精品解析：上海市位育中学2025-2026学年高二下学期期中考试英语试题

2025学年第二学期位育中学期中考试试卷 高二年级英语学科 （考试时间100分钟 总分100分） Ⅰ. Listening Comprehension Section A Directions: In Section A, you will hear ten short conversations between two speakers. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. The conversations and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a conversation and the question about it, read the four possible answers on your paper, and decide which one is the best answer to the question you have heard. 1. A. Taking the subway. B. Waiting until rush hour ends. C. Finding another museum to visit. D. Taking a taxi for convenience. 2. A. She doesn’t like Italian food. B. She has already tried its pizza. C. She finds it’s on an unfamiliar street. D. She has heard positive feedback about it. 3. A. She should keep practicing baking. B. Baking is too difficult for her to master. C. She needs professional help to improve. D. Failing at baking is a good reason to stop. 4. A. They thought highly of the lecture. B. They were critical of the lecture’s content. C. They have forgotten some of the lecture’s details. D. They often attend lectures about science topics. 5. A. He is not suitable for marketing roles. B. He didn’t apply for the job in the first place. C. He turned down a job offer from the company. D. He has always been interested in marketing jobs. 6. A. He needs to do more research. B. He has gone beyond the basic requirements. C. He wonders what other analysis can be done. D. He is sorry for not completing the assignment on time. 7. A. He doesn’t feel much better now. B. He has some issues with his appetite. C. The medication works in an unexpected way. D. The medication hasn’t caused any side effects. 8. A. The performance overall was disappointing. B. She disliked both the music and the scenery. C. The set design could have been more realistic. D. The music was not as impressive as the scenery. 9. A. Ways to reduce administrative duties. B. How to improve classroom participation. C. The professor’s way of handling responsibilities. D. Students’ performance in the professor’s classes. 10. A. He wants to expand his business further. B. He is unsure about the future of his business. C. He was surprised that Mary knew about his new business. D. He is pleased with the unexpected success of his business. Section B Directions: In Section B, you will hear two short passages and one longer conversation, and you will be asked several questions on each of the passages and the conversation. The passages and the conversation will be read twice, but the questions will be spoken only once. When you hear a question, read the four possible answers on your paper and decide which one would be the best answer to the question you have heard. Questions 11 through 13 are based on the following passage. 11. A. Should workers request more rest after an illness? B. Should workers reclaim vacation days lost due to illness? C. Should workers avoid taking vacations to stay productive? D. Should workers plan vacations during less busy times of the year? 12. A. It gives them the flexibility to work fewer hours. B. It ensures they have the opportunity for proper rest. C. It allows them to take longer holidays for relaxation. D. It provides extra paid leave regardless of circumstances. 13. A. It could result in longer working hours for employees. B. It applies only to certain industries and not all employees. C. It might lead people to misuse the system by pretending to be sick. D. It requires workers to provide detailed medical evidence for sick days. Questions 14 through 16 are based on the following passage. 14. A. A protein might help reduce anxiety. B. A protein is regarded as a cause of anxiety. C. A protein helps brain cells grow more quickly. D. A protein is found to be a sure way to cure anxiety. 15. A. They removed a part of the brain. B. They fed them with neurotrophin-3 directly. C. They put the monkeys in threatening situations. D. They used a virus to increase neurotrophin-3 levels. 16. A. They draw too much attention. B. They are not as common as thought. C. They have been treated in effective ways. D. They make many people unable to go to work. Questions 14 through 16 are based on the following conversation. 17. A. Super cold seawaters. B. The ruins of an ancient ship. C. Icefish nests on the ocean floor. D. A new species of deep-sea creatures. 18. A. It was a chance discovery. B. It was a long-awaited discovery. C. The discovery was made by divers. D. The discovery was made by satellites. 19. A. Around 17,000 eggs are laid by one fish. B. Icefish stock their food under the sea floor. C. The dads are responsible for protecting the nests. D. Icefish can survive in both warm and cold waters. 20. A. They doubt its significance. B. They think it needs more evidence. C. They find it incredible and fascinating. D. They believe it is an overestimated finding. Ⅱ. Grammar and Vocabulary: Section A Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank. Cliffside Café in China Serves Heart-stopping Coffee Ye Kunkun spent 398 yuan on a special iced Americano at a rural café in southeastern China. That’s no ordinary price. But this is no ordinary coffee shop. ___1___ distinguishes it is a wooden bench settled an astonishing 70 meters above the sea with breathtaking coastal views. The 30-year-old Ye climbed down from the ___2___ (tower) 130-meter cliff — about 43 stories high — along a via ferrata route (铁索攀道) with metal steps secured to the rock face, while a coach guided her along the way. “I was scared at first when I saw the cliff right ahead of me,” Ye recalled days later. “But my fear faded away ___3___ the coach went first and led me.” It took her 30 minutes to reach the spot, ___4___ a sign on the cliffside reads “Gushi Cliff Coffee.” The café ___5___ (name) after the town it’s located near — Gushi village in Fuzhou, the capital of southeastern Fujian province. The village — a previously ___6___ (famous) place featuring bunches of ancient stone house that guard against coastal winds —___7___ (see) bubble tea shops, home-stays and camping site emerge in recent years as the local government pushes for rural tourism. Once at the spot, Ye’s climbing guide served up the pre-made coffee and captured photos of Ye seated on the edge of a carpet-covered bench, coffee in hand, legs hanging over the sharp drop. Gushi Cliff Coffee has sparked a heated discussion on Chinese social media, as adventurous visitors share their thrilling experiences online. “Not my cup of tea, but respect those who dare — No way I ___8___ ever go up there!” wrote one Chinese online commenter. ___9___ mixed opinions online, thrill-seekers keep flooding into this café. Having a drink and striking a pose are just the basics of the fun on the cliffside bench. ____10____ (back) by the local government with a grant of 1.5 million yuan, the village café is expected to support China’s rural revival efforts. In one of Xue’s Xiaohongshu videos, a villager was setting up a stall outside the café shop duringGolden Week. 【答案】1. What 2. towering 3. as soon as 4. where 5. is named 6. less famous 7. has seen 8. would 9. Despite 10. Backed 【解析】 【导语】本文讲述了中国东南部一家名为“古石悬崖咖啡”的特色咖啡馆。 【1题详解】 考查主语从句。句意：它的独特之处在于一张木制长椅，悬于海面上方70米的惊人高度，可俯瞰令人惊叹的海岸美景。分析句子结构，此空所在部分 “______ distinguishes it” 在整个句子中作主语，是主语从句。在这个从句中，缺少主语成分，且指代事物，所以用连接代词what引导，what在从句中充当主语，表示“……的东西”，首字母大写。 【2题详解】 考查形容词。句意：30岁的叶女士沿着一条铁索攀道从130米高（约43层楼高）的高耸悬崖上攀爬而下，铁索攀道上有固定在岩壁上的金属台阶，一名教练在一旁引导她。空处为形容词来修饰名词cliff，tower是名词“塔”或动词“高耸”，其形容词形式towering意为“高耸的”。 【3题详解】 考查连词。句意：但教练一走在前面带领我时，我的恐惧就消失了。设空处引导时间状语从句，表示“一……就……”应用as soon as。 【4题详解】 考查定语从句。句意：她花了30分钟到达那个地方，悬崖边有一个牌子，上面写着“古石悬崖咖啡”。此空引导的是一个非限制性定语从句，先行词是the spot（那个地方），在从句 “a sign on the cliffside reads ‘Gushi Clif Coffee.’” 中作地点状语，表示“在那个地方”，所以用关系副词where引导定语从句。 【5题详解】 考查动词时态和语态。句意：这家咖啡馆以它附近的城镇——福建省会福州的古石村命名。句子描述的是一般事实，要用一般现在时。主语The café和动词name（命名）之间是被动关系，即咖啡馆是“被命名”的，一般现在时的被动语态结构是“am/is/are +过去分词”，主语The café是单数，所以be动词用is，name的过去分词是named，所以填is named。 【6题详解】 考查形容词比较级。句意：由于当地政府推动乡村旅游的发展，近年来，珍珠奶茶店、民宿和露营地纷纷出现，这个村子以前不太出名，有一群群古老的石头房子可以抵御海风。根据语境，这个村庄以前是不出名的，“previously”（以前）提示这里要用“famous”的比较级，表示“不那么出名”用less famous。 【7题详解】 考查动词时态。句意：这个村庄——以前是一个不出名的地方，有许多抵御海风的古老石屋——近年来，随着当地政府推动乡村旅游，出现了奶茶店、民宿和露营地。时间状语“in recent years（近年来）”常与现在完成时连用，表示过去发生的动作持续到现在，并对现在产生影响。现在完成时的结构是“have/has +过去分词”，主语The village是单数，所以用has，see的过去分词是seen，所以填has seen。 【8题详解】 考查情态动词。句意：“这不是我喜欢的类型，但尊重那些有胆量的人——我永远都不可能上去！”一位中国网友评论道。此句表达一种虚拟的语气，是对自己不会去做这件事的一种假设，在这种语境下，用would表示一种不太可能发生的情况，“No way I would ever go up there!” 意思是“我绝对不会上去那里！”。 【9题详解】 考查介词。句意：尽管网上有不同意见，但寻求刺激的人仍不断涌入这家咖啡馆。前后句之间存在让步关系，即虽然网上有不同看法，但还是有很多人来。空后是名词短语mixed opinions online，所以用介词Despite，意为“尽管”，引导让步状语。首字母大写。 【10题详解】 考查非谓语动词。句意：在当地政府150万元拨款的支持下，这家乡村咖啡馆有望为中国的乡村振兴做出贡献。分析句子结构，句中已有谓语动词is expected，所以此空要用非谓语动词形式。the village café（乡村咖啡馆）和back（支持）之间是被动关系，即咖啡馆是“被支持”的，所以用过去分词Backed作状语，表被动和完成，位于句首，首字母大写。 Section B Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need. A. anchoring B. chorus C. cooperative D. documenting E. enhance F. essentially G. host H. randomly I. recognizable J. shoots K. vocabulary Distant Diplomacy When danger approaches, many creatures seem to follow the ancient proverb that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Researchers have recently been finding subtle ways that animals communicate with other species in this kind of ____11____ defense treaty. For example, Nature Ecology & Evolution carries a recent study ____12____ more than 20 bird species on four continents that emit virtually identical “whining (哀鸣)” calls when they spot brood parasites (寄生繁殖) such as cuckoos. “That call is ____13____ the word for ‘cuckoo,’” says study co-lead author James Kennerley at Cornell University. “And it’s recruiting individuals to come together against this common enemy.” Brood parasites lay eggs in other birds’ nests, manipulating the ____14____ parents into raising their chicks for them. At a field site in Australia, Kennerley has witnessed individuals from a dozen or more species attack a cuckoo in response to whining calls in ____15____. These mobs can be so aggressive that Kennerley needs to cage the specimen used in their experiments to protect it. Otherwise the attacking birds would have “just completely torn it to pieces,” Kennerley says. Many birds also share a common ____16____ for predators. Research by wildlife ecologist Erick Greene shows that various songbirds produce ____17____ “seet” calls to warn of a raptor (猛禽) in flight. The calls are too high-pitched for raptors to hear well, so the predators remain unaware as information about their arrival ____18____ through the forest. If the raptor settles, songbirds switch to “mobbing” calls, a distinct sound that, as Greene puts it, “draws in the troops to drive that raptor off.” Defense is not the only reason for cross-species communication. Among other things, it may help birds migrate and ____19____ food intake. A recent study found that when seabirds with good vision search for food with seabirds with strong senses of smell, they both have far greater success at catching krill. Unlike with the seet and whining calls, however, it’s unclear whether they’re deliberately signaling to one another or “just _____20_____ following other birds,” says study lead author Jesse Granger, a biophysicist at Duke University. But clearly, “very complex multispecies communication networks are pervasive,” Greene says. “It really benefits animals to pay attention to one another.” 【答案】11. C 12. D 13. F 14. G 15. B 16. K 17. I 18. J 19. E 20. H 【解析】 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要讲述了动物之间存在跨物种交流，在防御、迁徙和觅食等方面发挥着重要作用。 【11题详解】 考查形容词。句意：研究人员最近发现了动物以这种合作的防御方式与其他物种交流的微妙方式。空后为名词短语defense treaty，应用形容词修饰。根据“many creatures seem to follow the ancient proverb that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.””可知，许多生物似乎都遵循着一句古老的谚语：“敌人的敌人就是朋友。”，这表明动物之间存在一种合作的防御关系。C选项cooperative“合作的”符合语境，作定语，修饰defense treaty。故选C。 【12题详解】 考查非谓语动词。句意：例如，《自然生态与进化》杂志最近发表了一项研究，记录了四大洲20多种鸟类在发现杜鹃等巢寄生鸟类时发出的几乎相同的“哀鸣”声。根据“more than 20 bird species on four continents that emit virtually identical “whining (哀鸣)” calls”可知，研究对此现象进行了记录，D选项documenting“记录”，符合语境，document与study为主动关系，用现在分词，作后置定语，修饰study。故选D。 【13题详解】 考查副词。句意：康奈尔大学的研究共同负责人詹姆斯·肯纳利说：“这种叫声本质上就是‘杜鹃’的信号”。根据“the word for ‘cuckoo,’”可知，这里强调的是哀鸣声与“杜鹃”这个词之间的本质联系。F选项essentially“本质上”符合语境，修饰整个句子，作状语，说明哀鸣声本质上就是“杜鹃”的代名词。故选F。 【14题详解】 考查形容词。句意：巢寄生鸟类在其他鸟类的巢中产卵，操纵寄主父母为它们抚养雏鸟。根据“parents into raising their chicks for them”可知，这里指的是被巢寄生鸟类利用的鸟，即寄主父母。G选项host“寄主的，主人的”，形容词，修饰parents，作定语，符合语境。故选G。 【15题详解】 考查名词。句意：在澳大利亚的一个野外地点，肯纳利看到，十几种或更多种类的鸟会齐声对哀鸣声做出反应，攻击一只杜鹃。根据“individuals from a dozen or more species attack a cuckoo in response to whining calls in”可知，这里描述的是多种鸟同时发出声音攻击杜鹃的场景。B选项chorus“齐声，合唱”，符合题意，in chorus为固定短语，意为“齐声，一起”。故选B。 【16题详解】 考查名词。句意：许多鸟类也有一个共同的关于捕食者的词汇。根据后文“various songbirds produce ______ “seet” calls to warn of a raptor (猛禽) in flight”提到各种鸣禽发出不同的声音来警告捕食者，可以推断这里说的是鸟类有关于捕食者的共同“词汇”或声音信号。K选项vocabulary“词汇”符合语境，在此处引申为鸟类用来交流关于捕食者信息的声音集合。故选K。 【17题详解】 考查形容词。句意：野生动物生态学家埃里克·格林的研究表明，各种鸣禽会发出可识别的“嘶嘶”声来警告空中飞行的猛禽。根据““seet” calls to warn of a raptor (猛禽) in flight”可知，这里强调的是“嘶嘶”声能够被其他鸟类识别出来，从而起到警告作用。I选项recognizable“可识别的”符合语境，修饰“seet” calls，作定语。故选I。 【18题详解】 考查动词。句意：这些叫声音调太高，猛禽很难听清，因此当关于它们来袭的信息在森林中迅速传开时，这些捕食者仍浑然不觉。根据“through the forest”可知，这里描述的是信息在森林中的传播过程。J选项shoots“迅速传播”符合语境，作as引导的时间状语从句的谓语，说明信息在森林中迅速传播而猛禽未察觉。故选J。 【19题详解】 考查动词。句意：除此之外，它可能有助于鸟类迁徙和增强食物摄入量。根据“food intake. A recent study found that when seabirds with good vision search for food with seabirds with strong senses of smell, they both have far greater success at catching krill”可知，这里强调的是跨物种交流对鸟类食物摄入量的积极影响。E选项enhance“增强，提高”符合语境，说明交流有助于鸟类增强食物摄入量。故选E。 【20题详解】 考查副词。句意：然而，与“嘶嘶”声和哀鸣声不同，目前尚不清楚它们是否在故意向对方发出信号，还是只是随机跟随其他鸟类。根据“following other birds”可知，这里描述的是鸟类行为的不确定性，即它们是否是有目的地交流还是随机跟随。H选项randomly“随机地”符合语境，修饰following other birds，作状语。故选H。 Ⅲ. Reading Comprehension Section A Directions: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context. As a rule, friendship is considered an unalloyed good, like flowers and fresh fruit. Most people can name at least half a dozen people they ___21___ as reasonably good friends. Yet researchers who explore the deep nature of friendship ___22___ the bond can have its thorns (刺). Take the new evidence that people choose friends who ___23___ themselves. The tendency toward homophily (同质性), toward flocking together with birds of your inner and outer feather, gives rise to a harmonious sense of ___24___. But homophily, researchers said, is also the basis of tribalism and xenophobia (仇外心理), the ___25___ to “otherize” those who differ from you and your beloved friends in one or more ways. “Why must it be the case that we love our own and hate the other?” Nicholas Christakis of Yale University said. “I have struggled with this, and read and studied a tremendous amount, and I have mostly ___26___ news. It’s awful. Xenophobia and in-group bias go hand-in-hand. It’s like, in order to ___27___ together, we need a common enemy.” Fortunately, he added, no model insists that the out-group must be exterminated or otherwise ___28___ from the scene. “It’s possible to treat the out-group with mild dislike or even grudging respect,” he said. “Cultivating in-group distinctiveness does not require that the other must be killed.” ___29___, even the ordinary business of making friends is an exclusionary act and a judgement call, therefore threaded with the potential for pain. “A friendship is always a little bit of a conspiracy (阴谋),” said Alexander Nehamas, a professor of philosophy at Princeton. “We two are here, they are over there, and we’re going to do our thing whether they want us to or not. And if they try to join us, we can say, no, sorry, that seat is ____30____. We’re saving it for a friend.” Who may not return the favor. Abdullah Almaatouq of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his colleagues recently showed that people are poor ____31____ of who their friends are. When the researchers asked 84 college students to identify which of their classmates ____32____ as friends, the researchers found that in half the cases, those labeled friends failed to repay the title. Friendships are also surprisingly fragile. Based on a detailed survey of 540 participants, researchers at Oxford University determined that people had a falling out with a member of their social circle about once every 7.2 months, or nearly two times annually, and that a year later 40 percent of those broken relationships remained ____33____. The overall rates of friendship conflict did not differ between men and women, but women were more likely to argue with close friends, to express feelings of great suffering over the breakup, and to be more ____34____ of evidence of regret before settling differences. Sure, love may mean never having to say you’re sorry. But friendship is ____35____, and sorry may not be enough. 21. A. appear B. know C. name D. view 22. A. admit B. adopt C. ensure D. hope 23. A. defend B. distance C. familiarize D. resemble 24. A. achievement B. belonging C. confidence D. control 25. A. ability B. chance C. freedom D. urge 26. A. dispiriting B. popular C. positive D. untrustworthy 27. A. band B. head C. live D. put 28. A. collected B. eliminated C. hidden D. transferred 29. A. Moreover B. Nevertheless C. Otherwise D. Meanwhile 30. A. covered B. locked C. removed D. taken 31. A. candidates B. judges C. listeners D. models 32. A. disguised B. qualified C. remained D. served 33. A. unattached B. unprepared C. unhealed D. unproven 34. A. demanding B. deserving C. trusting D. understanding 35. A. harder B. rarer C. stricter D. stronger 【答案】21. D 22. A 23. D 24. B 25. D 26. A 27. A 28. B 29. A 30. D 31. B 32. B 33. C 34. A 35. A 【解析】 【导语】主要探讨友谊并非全然美好，存在排斥性、脆弱性等阴暗面，分析其深层成因与特点。 【21题详解】 考查动词。句意：大多数人至少能说出六个他们视作还不错的好朋友。A. appear出现；B. know知道；C. name命名；D. view看待。根据原后文“reasonably good friends”可知，人们能把六个人看作他们的朋友。 【22题详解】 考查动词。句意：然而探究友谊深层本质的研究者承认，这种关系也有棘手之处。A. admit承认；B. adopt采纳；C. ensure确保；D. hope希望。根据后文“the bond can have its thorns (刺)”以及友谊的弊端可知，研究者承认友谊有缺点。 【23题详解】 考查动词。句意：新证据表明，人们会选择与自己相像的人做朋友。A. defend保卫；B. distance疏远；C. familiarize使熟悉；D. resemble像、类似。根据后文“homophily（同质性）”可知，人们倾向结交相似的人。 【24题详解】 考查名词。句意：这种同质性倾向，即和内外特质相似的人聚在一起，会带来和谐的归属感。A. achievement成就；B. belonging归属感；C. confidence自信；D. control控制。根据“flocking together”可知，聚在一起产生归属感。 【25题详解】 考查名词。句意：但研究者表示，同质性也是部落主义与仇外心理的根源，是将与自己和好友有差异的人“异类化”的强烈欲望。A. ability能力；B. chance机会；C. freedom自由；D. urge强烈欲望。根据后文““otherize” those who differ from you”可知，人们本能地排斥异类，是一种强烈的倾向。 【26题详解】 考查形容词。句意：我对此苦苦思索，阅读研究了大量资料，得到的大多是令人沮丧的消息。A. dispiriting令人沮丧的；B. popular受欢迎的；C. positive积极的；D. untrustworthy不可信的。根据后文“It’s awful”可知，研究结果很糟糕、令人沮丧。 【27题详解】 考查动词。句意：为了抱团在一起，我们需要一个共同的敌人。A. band联合、抱团；B. head前往；C. live生活；D. put放置。根据后文“we need a common enemy.”可知，一个共同的敌人促使人们团结在一起。 【28题详解】 考查动词。句意：幸运的是，没有理论认为外部群体必须被消灭或从视野中清除。A. collected收集；B. eliminated消灭、清除；C. hidden隐藏；D. transferred转移。根据“exterminated”并列可知，此处指清除异类。 【29题详解】 考查副词。句意：此外，即便是普通的交友行为也带有排他性，是一种主观判断，因此潜藏着产生伤害的可能。A. Moreover此外；B. Nevertheless然而；C. Otherwise否则；D. Meanwhile同时。前文讲仇外心理，此处递进说明交友本身具有排他性。 【30题详解】 考查形容词。句意：如果他们试图加入我们，我们可以说，抱歉，这个位置有人了。A. covered覆盖的；B. locked锁住的；C. removed移除的；D. taken被占用的。根据后文“We’re saving it for a friend.”可知，此处比喻拒绝他人加入。 【31题详解】 考查名词。句意：麻省理工学院的阿卜杜拉・阿尔马图克及其同事近期研究发现，人们往往并不擅长判断谁才是自己真正的朋友。A. candidates候选人；B. judges判断者；C. listeners倾听者；D. models榜样。根据后文“When the researchers asked 84 college students to identify which of their classmates ____as friends, the researchers found that in half the cases, those labeled friends failed to repay the title.”可知，人们不擅长判断真正的朋友。 【32题详解】 考查动词。句意：研究人员让84名大学生选出哪些同学称得上是自己的朋友，结果发现，有一半的情况里，那些被称作 “朋友”的人，辜负了这个称谓。A. disguised伪装；B. qualified符合、算得上；C. remained保持；D. served服务。根据前文“asked 84 college students to identify”以及后文“as friends”可知，此处指让学生找出哪些同学称得上是朋友，qualify as意为“被认为是、算得上”。 【33题详解】 考查形容词。句意：牛津大学的研究人员通过对540名参与者开展详细调查发现：人们平均每7.2个月就会与社交圈中的一人闹翻一次，即每年将近两次；且一年之后，40%的破裂关系仍未修复。A. unattached无依附的；B. unprepared无准备的；C. unhealed未愈合的；D. unproven未证实的。根据“broken relationships”可知，关系破裂后未修复。 【34题详解】 考查形容词。句意：男女之间发生友谊冲突的总体概率并无差异，但女性更易与亲密朋友发生争执，会因友谊破裂承受更大的痛苦情绪，且在和解前，更要求对方拿出悔过的实际表现。A. demanding要求高的；B. deserving值得的；C. trusting信任的；D. understanding善解人意的。根据后文“evidence of regret before settling differences.”可知，女性更在意对方是否后悔，要求对方表达歉意。 【35题详解】 考查形容词比较级。句意：诚然，爱或许意味着永远不必说抱歉，但友谊更艰难，一句抱歉或许远远不够。A. harder更艰难的；B. rarer更稀有的；C. stricter更严格的；D. stronger更强的。根据前文友谊脆弱、易破裂、和解不易以及后文“sorry may not be enough.”可知，友谊比爱情更难维系。 Section B Directions: Read the following three passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage you have just read. (A) In December 2022, I began keeping a diary in English, my second language. This, I came to learn, makes me an outside observer of my own emotions, providing clarity that is lost in the proximity (亲近) of my native tongue. During graduate school, a diary in Spanish helped me fill the emptiness of time that seemed devoid of meaning. But looking back, I realize how much of what I wrote then was shaped by writing in a language too close to my heart to allow me to think clearly. In January 2021, I wrote a long, unstructured passage in Spanish, full of phrases like “ese manto gris perenne que es el cielo de enero” (“ever-gray January sky”). The diary entry read as if it were rushed to the page unfiltered, straight from the brain. Writing a diary in English, however, forced me to dig for precise words, slowing down my thinking and taming my thoughts. Through English, navigating life’s concerns became more bearable, and what started as a way to record my life turned into a therapeutic practice of self-analysis. Last summer, I was caught in an identity crisis: I felt emotionally stuck between A Coruña, my hometown in Spain, and New York, where I currently live. Neither place felt like a true fit, and writing about that despair in English gave me the space for deeper introspection (内省). “Is it possible to feel settled somewhere,” I wrote, “when part of who you are depends on constantly leaving?” By detaching from the rawness of my native tongue, I finally came to understand myself. Ismael Ramos, a writer from my hometown, disagrees. He believes his work, much of which is intimate poetry, comes alive in his native Galician — a language related to Spanish and Portuguese. Decoupling his language from his experience is inherently challenging, especially while dealing with his emotions. “There is a language of your body,” Mr. Ramos told me. He is right: Writing in English feels unnatural, and it will never be as close to my heart as Spanish. Yet precisely because it feels unnatural, it frees me from the linguistic habits that often limit how I understand myself. Other writers have embraced the practice of keeping a diary in a second or third language. Jhumpa Lahiri learned Italian as a way to find herself. “I don’t recognize the person who is writing in this diary,” she wrote a decade ago. “But I know that it’s the most genuine, most vulnerable part of me.” Keeping a diary in a foreign language was humbling, a process full of mistakes that nevertheless allowed me to re-examine my identity from a fresh, distant perspective. It made who I am clearer to me. 36. According to Paragraph 2, why did the author feel that writing in Spanish during graduate school was ineffective for clear thinking? A. Because Spanish was too difficult to express complex emotions. B. Because writing in Spanish required her to slow down her thoughts excessively. C. Because Spanish was too emotionally close to her to allow for objective reflection. D. Because she lacked sufficient vocabulary in Spanish to describe her feelings. 37. What was the main outcome of the author’s identity crisis in the summer mentioned in Paragraph 3? A. She decided to permanently return to her hometown in Spain. B. She realized that writing in English provided space for deeper self-understanding. C. She concluded that living in New York was not suitable for her at all. D. She began writing poetry in Galician like Ismael Ramos. 38. Based on the passage, what can be inferred about the author’s view on using a second language for personal writing? A. It is only useful for professional writers like Jhumpa Lahiri. B. It creates emotional distance that helps uncover hidden truths about oneself. C. It ultimately fails to capture the raw authenticity of human experience. D. It should be avoided because it feels unnatural and uncomfortable. 39. Which of the following would be the most appropriate title for this passage? A. The Challenges of Learning English as a Second Language B. A Comparison of Spanish and English Poetry Styles C. How Writing in a Foreign Language Became My Path to Self-Knowledge D. Why Keeping a Diary Is Essential for Emotional Health 【答案】36. C 37. B 38. B 39. C 【解析】 【导语】主要讲述作者自2022年12月开始用英语（第二语言）写日记，发现用英语写日记能让自己以旁观者视角审视自身情绪，带来清晰认知，而此前用母语西班牙语写日记时因语言与内心过于亲近难以清晰思考。通过用英语记录生活中的身份危机等经历，作者实现了更深层次的自我认知。 【36题详解】 细节理解题。根据第二段“During graduate school, a diary in Spanish helped me fill the emptiness of time that seemed devoid of meaning. But looking back, I realize how much of what I wrote then was shaped by writing in a language too close to my heart to allow me to think clearly.(研究生期间，用西班牙语写日记帮助我填补了看似毫无意义的时间空白。但现在回想起来，我意识到那时我所写的很多内容，都受到了这种与我内心过于亲近的语言的影响，以至于我无法清晰地思考)”可知，作者觉得在研究生期间用西班牙语写作对清晰思考无效，是因为西班牙语在情感上与她太亲近，无法进行客观反思。 【37题详解】 细节理解题。根据第三段“Last summer, I was caught in an identity crisis: I felt emotionally stuck between A Coruña, my hometown in Spain, and New York, where I currently live. Neither place felt like a true fit, and writing about that despair in English gave me the space for deeper introspection (内省). “Is it possible to feel settled somewhere,” I wrote, “when part of who you are depends on constantly leaving?”(去年夏天，我陷入了身份认同危机：情感上，我夹在西班牙家乡拉科鲁尼亚和现居地纽约之间，进退两难。这两个地方，我都找不到真正的归属感。用英语写下这份绝望，让我得以进行更深层次的自我内省。我写道：“你自我身份的一部分，注定要不断远行漂泊，那又能否在某个地方真正安定下来？”)”可知，作者在夏天经历身份危机的主要结果是她意识到用英语写作提供了更深入了解自我的空间。 【38题详解】 推理判断题。根据第一段“This, I came to learn, makes me an outside observer of my own emotions, providing clarity that is lost in the proximity (亲近) of my native tongue.(我逐渐认识到，这让我成为自己情绪的旁观者，提供了一种在母语的亲近感中所缺失的清晰感)”以及第三段“By detaching from the rawness of my native tongue, I finally came to understand myself.(通过摆脱母语的那种原始性，我最终开始理解自己)”可知，作者认为用第二语言进行个人写作能创造情感距离，有助于揭示关于自己的隐藏真相。 【39题详解】 主旨大意题。主要讲述作者自2022年12月开始用英语（第二语言）写日记，发现用英语写日记能让自己以旁观者视角审视自身情绪，带来清晰认知，而此前用母语西班牙语写日记时因语言与内心过于亲近难以清晰思考。通过用英语记录生活中的身份危机等经历，作者实现了更深层次的自我认知。所以C选项“How Writing in a Foreign Language Became My Path to Self-Knowledge(用外语写作如何成为我通向自我认知的道路)”最适合作为文章标题。 (B) Welcome to the “Chicken Soup” Family The first Chicken Soup for the Soul book was released in 1993 and quickly became a holiday favorite. Thereafter, more than 250 books have been published containing inspiring stories submitted by readers. On this part of the website, you will find a list of our new book topics, our writing guidelines and our submission form. We welcome your stories, written in English, from all over the world! ● Guidelines for a Chicken Soup for the Soul story 1. Tell an exciting, heartwarming, or funny story about something that has happened to you or someone you know. Your story should be written in the first person. 2. Don’t be afraid to speak from the heart. We do let you use a pen name for your story. 3. Keep your story to 1,200 words or less. 4. We love poems that tell a story, but we do not publish poems that seem overly focused on rhyming or those which read more like greeting cards. What happens after you submit your story? 1. Please complete all fields in the submission form. After you press the SUBMIT button, wait for the next screen to come up with a message that says: “Thank you! Your information has been received.” This is the only confirmation that your story has been entered into our database. 2. We do not send rejection letters, and we occasionally will save a submission for consideration for a future book. But in general, if you have not heard from us 60 days prior to the book’s on-sale date, that probably means we have decided not to use your story. 3. If we choose your story for a future book, we will notify you by e-mail and request your permission to print it. You will be paid $ 200 one month after the publication of the book and receive ten free copies of the book your story appears in. You will also be entitled to buy books from us at half price. ● A few more tips about submitting your stories The only way to submit your stories is via our website. If you have any problems when trying to fill out the form to submit your work, please contact us at: webmaster@chickensoupforthesoul.com. Please submit stories that have not been previously published. The only exception to this is if your work has only been published in a small local publication with limited circulation or on your own blog. Please do not send us any book manuscripts, unless through a literary agent, as they will be automatically discarded. “We love our writers, and we look forward to reading your stories. Thanks for sharing!” — Amy Newmark, editor-in-chief of the book series 40. Your writing won’t be taken into consideration by Chicken Soup for the Soul’s editors if ________. A. you don’t submit it on your own B. you don’t use your real name in the story C. it has already been published on a large scale D. it is a poem that tells a true story about yourself 41. You’ll hear from Chicken Soup for the Soul’s editors ________. A. as soon as you submit your story on its website B. after your story has been published in a new edition. C. when your story has been chosen for a future edition. D. 45 days before its new edition is available for purchase 42. Which of the following statements is TRUE if your story is published by Chicken Soup for the Soul? A. You will stand a chance of being a staff writer at the publishing house. B. You will be paid $ 200 every month after the publication of your story. C. You will get a 50% discount when buying books from the company. D. You will receive ten copies of every publication from the company for free. 【答案】40. C 41. C 42. C 【解析】 【导语】短文介绍了“心灵鸡汤”系列书籍相关征稿信息。文中阐述了故事写作指南，包括故事类型、字数、诗歌要求等；说明了投稿后的流程，如提交确认、通知时间及方式；还提及稿件录用后的报酬与福利等内容。 【40题详解】 细节理解题。根据“A few more tips about submitting your stories”部分“Please submit stories that have not been previously published. The only exception to this is if your work has only been published in a small local publication with limited circulation or on your own blog.(请提交未曾发表过的故事。唯一的例外是，如果您的作品仅在发行量有限的小型本地出版物或您自己的博客上发表过)”可知，如果你的作品已经大规模发表，“心灵鸡汤”的编辑将不会考虑你的作品。 【41题详解】 细节理解题。根据“What happens after you submit your story?”部分“If we choose your story for a future book, we will notify you by e-mail and request your permission to print it.(如果我们选择您的故事用于未来的书籍，我们将通过电子邮件通知您，并请求您允许印刷)”可知，当你的故事被选中用于未来出版时，你会收到“心灵鸡汤”编辑的消息。 【42题详解】 细节理解题。根据“What happens after you submit your story?”部分“You will be paid $ 200 one month after the publication of the book and receive ten free copies of the book your story appears in. You will also be entitled to buy books from us at half price.(该书出版一个月后，您将获得 200 美元稿酬，并可获赠十本收录了您故事的样书。您还将有权以半价从我们这里购买书籍。）可知，你的故事被“心灵鸡汤”出版后，你从公司买书将享受半价，即有50%的折扣。 (C) One of the universe’s most fascinating wonders is the variability of timekeeping: seconds pass slightly faster on a mountain than in a valley; a free-falling clock on the moon, compared to Earth, runs about 56 microseconds faster each day, a small but significant divide over time. NASA and its international partners are now working to establish a new “time scale” for the moon, accounting for these differences, rather than simply creating a lunar time zone. Humans have long relied on natural timekeepers like sundials and lunar phases. However, since the appearance of mechanical clocks in the 14th century, precision has become vital. Albert Einstein’s theories of relativity further complicated timekeeping by revealing that gravity slows time. General relativity explains that massive objects, like Earth, bend space-time, causing time to pass more slowly closer to their surface. This phenomenon has been confirmed by atomic clocks, which measure time using atomic oscillation (振荡) and tick slower near Earth’s surface. To manage these complexities, scientists use a global network of atomic clocks to create Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), averaging readings to ensure accuracy. However, time behaves even more unpredictably far from Earth, where gravity weakens and motion affects its passage, according to Einstein’s special relativity. Spacecraft already navigate these challenges using onboard oscillators to maintain their own time while correlating with Earth’s UTC. For example, missions to Pluto or the Kuiper Belt rely on ground stations but also use their own time scales for navigation. GPS satellites, orbiting 12, 550 miles above Earth, have provided valuable data by comparing the atomic clocks to Earth-bound ones, helping scientists refine timekeeping for lunar missions. Creating a lunar time scale involves accurately measuring time on the moon while ensuring it can be related back to Earth time. To achieve precision, scientists plan to use a network of clocks on the moon, potentially combining atomic clocks for long-term stability and crystal oscillators for short-term accuracy. These clocks could be placed in lunar orbit or on the surface, with costs ranging from millions of dollars to hundreds of millions of dollars. This network will support LunaNet, a lunar navigation and communication system similar to Earth’s internet and GPS. Establishing this framework requires international collaboration, with NASA and the European Space Agency leading efforts. However, gaining agreement from non-allied nations remains a challenge. Precision timekeeping is crucial not only for scientific understanding but also for mission infrastructure. By applying lessons from Earth, scientists aim to create a reliable lunar time scale, paving the way for future missions to Mars and beyond. As Cheryl Gramling of NASA noted, mastering lunar timekeeping will prepare humanity for deeper exploration of the solar system. 43. According to the article, why do seconds pass slightly faster on a mountain than in a valley? A. Because the closer to massive objects, the stronger gravity’s effect on time is. B. Because atomic clocks are less accurate when they are near Earth’s surface. C. Because Earth’s rotation squeezes gravity more intensely at lower altitudes. D. Because atmospheric pressure extends gravitational bending of time at higher altitudes. 44. The author mentions GPS satellites in paragraph 4 to ________. A. highlight what the limitations of atomic clocks in space are B. argue that GPS technology will be directly used for lunar missions in the future C. illustrate that lunar timekeeping will be even simpler than the earth’s GPS system D. give an example of how timekeeping challenges in space were addressed 45. What challenge may scientists encounter when they set up LunaNet? A. The accuracy of placing the clocks in lunar orbit. B. The correlation of atomic clocks with crystal oscillators. C. The difficulty of reaching an agreement among all countries. D. The high cost of a lunar navigation and communication system. 46. What does the article suggest about lunar timekeeping? A. It is an ultimate goal shared by NASA and its allied nations. B. It is a significant pursuit but with few practical applications. C. It will establish a lunar time zone different from that on Earth. D. It is an important step towards future space exploration. 【答案】43. A 44. D 45. C 46. D 【解析】 【导语】本文是一篇说明文，主要讲述了科学家们如何应对时间在宇宙中的变化，特别是为月球建立新的时间尺度，以支持未来的太空探索任务。 【43题详解】 推理判断题。根据第二段“Albert Einstein’s theories of relativity further complicated timekeeping by revealing that gravity slows time.General relativity explains that massive objects, like Earth, bend space-time, causing time to pass more slowly closer to their surface.(阿尔伯特·爱因斯坦的相对论揭示了重力会减慢时间，从而使计时变得更加复杂。广义相对论解释，像地球这样的大质量物体会弯曲时空，导致时间在其表面附近流逝得更慢)”可知，靠近大质量物体时，重力对时间的影响更强，因此山谷中的时间比山顶流逝得更慢。选项A（因为越靠近大质量物体，重力对时间的影响越强）符合文意，故选A。 【44题详解】 推理判断题。根据第四段“GPS satellites, orbiting 12, 550 miles above Earth, have provided valuable data by comparing the atomic clocks to Earth-bound ones, helping scientists refine timekeeping for lunar missions.(GPS卫星在地球上空12,550英里处运行，通过将原子钟与地球上的原子钟进行比较，提供了宝贵的数据，帮助科学家改进月球任务的时间测量)”可知，作者提到GPS卫星是为了举例说明如何在太空中应对时间测量的挑战。故选D。 【45题详解】 细节理解题。根据第六段“Establishing this framework requires international collaboration, with NASA and the European Space Agency leading efforts. However, gaining agreement from non-allied nations remains a challenge.(建立这一框架需要国际合作，由NASA和欧洲航天局牵头。然而，获得非盟国的同意仍然是一个挑战)”可知，科学家在建立LunaNet时可能遇到的挑战是难以达成国际共识。故选C。 【46题详解】 推理判断题。根据文章最后一段“Precision timekeeping is crucial not only for scientific understanding but also for mission infrastructure. By applying lessons from Earth, scientists aim to create a reliable lunar time scale, paving the way for future missions to Mars and beyond.(精确的时间测量不仅对科学理解至关重要，对任务基础设施也至关重要。通过应用地球上的经验，科学家们旨在创建一个可靠的月球时间尺度，为未来火星及更远的任务铺平道路)”可知，月球时间测量是未来太空探索的重要一步。故选D。 Section C Directions: Read the following passage carefully. Fill in each blank with a proper sentence given in the box. Each sentence can be used only once. Note that there are two more sentences than you need. Why You Might Need an Adventure In Moby-Dick, Herman Melville’s narrator Ishmael offers a surprising way to lift spirits: When the “hypos (情绪低落)” struck, he took to the sea and forgot his troubles. Since whaling was an exhausting and dangerous job, this advice might seem counter-intuitive in today’s era of self-care. ___47___ If you’re troubled by your own case of the “hypos,” the cure may be a tough challenge. This idea has been confirmed by emerging research. A 2013 study found that experienced climbers tend to derive unusual spiritual inspiration, experience a greater sense of flow, and feel happier when climbing. A 2023 analysis of research on outdoor adventures showed that participants in these experiences benefit in multiple ways. These included physical and mental balance, personal growth, a sense of belonging, and deep, transformative experiences. ___48___ Indeed, learning new things with a spirit of curiosity and exploration has been shown to boost mood. This raises an interesting paradox (悖论) that appears in this field of happiness research. People derive a lot more happiness from high-skill activities that require learning than they do from low-skill ones that don’t, yet we typically settle for the latter. The obvious explanation is that the latter takes a lot less learning effort and mental focus. Although the happiness benefits of high-skill activities will probably be greater, they are deferred (延迟的) and seem abstract compared with the instant satisfaction of low-skill ones. Just as more demanding physical and mental adventures boost happiness, their absence can harm well-being. ___49___ Those who often report better moods tend to have an “adventure-based mindset” — purposely seeking out new, interesting, and challenging experiences. If you find yourself a bit down like Ishmael, you don’t necessarily need to risk your life chasing a great white whale around the world. Choose a challenge that is worthwhile and hard. If the knowledge in your head feels outdated or uninspiring, it might be time to explore a new field. For a physical challenge, sign up for a marathon or set out to walk a few hundred miles. ___50___ And that is the point. If it were safe, it wouldn’t be heroic; if it were predictable, it wouldn’t be an adventure. The object is not to win in a conventional way; it is to wake up and be fully alive. A. Starting an adventure can bring immediate and big happiness benefits. B. People can suffer when there aren’t enough external stimuli and new experiences. C. An adventure need not always be physical — mental challenges can offer similar rewards. D. There is no guarantee that whatever adventure you choose will turn out the way you hope, of course. E. Research has provided evidence about why materially comfortable humans would be drawn to difficult, even dangerous tasks. F. But Melville perhaps knew something we’ve forgotten: When life is getting you down, the answer is not more comfort but less. 【答案】47. F 48. E 49. B 50. D 【解析】 【导语】文章以《白鲸记》引出话题，论述适度冒险挑战能改善低落情绪、提升幸福感，并用相关研究佐证观点，号召人们主动尝试冒险。 【47题详解】 根据前文“Since whaling was an exhausting and dangerous job, this advice might seem counter‑intuitive in today’s era of self‑care.(因为捕鲸是一项耗费体力且危险的工作，在如今注重自我关怀的时代，这个建议似乎有违常理)”以及后文“If you’re troubled by your own case of the ‘hypos,’ the cure may be a tough challenge.(如果你也深陷情绪低落，一剂良药或许是艰难的挑战)”可知，此处需要转折衔接，解释梅尔维尔观点的深层含义。F选项“But Melville perhaps knew something we’ve forgotten: When life is getting you down, the answer is not more comfort but less.(但梅尔维尔或许知道我们遗忘的道理：当生活使你沮丧，解决办法不是更多舒适，而是更少)”，通过But形成转折，承接上文看似反常的建议，引出下文挑战可治愈低落情绪。 【48题详解】 根据后文“Indeed, learning new things with a spirit of curiosity and exploration has been shown to boost mood. This raises an interesting paradox (悖论) that appears in this field of happiness research.(事实上，带着好奇与探索的心态学习新事物，已被证实可以改善情绪。这就引出了幸福感研究领域中一个有趣的悖论。)”可知，后文讲述带着好奇心学习新事物可以改善情绪，不只身体冒险，脑力挑战同样有效。C选项“An adventure need not always be physical — mental challenges can offer similar rewards.(冒险不一定总是身体上的，脑力挑战也能带来相似的回报)”，引出下文精神、学习层面的挑战。 【49题详解】 根据前文“Just as more demanding physical and mental adventures boost happiness, their absence can harm well‑being.(正如高难度的身心冒险能提升幸福感，缺少它们会损害身心健康)”可知，此处承接缺少冒险带来的负面影响。B选项“People can suffer when there aren’t enough external stimuli and new experiences.(当缺乏足够的外界刺激与新鲜体验时，人们会感到痛苦)”符合语境。 【50题详解】 根据后文“And that is the point. If it were safe, it wouldn’t be heroic; if it were predictable, it wouldn’t be an adventure.(这正是关键。若安全便算不上英勇，若可预测便不是冒险)”可知，后文强调冒险具有不确定性、不可预测性。D选项“There is no guarantee that whatever adventure you choose will turn out the way you hope, of course.(当然，你选择的冒险未必会如你所愿)”，指出冒险的未知性，引出后文对冒险本质的阐述。 Ⅳ. Summary Writing 51. Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point (s) of the passage in no more than60 words. Use your own words as far as possible. Crown-of-Thorns Starfish and the Great Barrier Reef (大堡礁) Native to the Indo-Pacific, crown-of-thorns starfish can serve as important predators (捕食者) in healthy reef ecosystems, feeding on fast-growing corals and allowing time for slower ones to develop instead. But problems arise when starfish populations explode. The animals typically have a regular rise and fall cycle, but since the 1960s, scientists have noted an alarming increase in the size and frequency of outbreaks of the predators, which can grow up to half a meter wide. A 2012 study looking at the 27-ycar decline of coral populations on the Great Barrier Reef blamed crown-of-thorns for about 40% of coral mortality. Over the years, several outbreaks have significantly damaged the Great Barrier Reef. In response, scientists launched a killing program in 2012 to try and control starfish numbers across vast reef areas. Despite critics, studies have shown some positive outcomes. Recent research indicates that coral cover increased in regions where the killing starfish took place, suggesting it may have been effective in supporting reef recovery. In certain areas, the coral cover grew by up to 44% from 2016 to 2022. Some experts, however, are unconvinced that the killing offers a long-term solution. Concerns have been raised about the approach’s effectiveness in the face of more significant challenges, such as climate change and global warming. Crown-of-thorns starfish, though damaging in large numbers, play a natural role in controlling coral growth, and their population booms are often linked to human activity like agricultural pollutants. Though the program has shown some success, experts emphasize that addressing the root causes of starfish population boom, like pollution and climate change, is essential for the long-term survival of coral reefs. Researchers are also exploring alternative methods such as using natural predators and early detection systems to provide sustainable solutions. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 【答案】The crown-of-thorns starfish, native to the Indo-Pacific, plays a crucial role in healthy reef ecosystems by controlling coral growth. However, population explosions since the 1960s have caused significant damage to the Great Barrier Reef, contributing to 40% of coral mortality. A 2012 killing program showed some success in reef recovery, but experts argue it is not a long-term solution. Addressing root causes like pollution and climate change, along with exploring alternative methods, is essential for the reef’s survival. 【解析】 【导语】这是一篇说明文。棘冠海星原产于印度太平洋，通过控制珊瑚生长在健康的珊瑚礁生态系统中起着至关重要的作用。然而，自20世纪60年代以来，珊瑚数量的激增对大堡礁造成了严重破坏，造成了40%的珊瑚死亡。2012年的一项捕杀计划在珊瑚礁恢复方面取得了一些成功，但专家认为这不是一个长期的解决方案。解决污染和气候变化等根本原因，以及探索替代方法，对珊瑚礁的生存至关重要。 【详解】1.要点摘录 ①Native to the Indo-Pacific, crown-of-thorns starfish can serve as important predators (捕食者) in healthy reef ecosystems, feeding on fast-growing corals and allowing time for slower ones to develop instead. ②The animals typically have a regular rise and fall cycle, but since the 1960s, scientists have noted an alarming increase in the size and frequency of outbreaks of the predators, which can grow up to half a meter wide. A 2012 study looking at the 27-ycar decline of coral populations on the Great Barrier Reef blamed crown-of-thorns for about 40% of coral mortality. ③In response, scientists launched a killing program in 2012 to try and control starfish numbers across vast reef areas. ④Some experts, however, are unconvinced that the killing offers a long-term solution. ⑤Though the program has shown some success, experts emphasize that addressing the root causes of starfish population boom, like pollution and climate change, is essential for the long-term survival of coral reefs. Researchers are also exploring alternative methods such as using natural predators and early detection systems to provide sustainable solutions. 2.缜密构思 。将1、2、3和4、5点进行总结 3.遣词造句 The crown-of-thorns starfish, native to the Indo-Pacific, plays a crucial role in healthy reef ecosystems by controlling coral growth. However, population explosions since the 1960s have caused significant damage to the Great Barrier Reef, contributing to 40% of coral mortality. A 2012 killing program showed some success in reef recovery, but experts argue it is not a long-term solution. Addressing root causes like pollution and climate change, along with exploring alternative methods, is essential for the reef’s survival. 【点睛】[高分句型1] However, population explosions since the 1960s have caused significant damage to the Great Barrier Reef, contributing to 40% of coral mortality.（运用了现在分词作状语） [高分句型2] A 2012 killing program showed some success in reef recovery, but experts argue it is not a long-term solution.（运用了that引导的宾语从句） Ⅴ. Translation. Directions: Translate the following sentences into English, using the words given in the brackets. 52. 上周爆发的新流感袭击了整个社区，迫使当地政府关闭了所有的学校。(strike) (汉译英) ________________________________________________________________ 【答案】 The new flu that broke out last week struck the whole community, forcing the local government to close all schools. 【解析】 【详解】“上周”用last week表示，动作发生在过去，句子用一般过去时；“爆发”用break out，break的过去式为broke，修饰“新流感”（the new flu），可用that引导定语从句；“袭击了整个社区”可用strike the whole community，strike的过去式为struck；“迫使”用force，force sb. to do sth.意为“迫使某人做某事”；“当地政府”用the local government；“关闭了所有的学校”用close all schools。流感袭击社区导致政府关闭学校，是自然而然的结果，用现在分词作结果状语。 53. 为了维护交通秩序，市政府决定对那些违章停车的人处以高额罚款。(impose) (汉译英) ________________________________________________________________ 【答案】 To maintain traffic order, the municipal government has decided to impose heavy fines on those who park illegally. 【解析】 【详解】“为了维护交通秩序”用不定式作目的状语，“维护”译为maintain，“交通秩序”译为traffic order；主语“市政府”译为the municipal government；“决定……”用decide to do...，这里表示已经做出的决定，用现在完成时；“对……处以高额罚款”译为impose heavy fines on；“违章停车”用park illegally，修饰“那些人”（those），可用who引导定语从句。 54. 这家百年老店因其出色的工艺而享有盛誉，这使得它即使在竞争激烈的市场中也能脱颖而出。(reputation) (汉译英) ________________________________________________________________ 【答案】 This century-old store enjoys a great reputation for its excellent craftsmanship, which enables it to stand out even in a highly competitive market. 【解析】 【详解】“百年老店”对应century-old store”，“享有盛誉”是enjoy a great reputation ，“因……”用for引出原因，“出色的工艺”即excellent craftsmanship，“使得”用enable ；“脱颖而出”为stand out；“在竞争激烈的市场中”表达为in a highly competitive market。 前半句This century-old store enjoys a great reputation for its excellent craftsmanship是主句，后半句which enables it to stand out even in a highly competitive market为非限制性定语从句，which指代前面整个主句内容，句子陈述客观事实，用一般现在时。 55. 有人主张“为达目的不择手段”，但这种做法通常会弄巧成拙，注定最终导致一个消极的结果。(justify) (汉译英) ________________________________________________________________ 【答案】Some people claim that “the end justifies the means”, but this approach usually backfires and is doomed to lead to a negative result eventually. 【解析】 【详解】“有人主张”常见表达为Some people claim，后跟that宾语从句；“为达目的不择手段”固定表达为the end justifies the means；“弄巧成拙”用backfire；“注定”是be doomed to；“导致”表达为lead to；“最终”即eventually；but表转折，句子整体描述一般性情况，用一般现在时。 第1页/共1页 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $ 2025学年第二学期位育中学期中考试试卷 高二年级英语学科 （考试时间100分钟 总分100分） Ⅰ. Listening Comprehension Section A Directions: In Section A, you will hear ten short conversations between two speakers. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. The conversations and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a conversation and the question about it, read the four possible answers on your paper, and decide which one is the best answer to the question you have heard. 1. A. Taking the subway. B. Waiting until rush hour ends. C. Finding another museum to visit. D. Taking a taxi for convenience. 2. A. She doesn’t like Italian food. B. She has already tried its pizza. C. She finds it’s on an unfamiliar street. D. She has heard positive feedback about it. 3. A. She should keep practicing baking. B. Baking is too difficult for her to master. C. She needs professional help to improve. D. Failing at baking is a good reason to stop. 4. A. They thought highly of the lecture. B. They were critical of the lecture’s content. C. They have forgotten some of the lecture’s details. D. They often attend lectures about science topics. 5. A. He is not suitable for marketing roles. B. He didn’t apply for the job in the first place. C. He turned down a job offer from the company. D. He has always been interested in marketing jobs. 6. A. He needs to do more research. B. He has gone beyond the basic requirements. C. He wonders what other analysis can be done. D. He is sorry for not completing the assignment on time. 7. A. He doesn’t feel much better now. B. He has some issues with his appetite. C. The medication works in an unexpected way. D. The medication hasn’t caused any side effects. 8. A. The performance overall was disappointing. B. She disliked both the music and the scenery. C. The set design could have been more realistic. D. The music was not as impressive as the scenery. 9. A. Ways to reduce administrative duties. B. How to improve classroom participation. C. The professor’s way of handling responsibilities. D. Students’ performance in the professor’s classes. 10. A. He wants to expand his business further. B. He is unsure about the future of his business. C. He was surprised that Mary knew about his new business. D. He is pleased with the unexpected success of his business. Section B Directions: In Section B, you will hear two short passages and one longer conversation, and you will be asked several questions on each of the passages and the conversation. The passages and the conversation will be read twice, but the questions will be spoken only once. When you hear a question, read the four possible answers on your paper and decide which one would be the best answer to the question you have heard. Questions 11 through 13 are based on the following passage. 11. A. Should workers request more rest after an illness? B. Should workers reclaim vacation days lost due to illness? C. Should workers avoid taking vacations to stay productive? D. Should workers plan vacations during less busy times of the year? 12. A. It gives them the flexibility to work fewer hours. B. It ensures they have the opportunity for proper rest. C. It allows them to take longer holidays for relaxation. D. It provides extra paid leave regardless of circumstances. 13. A. It could result in longer working hours for employees. B. It applies only to certain industries and not all employees. C. It might lead people to misuse the system by pretending to be sick. D. It requires workers to provide detailed medical evidence for sick days. Questions 14 through 16 are based on the following passage. 14. A. A protein might help reduce anxiety. B. A protein is regarded as a cause of anxiety. C. A protein helps brain cells grow more quickly. D. A protein is found to be a sure way to cure anxiety. 15. A. They removed a part of the brain. B. They fed them with neurotrophin-3 directly. C. They put the monkeys in threatening situations. D. They used a virus to increase neurotrophin-3 levels. 16. A. They draw too much attention. B. They are not as common as thought. C. They have been treated in effective ways. D. They make many people unable to go to work. Questions 14 through 16 are based on the following conversation. 17. A. Super cold seawaters. B. The ruins of an ancient ship. C. Icefish nests on the ocean floor. D. A new species of deep-sea creatures. 18. A. It was a chance discovery. B. It was a long-awaited discovery. C. The discovery was made by divers. D. The discovery was made by satellites. 19. A. Around 17,000 eggs are laid by one fish. B. Icefish stock their food under the sea floor. C. The dads are responsible for protecting the nests. D. Icefish can survive in both warm and cold waters. 20. A. They doubt its significance. B. They think it needs more evidence. C. They find it incredible and fascinating. D. They believe it is an overestimated finding. Ⅱ. Grammar and Vocabulary: Section A Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank. Cliffside Café in China Serves Heart-stopping Coffee Ye Kunkun spent 398 yuan on a special iced Americano at a rural café in southeastern China. That’s no ordinary price. But this is no ordinary coffee shop. ___1___ distinguishes it is a wooden bench settled an astonishing 70 meters above the sea with breathtaking coastal views. The 30-year-old Ye climbed down from the ___2___ (tower) 130-meter cliff — about 43 stories high — along a via ferrata route (铁索攀道) with metal steps secured to the rock face, while a coach guided her along the way. “I was scared at first when I saw the cliff right ahead of me,” Ye recalled days later. “But my fear faded away ___3___ the coach went first and led me.” It took her 30 minutes to reach the spot, ___4___ a sign on the cliffside reads “Gushi Cliff Coffee.” The café ___5___ (name) after the town it’s located near — Gushi village in Fuzhou, the capital of southeastern Fujian province. The village — a previously ___6___ (famous) place featuring bunches of ancient stone house that guard against coastal winds —___7___ (see) bubble tea shops, home-stays and camping site emerge in recent years as the local government pushes for rural tourism. Once at the spot, Ye’s climbing guide served up the pre-made coffee and captured photos of Ye seated on the edge of a carpet-covered bench, coffee in hand, legs hanging over the sharp drop. Gushi Cliff Coffee has sparked a heated discussion on Chinese social media, as adventurous visitors share their thrilling experiences online. “Not my cup of tea, but respect those who dare — No way I ___8___ ever go up there!” wrote one Chinese online commenter. ___9___ mixed opinions online, thrill-seekers keep flooding into this café. Having a drink and striking a pose are just the basics of the fun on the cliffside bench. ____10____ (back) by the local government with a grant of 1.5 million yuan, the village café is expected to support China’s rural revival efforts. In one of Xue’s Xiaohongshu videos, a villager was setting up a stall outside the café shop duringGolden Week. Section B Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need. A. anchoring B. chorus C. cooperative D. documenting E. enhance F. essentially G. host H. randomly I. recognizable J. shoots K. vocabulary Distant Diplomacy When danger approaches, many creatures seem to follow the ancient proverb that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Researchers have recently been finding subtle ways that animals communicate with other species in this kind of ____11____ defense treaty. For example, Nature Ecology & Evolution carries a recent study ____12____ more than 20 bird species on four continents that emit virtually identical “whining (哀鸣)” calls when they spot brood parasites (寄生繁殖) such as cuckoos. “That call is ____13____ the word for ‘cuckoo,’” says study co-lead author James Kennerley at Cornell University. “And it’s recruiting individuals to come together against this common enemy.” Brood parasites lay eggs in other birds’ nests, manipulating the ____14____ parents into raising their chicks for them. At a field site in Australia, Kennerley has witnessed individuals from a dozen or more species attack a cuckoo in response to whining calls in ____15____. These mobs can be so aggressive that Kennerley needs to cage the specimen used in their experiments to protect it. Otherwise the attacking birds would have “just completely torn it to pieces,” Kennerley says. Many birds also share a common ____16____ for predators. Research by wildlife ecologist Erick Greene shows that various songbirds produce ____17____ “seet” calls to warn of a raptor (猛禽) in flight. The calls are too high-pitched for raptors to hear well, so the predators remain unaware as information about their arrival ____18____ through the forest. If the raptor settles, songbirds switch to “mobbing” calls, a distinct sound that, as Greene puts it, “draws in the troops to drive that raptor off.” Defense is not the only reason for cross-species communication. Among other things, it may help birds migrate and ____19____ food intake. A recent study found that when seabirds with good vision search for food with seabirds with strong senses of smell, they both have far greater success at catching krill. Unlike with the seet and whining calls, however, it’s unclear whether they’re deliberately signaling to one another or “just _____20_____ following other birds,” says study lead author Jesse Granger, a biophysicist at Duke University. But clearly, “very complex multispecies communication networks are pervasive,” Greene says. “It really benefits animals to pay attention to one another.” Ⅲ. Reading Comprehension Section A Directions: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context. As a rule, friendship is considered an unalloyed good, like flowers and fresh fruit. Most people can name at least half a dozen people they ___21___ as reasonably good friends. Yet researchers who explore the deep nature of friendship ___22___ the bond can have its thorns (刺). Take the new evidence that people choose friends who ___23___ themselves. The tendency toward homophily (同质性), toward flocking together with birds of your inner and outer feather, gives rise to a harmonious sense of ___24___. But homophily, researchers said, is also the basis of tribalism and xenophobia (仇外心理), the ___25___ to “otherize” those who differ from you and your beloved friends in one or more ways. “Why must it be the case that we love our own and hate the other?” Nicholas Christakis of Yale University said. “I have struggled with this, and read and studied a tremendous amount, and I have mostly ___26___ news. It’s awful. Xenophobia and in-group bias go hand-in-hand. It’s like, in order to ___27___ together, we need a common enemy.” Fortunately, he added, no model insists that the out-group must be exterminated or otherwise ___28___ from the scene. “It’s possible to treat the out-group with mild dislike or even grudging respect,” he said. “Cultivating in-group distinctiveness does not require that the other must be killed.” ___29___, even the ordinary business of making friends is an exclusionary act and a judgement call, therefore threaded with the potential for pain. “A friendship is always a little bit of a conspiracy (阴谋),” said Alexander Nehamas, a professor of philosophy at Princeton. “We two are here, they are over there, and we’re going to do our thing whether they want us to or not. And if they try to join us, we can say, no, sorry, that seat is ____30____. We’re saving it for a friend.” Who may not return the favor. Abdullah Almaatouq of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his colleagues recently showed that people are poor ____31____ of who their friends are. When the researchers asked 84 college students to identify which of their classmates ____32____ as friends, the researchers found that in half the cases, those labeled friends failed to repay the title. Friendships are also surprisingly fragile. Based on a detailed survey of 540 participants, researchers at Oxford University determined that people had a falling out with a member of their social circle about once every 7.2 months, or nearly two times annually, and that a year later 40 percent of those broken relationships remained ____33____. The overall rates of friendship conflict did not differ between men and women, but women were more likely to argue with close friends, to express feelings of great suffering over the breakup, and to be more ____34____ of evidence of regret before settling differences. Sure, love may mean never having to say you’re sorry. But friendship is ____35____, and sorry may not be enough. 21. A. appear B. know C. name D. view 22. A. admit B. adopt C. ensure D. hope 23. A. defend B. distance C. familiarize D. resemble 24. A. achievement B. belonging C. confidence D. control 25. A. ability B. chance C. freedom D. urge 26. A. dispiriting B. popular C. positive D. untrustworthy 27. A. band B. head C. live D. put 28. A. collected B. eliminated C. hidden D. transferred 29. A. Moreover B. Nevertheless C. Otherwise D. Meanwhile 30. A. covered B. locked C. removed D. taken 31. A. candidates B. judges C. listeners D. models 32. A. disguised B. qualified C. remained D. served 33. A. unattached B. unprepared C. unhealed D. unproven 34. A. demanding B. deserving C. trusting D. understanding 35. A. harder B. rarer C. stricter D. stronger Section B Directions: Read the following three passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage you have just read. (A) In December 2022, I began keeping a diary in English, my second language. This, I came to learn, makes me an outside observer of my own emotions, providing clarity that is lost in the proximity (亲近) of my native tongue. During graduate school, a diary in Spanish helped me fill the emptiness of time that seemed devoid of meaning. But looking back, I realize how much of what I wrote then was shaped by writing in a language too close to my heart to allow me to think clearly. In January 2021, I wrote a long, unstructured passage in Spanish, full of phrases like “ese manto gris perenne que es el cielo de enero” (“ever-gray January sky”). The diary entry read as if it were rushed to the page unfiltered, straight from the brain. Writing a diary in English, however, forced me to dig for precise words, slowing down my thinking and taming my thoughts. Through English, navigating life’s concerns became more bearable, and what started as a way to record my life turned into a therapeutic practice of self-analysis. Last summer, I was caught in an identity crisis: I felt emotionally stuck between A Coruña, my hometown in Spain, and New York, where I currently live. Neither place felt like a true fit, and writing about that despair in English gave me the space for deeper introspection (内省). “Is it possible to feel settled somewhere,” I wrote, “when part of who you are depends on constantly leaving?” By detaching from the rawness of my native tongue, I finally came to understand myself. Ismael Ramos, a writer from my hometown, disagrees. He believes his work, much of which is intimate poetry, comes alive in his native Galician — a language related to Spanish and Portuguese. Decoupling his language from his experience is inherently challenging, especially while dealing with his emotions. “There is a language of your body,” Mr. Ramos told me. He is right: Writing in English feels unnatural, and it will never be as close to my heart as Spanish. Yet precisely because it feels unnatural, it frees me from the linguistic habits that often limit how I understand myself. Other writers have embraced the practice of keeping a diary in a second or third language. Jhumpa Lahiri learned Italian as a way to find herself. “I don’t recognize the person who is writing in this diary,” she wrote a decade ago. “But I know that it’s the most genuine, most vulnerable part of me.” Keeping a diary in a foreign language was humbling, a process full of mistakes that nevertheless allowed me to re-examine my identity from a fresh, distant perspective. It made who I am clearer to me. 36. According to Paragraph 2, why did the author feel that writing in Spanish during graduate school was ineffective for clear thinking? A. Because Spanish was too difficult to express complex emotions. B. Because writing in Spanish required her to slow down her thoughts excessively. C. Because Spanish was too emotionally close to her to allow for objective reflection. D. Because she lacked sufficient vocabulary in Spanish to describe her feelings. 37. What was the main outcome of the author’s identity crisis in the summer mentioned in Paragraph 3? A. She decided to permanently return to her hometown in Spain. B. She realized that writing in English provided space for deeper self-understanding. C. She concluded that living in New York was not suitable for her at all. D. She began writing poetry in Galician like Ismael Ramos. 38. Based on the passage, what can be inferred about the author’s view on using a second language for personal writing? A. It is only useful for professional writers like Jhumpa Lahiri. B. It creates emotional distance that helps uncover hidden truths about oneself. C. It ultimately fails to capture the raw authenticity of human experience. D. It should be avoided because it feels unnatural and uncomfortable. 39. Which of the following would be the most appropriate title for this passage? A. The Challenges of Learning English as a Second Language B. A Comparison of Spanish and English Poetry Styles C. How Writing in a Foreign Language Became My Path to Self-Knowledge D. Why Keeping a Diary Is Essential for Emotional Health (B) Welcome to the “Chicken Soup” Family The first Chicken Soup for the Soul book was released in 1993 and quickly became a holiday favorite. Thereafter, more than 250 books have been published containing inspiring stories submitted by readers. On this part of the website, you will find a list of our new book topics, our writing guidelines and our submission form. We welcome your stories, written in English, from all over the world! ● Guidelines for a Chicken Soup for the Soul story 1. Tell an exciting, heartwarming, or funny story about something that has happened to you or someone you know. Your story should be written in the first person. 2. Don’t be afraid to speak from the heart. We do let you use a pen name for your story. 3. Keep your story to 1,200 words or less. 4. We love poems that tell a story, but we do not publish poems that seem overly focused on rhyming or those which read more like greeting cards. What happens after you submit your story? 1. Please complete all fields in the submission form. After you press the SUBMIT button, wait for the next screen to come up with a message that says: “Thank you! Your information has been received.” This is the only confirmation that your story has been entered into our database. 2. We do not send rejection letters, and we occasionally will save a submission for consideration for a future book. But in general, if you have not heard from us 60 days prior to the book’s on-sale date, that probably means we have decided not to use your story. 3. If we choose your story for a future book, we will notify you by e-mail and request your permission to print it. You will be paid $ 200 one month after the publication of the book and receive ten free copies of the book your story appears in. You will also be entitled to buy books from us at half price. ● A few more tips about submitting your stories The only way to submit your stories is via our website. If you have any problems when trying to fill out the form to submit your work, please contact us at: webmaster@chickensoupforthesoul.com. Please submit stories that have not been previously published. The only exception to this is if your work has only been published in a small local publication with limited circulation or on your own blog. Please do not send us any book manuscripts, unless through a literary agent, as they will be automatically discarded. “We love our writers, and we look forward to reading your stories. Thanks for sharing!” — Amy Newmark, editor-in-chief of the book series 40. Your writing won’t be taken into consideration by Chicken Soup for the Soul’s editors if ________. A. you don’t submit it on your own B. you don’t use your real name in the story C. it has already been published on a large scale D. it is a poem that tells a true story about yourself 41. You’ll hear from Chicken Soup for the Soul’s editors ________. A. as soon as you submit your story on its website B. after your story has been published in a new edition. C. when your story has been chosen for a future edition. D. 45 days before its new edition is available for purchase 42. Which of the following statements is TRUE if your story is published by Chicken Soup for the Soul? A. You will stand a chance of being a staff writer at the publishing house. B. You will be paid $ 200 every month after the publication of your story. C. You will get a 50% discount when buying books from the company. D. You will receive ten copies of every publication from the company for free. (C) One of the universe’s most fascinating wonders is the variability of timekeeping: seconds pass slightly faster on a mountain than in a valley; a free-falling clock on the moon, compared to Earth, runs about 56 microseconds faster each day, a small but significant divide over time. NASA and its international partners are now working to establish a new “time scale” for the moon, accounting for these differences, rather than simply creating a lunar time zone. Humans have long relied on natural timekeepers like sundials and lunar phases. However, since the appearance of mechanical clocks in the 14th century, precision has become vital. Albert Einstein’s theories of relativity further complicated timekeeping by revealing that gravity slows time. General relativity explains that massive objects, like Earth, bend space-time, causing time to pass more slowly closer to their surface. This phenomenon has been confirmed by atomic clocks, which measure time using atomic oscillation (振荡) and tick slower near Earth’s surface. To manage these complexities, scientists use a global network of atomic clocks to create Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), averaging readings to ensure accuracy. However, time behaves even more unpredictably far from Earth, where gravity weakens and motion affects its passage, according to Einstein’s special relativity. Spacecraft already navigate these challenges using onboard oscillators to maintain their own time while correlating with Earth’s UTC. For example, missions to Pluto or the Kuiper Belt rely on ground stations but also use their own time scales for navigation. GPS satellites, orbiting 12, 550 miles above Earth, have provided valuable data by comparing the atomic clocks to Earth-bound ones, helping scientists refine timekeeping for lunar missions. Creating a lunar time scale involves accurately measuring time on the moon while ensuring it can be related back to Earth time. To achieve precision, scientists plan to use a network of clocks on the moon, potentially combining atomic clocks for long-term stability and crystal oscillators for short-term accuracy. These clocks could be placed in lunar orbit or on the surface, with costs ranging from millions of dollars to hundreds of millions of dollars. This network will support LunaNet, a lunar navigation and communication system similar to Earth’s internet and GPS. Establishing this framework requires international collaboration, with NASA and the European Space Agency leading efforts. However, gaining agreement from non-allied nations remains a challenge. Precision timekeeping is crucial not only for scientific understanding but also for mission infrastructure. By applying lessons from Earth, scientists aim to create a reliable lunar time scale, paving the way for future missions to Mars and beyond. As Cheryl Gramling of NASA noted, mastering lunar timekeeping will prepare humanity for deeper exploration of the solar system. 43. According to the article, why do seconds pass slightly faster on a mountain than in a valley? A. Because the closer to massive objects, the stronger gravity’s effect on time is. B. Because atomic clocks are less accurate when they are near Earth’s surface. C. Because Earth’s rotation squeezes gravity more intensely at lower altitudes. D. Because atmospheric pressure extends gravitational bending of time at higher altitudes. 44. The author mentions GPS satellites in paragraph 4 to ________. A. highlight what the limitations of atomic clocks in space are B. argue that GPS technology will be directly used for lunar missions in the future C. illustrate that lunar timekeeping will be even simpler than the earth’s GPS system D. give an example of how timekeeping challenges in space were addressed 45. What challenge may scientists encounter when they set up LunaNet? A. The accuracy of placing the clocks in lunar orbit. B. The correlation of atomic clocks with crystal oscillators. C. The difficulty of reaching an agreement among all countries. D. The high cost of a lunar navigation and communication system. 46. What does the article suggest about lunar timekeeping? A. It is an ultimate goal shared by NASA and its allied nations. B. It is a significant pursuit but with few practical applications. C. It will establish a lunar time zone different from that on Earth. D. It is an important step towards future space exploration. Section C Directions: Read the following passage carefully. Fill in each blank with a proper sentence given in the box. Each sentence can be used only once. Note that there are two more sentences than you need. Why You Might Need an Adventure In Moby-Dick, Herman Melville’s narrator Ishmael offers a surprising way to lift spirits: When the “hypos (情绪低落)” struck, he took to the sea and forgot his troubles. Since whaling was an exhausting and dangerous job, this advice might seem counter-intuitive in today’s era of self-care. ___47___ If you’re troubled by your own case of the “hypos,” the cure may be a tough challenge. This idea has been confirmed by emerging research. A 2013 study found that experienced climbers tend to derive unusual spiritual inspiration, experience a greater sense of flow, and feel happier when climbing. A 2023 analysis of research on outdoor adventures showed that participants in these experiences benefit in multiple ways. These included physical and mental balance, personal growth, a sense of belonging, and deep, transformative experiences. ___48___ Indeed, learning new things with a spirit of curiosity and exploration has been shown to boost mood. This raises an interesting paradox (悖论) that appears in this field of happiness research. People derive a lot more happiness from high-skill activities that require learning than they do from low-skill ones that don’t, yet we typically settle for the latter. The obvious explanation is that the latter takes a lot less learning effort and mental focus. Although the happiness benefits of high-skill activities will probably be greater, they are deferred (延迟的) and seem abstract compared with the instant satisfaction of low-skill ones. Just as more demanding physical and mental adventures boost happiness, their absence can harm well-being. ___49___ Those who often report better moods tend to have an “adventure-based mindset” — purposely seeking out new, interesting, and challenging experiences. If you find yourself a bit down like Ishmael, you don’t necessarily need to risk your life chasing a great white whale around the world. Choose a challenge that is worthwhile and hard. If the knowledge in your head feels outdated or uninspiring, it might be time to explore a new field. For a physical challenge, sign up for a marathon or set out to walk a few hundred miles. ___50___ And that is the point. If it were safe, it wouldn’t be heroic; if it were predictable, it wouldn’t be an adventure. The object is not to win in a conventional way; it is to wake up and be fully alive. A. Starting an adventure can bring immediate and big happiness benefits. B. People can suffer when there aren’t enough external stimuli and new experiences. C. An adventure need not always be physical — mental challenges can offer similar rewards. D. There is no guarantee that whatever adventure you choose will turn out the way you hope, of course. E. Research has provided evidence about why materially comfortable humans would be drawn to difficult, even dangerous tasks. F. But Melville perhaps knew something we’ve forgotten: When life is getting you down, the answer is not more comfort but less. Ⅳ. Summary Writing 51. Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point (s) of the passage in no more than60 words. Use your own words as far as possible. Crown-of-Thorns Starfish and the Great Barrier Reef (大堡礁) Native to the Indo-Pacific, crown-of-thorns starfish can serve as important predators (捕食者) in healthy reef ecosystems, feeding on fast-growing corals and allowing time for slower ones to develop instead. But problems arise when starfish populations explode. The animals typically have a regular rise and fall cycle, but since the 1960s, scientists have noted an alarming increase in the size and frequency of outbreaks of the predators, which can grow up to half a meter wide. A 2012 study looking at the 27-ycar decline of coral populations on the Great Barrier Reef blamed crown-of-thorns for about 40% of coral mortality. Over the years, several outbreaks have significantly damaged the Great Barrier Reef. In response, scientists launched a killing program in 2012 to try and control starfish numbers across vast reef areas. Despite critics, studies have shown some positive outcomes. Recent research indicates that coral cover increased in regions where the killing starfish took place, suggesting it may have been effective in supporting reef recovery. In certain areas, the coral cover grew by up to 44% from 2016 to 2022. Some experts, however, are unconvinced that the killing offers a long-term solution. Concerns have been raised about the approach’s effectiveness in the face of more significant challenges, such as climate change and global warming. Crown-of-thorns starfish, though damaging in large numbers, play a natural role in controlling coral growth, and their population booms are often linked to human activity like agricultural pollutants. Though the program has shown some success, experts emphasize that addressing the root causes of starfish population boom, like pollution and climate change, is essential for the long-term survival of coral reefs. Researchers are also exploring alternative methods such as using natural predators and early detection systems to provide sustainable solutions. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Ⅴ. Translation. Directions: Translate the following sentences into English, using the words given in the brackets. 52. 上周爆发的新流感袭击了整个社区，迫使当地政府关闭了所有的学校。(strike) (汉译英) ________________________________________________________________ 53. 为了维护交通秩序，市政府决定对那些违章停车的人处以高额罚款。(impose) (汉译英) ________________________________________________________________ 54. 这家百年老店因其出色的工艺而享有盛誉，这使得它即使在竞争激烈的市场中也能脱颖而出。(reputation) (汉译英) ________________________________________________________________ 55. 有人主张“为达目的不择手段”，但这种做法通常会弄巧成拙，注定最终导致一个消极的结果。(justify) (汉译英) ________________________________________________________________ 第1页/共1页 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $