甘肃省西北师范大学附属中学2025届高三12月期中考-英语试题+答案

西北师大附中2024——2025学年第一学期期中考试试题高三英语注意事项：1.答卷前，考生务必将自己的姓名、准考证号填写在答题卡上。2.回答选择题时，选出每小题答案后，用铅笔把答题卡上对应题目的答案标号涂黑。如需改动，用橡皮擦干净后，再选涂其它答案标号。回答非选择题时，将答案写在答题卡上，写在本试卷上无效。3.考试结束后，将本试卷和答题卡一并交回。第一部分 听力（共两节，满分 30分）做题时，先将答案标在试卷上。录音内容结束后，你将有两分钟的时间将试卷上的答案转涂到答题卡上。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 does Jerry do for a living now?A. He makes videos. B. He reports news. C. He writes storybooks.2. Why did the man join the soccer club?A. To get credits. B. To make some friends. C. To satisfy his interest.3. What does the man tell the woman to do?A. Complete the project. B. Take a break C. Get him some coffee.4. What did the woman probably do last night?A. She went to a pool. B. She finished a report C. She planned a project.5. What is the main topic of the conversation?A. Grocery shopping. B. Food preservation. C. Cooking techniques.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 did the boy spend an hour doing today?A. Concentrating on handling balls. B. Walking his dog. C. Practicing shooting.7. How soon will the dinner be ready?A. In 20 minutes. B. In 30 minutes. C. In 40 minutes.听第7段材料，回答第8至10题。8. Why is Emily planting trees?A. She wants to celebrate Tree-Planting Day.B. She is participating in a school project.C. She hopes to have some fun.9. What does Emily say about oak trees?A. They provide a habitat and a food source for wildlife.B. They are easier to take care of than other trees.C. They have hard wood and are long-lasting.10. What will the speakers do next?A. Choose a tree. B. Visit a forest C. Pick a spot.听第8段材料，回答第11至13题。11. What does the man find exciting about diving?A. Discovering unknown sea life.B. Exploring historic sites.C. Diving into the depths.12. What does the man stress about special training for scuba diving?A. Using hand signals for communication.B. Understanding underwater signs.C. Knowing how to use scuba equipment.13. What sea life did the man see when he dived with his uncle?A. A parrotfish. B. A sea turtle. C. A dolphin.听第 9段材料，回答第14至17题。14. When does the conversation take place?A. On December 29th. B. On December 30th. C. On December 31st.15. What change did the woman experience this year?A. She got a promotion. B. She moved to a big house. C. She switched to a new project.16. What does the woman expect to do in the coming year?A. Learn photography. B. Go on a tour. C. Take up painting.17. Who is the woman?A. The man’s co-worker. B. The man’s sister. C. The man’s old classmate.听第 10段材料，回答第18至20题。18. Who can benefit from the program?A. Kids active in summer camps. B. Kids not good at learning. C. Kids lacking friendship.19. What was the benefit for Sammie to collect bottle caps?A. Taking breaks from a big project.B. Acknowledging her strengths.C. Being brave to make friends.20. In which countries have schools received benches donated by Sammie?A. Ghana and Germany.B. Australia and Mexico.C. Mexico and the Netherlands.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。AHitchin Lavender（薰衣草）AboutA family-run farm with a 12-acre blanket of lavender that paints the hillside a vivid purple every summer. Just pick up a paper bag and some scissors at the gate, and off you go---gulping (深呼吸) lungfuls of fragrant air as you go. You can pick your way around the field and take bunches of the stuff home by the bag. There’s also a field full of sunflowers, which makes for pretty photo opportunities. The height of flowering season is late June to mid-July (so early visitors shouldn’t expect peak purple) but it’s worth keeping an eye on its Facebook page for updates to time your visit.Fun factThanks to being featured on a Chinese website, the farm saw a huge rise in international visitors looking for a typical British experience last year.Value for money?Field entrance is adults 6, children 3 (5-14s), under 5s free (which includes free picking for all). The entry fee includes bag and scissors, while extra bags for children or eager adults are 4 each.Getting thereBy car is easiest: Take junction 10 off the A1M towards Stotfold, then follow the A507. It makes a great stop-off if you’re heading to Cambridge. Or take the train from King’s Cross to Hitchin, then a taxi to the farm.Opening hours 10am-5pm daily from May 26 until the end of August, with late nights until 9pm on selected dates in August.21. What do we know about Hitchin Lavender?A. It encourages picking. B. It is inconveniently located.C. It offers photo-taking service. D. It is run by a Chinese web agency.22. How much would a couple with their 3-year-old son pay for admission?A. 9. B. 12. C. 15. D. 19. 423. What is the time to enjoy Hitchin Lavender’s peak purple?A. May 26. B. August 18. C. July 8. D. April 30.BHigh school students in Ohio, US, are making hygiene education fun. They are trying to make sure younger teenagers know how to keep themselves hygienic.In February, students from Scott High School’s Medical Technology Program (MTP), a hygiene education program, visited Riverside Elementary to educate the students on the importance of hygiene, including practices such as hair washing and teeth brushing.Amari Miller Ragland, an 18-year-old student in the program, took the lead in delivering a presentation to female students at the elementary school, aiming to educate them about the significance of flossing and brushing their teeth twice a day.Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth Freeman, a high school student studying medical technology, talked to boys at Riverside about showering, brushing their teeth, hand-washing and acne（粉刺） prevention.Freeman engaged with the boys, cracking jokes and fielding their questions about topics such as pimples（青春痘）and deodorant（防臭剂）recommendations. “I feel like if you come with energy, they’ll come with energy,” she said to The Blade newspaper. “You can’t just come into a presentation all boring because they’re already like, I don’t want to do this.’ They want some excitement. They want some fun.”According to Brittany Antonello, an instructor in medical technology at Scott High School, the hygiene presentations were beneficial for the students, particularly as not all of them feel at ease when it comes to asking questions about their bodies. “I think at this age in sixth, seventh and eighth grade, hygiene can be awkward to hear about, to learn about,” Ms Antonello said. She adds that the program’s benefits go beyond hygiene education. Some students learn how to be more hygienic and become more confident and out-going.24. What can be learned about MTP from the first two paragraphs?A. It is intended for high school students.B. It provides practical advice on schoolwork.C. It guarantees that younger teenagers are healthy.D. It makes hygiene education fun.25. What does Miller’s presentation focus on?A. Acne prevention. B. Pimple treatment.C. Dental hygiene. D. Body cleaning.26. What is the key to successful presentations according to Freeman?A. Hands-on practice. B. Solid argument.C. Clear explanation. D. Enjoyable interaction.27. Which best describes the impact of the program?A. Far-reaching B. Unidentifiable.C. Short-lived D. Predictable.CA new study has revealed that a prehistoric sea cow was the target of two different predators （捕食动物）— an ancient crocodile and a tiger shark, providing rare insights into the complex food chains from millions of years ago. The research, conducted by an international team of scientists and published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, uncovers one of the few known instances where a single prey (猎物) was attacked by many predators.The sea cow, belonging to the extinct group Culebratherium, was first attacked by a crocodile. Evidence then shows that after the initial attack, the sea cow’s remains were searched by a tiger shark, a tooth of which was found near the unlucky animal’s neck.“Have you seen the Batman movie? There is a scene where he and Alfred are shooting bullets to try and figure out which specific type of bullet they are trying to find,” said Benites Palomino, lead author of the research. “ Our research was conducted in exactly the same way. We have these experiments in the wild where predators are attacking their prey, and then afterwards we try to compare which is the best scene for what we’ re finding there.”The find is particularly significant as it adds to the limited fossil record of multiple predatorsinteracting with a single prey. Such interactions are common in today’s ecosystems, but are rarely documented in the fossil record, making this discovery an important piece of the puzzle in understanding ancient food webs.“We have been unsure as to which animals would have served this purpose as a food source for multiple predators. Our previous research has identified sperm whales searched by several shark species, and this new research highlights the importance of sea cows within the food chain,” Benites Palomino said in a statement.The digging, directed by Marcelo Sanchez- Villagra, head of the Palaeontological Institute and Museum in Zurich, Switzerland, was both challenging and rewarding. The site was initially discovered by a local farmer who spotted unusual rocks, inspiring the team to investigate further and eventually unearth the sea cow fossils.28. What do we know about the prehistoric sea cow?A. It reached the top of food chains. B. It is thought to have complex teeth.C. It belongs to an endangered species. D. It was attacked by two different animals.29. What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about?A. The scene of animal fights. B. The method of the research.C. The introduction of a movie. D. The danger of the experiments.30. What does the importance of the study lie in?A. Challenging the current ecosystems.B. Offering insights into ancient food webs.C. Clarifying the misunderstanding of sea cows.D. Figuring out the link between man and nature.31. Which of the following is the best title for the text?A. The Batman Movie Inspired a ResearchB. A Puzzle in Complex Ancient Food ChainsC. Shark and Crocodile Ate Unlucky Sea CowD. An Important Biological Discovery of a FarmerDEngineer Kerstin Gpfrich builds machines. But rather than building metal devices, she makes tiny ones to work inside our cells. Gpfrich leads a research group focusing on the “engineering of life” at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg, Germany.Our cells are already full of nature-made machines carrying out the daily tasks of living.Many are proteins. But sometimes our natural protein-machines don’t work right. Broken biomachinery causes many diseases, So scientists are considering how they might fix faulty proteins. They might wire up artificial nerves to replace damaged ones.And the potential for such devices goes beyond making repairs. Scientists are looking at how to give cells new abilities, hoping that by developing enough novel biomachines, they might make new forms of life. So if a protein is faulty, why not make a new one in the lab?Back when Frankie Rawson was a student, he asked his teachers that. Now a nanotechnologist at the University of Nottingham in England, Rawson has answered his own question, “It turns out that we’re not very good at artificially re-creating what biology does.”Biologists like Rawson and Gpfrich found a workaround. They’re creating nanomachines (纳米级机器) that do the same jobs as proteins. With the right design, these nanomachines can do so easier at less cost. They also can be more stable using fewer ingredients.To build them, researchers work with many types of materials. Rawson uses carbon nanotubes. Gpfrich even uses biological molecules, such as DNA. Rather than heal old or damaged body parts, she’d replace them with new ones.Scientists have learned to make small synthetic (合成的) biology fixes. Our cells must work together. “Think of them like the wiring of a house,” Rawson says. Flip a switch, and a light turns on. That’s a big-scale effect. But each small piece in the system must work properly to get that end effect.32. What does paragraph 2 intend to tell us?A. The cost of repairing proteins.B. The prospect for nature- made machines.C. The challenge of natural protein-machines.D. The background of creating new biomachines.33. Why is Rawson mentioned in paragraph 4?A. To present scientists’ failure in biology. B. To convey his idea of life engineering.C. To show making proteins in the lab is hard. D. To explain why nanotechnology is important.34. Which can best explain the underlined word “workground” in paragraph 5?A. A new dilemma. B. A difficult condition.C. An alternative solution. D. An unbelievable story.35. What does the last paragraph mainly express?A. The precision required for synthetic biology.B. The combination of the wiring of a house.C. The complexity of the human body system.D. The effect of proteins on our body.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。The sun is the one thing you can depend on to be there for you every day, without fail. It rises every day and provides a splendid new beginning to each day. 36 Take a look at these specific reasons why you should watch the sunrise.It links you to nature. At sunrise, the world is peaceful, noiseless and calm. There is stillness in the air, and you feel a deep connection between you and nature. As you’re bathed in the golden rays of the sun, you feel the love that nature has for you, which does help to face every day with the knowledge that you’re not alone. 37 .It helps to boost your mood. Many people find that looking at the sunrise improves their mood. 38 . When you look at a magnificent sunrise, you feel your own significance and self-worth. There are many health benefits when you look at the sunrise, as when your stress and anxiety levels come down your health definitely improves. The positivity within you will help you make better decisions during the day. 39 . There is no one who has not experienced tough times. You too, might be in the middle of complicated problems. You need inner resolve to overcome your problems. Sunrise promises new faith that things will turn out alright. The darkness of the night before is replaced by the sunlight, encouraging you to leave behind the dark days and look forward to new beginnings.It fills you with gratitude. Studies show that watching the sunrise can arouse a sense of gratitude. It’s a reminder of our blessings. Many successful individuals emphasize gratitude’s role in prosperity. 40 . Witnessing the first light of day can evoke a deep sense of thankfulness. It’s hard not to feel gratitude for such a splendid display. This daily practice can lead you on a path of continuous thankfulness.A. It brings you hope and strengthB. It reminds you to make each day countC. They owe their success to expressing daily thanksD. So start to watch the sunrise to immerse yourself in natureE. Watch the sunrise and let the bursting rays fill you with courageF. There is a good chance that you will have an uplifting experience tooG. Watching the sunrise can do wonders for your mental and emotional health第三部分 语言知识运用（共两节，满分30分）第一节：完形填空（共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分）阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和 D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在机读卡上将该项涂黑。Nestled in the shadows of the Himalayas, villagers face the overwhelming challenge of collecting the highly valued caterpillar fungus（虫草）. At an altitude of 4, 700 meters, this pursuit is filled with danger, yet the potential 41 make it a crucial effort for the local community.One morning in 2019, as the sun’s rays painted the landscape, an urgent call 42 the calm. Tenzin Wangyal, an experienced 43 with a mobile clinic, found himself at the front line of a critical situation. An elderly man, weakened by the altitude, had 44 during his search for the precious fungus. 45 the severity of the situation, Tenzin, with over a decade of 46 , sprang into action.He navigated the steep and winding mountain paths, his medical vehicle being a beacon of hope among the severe landscape. Upon 47 the elderly man, Tenzin’s trained hands swiftly assessed the 48 condition—acute mountain sickness had a serious effect. With care, he 49 the man’s condition and made the vital decision to take him to the safety of the town below.The journey down was a 50 of skill and nerve, but Tenzin’s steady hand and firm focus saw them through. As they reached the town, an awaiting ambulance signaled the next phase of 51 . The elderly man was smoothly 52 , and the hospital’s expert staff 53 , ensuring his full recovery.Tenzin’s actions that day were a testament to the essential role of mobile clinics in these remote areas. His story serves as a (n) 54 example of resilience and the life- saving impact of medical care, even in the face of nature’s 55 .41. A. risks B. costs C. rewards D. losses42. A. ensured B. restored C. broke D. kept43. A. doctor B. patient C. villager D. explorer44. A. failed B. slept C. died D. collapsed45. A. Stressing B. Recognizing C. Ignoring D. Mentioning46. A. search B. marriage C. experience D. adventure47. A. reaching B. passing C. curing D. knowing48. A. normal B. critical C. previous D. mental49. A. admired B. stabilized C. worsened D. suspected50. A. reminder B. record C. mistake D. test51. A. care B. climb C. study D. exercise52. A. interviewed B. invited C. transported D. removed53. A. gave in B. got away C. set off D. took over54. A. complicated B. inspiring C. surprising D. ordinary55. A. benefits B. challenges C. opportunities D. treasures第二节 （共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。As the sun sets and the city is enveloped in the peaceful cover of night, 56 new trend is gaining popularity across China: the 24-hour library. These well-lit places provide a shelter for students, professionals, and anyone in need 57 a quiet place to read or study in the late hours. In addition to staying open 24 hours a day and 58 (feature) a wide variety of books, these libraries 59 (equip) with study facilities including water, electricity, power outlets and restrooms. Some even offer beverage service and dining 60 (choose).For Ye, a 25-year-old from Weihai, East China’s Shandong Province, the local 24-hour library is a 61 (value) resource as she is preparing for the civil service exam. “The traditional local libraries usually open at 9 a. m. and close at 10 p. m., 62 isn’t convenient for working people like me,” said she. “The library atmosphere here is ideal for studying although there are some people leaving books 63 (throw) around,” she added. 64 (similar), Ma, a 20-year-old sophomore from East China’s Anhui Province, often visits a 24-hour library in Huai’an. The 24-hour zones better cater to the diverse needs of different readers, fulfilling the library’s mission 65 (improve) literacy and knowledge.第四部分 写作（共两节，满分 40分）第一节 （满分15分）假定你是李华，你参加了外教 Mike成立的英美名篇赏析社(Literature Club),发现在社团活动开展中存在不足之处，请你给他写封邮件,内容包括：1.存在问题；2.提出建议。注意：1.词数：80左右；2.请在答题卡的相应位置作答。Dear Mike,____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Yours,Li Hua第二节 （满分 25分）阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。注意：（1）续写词数应为150个左右；（2）请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。After graduating from UCLA as a film-making major, I was brimming with confidence, thinking to myself that I was bound to make a splash in this industry. Yet after being declined by countless enterprises, I ended up finding a temporary job as a birthday clown to make ends meet. I had to admit that the pay of playing the clown was pretty decent, but I struggled a lot with my new identity. Every sleepless night, I couldn’t help asking myself the same question, “Shouldn’t I be a filmmaker rather than a joker doing a ridiculous job?”For certain parties, I had been assigned to play a specific character. Usually, the company would drop off a trash bag filled with a costume for me the night before the party. It was cruel, since these costumes smelled like the broken dreams of every failed actor that’d worn them before me.One night, they handed me my trash bag and said, “Tomorrow you’re going to be Batman.”At the time I had a giant mustache, and a superhero with a mustache wasn’t what parents would anticipate. But I wasn’t in the mood to alter my physical appearance for that job, because that would have meant me admitting I was more of a clown than a filmmaker. So I didn’t shave.The next day, I went to the party. I had to leave my car parked far enough away so that the kids wouldn’t see Batman driving a broken SUV. As a consequence, I had to walk to the party. Normally at these parties, all you have to do is pop in through the front door and say, “Surprise! Batman’s here!”But a group of kids playing at the front door spotted me approaching, like, a quarter of a mile away, which made me start to regret my option. I was thinking, “Gosh, my stupid mustache is going to ruin this party.” Sure enough, once I got close enough for them to start identifying the features of my face, the entire party burst into laughter.Paragraph 1:Super awkward, I turned around and wanted to drive my Batmobile away.Paragraph 2:I ran into the party, and they were all clapping their hands for me.Paragraph 1:Super awkward, I turned around and wanted to drive my Batmobile away.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Paragraph 2:I ran into the party, and they were all clapping their hands for me.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________西北师大附中2025届高三第一学期期中考试试题英语 参考答案第一部分 听力（共两节，满分30分）1-5ACBAB 6-10CABAC 11-15 BCABA 16-20 BCCAB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）21-23:ABC 24-27:DCDA 28-31: DBBC 32-35: DCCA第二节 （共5小题；每小题2.5分，满分12.5分）36-40 GDFAC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）41-45:CCADB 46-50CABBD 51-55ACDBB第二节 （共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）56. a 57. of 58. featuring 59. are equipped 60. choices61. valuable 62. which 63. thrown 64. Similarly 65. to improve第四部分 写作 （共两节，满分40分）第一节 （满分15分）参考范文：Dear Mike,I’m LiHua, a member of the English and American Classic literature Club you organized. I truly enjoy the club, but I have noticed a few issues and would like to share my thoughts with you.First and foremost, I find the scheduling of our club activities to be somewhat inconvenient, as it sometimes conflicts with other classes. What’s more, the format of our activities could be more varied. For instance, incorpora ting more group discussing or role-playing sessions would be beneficial. In addition, I do hope for increased oppo rtunities to communicate with foreign experts to improve our spoken language skills.I will be delighted if you will take my advice into consideration.Yours,Li Hua.第二节（满分25分）Super awkward, I turned around and wanted to drive my Batmobile away. At the sight of my strange behavior, the laughter from these kids faded away all of a sudden. “Is Batman escaping?” asked a child, his voice filled with genuine concern. I found myself rooted to the ground, unable to inch forward. Some awful memories flashed back in front of my eyes, making me feel my blood freeze. My heart was beating painfully fast, and my mind went totally blank. Another child broke the ice by yelling from the top of his lungs, “Batman never escapes!” It was his inspiring words that brought me back to reality, and I eventually gathered up my courage to do what Batman would do.I ran into the party, and they were all clapping their hands for me. Unaffected by my previous move, the birthday boy jumped for joy and threw himself into my arms. I failed to contain my feelings, excitement written all over my face. It struck me that I was the only one bothered by me and my mustache. Feeling on top of the world, I cracked a smile at these little angels and opened my mouth, “Batman’s here! Who wants to fight against bad guys with me?” “Me!” they replied in chorus, and a trace of joy can be noticed in their voices, for which my long-lost confidence found its way back. Cape blowing in the wind, tears welling up in my eyes, I got rid of insecurity and self-doubt lingering in my heart and resolved to stay positive in the face of adversity.【导语】本文以人物为线索展开，文章的主旨是作者是电影学院的毕业生在求职失败后，不得不暂时从事扮演小丑的工作来维持生计。在一次被要求扮演蝙蝠侠的派对上，他因未刮胡子而被孩子们嘲笑，但最终通过孩子们的鼓励和自己的勇气，他克服了自卑和不安，重拾了信心和乐观态度。【详解】1.段落续写：由第一段首句内容“超级尴尬，我转过身想把我的蝙蝠车开走。”可知，第一段可描写作者在现场想要逃跑，觉得十分尴尬难堪，但是受到了孩子们真挚的关心，重拾信心。由第二段首句内容“我跑进派对，他们都在为我鼓掌。”可知，第二段可描写作者受到孩子们的鼓励后，继续表演并且与孩子们积极地互动，从而摆脱了心中挥之不去的不安和自我怀疑， 决心以积极的态度面对逆境。2.续写线索：想要逃跑——孩子们的询问和鼓励——回归现实， 继续表演——兴奋溢于言表——与孩子们积极互动——最终感悟3.词汇激活行为类前进: inch forward/ move forward大喊: yell/ scream/ shout控制情绪: contain one’s feeling/ hold back/ resist one’s feeling情绪类激动: excitement/ exhilaration喜悦: joy/ delight/ cheer【点睛】[高分句型 1]. Some awful memories flashed back in front of my eyes, making me feel my blood freeze. (运用了现在分词作状语)[高分句型2]. “Me!” they replied in chorus, and a trace of joy can be noticed in their voices, for which my long-lost confidence found its way back.(运用了 for+关系代词 which 引导的非限制性定语从句)英语听力材料Text 1M: Jerry quit his job as a reporter. Now he’s a popular video blogger on a famous social platform. His success speaks for itself.W: Yeah. I’ve watched all his videos where he presents the beauty of rural China. His story was reported in the press and on television.Text 2M: I joined the school soccer club for the thrill of scoring goals. And it’s a great way to build up my body.W: I joined the mountaineering club just for extra credits. But unexpectedly, I also made some friends.Text 3W: I’ve finally completed this project! Ouch! My back is really hurting me today.M: You’ve been sitting for three hours. You’d better move around the office for a while and enjoy some coffee.Text 4M: Did you finish the report last night?W: No. I totally forgot that. I went swimming instead.M: Really? I spent the evening going over the project details. We need to catch up on the process tonight.W: All right.Text 5W: How do you preserve food?M: I use sealed containers for storing things. And I often use freezer bags to refrigerate the leftovers. And you?W: I store items in a cool and dry place. Sometimes I make canned food after getting ingredients at the grocery store.Text 6W: Mike, how was your day at the basketball club?M: Awesome! We started with a warm-up session focusing on stretching. The coach introduced a new training method of shooting and we worked on it for 60 minutes.W: Nice! Anything else special?M: Yeah, we worked on individual skills in small groups. I concentrated on ball-handling drills for half an hour.W: Sounds productive. Well, you can take a break first. We will have dinner at 8 o’clock.M: It’s 7:40 now. I’m going to play with my dog for a while.Text 7M: Hey, Emily! What are you doing with all those young trees?W: Hi, Tom! I’m planting trees for our school’s eco-project.M: That’s fantastic! I once helped plant trees in our community, trying to make a small contribution to the environment. Do you mind if I join you?W: Not at all! The more hands the better.M: Oak trees have hard wood and they are long-lasting. What’s more, they are easy to take care of. Good choice!W: Well, oak trees play a key role in supporting wildlife, both as a habitat and as a crucial food source.M: That sounds cool. Where should we plant these young oak trees?W: Let’s pick a spot with good sunlight and enough space for the roots to grow. We’ll make our own little forest!M: Awesome! Let’s get started.Text 8M: Jane, have you ever dreamt of exploring the sea?W: Absolutely! The mysteries beneath the ocean’s surface are fascinating. Imagine diving into the depths and discovering unknown sea life.M: Yeah. It’s like entering a whole new world. The possibility of exploring historic sites is thrilling to me.W: And there’s so much we haven’t seen— new species and underwater landscapes. Hey, I’d like to go diving one day! Do we need special training for scuba diving?M: Yeah, divers need to learn how to use special equipment. With a tank of compressed air called a scuba tank on their backs, and a mask to see underwater clearly, divers can breathe and swim freely.W: I once saw a video that showed divers using hand signals for communication.M: Yeah, that’s necessary. And divers often encounter unique sea life. I once saw a parrotfish when I went diving with my uncle, although I expected to see playful dolphins and graceful sea turtles.W: Cool. Can you teach me how to dive? I can’t wait to see a school of fish.Text 9W: Hey, Brian! Can you believe the day after tomorrow is New Year’s Day? How have you been this year?M: Hey, Alice. Time flies! I moved to a new house and it’s been refreshing. In terms of work, I switched to a new project.W: Great. I’ve been experiencing some changes too. I was promoted. It brought more responsibilities but also exciting challenges. Besides, I took up painting as a hobby.M: That’s fantastic to hear. As for me, I picked up photography and traveled to some amazing places.W: Well, do you have any plans for the coming year?M: Sure. I’m looking forward to learning the ropes in my work and exploring more photography skills. How about you?W: I hope to enhance my leadership skills and maybe take a trip somewhere.M: Sounds good. By the way, looking back, we haven’t caught up on each other’s lives for almost a year. We should definitely have more class reunions like this next year.W: You said it! Here’s to another year of growth and new experiences!M: Cheers to that!Text 10W: Sammi e Vance knows there’s nothing worse than feeling left out. For years, she’s been helping kids who feel lonely make friends. She is running the Buddy Bench program. She got the idea for the Buddy Bench program at a summer camp in 2017. The idea was that anyone at school who was feeling lonely could sit on the “buddy bench”. That let other kids know someone needed a friend. “It’s really helpful to have other people notice you,” Sammie says. The idea quickly caught on.To reduce costs and be eco-friendly, Sammie decided to make the bench out of recycled materials. So she gathered her community to collect bottle caps. She even got caps from people in Germany, the Netherlands, and other countries. In the end, she collected more than 1200 pounds of bottle caps.Sammie says the effort has helped her learn to acknowledge her shortcomings and take breaks when working on a big project.Before long, Sammi e was helping other schools acquire benches. She has donated more than 200 benches to schools and parks around the country, and in Mexico and Australia. Her work continues to spread kindness far and wide. “We recently got a bench in Ghana, Africa,” she says. “That was cool.”