江苏省南京市、盐城市2023-2024学年高三上学期第一次模拟考试英语试题

Strawberry picking is a popular and enjoyable activity in Pennsylvania. The state's favorable weather and long growing season make it a favorite pastime for both locals and tourists.

Bricker's Strawberries

It is a family-owned farm in Carlisle, PA, offering pre-picked and pick-your-own berries throughout the year. Prices range from $2/pound for pick-your-own berries to $4. 25/quart for pre-picked berries. Opening hours may vary depending on the weather, so it's best to check their website before heading out to the farm.

Oak Grove Farms

Oak Grove Farms in Mechanicsburg, PA, has been a family-owned farm since the 1960s. They offer a variety of fruits, and delicious baked goods, with strawberries being their specialty. Prices start at $15 for a 4-quart container. The farm store is open Monday to Saturday from 8:00 a. m. to 6:00 p. m. for visitors to make a purchase. 

Honey Bear Orchards

Located in Lebanon, PA, it is a family-owned orchard providing fresh fruits to the community since 1980. With their fun and safe atmosphere, you can pick your quality fruit with your friends. U-pick strawberries cost $2/pound. They also offer pre-picked strawberries for a slightly higher cost. You can pay through cash or check only in their shop. 

Brecknock Orchard

Brecknock Orchard in Mohnton, PA, is a family-friendly farm where you can pick strawberries and enjoy other activities on the farm. Wagon (马车) ride orchard tours cost $8 per person and include beautiful toys for kids. The cost of strawberry picking starts at $4/pound, and they accept cash and credit cards. 

Winning a remarkable science award is really a big deal, especially if you are 12 years old. But Shanya Gill, a middle schooler from San Jose, California, won the top award in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge for designing a fire detection system that is superior to existing ones, as stated in the press release. 

"The top winners have exhibited boundless curiosity, " Maya Ajmera president and CEO of Society for Science, said in the press release. "Their remarkable research not only reflects their talent but also paves the way for an exciting new future. "

Shanya's inspiration came after a fire destroyed a restaurant in her neighborhood during the summer of 2022, reported The Washington Post. "I had never really experienced something like that before, " she told The Washington Post about the early morning fire at Holder's Country Inn, which started in the kitchen. "They had smoke detectors. and yet it still burned down, " she added.

After she studied fire statistics, Shaya spent over a year developing a fire detection system that she believes could have prevented the fire. Unlike traditional smoke detectors that sense active fires from the smoke in the air, Shanya's thermal (热的) imaging device is designed to stop fires from occurring.

With a thermal camera and a Raspberry Pi, a tiny computer the device detects when a heat source has been left unattended for ten minutes and sends a text message warning. Creating the prototype(原型) was difficult and the hardest part was the programming, "I had two designs, and my first design completely failed. It was a really big challenge I had to go through. " she said. The final device outperforms smoke detectors in speed and accuracy. Shanya wants to bring the costs down to make it even more common than hardwired smoke detectors.

"Shanya saw a problem, went after it and tried to solve it, and that's what we need to encourage with all young people, " said Ajmera. She also highlighted the significance of supporting individuals, especially girls and kids of color, in STEM fields, as research indicates that many young people drop out of these areas.

Scientists have shown how plants can protect themselves against genetic (基因的) damage caused by environmental stresses. The growing tips of plant roots and shoots have an in-built mechanism (机制) that spells cell death if DNA damage is detected, avoiding passing on faulty DNA. 

Plants have small populations of stem cells (干细胞) at the tips of their roots and shoots, which enable them to continuously grow and produce new tissues throughout their lifetime. These stem cells serve as ancestors for plant tissues and organs. However, any genetic faults present in the stem cells will continue to exist and be passed on permanently throughout the plant's life, which could last thousands of years.

Given the critical role of stem cells and their exposure to potentially dangerous environments at the growing tips of roots and shoots, safeguards are necessary to prevent stem cell faults from becoming fixed. Researchers Nick Fulcher and Robert Sablowski, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, aimed to uncover these protective mechanisms. Through experiments involving X-rays and chemicals, they discovered that stem cells were more sensitive to DNA damage compared to other cells. 

When DNA damage occurs, the cells have the capacity to detect it and cause programmed cells to die, preventing the propagation of the damaged genetic code to the rest of the plant tissues. This process has similarities to the safeguard mechanism found in animal cells, which has been broadly studied due to its relevance in preventing cancer. 

The identification of a similar protective system in plants is of great interest in the field of plant development. It also helps scientists develop plants that can better handle environmental stress. So knowledge of how plants deal with these stresses is of fundamental significance to agricultural science's response to climate change.

Recently, I accidentally found a set of Hanfu l only wore once from the bottom of the cupboard. I remember buying them simply to match the ancient-style hair accessories (配饰) a friend gave me. It occurred to me that 1 had been trapped in the "birdcage effect".

"Birdcage effect" means that when you get an item one day, you will prepare more things to match it. Weeks ago, I was in the company of friends engaged in shopping. One said that she wanted to buy a good writing pen to match the delicate notebook that her sister gave her, so that she would fall in love with taking notes on reading, and thus love reading, not just reading. I joked that she must have fallen for the "birdcage effect". But the friend said with a smile: "Why not use the ‘birdcage effect' instead?"

For the first time, I heard that the "birdcage effect" can be used in reverse (逆向). However, this can't help but remind me of middle school, and I seem to have used the "birdcage effect". Passing by a bookstore one day, I purchased a magazine and saw the call for contributions published in the magazine, so I started writing with eager hands, and then I fell in love with writing.

After shopping with my friends that time, I began to proceed to use the "birdcage effect". I bought a small fresh tablecloth to decorate my desk, and a beautiful notebook to record my inspiration. When everything was ready, I started writing again.

But how can we get rid of the "birdcage effect" in many things, and even use the "birdcage effect" in the opposite way? Various "birdcages" unavoidably appear in life, but we can distinguish them. If it is not in line with the actual situation, it is a "negative birdcage", then we must learn to stop losses in time and maintain a heart of abandonment and separation. If it is a "positive birdcage" that motivates us to develop upward, we can clarify our goals, shop or decorate appropriately, and motivate ourselves to move towards our goals. At this time, you will find that the "birdcage effect" is actually not so terrible!

Pursue Your Dreams Today, Not Tomorrow

Have you caught yourself daydreaming about your dreams? We often postpone our dreams, trapped in a cycle of delay. But why wait? You don't have to take a huge, life-changing step. You can take minute steps toward a brighter future. And start right now.

If you never try, you're going to be weighed down by your regrets. You're always going to wonder how your life would've turned out if you actually took a chance on yourself. Don't let your future self be disappointed by your present self.

It doesn't matter how old you are or how many people have warned you that you're never going to succeed. Even the most successful people have had their hesitations about whether they had what it took to make it in their field. Embrace a mindset of determination, knowing that success is within your reach.

At the end of the day, you need to carve out a path for yourself that will lead to the most satisfaction. If you allow your fear to get the best of you, you're never going to forgive yourself. . It's what you would encourage your friends to do, so why aren't you giving yourself that same push?

Sometimes, following your passion means spending a lot of your time each day. It may require making slight adjustments to your schedule, but you don't have to sacrifice everything to follow your hearts. Try to strike a balance between your current life and your dreams.

Pursue your dreams now, even though that means you might need to break out of your comfort zone, and even though it means entering the unknown. 

A. Ask yourself what would be worse. 

B. Starting small is completely acceptable. 

C. You owe it to yourself to go after your dreams. 

D. New opportunities may lead to personal growth. 

E. If things go well, you can gradually make further shifts. 

F. You need to move past your insecurities and explore your full potential. 

G. Hard as it is, it's crucial to wave off the doubts in the back of your mind.

In 2008, Calvin Lowe's four-year-old son Tyler needed to have a serious surgery. 

On the appointed day of the 1 , he and his wife brought Tyler to Children's Hospital Colorado in Denver. "As we sat in the waiting room, waiting for someone to2 us back to the surgery area, there was a lot of3 in our hearts, " Lowe remembered.

When a nurse called the family back, Lowe's fears 4 . A young doctor walked into the room and told the couple that he would be 5 the surgery. As the doctor began to 6 how the surgery would proceed, Lowe's mind went to the worst possible7 , But then the doctor did something 8 . He looked both Lowe and his wife in the eye, put a9 hand on each of their shoulders, and said, "Today, your son is my son. "

After the surgery was over, the 10 came back out to the family with a big smile and said, "Our son is just fine, and you can11 him here in a few minutes. "

Tyler is now 19 years old and hopes to become a professional photographer. All these years after the surgery, Lowe still12 the young doctor's kindness. "I will never forget that, " Lowe said. "Because that was indeed a 13 of stress then. I can't tell you how 14 we both were for what he said to us that day. It was very15 and meaningful. "

In recent years, China has been working hard to improve living conditions in rural areas through a program called the New Rural Development Initiative.  goal of this initiative is to improve infrastructure (基础设施), modernize farming practices, and enhance the overall quality of life for those  (live) in the countryside. 

One important aspect of the initiative is the improvement of rural infrastructure includes the construction of better roads, bridges, and watering systems  (improve) the efficiency of transportation and agricultural activities. 

Another key focus is the promotion of modern agricultural (technique). By introducing advanced farming methods and technologies, such as organic farming and the use of machinery, farmers are able to increase their productivity and income  damaging the environment. 

Furthermore, the initiative emphasizes the importance of preserving traditional culture and heritage in rural communities. Efforts (make) to regenerate local traditions, which not only enriches the cultural  (diverse) of the countryside but also creates new opportunities for cultural tourism and sustainable development. The initiative also aims to enhance the living environment in rural areas through the restoration of traditional houses  the construction of public facilities. 

Through the initiative, China is working hard to create a more prosperous (繁荣的) and  (harmony) countryside, providing its rural residents with better opportunities and an improved quality of life. 

注意：1. 写作词数应为80个左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Dear Peter, 

Yours sincerely, 

Li Hua

In the town of Greenfield, a group of three adventurous spirits—Jack, Simon, and Lucas—had discovered an ancient map in Jack's grandfather's house. The map, yellowed with age, described a mysterious island that had the legendary(传说的) Silver Falcon, a statue that was said to award its finder enormous wisdom and fortune.

As typical eighth graders with the excitement of discovery and dreams of greatness, they decided they would be the ones to discover this hidden treasure. They agreed to start this search during the up-and-coming spring break, keeping their plans a secret from the adults who would undoubtedly discourage such a dangerous adventure. 

The days that followed were filled with preparation. They read books on survival, learned about the stars for navigation, and tested their courage in smaller woods. The boys were united by their unshakable resolve and the promise of an adventure that could change their lives forever. 

As spring break began, they set out just as the sun painted the sky with colors of orange and gold. They felt a mixture of excitement and slight nervousness. They carried backpacks filled with supplies and the ancient map that they hoped would lead them to glory. 

The beginning of their journey was full of laughter and songs around the campfire, but as days passed, the trip's reality set in. The path grew more dangerous, and the maps guided them through thick woods and muddy wetlands. They learned to work together as their friendship was tested by constant challenges. Slowly, the island drew nearer. 

A conflict arose when they reached the foot of Mount Veritas, the final barrier before reaching the island. Lucas twisted his ankle, and the slightest movement sent sharp pains shooting through his leg. With time running out, Jack and Simon had to make a choice: should they push on and risk Lucas' well-being or turn back after coming so far?

注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右;2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

At crossroads, Jack and Simon exchanged knowing glances. 

When reaching the Silver Falcon, the three boys found no fortune there at all.