三、完成句子
1. 当我们中国人在异国他乡需要帮助时，我们背后有一个强大的祖国。
When we Chinese need help in a foreign land, at our back .
2. 由于被大自然的美吸引，这个来自英国的女孩决定在中国再待两天。
, the girl from the UK decided to spend another two days in China.
3. 通过简单计划一下行程，我们不仅可以省时、省钱，而且还能显著降低压力水平。
By simply planning journeys, not only time and money, stress levels dramatically.
4. 许多科学家相信，水的持续存在使地球能够将有害气体和酸溶解到海洋和河流中。
is that the continued presence of water allows the Earth to dissolve harmful gases and acids in the oceans and rivers.
5. 作为我们的班主任，她不得不夜以继日地好好照顾我们，还要上课和评阅家庭作业。
our class teacher, she has to take good care of us around the clock as well as give lectures and grade homework.
6. 昨晚他没有看电影，那是因为他得帮助他妹妹做家庭作业。
He did not see the film last night. he had to help his little sister with her homework.
7. 这片水域也是多种多样的珊瑚和鱼的生息地，这使它成为潜水的理想场所。
The waters are also home to a huge variety of coral and fish, for diving.
8. 毫无疑问，获得急救知识将对我们的生活有影响。
There is no doubt that will make a difference to our life.

1. stands a strong motherland
2. Attracted by the beauty of nature
3. can we save; but we can also reduce
4. What many scientists believe
5. Working as 6. That is because
7. making it a dream spot
8. acquiring knowledge of first aid

四、阅读理解
Born in Xi'an, the eastern starting point of the ancient Silk Road, Xu Wen never imagined that a casual visit to an English antique shop would tie her to the route's western end. Two decades ago, she and her British husband, Alastair Blackburn, were immediately captivated by three small, vividly colored, finely detailed paintings.
Upon close examination, the couple found they weren't just ordinary watercolors, as the paper was unique, and the pigments(颜料) seemed mineral-based. They bought the works on the spot. These pieces marked the couple's first encounter with Tongcao painting, or pith painting, which served as a window to 19th-century China, an era without cameras.
Tongcao paintings are created on dried pith from a rice paper plant, whose honeycombed texture differs sharply from fibrous ordinary paper. This unique material prevents watercolors from sinking in; instead, the paint sits on top, creating a subtle three-dimensional effect that modern reproductions struggle to match.
Xu later explained that these artworks were like "Eastern postcards" made by Guangzhou artisans. When Guangzhou was China's only port open to Western trade, painters adapted Western styles to depict daily life, festivals, and customs for curious Western merchants. Fascinated by this forgotten chapter of cross-cultural exchange, the couple spent 20 years collecting Tongcao paintings. They searched antique shops, auctions, and private collections across Europe, eventually amassing over 2,000 pieces depicting 19th-century Chinese life and customs.
Their passion led them to build a museum in 2023, which was opened in a renovated historical building in Macclesfield—Blackburn's hometown, long recognized as the Silk Road's western terminus. "This museum bridges the two ends of the Silk Road," Xu said. Many Chinese visitors have come and appreciated in person the town's long history with China through the museum and the way local shops and cultural centers celebrated their ties to the Silk Road, Blackburn observed.
To further promote this heritage, the couple founded the Silk Road Foundation in 2023 and invited students to copy Tongcao works. Xu also collaborated with schools in Xi'an, hoping to pass on this intangible culture. "These paintings are living history," she said. "We must make sure they keep telling their stories of East-West connection."
()1. What made Tongcao paintings attractive to the couple?
A. Its special paper.
B. Its low price.
C. Its interesting contents.
D. Its artistic form.
()2. What does the underlined word "amassing" in paragraph 4 probably mean?
A. Accumulating.
B. Selling.
C. Sorting.
D. Donating.
()3. Why did the couple set up the Silk Road Foundation?
A. To attract Chinese tourists to boost local culture.
B. To preserve the rare material used in Tongcao artworks.
C. To carry forward the legacy of intangible cultural heritage.
D. To display their extensive collection of Tongcao paintings.
()4. Which saying best reflects the main idea of the passage?
A. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
B. East meets West and a bridge is built.
C. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
D. We don't inherit the earth, but borrow it from our children.

1.A 2.A 3.C 4.B
【语篇解读】本文是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了出生在西安的许雯和她的英国丈夫因一次偶然的机会接触到通草画，进而被吸引并花费20年时间收集此类画作，还建立博物馆、成立基金会来传承东西方文化交流遗产的故事。
1. A 解析:细节理解题。根据第三段的内容“通草画是在稻纸植物的干燥茎髓上创作的，其蜂窝状纹理与纤维质的普通纸张截然不同。这种独特的材料能防止水彩颜料渗透，使颜料停留在表面，形成微妙的三维效果，现代复制品难以企及”可知，通草画的特殊纸张让这对夫妇觉得它很有吸引力。故选A。
2. A 解析:词义猜测题。根据第四段中“Fascinated by this forgotten chapter of ... eventually amassing over 2,000 pieces depicting 19th-century Chinese life and customs.(这对夫妇被这个被遗忘的跨文化交流篇章所吸引，花了20年时间收集通草画。他们在欧洲各地的古董店、拍卖会和私人收藏中搜寻，最终amassing了2 000多件描绘19世纪中国生活和风俗的作品。)”可知，这对夫妇花了20年时间收集通草画，最终收集到了2 000多件作品。由此可推知，amassing意为“积累，收集”，与accumulating意思相近。故选A。
3. C 解析:细节理解题。根据最后一段中“To further promote this heritage ... pass on this intangible culture.(为了进一步推广这一遗产，这对夫妇在2023年成立了丝绸之路基金会，并邀请学生临摹通草画作品。徐雯还与西安的学校合作，希望将这种非物质文化遗产传承下去。)”可知，这对夫妇成立丝绸之路基金会是为了传承非物质文化遗产的遗产。故选C。
4. B 解析:文章大意题。通读全文，尤其是根据最后一段中“‘These paintings are living history,’ she said. ‘We must make sure they keep telling their stories of East-West connection.’(‘这些画是活生生的历史，’她说，‘我们必须确保它们继续讲述东西方联系的故事。’)”可知，文章主要讲述了许雯和她的英国丈夫因通草画与丝绸之路结缘，并致力于传承东西方文化交流遗产的故事。B选项“东西方相遇，架起了一座桥梁”最能概括文章主旨。故选B。