湖北部分省级示范高中2025-2026学年5月月考高二下学期英语试卷

参考答案（试题解析） 听力部分参考答案 1-5ACACA 6-10BABCB 11-15BCABC 16-20BBACC 阅读参考答案： 21-23 CBC 24-27 ADAC 28-31 CBBD 32-35 BACD 36-40FBCGA 完形填空参考答案 41-45 BCBCA 46-50 CBADB 51-55 ADCDA 语法填空参考答案 56. which 57. distributed 58. Providing 59. and  60. specifically  61. to support  62. with  63. an  64. had grown  65. effectiveness 写作第一节(one possible version) Aiming to foster students’ critical thinking about AI and deepen their understanding of technological impacts, the Student Union organized a debate on “AI, our friend or our enemy?” last weekend. The debate kicked off with two teams presenting their arguments. The pro side emphasized that AI enhances learning efficiency and provides convenient solutions for study. The con side argued that relying on AI too much might weaken independent thinking. Both teams exchanged ideas fiercely, analyzing the benefits and challenges of AI application. The activity was well-received by all participants. Not only did it broaden students’ horizons on AI, but also it encouraged them to balance AI use with independent thinking. 读后续写 (one possible version) From that day on, I stopped comparing myself to others and focused on doing my best. I threw myself into the activities I loved: leading book club discussions, spending more time tutoring students who needed help, and even organizing a small fundraiser for a local children’s shelter with my soccer team. It wasn’t always easy — there were nights when I stayed up late studying for exams, weekends I spent volunteering instead of hanging out with friends, and moments when I still felt like giving up. But whenever I felt discouraged, I thought of Cathy’s words. When applying to colleges, I hesitated before adding Harvard. My hands trembled as I clicked “submit” on my application. I told myself that even if I didn’t get in, I was proud of how hard I had worked. Weeks later, when I received the acceptance letter in the mail, I couldn’t believe my eyes. What made it even more amazing was that Harvard offered me a full scholarship through their need-based financial aid programs — all because of the hard work I had put in during high school. 答案解析 A 【语篇导读】本文介绍了Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon的历史、愿景及赛事信息，突出其沿着查普曼峰海岸公路的优美路线，强调赛事对南非体育精神与经济的影响。 21. C 细节理解题；文章第二段明确提到，TTOM 最著名的是其“breathtaking 56 km ultra-marathon route, which guides runners along Chapman’s Peak, one of the world’s most spectacular coastal drives”（沿着世界最壮观的海岸公路之一查普曼峰奔跑）。其他选项：A（免费 T 恤）虽是事实，但不是其“突出特点”；B（世界最古老马拉松）未提及；D（促进经济）虽提到，但并非使其“脱颖而出”的核心原因。 22. B 细节理解题；定位到表格“Half Marathon（半程马拉松）”一列，“Licensed SA Athletes（持证南非选手）”的报名费为 R450.00。中国选手属于“International Athletes（国际选手）”，其对应的报名费为 R2160.00。因此，两人报名半程马拉松的总费用为两者之和，即 R450 + R2160 = R2610。其他选项：A（R2160）仅为中国选手（国际选手）单人的半马费用（漏算南非选手的干扰）；C（R2685）为“无证”南非选手（R525）与中国选手的半马费用总和（未看清题干“licensed”定语的干扰）；D（R3920）为超级马拉松（Ultra-Marathon）中持证南非选手（R840）与国际选手（R3080）的费用总和（未看清题干赛事类型的错列计算干扰）。 23. C 主旨大意题；文章开篇即宣布“entries are now open”，随后介绍历史、愿景，并以表格形式列出比赛日期、起止地点、关门时间、报名费等关键信息，结尾鼓励报名并提醒纪念 T 恤。全文目的是征集参赛者并提供必要信息。其他选项：A（比较两种赛事）是手段而非主要目的；B（推广开普敦旅游）不是重点；D（分析经济影响）仅在背景中一笔带过。C篇主题语境：人与自然——植物感知与生存策略 B 【语篇导读】文章主要讲述了作者受一位编辑的启发，开启每日读诗的小实验，并介绍了两个可以每日推送诗歌的线上服务，分享了自己坚持每日读诗后的收获与感悟。 24.A细节理解题。根据第一段中“Last April, after I published an essay about poetry as part of National Poetry Month, an editor told me he’d often thought that the world would be a better place if we had a poem delivered to our doorstep each morning instead of a newspaper.(去年四月，我为配合全国诗歌月活动发表了一篇关于诗歌的随笔后，一位编辑对我说，他常常觉得，如果每天清晨送到家门口的不是报纸，而是一首诗，这个世界会变得更加美好。)”可知，这位编辑认为诗歌能够改善我们的日常生活。 25.D细节理解题。根据第二段中“Thanks to two digital services that deliver poetry right to my email inbox, it’s been an easy decision to keep.(多亏了两项直接将诗歌推送到我电子邮箱的数字服务，这个习惯才得以轻松坚持。)”可知，作者是借助线上数字服务来开展每日读诗的实验。 26.A细节理解题。根据第三段中“Many public radio listeners are familiar with The Writer’s Almanac, a five-minute broadcast hosted by Garrison Keillor that airs on lots of stations around the country.(许多公共广播听众都熟悉《作家年鉴》这档节目，它是由加里森·凯勒主持的五分钟广播节目，在全国多家电台播出。)”可知，该节目在全国范围内的电台均可收听。 27.C推理判断题。根据最后一段中“Reading at least one poem a day has also been like an intellectual vitamin, giving me a brief taste of literature even on busy days.(每天至少读一首诗就像一种智力维生素，即使在忙碌的日子里，也能让我短暂领略文学的魅力。)”以及“Now, deep in summer, I wonder if I could ever do without it.(如今盛夏已至，我都不知道自己还能否离得开它。)”可知，作者已经深深爱上读诗，对诗歌产生了浓厚的喜爱之情。 C 【语篇导读】本文介绍了麻省理工学院的一项研究发现：雨滴落下产生的声音振动可以加速水稻种子的萌发，并通过刺激种子内部的平衡石移位来触发生长信号，从而帮助种子在适宜的深度快速生长。 28.C 段落大意题解析：第二段详细描述了实验的具体操作过程：选择水稻种子、浸泡在浅水盆中、暴露于雨滴撞击声、改变水滴大小和高度模拟不同降雨。这些内容的核心是“呈现实验方法”，因此 C 选项正确。A（解释实验对象的选择）——仅提及“rice seeds”不足以概括整段；B（强调某个研究工具）——文中未突出某一工具；D（提供研究的科学依据）——科学机制的解释出现在第四段，而非第二段。 29. B 事实细节题；第四段明确指出，雨滴撞击产生声波，声波引起周围环境振动（vibrate），这些振动足以使种子内的“statoliths”发生移位（dislodge）。选项 B 中的“shaking”对应“vibrate/dislodge”，“internal structures” 对应“statoliths”，是对原文机制的精准同义转述。A（通过产生一种特殊信号）——声波本身是物理振动，位移才是信号，而非声波直接产生信号；C（通过替换其重力感知细胞器）——原文是使平衡石移位，并非替换；D（通过将振动直接转化为能量）——文中未提及能量转化，且“directly”属于过度推理。 30. B 推理判断题；第五段指出，能够响应雨声的种子很可能处于“perfect depth to take in water and safely grow to the surface”，即理想的生长位置。选项 B “Ideal growth position”是对这一优势的高度概括，符合原文。A （根系生长快）——原文讨论的是发芽（germinate）速度，并非特指根系；C（高效储水）——文中提到“take in water”（吸收水分），不等于“储水”；D（出色的听觉能力）——“听觉”只是手段，不是生存优势本身。 31. D 主旨大意题（标题概括）；全文围绕“雨声促进种子发芽”这一核心发现展开，从现象引入、实验验证、机制解释到进化优势分析。选项 D 以“A Wake-Up Call”（叫醒电话/警钟）巧妙呼应首段“feeling sleepy”与尾段“accelerate growth”，生动概括了“雨声驱动种子生长”的主题，兼具文学性和准确性。A（秘密感官：植物如何感知世界）——范围过大，本文仅聚焦于“雨声”，未讨论植物的其他感官；B（平衡石：种子内部的“大脑”）——以偏概全，平衡石仅是机制中的一环，非全文核心；C（超越声音：水如何影响种子生长） ——偷换概念，本文强调“声音”而非“水”本身。 D 【语篇导读】本文介绍了一项神经科学研究，揭示了大脑中阻碍人们开始不愉快任务的“动机刹车” 回路。研究者通过猕猴实验发现，抑制特定脑区之间的信号传递可以显著提升个体面对潜在不愉快结果时的行动意愿。该发现为治疗抑郁症、精神分裂症等伴随动机缺乏的精神疾病提供了新思路。 32. C 推理判断题（写作意图）解析：第一段作者列举“打报告第一句话、洗水池里第一个盘子、离开沙发去锻炼”等日常行为，目的是说明同一个现象：开始一项不愉快任务之所以困难，并非缺乏完成兴趣，而是大脑对“迈出第一步” 存在天然抵抗。这些例子共同服务于“说明一种心理障碍”这一核心功能，因此 C 选项正确。A（比较不同职责）——作者无意比较，而是在列举同类困难；B（质疑常规）——文中无质疑之意；D（纠正误解）——作者直接陈述现象，未纠正任何观点。 33. C 事实细节题；根据第四段，研究者锁定两个脑区——ventral striatum 和 ventral pallidum。研究发现，ventral striatum 在检测到潜在不愉快体验后会抑制 ventral pallidum 的活动，从而导致犹豫。这种“两个脑区之间的相互作用”正是“动机刹车”的工作原理。当研究者抑制二者之间的信号传递时，猴子的行动意愿显著增强。因此 C 选项正确。A（对先前努力的记忆）——文中未提及；B（对任务难度的评估）—— 虽有对惩罚与奖励的权衡，但这不是刹车的工作途径；D（激活某些神经细胞）——过于笼统且不准确，刹车的作用方式是抑制而非激活。 34. D 推理判断题；第二段指出，研究者选择性地抑制猕猴大脑中的“motivation brake”回路后，目标导向行为反弹（rebounded）。第四段进一步说明，通过基因技术抑制 ventral striatum 向 ventral pallidum 的信号传递后，猕猴在面对潜在不愉快结果时显著更愿意开始行动。综合可知，治疗使它们的“动机刹车”被禁用（disabled），从而降低了行动阻力。D 选项是对原文“suppressed this circuit”和“made them significantly more willing to start”的精准转述。A（对奖励的渴望增加）——原文未提及奖励渴望的变化；B（风险判断改变）——原文明确说“did not change how the animals weighed reward against punishment”；C（对惩罚的恐惧消失）——恐惧并未消失，只是行为不再被其阻遏。 35. B 推理判断题解析：末段首句明确指出，未来研究可基于该发现“为常伴随动机缺乏的精神障碍（如抑郁症、精神分裂症）开发治疗方法”，随后列举了药物、深部脑刺激以及调整认知行为疗法等具体手段。因此，该研究成果可在将来用于“帮助治疗某些精神疾病”。B 选项中的“help treat”对应原文“develop treatments”，“certain mental illnesses”对应“mental disorders such as...”，概括准确且无过度。A（为大脑开发新药）——原文并未明确指向“开发新药”（develop new drugs），而是说“药物（可能已存在）或深部脑刺激能够修改通路”；C（帮助训练实验动物）——无中生有；D（取代传统行为疗法）——原文为“tailor”（调整），而非“replace”（取代）。 七选五 【语篇导读】本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了一些发展和保持正直的方法。 36. F 根据后文“Alongside that, you must also know what the purpose of your life is, and what you intend to do with your life.”(除此之外，你还必须知道你生活的目的是什么，你打算怎么处理生活。)”可知，此处强调，除了要知道什么是对、什么是错，还必须要知道生活的目的，即对设空处的补充。F选项“To have integrity, you must clearly know what is right and wrong. (要有诚信，你必须清楚地知道什么是对、什么是错。)”指出要有诚信，你必须清楚地知道什么是对、什么是错。后文中that指代“你必须清楚地知道什么是对、什么是错”的事实。故E选项中引起下文，符合语境。故选F。 37. B 根据本段段旨“Define Your Values Clearly (明确你的价值观)”以及下文“No matter what happens, you will never go against your core values. (无论发生什么，你都不会违背你的核心价值观。)”可知，此处强调的是在生活中的任何时候，你一定要了解它们，正好与B项“ You must acknowledge them as you go further in life. (当你在生活中走得更远时，你必须承认它们。)”正好相吻合。故选B。 38. C 此空处于段尾，可以看做本段的总结。根据本段段旨“Analyze Each and Every Choice (分析每一个选择)”以及本句前文“Honesty and integrity aren’t something that you must practice when it is convenient for you.” (诚信不是在你方便的时候才需要遵守的。)可知，诚信是我们任何人在任何时候都要坚守的事情。故C项“You must always be like that whatever the circumstances are.” (无论情况如何，你都必须始终如此。)正好可以总结全段。故选C。 39. G 根据本段段旨“Practice Your Values In The World (在世界上实践你的价值观)”可知，本段主要讲述的是在生活中实践自己的价值观。G选项“Always find ways to apply your ethics and morals in everyday life. (总是想办法在日常生活中运用你的伦理道德。)”与段旨呼应。故选G。 40. A 根据前文“Having integrity also means more than being consistent.(正直也不仅仅意味着始终如一。)”以及后文“We must not always do what comes naturally to us because it is our nature to shy away from difficulties. (我们不能总是随遇而安，因为逃避困难是我们的天性。)”可知，我们不必永远随遇而安，因为畏难是人类的天性，故而可推测空中句应为我们需要敢于面对困难。A选项“Sometimes we have to face the unavoidable. (有时候我们不得不面对不可避免的事情。)”符合语境。故选A。 完形填空 【语篇导读】本文讲述了作者在异乡波士顿感到孤独时，遇到一位不会说英语的中国老妇人，通过非语言交流和翻译软件帮助她找到商店，最终彼此温暖的故事。文章强调善意与连接可以跨越语言障碍。 41. B 上文提到作者几周没给家里打电话，感觉波士顿与加州的距离比平时更远，且“像别人城市里的背景角色”，说明她感到孤独、迷失方向，且文章最后一段有呼应。exhausted（疲惫）、anxious（焦虑）、awkward（尴尬）均不符合这种“无归属感”的语境。 42. C 老妇人不会说英语，通过手机展示内容求助。后文明确提到“the outside of Trader Joe’s”（Trader Joe’s 的外观），这是一张图片。map（地图）、message（信息）、notice（通知）均与后文不符。 43. B 作者试图指路，但对方不懂英语，指路行为反而让她更困惑。helped（帮助）与“but”转折矛盾； excited（兴奋）、troubled（烦恼）均不符合语境。 44. C 老妇人每隔一会儿就说“xiè xie”，作者起初不懂，但在同行过程中，迅速掏出手机用谷歌翻译查证，这是很自然的即时反应。quickly 体现了作者为了理解对方、回应善意而立即行动。eventually （最终）暗示经过较长时间或犹豫后才做，但文中并无拖延或障碍的描述，反而前面作者已经主动提出带路，此时应更主动快速地理解对方用语。hesitantly（犹豫地）与作者乐于助人的态度矛盾。carefully（仔细地）不如 quickly 贴合语境。 45. A 通过翻译软件，作者“学到/了解到”那是“谢谢”的意思。recognize（认出）、ensure（确保）、 prove（证明）不如 learn 贴切。 46. C 短语 pull up 可表示“调出、显示（手机上的图片或信息）”。looked up（查找，通常用于查询信息）、came across（偶然遇到）、turned to（转向）均不适用于“主动展示手机中的图片”这一动作。 47. B 在超市里，bread stand 指“面包货架”或“面包摊位”。store（商店）、cart（购物车）、factory（工厂）均不符合。 48. A 在结账队伍中（checkout line），通常询问顾客关系的是收银员。clerk（店员，范围太广）、 customer（顾客）、manager（经理）均不符合。 49. D 作者点头承认是亲戚，因为这样解释起来“更容易”——无需用语言沟通彼此关系。funnier（更有趣）、harder（更难）、stranger（更奇怪）不符合当时心理。 50. B 后文提到“that loaf of bread”和“gave me more bread”，可见老妇人递给作者的是“一条面包”。receipt（收据）、envelope（信封）、bag（袋子）均错误。 51. A 告别时“tight”通常修饰拥抱（tight hug），且后文有“one more hug”佐证。nod（点头）、handshake（握手）、smile（微笑）均不符合。 52. D “exchange names”意为“交换姓名”，两人从未告诉对方自己叫什么。called （叫出名字）、 mentioned（提及）、forgot（忘记）均不准确。 53. C 一条面包本身是小礼物，但作者感觉它代表了“更大的东西”——如善意、连接、归属感。warmer（更温暖）、shallower（更浅）、sweeter（更甜）均不如 bigger 贴切。 54. D 作者从最初的孤独、迷失，到帮助他人后内心状态发生了“转变”。emerged（出现）、ceased（停止）、improved（改善）中，shifted 最能体现一种根本性的变化。 55. A 文章主旨：善意能在人最迷失时将彼此“连接”起来。shape（塑造）、refresh（使清新）、accompany（陪伴）中，只有 connect 与主题“跨越语言障碍建立联系”直接对应。 语法填空 【语篇导读】本文介绍了中国非物质文化遗产（非遗）工坊在保护传统工艺、创造就业、促进地方经济发展方面的积极作用，体现了文化传承与乡村振兴的融合发展。 56. which 考查定语从句句意：中国的非物质文化遗产工坊正在成为乡村振兴的强大力量，这些工坊保护了传统手工艺，创造了就业机会，并促进了地方经济发展。主句为“China’s intangible cultural heritage workshops ... have preserved traditional crafts, created jobs and boosted local economies”。中间插入的“________ are proving to be powerful forces for rural revitalization”是一个非限制性定语从句，修饰先行词“workshops”，故用关系代词“which”。 57. distributed 考查非谓语动词（过去分词作定语）句意：这些工坊分布在 2005 个县级区域，已为相关产业创造超过 120 万个就业岗位。分析句子“These workshops, ________ (distribute) across 2,005 county-level regions, have generated...”可知，动词 distribute 与主语 workshops 之间是被动关系（工坊被分布/被分散），且此处为非谓语动词作定语修饰 workshops。故用过去分词 distributed。 58. providing 考查非谓语动词（现在分词作伴随状语）句意：值得注意的是，有 4300 多家工坊直接在村庄运营，通过居家生产和日薪模式，为老年人、妇女和残疾人提供了特别适合的灵活工作安排。分析句子可知，动词 provide 与主语 workshops 之间是主动关系，且表示伴随或结果。故用现在分词 providing 作状语，表示“这些工坊提供了灵活的工作安排”。 59. and 考查并列连词句意同上。分析“through home-based production ________ daily wage models” 可知，两个名词短语“home-based production”（居家生产）和“daily wage models”（日薪模式）是并列关系，共同作为“flexible work arrangements”的实现方式。 60. specifically 考查副词（修饰现在分词）句意： 2021 年 12 月，文化和旅游部等中央政府部门发布了一份政策文件，具体指导这些工坊的建设和运营，强调人才培养、就业创造和产业扶持。所给词要修饰后面的现在分词 guiding，表示“具体地指导”。因此形容词 specific 需变为副词 specifically。 61. to support 考查非谓语动词（不定式作定语）句意：在地方层面，18 个省份出台了支持和规范这些工坊的政策，提供资金、营销协助和资源协调。分析“...introduced policies ________ (support) and manage these workshops.”可知，policies 后接不定式作定语，表示政策的目的或功能，意为“用于支持和管理这些工坊的政策”。support 与 manage 并列，共用不定式符号 to（第二个 to 可省略）。故填 to support。 62. with 考查动词固定搭配句意：例如，浙江省杭州市萧山区将工坊与村庄结对。固定搭配 pair A with B，意为“把 A 与 B 配对/结对”。故填 with。 63. an 考查冠词（不定冠词）句意：省级非遗项目“萧山萝卜干”工坊通过订单生产连接了 4 万多户农民，2024 年创造了 3 亿元（4185 万美元）的产值。句子结构分析：“generating ________ output value of 300 million yuan.” output value 为可数名词单数，此处表示“一个……的产值”，且 300 million yuan 以辅音音素开头，故用不定冠词 an。 64. had grown 考查动词时态（过去完成时）句意：值得注意的是，到 2025 年 3 月，国家级非物质文化遗产传承人数量已增长至近 4000 人，这反映了这些保护措施的有效性。“the number ______ (grow) to nearly 4,000 by March 2025.”中，时间状语“by March 2025”表示到 2025 年 3 月为止，是在过去的这个时间点之前就已经完成的动作，因此用过去完成时。 65. effectiveness 考查词性转换（形容词→名词）句意同上。由“reflecting the ______ (effective) of these preservation efforts.”可判断，定冠词 the 后接名词，且后接 of 短语，表示“……的有效性”。effective 的名词形式为 effectiveness。注意：不可填 effect，因为 effect 意为“效果、影响”，而 effectiveness 强调“有效性、成效”。 ( 高二英语参考答案 第 1 页 共 7 页 ) 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $ 2026年5月高二英语月考试卷 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 is the woman trying to do? A. Give an explanation. B. Ask for advice. C. Share an experience. 2. What does Mr. Perkins probably do now? A. He’s a soldier. B. He’s a teacher. C. He’s a travel agent. 3. What is the weather like now? A. Rainy. B. Sunny. C. Snowy. 4. What does Mrs. Carson ask the man to do? A. Cancel her meeting. B. Postpone her meeting. C. Bring her meeting forward. 5. What do we know about the man? A. He likes writing. B. He stays in a hotel. C. He works at the weekends. 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、7 题。 6. What is the probable relationship between the speakers? A. Teammates. B. Parent and child. C. Salesperson and customer. 7. How much money will the man put towards the blue and white boots? A. $45. B. $80. C. $125. 听第7段材料，回答第8、9题。 8. What happened to Jessica? A. She was in an accident. B. She didn’t pass an exam. C. She was punished by her mother. 9. What is the woman going to do? A. Apply to universities. B. Go out with her friends. C. Try to comfort someone. 听第8段材料，回答第10至12题。 10. What will the company have after tomorrow’s interview? A. A writing test. B. A follow-up interview. C. A professional training. 11. What industry will the woman probably be interviewed for? A. The clothing industry. B. The television and film industry. C. The finance and accounting industry. 12. How does the man sound? A. Worried. B. Calm. C. Encouraging. 听第9段材料，回答第13至16题。 13. Where are the speakers? A. In Britain. B. In Russia. C. In America. 14. How did the man feel about his adventures with his father? A. Wild and scary. B. Tough but enjoyable. C. Tiring and disappointing. 15. What does the man say about the coffee made by his father? A. It tasted great. B. It kept him warm. C. It made him feel like an adult. 16. Why is the man called the “wolf whisperer”? A. He lived with some wolves. B. He befriended some wolves. C. He communicated with some wolves. 听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。 17. What is the speaker mainly talking about? A. The history of Chinese architecture. B. The tradition of building castles in Western Europe. C. The significance of military buildings in ancient civilizations. 18. Who is the speaker probably talking to? A. Chinese tourists. B. Architects. C. History students. 19. Why were the buildings mentioned often built on top of hills? A. To show the ruler’s wealth. B. To get access to water for farming. C. To provide protection against attack. 20. What did the central tower serve as? A. A camp to train soldiers. B. A prison to hold enemies. C. A place for the ruler to live. 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 We are pleased to announce that entries for Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon (TTOM) are now open! Regarded as the world’s most beautiful marathon, the event will return to Cape Town soon. Our history and vision Originating as the Celtic 35 Mile Road Race in 1970, TTOM has grown into a premier national sporting institution that contributes significantly to the economy of the Western Cape. It is best known for its breathtaking 56 km ultra-marathon route, which guides runners along Chapman’s Peak, one of the world’s most spectacular coastal drives. Beyond its economic impact, for over half a century, the race has tested endurance, united global runners, and woven itself into South Africa’s sporting soul. This year’s edition aims not only to honor this rich legacy but also to elevate the standards of excellence and inclusivity, placing every runner at the heart of the experience. Event information Ultra-Marathon Half Marathon Event Date April 11th April 12th Cut-off Time 7 hours 3 hours 30 minutes Entry Fees Licensed SA Athletes: R840.00 Unlicensed SA Athletes: Not eligible Rest of Africa Athletes: R1030.00 International Athletes: R3080.00 Licensed SA Athletes: R450.00 Unlicensed SA Athletes: R525.00 Rest of Africa Athletes: R830.00 International Athletes: R2160.00 Don’t miss out All Ultra and Half Marathon entrants will receive an exclusive event T-shirt as part of the entry fee. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this iconic event and secure your commemorative T-shirt! For detailed information and registration instructions, please visit the official website. 21. What makes TTOM stand out according to the text? A. Its free T-shirts for all participants. B. Its status as the oldest marathon in the world. C. Its ultra-marathon route along a coastal drive. D. Its role in promoting South Africa’s economy. 22. What is the total fee for a licensed SA athlete and a Chinese runner to enter the Half Marathon? A. R2160. B. R2610. C. R2685. D. R3920. 23. What is the main purpose of the text? A. To compare two types of marathon events. B. To promote Cape Town as a tourist destination. C. To call for entries and provide key information. D. To analyze the economic impact of a sports event. B Last April, after I published an essay about poetry as part of National Poetry Month, an editor told me he’d often thought that the world would be a better place if we had a poem delivered to our doorstep each morning instead of a newspaper. As a newspaperman, I’m not ready to discourage readership of each day’s edition, but maybe there’s something to be said for reading a newspaper and a poem each morning. All of that has led to a small experiment. In an effort to keep a little poetry in my life long after National Poetry Month had passed, I decided to read at least one poem a day after reading through the newspaper over breakfast. Thanks to two digital services that deliver poetry right to my email inbox, it’s been an easy decision to keep. Many public radio listeners are familiar with The Writer’s Almanac, a five-minute broadcast hosted by Garrison Keillor that airs on lots of stations around the country. Each day’s edition includes a handful of facts about literary anniversaries, along with a short poem that Keillor recites. Fans can also have the text of each program emailed to them every day, along with a link to the broadcast recording. The Academy of American Poets has its own poem-day feature, called “Poem-a-Day”. Launched during National Poetry Month in 2006, Poem-a-Day highlights new and previously published poems by contemporary poets on weekdays and classic poems on weekends. Since subscribing to both services last April, I’ve enjoyed receiving poems each morning. Reading at least one poem a day has also been like an intellectual vitamin, giving me a brief taste of literature even on busy days. Last April, I wondered if I could remind myself to read a poem each morning. Now, deep in summer, I wonder if I could ever do without it. 24. What did the editor think of poetry? A. It could improve our daily life. B. It was as important as newspapers. C. It had a small but faithful readership. D. It should be composed in the morning. 25. How did the author conduct his experiment? A. By listening to radios and writing emails. B. By contributing poems to a newspaper. C. By creating resolutions over breakfast. D. By making use of online services. 26. What can be learned about The Writer’s Almanac? A. It is available nationwide on radio stations. B. It mails paper poems to its fans daily. C. It provides recordings of classic poems only. D. It focuses on introducing new poets daily. 27. What does the last paragraph reveal about the author? A. It has taken years for him to love literature. B. He is wondering how to continue his conduct. C. He has developed a deep appreciation for poetry. D. It has benefited him a lot as a newspaperman. C Next time you find yourself feeling sleepy from the pitter-patter of rain outside your window, think how that same rain might sound if you were a tiny seed planted below a free-falling droplet. Would you still be sleepy? In fact, MIT engineers have found the opposite to be the case: Some seeds may come alive to the sound of rain. Nicholas Makris, a professor of mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and his team conducted experiments with rice seeds, which naturally grow in shallow water. They submerged (浸没) roughly 8,000 rice seeds in shallow water basins at a depth of about 2.5 to 3.0 centimeters and exposed them to the sound of falling water droplets impacting the surface above. The seeds were placed away from the impact zone so that only the sound would reach them. The team varied the droplet size and height to mimic different rains. The results were striking. Seeds exposed to the sound of water were able to germinate (发芽) 24 to 37 percent faster than those in identical but quiet conditions. In addition, seeds located closer to the drop impact point sensed the sound better and grew faster. So how do seeds “hear” raindrops? The researchers explain that when a raindrop hits the surface of a puddle or the ground, it generates a sound wave that makes the surroundings vibrate (振动), including any shallowly submerged seeds. These vibrations are intense enough to dislodge (使移位) a seed’s “statoliths” – tiny gravity-sensing organelles within certain cells of a seed. Their repeated displacement is a signal for seeds and seedlings to grow and sprout. Scientists believe that this mechanism offers an advantage: If seeds are close enough to the surface to respond to the sound of rain, they are likely at the perfect depth to take in water and safely grow to the surface. “What this study is saying is that seeds can sense sound in ways that can help them survive,” says Makris. “The energy of the rain sound is enough to accelerate a seed’s growth.” 28. What is the main purpose of paragraph 2? A. To explain the selection of subjects. B. To highlight a specific research tool. C. To present the experimental method. D. To provide the study’s scientific basis. 29. How do raindrop sounds make seeds grow? A. By generating a special kind of signal. B. By shaking some of their internal structures. C. By replacing their gravity-sensing organelles. D. By directly transforming vibrations into energy. 30. What advantage do rain-sensing seeds likely have? A. Fast root growth. B. Ideal growth position. C. Efficient water storage. D. Excellent hearing ability. 31. Which of the following is the best title for the text? A. Secret Senses: How Plants Feel the World B. Statoliths: The “Brain” Inside a Rice Seed C. Beyond Sound: How Water Affects Seed Growth D. A Wake-Up Call: Rain Sounds Drive Seed Growth D A recent robot sports competition showed humanoid robots running, falling, getting up, and continuing to the finish line. This event reflects the current state of AI and has raised public awareness. At the same time, rising AI stock(股票) prices show that investors are optimistic about its future. In China, using AI in work and daily life has become a national goal. Last month, the State Council released a plan for the “AI+” initiative. This plan aims to bring AI into all industries over 10 years, in three stages, to build new smart economic and social systems. A survey shows that 53.1% of people are excited about AI, 26% are pleasantly surprised, and 11% feel negative. This optimism comes from the belief that AI will change life just like mobile internet did. This is similar to the success of China’ s “Internet+” plan over the past ten years, which helped improve industries and people's lives. However, AI also brings worries. Some fear that AI “silicon (硅)- based workers” might take human jobs, and that relying too much on AI could weaken human thinking skills. Research from MIT found that people who use AI a lot have weaker brain connections. Other current problems include “black boxes” (when AI gives unpredictable results because it learns from data) and “model hallucinations” (when AI gives wrong answers based on untested data). Although some people are worried, this will not stop AI from moving forward. As an important area in global competition, AI's development is certain. The “AI+” plan also focuses on safety and includes rules to prevent misuse. Like other major new technologies in the past, AI will need time to improve. Experts say today's problems will help the industry become more careful and lead to important breakthroughs in the future. 32. What is the main goal of China’s “AI+” initiative mentioned in the text? A. To reduce the price of AI stocks. B. To combine AI with all industries. C. To stop people from using AI in daily life. D. To make AI robots win all sports competitions. 33. Why are many people optimistic about AI? A. Because they think AI will change life. B. Because AI will replace all human jobs. C. Because AI can solve all health problems. D. Because AI robots are faster than humans. 34. What does the underlined phrase “model hallucinations” mean? A. AI robots making errors during tasks. B. Weaker brain connections in AI users. C. AI mistakes caused by unproven data. D. Unpredictable results from AI learning from data. 35. What is the author's attitude toward AI's future? A. Totally indifferent, ignoring AI. B. Fully negative, fearing job losses. C. Deeply doubtful, questioning AI's value. D. Cautiously hopeful, balancing risks and progress. 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。 In life, we make many decisions that define who we truly are. It feels really good to live with integrity, once we master this quality, both our career and lives can develop better. What is the meaning of integrity? Integrity means living your life according to your own morals and ethics. 36 Alongside that, you must also know what the purpose of your life is, and what you intend to do with your life. Here are some of the ways to develop and preserve integrity! Define Your Values Clearly The first step to developing your integrity is to define your values. Every person has a set of values that they live by. 37 No matter what happens, you will never go against your core values. Analyze Each and Every Choice Always remember that your choices define you finally. Practicing integrity means making the right decision no matter what. Some seemingly right decisions that we make in life could be disastrous for some. Honesty and integrity aren’t something that you must practice when it is convenient for you. 38 Practice Your Values In The World 39 We learn so many great things in childhood, some of which are habits that we follow for our whole life. Practicing integrity is just like that, you would just be practicing your everyday life but with more analysis. Having integrity also means more than being consistent. 40 We must not always do what comes naturally to us because it is our nature to shy away from difficulties. We must find the courage within ourselves to face all the difficulties in life, only then will we become successful. A. Sometimes we have to face the unavoidable. B. You must acknowledge them as you go further in life. C. You must always be like that whatever the circumstances are. D. Sometimes we need to decide what we want to achieve in life. E. There are circumstances when right and wrong are very apparent. F. To have integrity, you must clearly know what is right and wrong. G. Always find ways to apply your ethics and morals in everyday life. 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) 阅读下列短文，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。 I was on a walk outside Symphony Hall, and the distance between Boston and California felt bigger than usual, as it had been weeks since I last called home. Surrounded by strangers, I felt 41 - like a background character in someone else's city. That's when I saw her standing alone at the crosswalk. As I crossed the street, our eyes met, and I smiled and waved. "Hi, I don't speak Mandarin, but how can I help?" I asked. She smiled as if we were family, then showed me a 42 on her phone: the outside of Trader Joe's. After I tried to give directions but only 43 her, I said, "OK, I'll take you there myself." She smiled and followed. Walking down the street, she said "xie xie" every few moments, and I 44 used Google Translate on my phone to 45 that it meant "Thank you." She smiled; I smiled back. When we arrived, I asked if she needed anything else, and she 46 another picture on her phone — this time of bread. I laughed and nodded, and she pulled me into the store. We went straight to the bread 47 and she loaded five loaves into her bag, while I held her tote (大手提包) in the checkout line. The 48 looked at us and asked if we were related. I nodded, finding it 49 that way. She handed me a(n) 50 , and though I tried to refuse, she insisted until I accepted. Saying goodbye, she gave me a tight 51 and tried to give me more bread, but I laughed and refused. We took selfies together, and after one more hug, she waved and walked away. We never 52 names; all I had to remember her by was that loaf of bread — a small gift that felt like something much 53 As I carried it home, I realized something had 54. In helping her find her way, I found some grounding of my own — a reminder that kindness can 55 us when we feel most lost, even without a shared language to guide us. 41. A. exhausted B. lost C. anxious D. awkward 42. A. map B. message C. picture D. notice 43. A. helped B. confused C. excited D. troubled 44. A. eventually B. hesitantly C. quickly D. carefully 45. A. learn B. recognize C. ensure D. prove 46. A. looked up B. came across C. pulled up D. turned to 47. A. store B. stand C. cart D. factory 48. A. cashier B. clerk C. customer D. manager 49. A. funnier B. harder C. stranger D. easier 50. A. receipt B. loaf C. envelope D. bag 51. A. hug B. nod C. wave D. smile 52. A. called B. mentioned C. forgot D. exchanged 53. A. warmer B. shallower C. bigger D. sweeter 54. A. emerged B. ceased C. improved D. shifted 55. A. connect B. shape C. refresh D. accompany 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个适当单词或括号内单词的正确形式。 China's intangible cultural heritage workshops, 56 are proving to be powerful forces for rural revitalization, have preserved traditional crafts, created jobs and boosted local economies, with over 11,000 such workshops in operation according to official data. These workshops, 57 (distribute) across 2,005 county-level regions, have generated employment for more than 1.2 million people in related industries. Notably, over 4,300 workshops operate directly in villages, 58 (provide) flexible work arrangements particularly suited for elderly residents, women, and people with disabilities through home-based production 59 daily wage models. The government has actively promoted the role of intangible cultural heritage in cultural preservation and economic development. In December 2021, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and other central government departments issued a policy document 60 (specific) guiding the establishment and operation of these workshops, emphasizing talent cultivation, job creation, and industrial support. At the local level, 18 provinces have introduced policies 61 (support) and manage these workshops, offering funding, marketing assistance and resource coordination. For example, in Zhejiang province, the Xiaoshan district of Hangzhou city has paired workshops 62 villages. The provincial-level Xiaoshan pickled radish (腌萝卜) intangible cultural heritage workshop has connected over 40,000 farmers through contract-based production, generating 63 output value of 300 million yuan (S41.85 million) in 2024. Remarkably, the number of national-level intangible cultural heritage inheritors 64 (grow) to nearly 4,000 by March 2025, reflecting the 65 (effective) of these preservation efforts. 第四部分 写作 (共两节，满分40分) 第一节 (满分15分) 66. 假定你是李华，上周末你参加了学生会举办的一次以“AI, our friend or our enemy?”为辩题的辩论活动。请你为校英语报写一篇文章，报道这次活动。内容包括： 1. 活动时间、地点、目的； 2. 活动内容（正反两方观点）； 3. 活动反响。 注意： 1. 写作词数应为80左右； 2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 第二节(满分25分) 67.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 want every high school student to know: You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to join in many extracurricular activities or get perfect test scores. What matters is that you work hard, believe in yourself, and let your true self shine. I was once a girl who doubted whether I could ever get into Harvard University, but with hard work and a little faith, I made it. And so can you. In high school, such a belief felt out of reach to me. Those days were full of self-doubt. I would spend hours watching videos of students online talking about their perfect extracurricular activities — ten clubs, volunteer work abroad, internships at big companies — and compare myself to them. I only had a few after-school activities: attending the book club, tutoring younger students in math, and playing on the girls’ soccer team. My test scores were good, but not perfect. Every time I saw those “perfect” numbers online, I felt like I was falling behind, and I even thought about giving up my dream of going to a top university. Everything changed the day my teacher, Cathy, pulled me aside. She noticed I was feeling down and asked me what was troubling me. I told her about my doubts, the numbers and activities that made me feel inadequate (缺乏信心的). She smiled and handed me a brochure about Harvard’s admissions process. “Ana,” she said gently, “colleges like Harvard don’t just look at numbers. They look at the whole person — your struggles, your efforts, your growth, and the opportunities you’ve had. You don’t have to be perfect; you just have to be yourself.” Those words hit me like a ray of light. For the first time, I realized that my background, my hard work, and my unique story were not weaknesses — they were part of who I was, and they mattered. 注意： 1.所续写短文的词数应为150字左右； 2.续写部分为2段，每段的开头语已为你写好。 From that day on, I stopped comparing myself to others and focused on doing my best. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ When applying to colleges, I hesitated before adding Harvard. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $第一节听下面五段录音。每段录音后有一个小题，从题中所给的ABC3个选项中选出最佳选项。听完每段录音后，你都有10秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。每段录音播放两遍。现在你有5秒钟的时间阅读第一小题的有关内容。听下面的录音，回答第一小题。Do you think playing chess can be considered as bolt? I doubt IT. I guess so. IT is a game of planning, just like football. IT also involves a lot of practice to become the best. I never thought of IT like that before. thanks. Do you think playing chess can be considered as bolt? I doubt. IT, I guess. so. IT is a game of planning, just like football. IT also involves a lot of practice to become the best. I never thought of IT like that before. thanks. 听下面的录音，回答第二小题。I was in the travel agency yesterday, and you'll never guess who . served me not your old army friend again was IT. IT was mr. Perkins from school. He's about seventy now. He's had a complete career change. I was in the travel agency yesterday and you'll never guess who served . me not your old army friend again was IT. IT was mister perkins from school. He's about seventy now. He's had a complete career change. 听下面的录音，回答第三小题。when do you think this storm will stop? IT was perfectly Sunny yesterday, but now when we want to go outdoors, it's like this . IT could be worse. Snow was forecast for today, but IT looks like IT isn't quite cold enough. When do you think this storm will stop? IT was perfectly Sunny yesterday, but now when we want to go outdoors, it's like this . IT could be worse. Snow was forecast for today, but IT looks like IT isn't quite cold enough. 听下面的录音，回答第四小题。My midday meeting has been cancelled. Could you call and ask herd James if he's able to meet an hour earlier than planned? We'll do. mrs. Cousin, in this case, you don't have to stay at the office. So late tonight. my midday meeting has been cancelled. Could you call and ask herd James if he's able to meet in our early than planned? We'll do. mrs. Cousin, in this case, you don't have to stay at the office so late tonight. 听下面的录音，回答第五小题。Look at all those poems. How many have you written now? Oh, I don't know, maybe fifty or sixty. I often find time at the weekends when my mom's working at the hotel and the house is empty. I can think clearly then. Look at all those poems. How many have you written now? Oh, I don't know, maybe fifty or sixty. I often find time at the weekends when my mom's working at the hotel and the house is empty. I can think clearly then. 第一节到此结束，第二节听下面5段录音。每段录音后有几个小题，从题中所给的ABC3个选项中选出最佳选项。听每段录音前，你将有时间阅读各个小题，每小题5秒钟，听完后，每小题都有5秒钟的作答时间，每段录音播放两遍。听下面的录音，回答第六和第七小题。现在你有10秒钟的时间阅读这两个小题。Which of these football boots do you like? I prefer these red ones. My favorite football wears them. And so do a loss of my teammates. They do look rather smart, don't they? Where's the Price tag? Oh my goodness, one hundred ninety dollars for a pair of football boots. No way. I knew you'd go crazy. Okay, how about these blue and White ones? They're only one hundred dollars. A hundred dollars is still a lot of money. The black ones are only fifty five dollars. I tell you what, you can have the blue and White ones, but i'll only pay the Price of the black ones. You will have to use your birthday money . to cover the rest deale. Which of these football boots do you like? I prefer these red ones. My favorite football wisdom. And so do a loss of my teammates. They do look rather smart, don't they? Where's the Price tag? Oh my goodness, one hundred ninety dollars for a pair of football boots. No way. I knew you'd go crazy. Okay, how about these blue and White ones? They're only one hundred dollars. A hundred dollars is still a lot of money. The black ones are only fifty five dollars. I tell you what, you can have the blue and White ones, but i'll only pay the Price of the black ones. You will have to use your birthday money to cover . the rest deal still. 听下面的录音，回答第八和第九小题。现在你有10秒钟的时间阅读这两个小题。Have you spoken to your friend Jessica recently? Not really. No, we don't really hang out as much anymore. Why do you ask? I met her mom at the supermarket this morning. He said Jessica failed the final exam. Why is that? I think her mom was pushing her too hard, and he was under . too much pressure that. yeah, I told her we had to study hard. I hope you don't think we put any pressure on you. We just want you to have a good career. I know dad, so do I. That's why I worked really hard in order to get into university. Well, hopefully Jessica will find her way I . might call her SHE must be feeling down. I'll do that right now. Have you spoken to your friend Jessica recently? Not really. No, we don't really hang out as much anymore. Why do you ask? I met her mom at the supermarket this morning. He said Jessica failed the final exam. Why is that? I think her mom was pushing her too hard, and he was under . too much pressure. Yeah, I told her we had to study hard. I hope you don't think we put any pressure on you. We just want you to have a good career. I know dad, so do why. That's why I work really hard in order to get into university. Well, hopefully Jessica will find her . way I might call her SHE must be feeling down. I'll do that right now. 听下面的录音，回答第十至第十二小题。现在你有15秒钟的时间阅读这三个小题。I'm a bit worried about my interview tomorrow. What if they ask me something I don't know if they do. just think of the best way to answer the question. And if you really don't know, ask them to phrase the question in a different way. That's what I did when I was interviewed for my accounting job. How many are going tomorrow? There are six other people there tomorrow, but they had two hundred applicants originally. After tomorrow, the company will invite the top two to a second interview next wednesday. Well done. Forgetting this farm, there are so many people hoping to be play rights as these days, it's really not an easy profession to get into. Yes, they have a good idea of my writing ability. As I sent in examples of my work when I applied, I think tomorrow is about getting to know us and seeing if we'd fit into their production team. Good luck. I hope IT goes well. I'm a bit worried about my interview tomorrow. What if they ask me something? I don't know if they do. Just think of the best way to answer the question. And if you really don't know, ask them to phrase the question in a different way. That's what I did when I was interviewed for my accounting job. How many are going tomorrow? There are six other people there tomorrow, but they had two hundred applicants originally. After tomorrow, the company will invite the top two to a second interview next wednesday. Well done. Forgetting this farm, there are so many people hoping to be play rights these days. It's really not an easy profession to get into. Yes, they have a good idea of my writing ability, as I sent in examples of my work when I applied. I think tomorrow is about getting to know us and seeing if we'd fit into their production team. Good luck. I hope IT goes well. 听下面的录音，回答第十三至第十六小题。现在你有20秒钟的时间阅读这四个小题。They call you the wolf whispers. Could you tell me why . I grew up posed to the border with russia in a small finish town. My father was a Fisherman whose family went back generations. My mother was an american who met my father on a family holiday and settled in the area. As a Young boy, I would join my father on many adventures in the wild woodlands of england. IT must be colder there than IT is here in england. Oh, yes, we would often come out for days in freezing conditions, but IT was always great fun. My father would cook our meals around the fire and make me coffee. Although the taste wasn't great, IT made me feel really growing up. So where did the wolves fit in? On one particular morning, my father had gone to collect firewood, and the pack of wolves entered the camp. Instead of being scared, I offered them some fish. The wolves were hungry and dated happily. And that was that. Also, I thought the next day they came back, and the day after that, in the following weeks, every time we went camping, the wolves would find us, I would feed them, and eventually we became good friends. They call you the wolf whisper. R, could you tell me why? I grew up close to the border with russia in a small finished town. My father was a Fishermen whose family went back generations. My mother was an american who met my father on a family holiday and settled in the area. As a Young boy, I would join my father on many adventures in the wild woodlands of england. IT must be colder there than IT is here in england. Oh, yes, we would often come out for days in freezing conditions, but IT was always great fun. My father would cook our meals around the fire and make me coffee. Although the taste wasn't great, IT made me feel really growing up. So where did the wolves fit in? On one particular morning, my father had to collect firewood, and the pack of wolves entered the camp. Instead of being scared, I offered them some fish. The wolves were hungry and dated happily. And that was that. Also, I thought the next day they came back, and the day after that, in the following weeks, every time we went camping, the wolves would find us, I would feed them, and eventually we became good friends. 听下面的录音，回答第十七至第二十小题。现在你有20秒钟的时间阅读这四个小题。Greetings to you all. It's lovely to have so many visitors from china today. I'm drilled to share insights into a very specific aspect of western european culture and history. The tradition of building castles. These structures spread across the landscapes of our countries, offer a view into our rich history and the way of life. Hundreds of years ago, these castles, dating mainly from the north to the fifteen th centuries, were not only military buildings, but also centers of political and social life built in carefully chosen positions. They served as symbols of power and wealth. Now lets look at the key features of these magnificent structures. Castles were often situated on top of hills, providing a strategic advantage in defense, the outer walls, ridges and water around them, or designed to scare off enemies. Within the walls you'd find a central tower, which is the rulers, residents and other various buildings like soldiers as accommodation. Life within a castle was a complex mixture of politics, warfare and everyday activities. As you explore these architectural wonders, you'll witness the complex work and clever design that went into their construction. IT displaces the hard work and intelligence of the period and the rich history of west european and culture. Greetings to you all. It's lovely to have so many visitors from china today. I'm drilled to share insights into a very specific aspect of western european culture and history. The tradition of building castles. These structures spread across the landscapes of our countries, offer a view into our rich history and the way of life. Hundreds of years ago, these castles, dating mainly from the north to the fifteen th centuries, were not only military buildings, but also centers of political and social life built in carefully chosen positions. They served as symbols of power and wealth. Now lets look at the key features of these magnificent structures. Castles were often situated on top of hills, providing a strategic advantage in defence. The outer walls, ridges and water around them were designed to scare off. Within the walls you'd find a central tower, which is the rulers, residents and other various buildings like soldiers as accommodation. Life within a castle was a complex mixture of politics, warfare and everyday activities. As you explore these architectural wonders, you'll witness the complex work and clever design that went into their construction. IT displays the hard work and intelligence of the period and the rich history of western, european and culture. 听力材料 Text 1 M: Do you think playing chess can be considered a sport? I doubt it. W: I guess so. It is a game of planning, just like football. It also involves a lot of practice to become the best. M: I never thought of it like that before. Thanks. Text 2 M: I was in the travel agency yesterday, and you’ll never guess who served me. W: Not your old army friend again, was it? M: It was Mr. Perkins from school. He’s about seventy now! He’s had a complete career change! (2) Text 3 M: When do you think this storm will stop? (3) It was perfectly sunny yesterday, but now when we want to go outdoors it’s like this! W: It could be worse. Snow was forecast for today, but it looks like it isn’t quite cold enough. Text 4 W: My midday meeting has been canceled. Could you call and ask Harold James if he’s able to meet an hour earlier than planned? M: Will do, Mrs. Carson. (4) In this case, you don’t have to stay at the office so late tonight. Text 5 W: Look at all those poems! How many have you written now? M: Oh, I don’t know, maybe fifty or sixty. (5) I often find time at the weekends when my mom’s working at the hotel and the house is empty. I can think clearly then. Text 6 W: Which of these football boots do you like? (7) M: I prefer these red ones. My favorite footballer wears them and so do a lot of my teammates. W: They do look rather smart, don’t they? Where’s the price tag (标签)? Oh, my goodness! $180? For a pair of football boots? No way. M: I knew you’d go crazy! Okay, how about these blue and white ones? They’re only $100. (7) W: $100 is still a lot of money. The black ones are only $55! I tell you what, you can have the blue and white ones, but I’ll only pay the price of the black ones. You will have to use your birthday money to cover the rest. (7) Deal? M: Deal. Text 7 M: Have you spoken to your friend Jessica recently? (8) W: Not really, no. We don’t really hang out as much anymore. Why do you ask? M: I met her mom at the supermarket this morning. She said Jessica failed the final exam. (8) (9) Why is that? W: I think her mom was pushing her too hard and she was under too much pressure. M: That’s awful. W: Yeah. I told her we had to study hard. M: I hope you don’t think we put any pressure on you. We just want you to have a good career. W: I know, Dad. So do I. That’s why I worked really hard in order to get into university. M: Well, hopefully, Jessica will find her way. (9) W: I might call her. She must be feeling down. I’ll do that right now. (9) Text 8 W: I’m a bit worried about my interview tomorrow. (10) What if they ask me something I don’t know? M: If they do, just think of the best way to answer the question, and if you really don’t know, ask them to phrase the question in a different way. That’s what I did when I was interviewed for my accounting job. How many are going tomorrow? W: There are six other people there tomorrow. But they had two hundred applicants originally. After tomorrow, the company will invite the top two to a second interview next Wednesday. (10) M: Well done for getting this far. (12) There are so many people hoping to be playwriters these days. (11) It’s really not an easy profession to get into. W: Yes. They have a good idea of my writing ability as I sent in examples of my work when I applied. I think tomorrow is about getting to know us and seeing if we’d fit into their production team. (11) M: Good luck! I hope it goes well. (12) Text 9 W: They call you the “wolf whisperer”. Could you tell me why? (16) M: I grew up close to the border with Russia in a small Finnish town. My father was a fisherman whose family went back generations. My mother was an American who met my father on a family holiday and settled in the area. As a young boy, I would join my father on many adventures in the wild woodlands of Finland. (14) W: It must be colder there than it is here in England. (13) (14) M: Oh, yes. We would often camp out for days in freezing conditions, but it was always great fun. (14) My father would cook our meals around a fire and make me coffee. (15) Although the taste wasn’t great, it made me feel really grown up. (15) W: So, where do the wolves fit in? M: On one particular morning, my father had gone to collect firewood and a pack of wolves entered the camp. Instead of being scared, I offered them some fish. The wolves were hungry and ate it happily. And that was that…or so I thought. The next day they came back, and the day after that. In the following weeks, every time we went camping, the wolves would find us. I would feed them and eventually we became good friends! (16) Text 10 Greetings to you all. It’s lovely to have so many visitors from China. (18) Today, I’m thrilled to share insights into a very special aspect of Western European culture and history: the tradition of building castles. These structures, spread across the landscapes of our countries, offer a view into our rich history and the way of life hundreds of years ago. These castles, dating mainly from the 9th to the 15th centuries, were not only military buildings but also centers of political and social life. Built in carefully chosen positions, they served as symbols of power and wealth. Now, let’s look at the key features of these magnificent structures. Castles were often situated on top of hills, providing a strategic advantage in defense. (19) The outer walls, bridges, and water around them were designed to scare off enemies. Within the walls, you’d find a central tower, which is the ruler’s residence, (20) and other various buildings like soldiers’ accommodation. Life within a castle was a complex mixture of politics, warfare, and everyday activities. As you explore these architectural wonders, you’ll witness the complex work and clever design that went into their construction. It displays the hard work and intelligence of the period and the rich history of Western European culture. 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $