescue team. 第二部分　阅读(共两节，满分50分) 第一节(共15小题；每小题2.5分，满分37.5分) 阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。 A Silk Roads The Silk Roads were in use for about a thousand years, but this exhibition focuses on a defining period in history. Time witnessed significant connectivity of universal religions that linked communities across continents. The exhibition offers a unique chance to see objects from the Silk Roads, from Tang Chinese ceramics(陶艺) for the Middle East ports to Indian garnets(石榴石) found in England. You'll meet figures whose stories are associated with the Silk Roads, including a legendary Chinese princess who shared silk farming with her new kingdom. Hew Locke: what have we here? In this groundbreaking new show, Locke (born 1959) offers a fresh perspective on the museum's history and collection. Using interfering techniques, Locke restructures historical objects, from the earliest surviving drawings of native Americans by a European artist to a Guyanese Akawaio feather decoration. Picasso: printmaker The museum holds the UK's largest collection of Picasso's prints. It includes a series of 100 etchings(蚀刻版画) made in the 1930s that shows the influence of classical art on Picasso's work and reflects his chaotic personal life. Picasso's focus on lithography(平版印刷术) is explored, as is his move to the South of France, marking a change of lifestyle evident in his work. Themes include the circus and love, and Picasso's interactions on paper with artists from the past. The exhibition ends with a selection from the 347 Suite, which Picasso completed aged 86 in 1968, in a remarkable burst of late creativity. (　　)21. What might visitors see in “Silk Roads”？ A. Exhibits about a princess spreading silk to China. B. All the maps of European trade routes in history. C. Tang Chinese ceramics traded along the Silk Roads. D. Religious communities exhibitions on the Silk Roads. (　　)22. What can visitors learn about Picasso? A. His early classical and chaotic sketches. B. His printmaking techniques and themes. C. His interactions with modern artists. D. All his sculptures and oil paintings. (　　)23. What is the purpose of the passage? A. To analyze British art history. B. To promote UK art tourism. C. To discuss artworks' impacts. D. To introduce museum exhibitions. B Cats may seem solid, but they're actually somewhat liquid. Inspired by photos of cats pouring themselves into vases and fitting into narrow openings, biologist Péter Pongrácz has tested dozens of cats to see when they act more like liquids or solids. Cats fluidly(流畅地) move through tall and narrow places but hesitate when they approach uncomfortably short holes, Pongrácz reports in the Oct.18 iScience. The finding suggests that cats are aware of their own body size and may form mental images of themselves. Because cats prefer to live alone, they are difficult to test in the lab. So Pongrácz brought the lab to the cats. With help from colleagues, he built a movable lab that they set up in 29 homes. In each home, the team attached two cardboard panels to a doorframe: one with five rectangular(矩形的) holes of the same height but decreasing width and another with five holes of the same width but decreasing height. An owner stood on one side of the panel while the cat and the experimenter stood on the other. For each trial, the cat had to squeeze(挤过) from the experimenter's side to the owner's side through the holes while being filmed. Thirty out of 38 cats finished the experiment. When faced with holes of varying height, 22 cats hesitated to go through the shortest. When the holes varied in width, only eight cats paused before approaching the narrowest hole. Most cats squeezed through slim openings without hesitating. Hesitation may be a self­preservation method, Pongrácz says. If a cat forces itself through a hole without being able to see what's on the other side, the cat may be exposed to potential threats. That some cats paused in the safety of their homes suggests that they also rely on their body size to plan their approach. (　　)24. What makes it difficult to test the cats in the lab? A. Their size. B. Their flexibility. C. Their height. D. Their character. (　　)25. What does paragraph 4 mainly talk about? A. Results of the experiment. B. Subjects of the experiment. C. Methods of the experiment. D. Principles of the experiment. (　　)26. Why did some cats hesitate even before holes leading to their homes? A. They failed to figure out their body size. B. They worried about getting stuck in the hole. C. They hated being handled by the experimenter. D. They were afraid of the danger on the other side. (　　)27. What is the best title of the passage? A. One scientist puts cats' liquid nature to test B. Solid or liquid, that is out of the question C. Cats act more like liquids when in danger D. Hesitation keeps cats safe from danger C Have you ever wondered why creative individuals seem to spot things that others miss? Whether it's an inventor who finds an innovative solution to a familiar problem or an artist who reinterprets a landscape in a fresh way, many creative people have a special ability to find significance even in ordinary things. Think about Isaac Newton's famous insight into gravity. According to the story, Newton saw an apple fall from a tree—something most people might view as unimportant. Yet, in this instance, he saw the apple's fall as significant, causing him to think about it more deeply. Entertaining the potential importance of this seemingly irrelevant occurrence led to a breakthrough connection: that the same force causing the apple to fall also influences celestial bodies like the Moon. In this example, the creative individual's brain flags unusual or “irrelevant” information as significant, stimulating them to explore it further. This exploration allows them to consider remote ideas and associations that others overlook, increasing the possibility of a creative insight. A similar process likely unfolds in artistic contexts, such as when a painter, musician or filmmaker sees a seemingly irrelevant detail as meaningful. For instance, an artist may find themselves captivated by the shadow cast by an object, finding it more interesting than the object itself. This might inspire a series of works exploring the hidden beauty of shadows. The uniqueness of creative individuals lies in their ability to perceive and prioritise information in distinctive ways, welcoming the unconventional and unexpected, which helps them think outside the box and come up with original ideas. (　　)28. Why does the author mention Newton's story in the second paragraph? A. To entertain the readers. B. To suspend disbelief. C. To support a viewpoint. D. To explain a theory. (　　)29. What does the underlined word “captivated” in the third paragraph probably mean? A. Tricked. B. Misled. C. Attracted. D. Withdrawn. (　　)30. What is key to boosting creativity according to the passage? A. Removing irrelevant information. B. Perceiving what other people ignore. C. Giving priority to unimportant details. D. Spotting the most obvious information. (　　)31. What can we infer from the passage? A. What is unconventional and unexpected guarantees original ideas. B. Ordinary people tend to overlook relevant and important information. C. What seems irrelevant sometimes is likely to bring about creative insight. D. Creative individuals are born with the ability to spot significance in things. D Memes(模因) didn't start with the internet. Some linguists argue that humans have used memes to communicate for centuries. Memes are widely known as channels for cultural conversations and as an opportunity to participate in internet trends. The word“meme” has been used in the New York Times Crossword 60 times since the column started in the 1940s. Although it's difficult to identify the first meme ever, the British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins is credited with coining the term in his 1976 book, The Selfish Gene. In his original conception, a “meme” was somewhat similar to a “phoneme”， the smallest unit of sound in speech. “I would explain the concept of a meme—a self­replicating(复制) piece of information—by asking someone about an inside joke they had with friends or an advertising jingle(短曲) that's been stuck in their head for 20 years，” said Kirby Conrod, a professor of linguistics at Swarthmore College. “That piece of information, the joke or the jingle, self­replicates because we humans like to share and repeat stuff.” Memes are shareable by nature. In a world where you are constantly fed online news, the meme format catches your eye, and most of them can be read and understood within seconds. The power of a meme lies in its transmissibility(传递性) and unique talent for being cross­cultural. Creating and sharing memes boosts a sense of community online and brings people together through humor. Meme culture is constantly developing, and the future of memes is unpredictable, but some of the internet's most popular meme creators have thoughts on where it might be headed. Mr Price, of Memes.com, for example, predicted that in five years—or sooner—every cultural moment and every news story will have an accompanying meme, and that meme will be a large part of the mainstream conversation about that event. “Memes on the internet took what is already naturally occurring in the way that we communicate and supercharged it by making it global and simple，” he said. What can I say? The girls that get it, get it and the girls that don't, don't. (　　)32. What can we learn about “meme” according to the first two paragraphs? A. It only sounds like the word “gene”． B. It made its first appearance in the 1940s. C. It is the smallest sound unit in speech. D. It was a term first introduced by Mr Dawkins. (　　)33. What does Professor Conrod think of memes? A. They allow for cultural diversity online. B. They spread humor and political messages. C. They make advertising shareable and readable. D. They are frequently shared and repeated by humans. (　　)34. What is Mr Price's attitude towards the future of memes? A. Unclear. B. Optimistic. C. Negative. D. Objective. (　　)35. How do you understand the last paragraph? A. The target reader of the article are girls. B. It implies a certain famous meme story. C. The author has doubts about the essay. D. It has nothing to do with this article. 第二节(共5小题；每小题2.5分，满分12.5分) 阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。 Building habits of group vulnerability(脆弱) is like building a muscle. It takes time, repetition, and the willingness to feel pain in order to achieve gains. __36__ With that in mind, here are a few workout ideas, for both individuals and groups. Make sure the leader is vulnerable first and often: As we've seen, group cooperation is created by small, frequently repeated moments of vulnerability. __37__ I saw a vivid example when I watched Danny Meyer run one of his morning meetings with his staff. Meyer is the founder of Union Square Cafe, Shake Shack, Gramercy Tavern, and a number of other restaurants that together are worth more than a billion dollars. __38__ The staff meeting began with the group watching a video of Meyer's speech. Then the lights went up, and Meyer spoke. “Can you see my leg shaking？” he asked the group. “__39__ I've given a lot of speeches, but the TED people wanted something more, something deeper and thoughtful. So I slept about three hours the night before, which is why I have those bags under my eyes. We had a terrible rehearsal(排练), and I kept messing up the PowerPoint. So it was almost a complete terrible show. Except that I'm lucky enough to have some absolutely brilliant help.” He paused and pointed. “Thanks, Chip and Haley. They made the whole thing work. They wrote great stuff, gave me great advice, and kept me together.” Everyone looked at Chip and Haley and gave a short round of applause while Meyer looked on approvingly. Meyer delivered the message—I was scared—with steadiness, confidence, and comfort that underlined the deeper message: It's safe to tell the truth here. __40__ A. I was so nervous, I was shaking like a leaf. B. His vulnerability isn't weakness; it's his strength. C. Danny Meyer is a restaurant founder from St. Louis, Missouri. D. The night before my visit, he had delivered his first­ever TED Talk. E. And as with building muscle, the first key is to approach the process with a plan. F. Gentle pressure is my preferred technique for leadership, guidance, and coaching. G. Of these, none carries more power than the moment when a leader signals vulnerability. 第三部分　语言运用(共两节，满分30分) 第一节(共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分) 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。 Before graduation, I asked my adviser for feedback on areas where I could improve. It felt __41__ to receive high marks for leadership, communication, and my ability to work independently. But when it __42__ to attention to detail, she gave me an “OK”. As a scientist, that hurt a bit. At first, I __43__ with this. But it's true that focusing on the tiny details isn't something I __44__ excel at, or even enjoy as much as my __45__ do. I knew all this at some level. Still, hearing it from my adviser pushed me to really __46__ my strengths and interest. So after I finished my Ph.D., I explored different __47__. Being honest with myself about my strengths and interest __48__ led me to my job in health care communications. In my current role, I help companies tell their __49__. I take complex scientific information and turn it into something __50__ and engaging that non­scientists can understand. Looking back, I'm so grateful for that __51__ from my adviser, painful though it was, because it set my career on a new __52__. I think a lot of us get caught up in what we think we're supposed to be good at, instead of focusing on what we're __53__. For me, that feedback gave me __54__ to step away from the idea that I had to fit into a certain mold(模式) as a scientist. Instead, I __55__ a career that lets me use my strengths and do something I truly enjoy. (　　)41. A. astonishing B. comforting C. convincing D. depressing (　　)42. A. turned B. meant C. came D. started (　　)43. A. agreed B. stayed C. ended D. struggled (　　)44. A. naturally B. slightly C. physically D. sincerely (　　)45. A. parents B. followers C. students D. classmates (　　)46. A. part from B. show off C. reflect on D. give up (　　)47. A. cities B. careers C. subjects D. universities (　　)48. A. regularly B. straightly C. ultimately D. probably (　　)49. A. jokes B. secrets C. truths D. stories (　　)50. A. clear B. annoying C. uncertain D. tough (　　)51. A. praise B. protest C. comment D. complaint (　　)52. A. hook B. track C. coast D. edge (　　)53. A. drawn to B. trained as C. accused of D. prevented from (　　)54. A. criticism B. punishment C. forgiveness D. permission (　　)55. A. quit B. found C. created D. required 第二节(共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分) 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。 Today, 492 caves in Mogao Grottoes have been placed __56__ protection and are considered a cultural treasure for the world. While Buddhism(佛教) is the main focus of the caves' artwork, it also shows the cultures, daily life and stories of people living in the area when the caves __57__(construct). Works of art combining Chinese, Indian, and even European styles have been found there, along with scriptures(经文) from __58__(variety) religions, official documents and popular literature. All of these elements make the Grottoes a rich resource not just for researchers, __59__ for anyone interested in history. The artistic value of the Mogao Grottoes __60__(consist) of three elements: the architecture of the caves themselves, the sculptures and the paintings. The caves come in several designs. Most are rectangular with a small entry on the east side. The two __61__(common) types among all the caves are those with a niche(壁龛) __62__(contain) sculptures on the west wall, and caves with a central column covered in sculptures. Nearly always, the walls and ceilings are covered in paintings of important figures in Buddhism, financial __63__(contribute), Buddhist stories and scriptures, as well as __64__(decorate) art. Through the artwork, the development of Chinese painting between the 4th and 14th centuries can be clearly observed, __65__ shows how valuable the Mogao Grottoes are for anyone who wants to study the history of Chinese art. 第四部分　写作(共两节，满分40分) 第一节(满分15分) 你校英文报调查发现学生的注意力水平整体呈下降趋势。因此，将于下周举办一场以 “How to improve concentration”为主题的英文演讲比赛。请你写一篇演讲稿，内容包括： 1. 影响注意力的因素；2. 提高注意力的方法。 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。 How to improve concentration Good morning, everyone， ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Thank you for your attention! 第二节(满分25分) 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。 My birth was a little more dramatic than the standard way a baby enters the world. Within minutes of coming out, doctors gave my parents the difficult news: I was born missing my left hand. Indeed, that announcement of my limb difference might have been a disaster if it hadn't been for what happened next. I'm told that a nurse placed me in my mother's arms and instructed: “You will take her home. You will love her. You will raise her like you would any child. You will treat her as normal.” My parents took that instruction seriously. I played sports, acted in theatre, excelled in school, participated in student government and had playdates. While I did get some stares and “polite” questions about my disability, I am lucky because I wasn't made fun of for my limb difference. As kids do, I learned to adapt. One of earliest memories is my father trying to teach me to tie my shoes. I gently pushed him out of the way because his two­handed method wouldn't work for me, and I figured out a way to do it with one hand. Not every challenge was that simple, however. Because my parents were trying so hard to make me feel “normal”， that also meant I didn't really have space to talk about my limb difference—and it was different. No matter how hard we tried, other kids had two hands and I had only one. The fact that I was different hit me hard my first day of high school. I was 13, an age when kids are already very self­conscious. I remember getting on the bus and one of the other kids stared just a little too long at my left arm. The staring upset me in a way it never had before, and I felt a sudden urge to hide my hand, so I immediately slipped it into my pocket. 注意： 1. 续写词数应为150左右； 2. 请按如下格式在相应位置作答。 I spent the next two decades keeping my limb difference hidden at all times. ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ The journey of hiding to unhiding was hard, but the efforts were rewarding. ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 1 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $$null 2024～2025学年高三第一学期学情调研考试(苏州) 英语参考答案及听力材料 第一部分　听力 1～5　CACBC　6～10　BCBAA　11～15　BACBC　16～20　BCBCA 第二部分　阅读 第一节 21～23　CBD　24～27　DCBA　28～31　CCBC　32～35　DDBB 第二节 36～40　EGDAB 第三部分　语言运用 第一节 41～45　BCDAD　46～50　CBCDA　51～55　CBADB 第二节 56. under　57. were constructed　58. various　59. but　60. consists　61. most common 62. containing　63. contributors　64. decorative　65. which 第四部分　写作 第一节 Possible version 1： How to improve concentration Good__morning,__everyone， A recent survey has found that students these days can not concentrate long enough, arousing much concern. I think there could be many underlying factors. The constant exposure to digital devices, for example, may result in decreased productivity. Prolonged hours of school work, meanwhile, may also hinder the ability to focus. To improve the situation, we students should realize the importance of concentration and exercise control. Besides, self­discipline of course comes first, but we can also turn to adults for help when necessary. To sum up, immediate efforts should be made to address the problem and right the wrong. Thank__you__for__your__attention! Possible version 2： How to improve concentration Good__morning,__everyone， I feel it a privilege to deliver a speech concerning how we can improve our concentration. With distractions from technology and social media, students are struggling to maintain focus. One major contributor is the passive use of digital devices, which constantly bombard students with various notifications, making sustained focus increasingly challenging. Additionally, inadequate sleep and poor nutrition are likely to decrease our productivity as well. To improve our concentration, we can employ several effective strategies, such as creating a favorable study environment free from distractions and allowing short breaks during long study sessions to refresh our brains. In conclusion, improving our concentration is a journey that requires intentional efforts and practice. Thank__you__for__your__attention! 第二节 One possible version： I__spent__the__next__two__decades__keeping__my__limb__difference__hidden__at__all__times. I'd keep my hand in my pocket, cover it with extra­long sleeves or tuck it behind bags or underneath jackets. In my mind, I had decided that my missing hand made me extremely ugly and that if people knew about it they would not want to be around me anymore. I internalised this self­loathing, and it only strengthened over the years. When I finally realized I was not thriving, I was determined to stop it. The__journey__of__hiding__to__unhiding__was__hard,__but__the__efforts__were__rewarding. I learned that being comfortable with myself made other people more comfortable as well. Talking about my struggles gave them permission to talk about theirs as well, and I was able to bond on a deeper level with a much larger group of people. For 25 years, I've worked in non­profit organisations working with young people. Accepting my disability has sparked a passion in me to educate others about disability as part of diversity, through public speaking and writing. 听力材料 Text 1 M: Did you know that reusing rainwater can significantly reduce overall water usage at home? W: I've recently started collecting it for my kitchen garden. The plants get a good drink from the rain container when there are a few days without rain. Text 2 M: Virtual classrooms allow students worldwide to learn together in real time. Isn't that fantastic? In a way, you can travel the world while staying at home. W: Yeah. Let's compare the prices with local schools', shall we? Text 3 M: Who won yesterday's race at the athletic test, Carmen? I wanted to watch it but I had a study group to attend. W: No one. The race got called off because of the weather. It's due to take place tomorrow. M: I'll make time to watch it. Text 4 M: I read about machines being used to plant trees. Compared to one person planting, each machine can do 33 percent more trees. W: Sounds good. Do they really work well, though? If so, they could really speed up reforestation efforts. Text 5 M: I'm glad you came back. I wasn't sure if you would after you fell last time. Hitting the ice can be quite painful. W: It was, but it only made me want to get better, and the only way to do that is practice. Text 6 M: I'm thinking about working in artificial intelligence, but it is a bit scary with all the changes. W: It's a field that always changes, but you have to think about the chances it gives us to fix real problems. M: True. It's been used more and more in our daily lives, like in smart homes and self­driving cars. Indeed, there are lots of chances. W: Right, keeping up with new stuff and always learning are important. Have you thought about what area you like best? M: The idea of machines improving on their own is really interesting. There's something about it. Text 7 M: I've started going to the local library more often, and I'm surprised by how much it offers besides books. What a discovery! W: Right! They have computers, classes, study and meeting rooms, and rooms for community events. M: Last week, I went to a class there on using computers better, and it was very helpful. The people who work there really help everyone learn. W: Definitely, the staff are great. They'll walk you through using all the technology. They also have activities for kids and older people, which is wonderful for families and keeps older people busy. M: It's become an important place in our town. Plus, everything there is free. Shall we go there together this weekend? W: Sure! I'll pick you up from your home. Text 8 W: You also walked to school when you were a kid, right, David? M: Yes. “Walking to school builds character，” my parents said. My dad used to tell me how he marched to school uphill through winter snow and summer heat. It was tough, but he said it was a good thing. Why do you ask? W: I was thinking about Johnny. When should we start getting him to walk or bike to school? M: You know, I think my parents were kind of right. But back then sidewalks were wider, there weren't as many cars as there are today, and people drove slower. I agree that facing some challenges is good, but times have changed, my dear. W: Sure, but we shouldn't be too protective. It's not even two miles. A little challenge won't hurt him. We could drive him on bad days, and let him go on his own when the weather is fine. He needs exercise and independence, right? M: Maybe we can ride bikes along with Johnny on those long summer evenings before school starts. W: Alright, let's see how it goes. Text 9 M: Marisol, thanks to the colorful photos and videos of your fantastic food forest you posted on social media, thousands of people have started to explore the joy of growing plants. How and why did you start? W: It started as a personal diary, for recording what I had done. Friends encouraged me to post more often. And then more people found me, and it went viral. M: I see you have a variety of plants. What would you recommend for a beginner? W: Herbs would be a good choice. They're very useful, grow fast, and are hard to kill. They also attract good insects and can help improve the soil. M: Good. What new plants are you thinking about for next season? W: I'll add some bushes—strawberries, and some nuts. These short plants will add shade and in a few years produce a tasty nutritious crop. And, after a couple of years of failure, I will try growing cabbage again. M: What would you say to someone thinking of creating their own food forest? W: Observe the area, which means understanding your soil and conditions. Start small and go slow. Use space, both underground for roots and above for leaves. Understand each plant's needs and functions. M: Inspiring! We look forward to learning more about your growing journey. Text 10 Today, as I reflect on my first year of volunteering at the local animal shelter, I want to share a story that touched my heart. Early in the year, we rescued a shy, hurt dog named Benny. Benny was more than just another rescued animal. He became a symbol of hope and the power of love for us. As we brought him back to health, we all realized there was something special about this dog. It's hard to put into words that feeling of connection with an animal. All of us put in extra care for Benny. As he trusted us more, he became more playful, and smarter, and would wag his tail. He took training well, too. Eventually, when he saw a young couple come to find a dog, Benny wagged his tail like never before. They couple loved him at first sight and adopted him on their first visit. Every so often, they would contact and send photos of him. I know as a volunteer, I am helping not just animals, but people. This experience has given me lessons on sympathy and teamwork. It gives me great joy to know that I really do make a difference. Volunteering here isn't just about the animals. It's about bringing us together, on two legs or four. We're all stronger together. I encourage all of you to consider joining the team in some way. 1 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $$