山西省大同市浑源县第七中学校2024-2025学年高二下学期第四次月考英语试题

2024－2025学年第二学期高二年级第四次月考英语试题

试卷满分：150分  　考试时间：120分钟

第一部分 阅读（共两节，满分60分）

第一节（共15小题；每小题3分，满分45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

Best Science Fiction Writing Contests in 2025

If you love writing science fiction and fantasy, submitting your work to a contest can be a fantastic way to progress on your writing journey.

New England Science Fiction Association (NESFA) Science Fiction Contest

The NESFA contest aims to recognize quality storytelling and looks for fictions with engaging openings, good character development, well-structured plot, witty or humorous language, and convincing endings.

·Prize: Winners will get their works published, along with a certificate of achievement and three NESFA press books.

·Entry fee: Free

·Guidelines: A qualifying story must have strong science fiction or fantasy elements.

·Deadline: September 30, 2025

Write the World (WTW) Young Writers Contest

If you’re a young writer aged 13 to 18, the WTW contest is a great choice for you. It is not just a contest, but also serves as a mini workshop, because every story you submit will receive kind and genuine comments from peers, which will guide you to become a better writer.

·Prize: $100 for the winner, $50 for the runner-up, $50 for the best peer-reviewer

·Entry Fee: Free

·Guidelines: Themes of the science fiction vary each month.

·Deadline: Quarterly on March 31, and June 30, September 30, December 31

British Fantasy Society (BFS) Short Story Competition

The BFS holds an annual contest for fantastical short stories. Each year, a different group of professional writers are chosen to judge the submitted stories.

·Prize:£100 for the first place, £50 for the second place, and £20 for the third place

·Entry Fee: Free for BFS members, £5 for non-members

·Guidelines: Any kind of fantastical story is welcome, including fantasy, science fiction, horror, supernatural and magical realism. Stories should be no more than 5,000 words.

·Deadline: June 30, 2025

1. What prize can a competitor win in the NESFA contest?

A. A cash prize.　　B. A free membership.　　C. A signed book.　　D. A publication opportunity.

2. What makes the WTW contest a good option for young writers?

A. Low entry fees.　　B. Easy writing tasks.　　C. Helpful peer reviews.　　D. Regular author interviews.

3. How is the BFS competition different from other contests?

A. It sets a distinct word limit.　　　　　　B. It offers a flexible deadline.

C. It stresses quality storytelling.　　　　　D. It features varying monthly themes.

B

Kimberly Camp’s lively gallery in New Jersey is a treasure house of creativity, filled with a rich collection of artworks from around the world. Among the eye-catching displays are Camp’s own handmade dolls which bring every corner of the gallery to life with stories waiting to be discovered.

Camp’s artistic journey kicked off when her mother once allowed her to pick out whatever crafts she wanted to try in the art store Zabar. She later pursued her passion by studying Studio Arts and Art History at the University of Pittsburgh, followed by a Master’s degree in Arts Administration. Though her later path wasn’t always smooth, Camp’s passion for art never faded. Her determination and talent paved the way for her remarkable career.

As a doll maker, Kimberly Camp not only uses a diverse range of materials collected from across the globe to add the dolls’ unique charm but establishes a strong connection to African cultural heritage in her dolls. Her first dolls “Brown Babies” featured 32 traditional African dress designs, capturing people’s hearts with their cultural richness. Her breakthrough moment came in 1982 when her 55 Kwanzaa (宽扎节) dolls were sold out in just a few hours, pushing her into the spotlight. Soon after, she introduced “Kimkins”, a line of dolls dressed in traditional African fabrics, with distinctive hand-painted faces. At their pinnacle in 1985~1986, Camp produced 2,000 “Kimkins” annually. In fact, Camp’s dolls are more than toys but recognized as “soft sculptures” mirroring her personality and humor. Over years, her works have been shown in over 100 exhibitions across the U. S. and around the world. In 2020, Camp received the Award of Excellence: Craft Makes Us Human for her dolls.

Today, Camp’s hands are never still. She continues to explore new artistic fields, fully absorbed in every moment of her art-filled life.

 

4. What inspired Kimberly Camp’s early interest in art?

A. Her work in a gallery.　　　　　　　B. Her visit to an art store.

C. Her family background.　　　　　　D. Her university education.

5. What do we know about Kimberly Camp’s dolls?

A. They reflect a new art form.　　　　　　　　　　B. They inspire more American artists.

C. They are specially sold during Kwanzaa.　　　　　D. They showcase traditional African elements.

6. What does the underlined word “pinnacle” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A. Crisis.　　　　B. Exploration.　　　　C. Summit. 　　　　D. Adventure.

7. Which of the following could be the best title for this text?

A. Telling the History of Africa Through Dolls　　　　B. Weaving African Heritage into Soft Sculptures

C. Kimberly Camp: Master of Arts Administration　　D. Kwanzaa Dolls: Bridging Generations with Tradition

C

Nature, with its beauty and simplicity, always offers powerful and clear life lessons when we least expect them. From the perseverance of a tree to the persistence of a river, there’s so much we can learn.

Nature reminds us that we must be flexible and embrace change. When a storm howls through the town, uproots the trees and destroys the houses, we have no choice but to dry our tears, adapt to the sudden change, and rebuild what has been lost during the storm. Experiences like this often throw challenges to us. If we don’t learn how to deal with these unexpected occurrences, we might find ourselves struggling through them without any idea where our lives are headed next!

Flowers wait for the right conditions to amaze the world at the most beautiful moment and seeds endure a long journey to become plants or trees, despite many not making it. But if you look close at these little guys, you’ll see that they’re actually pretty cool.

Bees busily collecting nectar (花蜜) among flowers and migrant birds winging their ways in the sky seem to be ordinary. However, behind these lies the great collaboration related to survival. Isn’t human society the same? In fact, we need it more than ever!

When walking among the mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas, don’t forget to stop your quick footsteps, look up at the leisurely white clouds, bend down to smell the fragrance of the flowers, and let the golden sunlight shine on your face. Immerse yourself in the embrace of nature, appreciating its heavenly beauty. In this way, gratitude will quietly take root in your heart.

The lessons of nature are like countless stars, illuminating your way forward. With its wisdom, you will surely write a wonderful chapter of your life.

 

8. How does the author emphasize the flexibility in paragraph 2?

A. By quoting experts. B. By giving an example.

C. By asking questions. D. By analyzing causes and effects.

9. What can be learned from the journey of flowers and seeds?

A. Patience matters in growth. B. Nature favors the strongest.

C. Cooperation ensures survival. D. Beauty requires perfect environment.