Have you ever heard of the saying “All roads lead to Rome”? At one time, this was pretty much true. During the Roman Empire, lots of roads were built in order to move armies, send messages by courier(信使), and make trade easier.
The network of Roman roads was begun in 312 BC. It was demanded that the roads be built strong so that they would not fall down. Roman soldiers, supervised (监督) by engineers, laid down the roads in a special pattern of layers. There were all together 4 layers, which was made of different materials, such as sand, rocks, stones and so on.
Also, Roman roads were cambered(拱形). This means that they were built higher in the middle than on the edges, allowing rainwater to run off, which prevented flooding. We use the same technique in building roads today. The Romans also laid out roads over hills when necessary, setting them down in a zigzag(之字形的) pattern to make the road rise gradually.
All Roman roads had milestones(里程碑), placed every thousand paces (a Roman mile). The milestones told when the road was built, who was emperor at the time, the road’s destination, how far the traveler was from the destination, and how many miles had been traveled since the beginning of the road. This information was a great help to travelers.
Because of their excellence in construction, it really is no surprise that many parts of Roman road still exist today. These roadways are one of the most impressive achievements of the Roman Empire.
1. Which of the following description about Roman roads is TRUE?| A．Roman roads were built by the Roman soldiers directed by the engineers. |
| B．Roman roads could prevent flooding using the technique we don’t use today. |
| C．Roman roads had milestones that were placed every Roman mile. |
| D．Many Roman roads still exist today as the most impressive achievement of Roman Empire. |
| A．The builders of the road. | B．The materials used in building roads. |
| C．The distance from one destination. | D．The time spent in building roads. |
| A．explains the meaning of “All roads lead to Rome” |
| B．praises ancient Romans for their great achievements |
| C．shows how great the Roman Empire was |
| D．introduces the construction of the Roman roads |
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【推荐1】It’s no secret that walking is good for you. Many of us are trying to get in those recommended 10,000 steps a day that our wearable fitness technology urges us to achieve. But how many calories are we actually burning, and how can we get the most out of those steps? Find answers in these ways.
Do you know the truth about calorie-burning? Walking is a moderate intensity form of exercise. To get the most calorie-burning benefits, then, it would seem that walking at a consistently light pace would make the most sense. Pay attention to your heart rate and how you feel. Wearable technologies can certainly provide an idea of progress toward your calorie-burning goals. Using a fitness tracker equipment to help you recognize when you reach your target heart rate zones can help you maximize the calorie-burning.
Walking is often considered as a great fat-burning exercise, and for good reason. You can’t really walk at higher intensities because of the nature of the exercise; therefore, you end up in low-intensity zones, where you tend to burn more fat. When you’re walking at a lighter intensity with your heart rate in the 57% to 63% range, you are more likely to be using fat for fuel. No matter what your speed is, form matters. When done with good form, walking is an incredibly beneficial form of exercise for total health and wellness beyond mere caloric burn. Moreover, walking is the most accessible form of exercise because it doesn’t require any special clothes, equipment or memberships.
Whether your goal is fat loss, increased fitness or simply enhancing your overall health and wellness, walking offers all these benefits and more.
1. What is the purpose of paragraph 1?| A．To introduce the topic. |
| B．To compare walking with other exercise. |
| C．To explain the wearable fitness technology. |
| D．To show the importance of 10,000 steps a day. |
| A．Depth. | B．Strength. | C．Height. | D．Distance. |
| A．Walking at high intensities is recommended. |
| B．Your walking speed is the most important to calorie-burning. |
| C．Walking can burn calories better if you walk in a proper form. |
| D．It is more convenient to walk for those who have a gym membership. |
| A．10,000 Steps a Day Matters |
| B．Walking Benefits Your Muscles |
| C．How to Best Burn Calories while Walking |
| D．How to Use Wearable Fitness Technologies while Walking |
【推荐2】In winter, we often use large amounts of salt to remove dangerous ice from roads and walkways. But when the spring arrives, all that salt can really damage plants along the way. Salt is the chemical sodium chloride.
Salt pulls water from living cells, like plant roots and the healthy ground soil around them. So, spring growth may show up lighter in color than normal, or, in the worst cases, plants may simply die. Rain can wash away much of the salt, permitting some older plants to live. But overusing it unavoidably brings great damage to plants.
There are, of course, other things that can be used in place of sodium chloride. One is the chemical calcium chloride, which does less damage to plants. Calcium chloride can quickly change the melting (融化) point of ice and absorb water, making a much quicker acting agent. It also works when the temperature is below negative 17 degrees Celsius. Salt only keeps its effectiveness at temperatures above negative 12 degrees Celsius. Yet, it’s more expensive and can do more damage to cars.
Calcium magnesium acetate, also called CMA, is a more popular alternative than salt and calcium chloride. It is made by combining limestone, a type of rock, and vinegar. It breaks down naturally so it does not damage plants or soil. It stays on roads and does not hurt cars. CMA does have problems, however. It is most effective at around negative 9 degrees Celsius. And it is better at stopping ice from forming rather than removing it.
Some materials-such as sand or very small pieces of wood-can also work against ice. They might be very messy, but in the interests of plants grown in the ground near a road or where a car is parked, all of them could be a better choice than salt.
1. What advantage does calcium chloride have over salt?| A．It pulls little water from plants. | B．It can melt ice in a shorter time. |
| C．It has no bad effect on plants. | D．It works at higher temperature. |
| A．Break it into small pieces. |
| B．Use it before water or snow freezes. |
| C．Combine it with rock and vinegar. |
| D．Remove it from roads after use. |
| A．By using data. |
| B．By raising doubt. |
| C．By drawing comparisons. |
| D．By explaining principles. |
| A．Salt Does More Harm than Good |
| B．Vary Ways to Clear Ice with Conditions |
| C．Ice Removal Could Damage Plants |
| D．To Help Plants, Use Less Salt |
【推荐3】If you haven’t started live stream (网络直播) commerce on social media, maybe you should.
“Livestream commerce is fast becoming a medium of choice,” said Thomas S. Robertson, a marketing professor. In an article he wrote for Harvard Business Review, he examines the rise of livestream commerce and offers guidance for companies that want to jump on the trend.
What should brands be thinking about as they jump into livestream commerce?
| A．Why is livestream commerce becoming so popular? |
| B．Livestream commerce is the hottest trend in the online business. |
| C．They must test whether they are able to achieve those goals. |
| D．The option to buy from the live stream was added shortly afterwards. |
| E．What is the role of the social media influencer in livestream sales? |
| F．They have to integrate livestream commerce with other marketing strategies. |
| G．It’s definitely a challenge, even for companies that were built for digital shopping. |
【推荐1】SnotBot is on a mission. The toaster-sized drone (无人机) flies over the open ocean, directly above an unusual whale. On a boat nearby, Andy Rogan smiles with joy. Rogan has been studying whales in his entire career but had never seen this species.
Back in 2011, Lian Pin Koh and Serge Wich, conservation experts, wondered if there might be an easier way to get data of animals in the wild. Wildlife researchers often walk through forests. They may look closely at whales from boats or stay in helicopters to view animals from above. Such trips are usually dangerous. Plus, their noise may scare animals. And helicopters can’t fly very far over the ocean because there’s nowhere to land or refuel.
“We thought, ‘What if you fly over them with a flying camera?’’’ says Wich. So they put together a drone from a remote-control model airplane and camera equipment. And it did the trick. On a test flight, the drone caught an image of an orangutan (猩猩) at the top of a very tall tree. The pair realized this was just the beginning of a whole new way of doing conservation work.
Now Wich and his colleagues are building AI that automatically locates and recognizes animals. They call their project Conservation AI. When someone uploads an image or video, the model analyzes the data. Then the model recognizes anything it can. In the future, an AI model could keep watch, instead of forest guards. It could send warnings when seeing doubtful activities.
The team tested this idea in a study in East Africa. Volunteers in Tanzania pretended to be poachers (偷猎者). The researchers made drones fly over the actors at different times of the day. Overall, people looking at the drone images did a better job than the AI model at finding pretend poachers. The model picked out many things that weren’t people at all. But the model found poachers that most people missed. With a little more work, Wich thinks that systems like this will make it easier for conservationists to better protect endangered animals.
1. What can we infer about Conservation AI from the passage?| A．It can replace conservationists’ work. | B．It works by studying data first. |
| C．It can punish the poachers. | D．It is fully automated. |
| A．Critical. | B．Hopeful |
| C．Worried. | D．Prejudiced. |
| A．Achievements in Wildlife Conservation |
| B．Major Discoveries of Biological Species |
| C．AI Study Has Achieved a Breakthrough |
| D．Flying Robots Protect Endangered Wildlife |
【推荐2】Obesity is becoming one of the biggest threats to children’s health, a recent nationwide investigation has warned, pointing out that students’ physical indicators are declining because of a lack of enough exercise.
The past five years have witnessed fast growth in the number of fat children -- in some big cities, the number has even doubled, the survey showed.
In Beijing, for example, latest figures from the local education authorities show that the height, weight and chest measurement of young students keep expanding, while physical indices, such as lung capacity, speed and strength, are going down.
The blood pressure of half the secondary school students is above normal; and the number of obese students has increased by 50 percent compared with five years age.
In the urban areas of Beijing and five other economically more developed regions, the average obesity rate of male students in primary schools has reached 12.9 percent.
Nationwide, the obesity rate of children is 8.1 percent and 3.1 percent in urban and rural areas.
“China has entered the era of obesity,” Beijing-based Workers’ Daily quoted Ji Chengye of the Child and Adolescent Health Section of the China Preventive Medicine Association as saying. “Childhood is the first age group affected by obesity, to which society has not paid enough attention,” Ji said. “Obesity in childhood will influence health for life,” the expert added.
The increase in indoor activities such as watching television, surfing the Internet, playing computer games or doing homework, is one of the main reasons for children’s obesity, according to Ji, because it means lack of exercise and little chance for burning calories. Another reason is consumption of excessive junk food. “In the past, children used to drink water. Now they prefer sweet beverages; and some have totally given up water,” Ji said. He also blamed intensive promotions of sweets and junk food, which make it hard for children to resist the temptation.
Also, because of pressure of competition to enter good higher schools, teachers sacrifice students’ physical exercise time for classes.
For instance, about 60 percent of school masters in Beijing admitted that the one hour of outdoor physical exercises per day is not always followed.
“Problems of obesity will not only influence children’s physical and psychological development but also become a ‘time bomb’ for the country’s future economic development and public health system,” said Chen Chunming, head of International Life Sciences Institute Focal Point in China.
1. Problems of obesity will not ________.| A．influence children’s physical and psychological development |
| B．affect the country’s future economic development |
| C．have some effect on the country’s public health system |
| D．harm human history |
| A．height | B．weight | C．chest measurement | D．lung capacity |
| A．being strong | B．being too small | C．being too fat | D．being too tall |
| A．child obesity has become a big problem |
| B．the problem of child obesity is especially serious in Beijing |
| C．China has entered the era of obesity |
| D．lacking enough exercise is the main reason for children’s obesity |
【推荐3】Over the last two days in December last year, nearly 30 tornadoes caused great damage across six states——from Arkansas in the south to Illinois in the Midwest. More than 100 tornado warnings were issued——the most ever for a day. The tornado in Kentucky caused at least 50 people’s deaths, which was described as the worst in this state’s history.
As one of the largest countries in the world, the United States is also one of the most geographically various countries-from deserts to forests to miles of coast line. While this comes with many advantages, it unfortunately leaves the country easily damaged by all kinds of natural disasters.
Different parts of the United States face different types of natural disasters. The west coast is at risk of wildfires, earthquakes, and even volcanic eruptions. The southern part of the country is frequently hit by tornadoes, and the east coast faces the threat of serious hurricanes every year. Midwestern areas near rivers are often flooded by huge floods, and these are the worst floods in American history.
The governments reviewed the weather event in each state’s history that caused the highest number of deaths to determine the worst natural disaster in every state. Thanks to their location and geographic research, some states could prepare ahead of time to avoid mass-casualty(重大伤亡的)weather events.
However, many other parts of the country have been less fortunate, experiencing massive storms and floods. Many such events, like the 1900 hurricane that hit Galveston of Texas, killed so many people that it was impossible to get an exact number of final deaths, especially during that time.
American weather continues to become more changeable. In 2018, there were 14 weather events that caused over $1 billion in damage. And in many parts of the country, these weather events could become even more destructive(毁灭性的)because of global warming.
1. What do we know from the figures in paragraph 1?| A．Less and less natural disasters hit America. |
| B．Tornadoes were the least threat to Americans. |
| C．The tornado in Kentucky was the worst in the world. |
| D．America suffered from serious natural disasters. |
| A．The worst floods in American history. |
| B．The earthquakes in the west coast of US. |
| C．The natural disasters in different parts of US. |
| D．The hurricanes along the east coast of US. |
| A．Controllable. | B．Worrying. | C．Unchangeable. | D．Pleasant. |
| A．Common Natural Disasters in the US |
| B．A Weather Report from the US |
| C．Tornadoes Causing Great Damage |
| D．A Serious Tornado in Kentucky |
【推荐1】When you choose a friend, you should be very careful. A good friend can help you study. You can have fun together and make each other happy. Sometimes you will meet fair weather (晴天) friends. They will be with you as long as you have money or luck, but when you are down, they will run away. How do I know when I have found a good friend? I look for certain qualities of character, especially understanding, honesty and reliability (可靠).
Above all else, I look for understanding in a friend. A good friend tries to understand how another person is feeling. He is not quick to judge. Instead, he tries to learn from others. He puts himself in the other person’s place, and he tries, to think of ways to be helpful. He is, also a good listener.
At the same time, however, a good friend is honest. He does not look for faults in others. He notices their good points. In short, good friends will be honest to each other and accept each other.
Another quality of a friend is reliability. I can always depend on a good friend If he tells me he will meet me somewhere at a certain time? I can be sure that he will be there. If I need a favour, he will do his best to help me. If I am in trouble > he will not run away from me.
There is a fourth quality that makes a friend special, A special friend is someone with whom we can have fun. We should enjoy our lives, and we would enjoy our friendship. That is why I especially like friends who are fun to be with. A good friend likes the same things I like. We share experience and learn from each other. A good friend has a good sense of humour, too. He likes to laugh with me. That is how we share in the joy of being friends. And I know that he is looking for the same quality in me.
When I meet someone who is reliable, honest, and understanding, I know I’ve found a friend!
1. If you have fair weather friends, what will happen to you?| A．You will become rich |
| B．You can be sure that you get real friends |
| C．You will be refused when you get into trouble |
| D．They will give you all that they have when you need help |
| A．Honesty. | B．Reliability. |
| C．Understanding. | D．A sense of humour. |
| A．Cloudy. | B．Unusual. | C．Unhappy. | D．Pleased. |
| A．the qualities of a friend | B．where to choose friends |
| C．how to get along with friends | D．the importance of having a friend |
【推荐2】The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Minor Snow, the 20th solar term of the year, begins this year on Nov.22 and ends on Dec.6.
Here are five things you should know about Minor Snow.
Light snow
An ancient Chinese book about plants explains that “in Minor Snow, the weather is cold and it is going to snow, but the snow is light and the earth is not frozen enough.”
Drinking soup
During Minor Snow, indoor heating begins to work, making most people might find their noses and mouths feel a bit dry. The solution is to drink more hot soup, such as cabbage and bean curd soup, mutton and radish (小萝卜) soup and so on.
Eating glutinous (粘的) rice cakes
People have glutinous rice cakes around Minor Snow, which in ancient times, were a traditional festival offering to the bull god.
Making preserved pork
After Minor Snow, the temperature declines sharply and the air becomes dry. It is the best time to start making preserved pork to eat in the bitter winter, especially in the Spring Festival. In the past, when storage conditions were poor, people developed many ways to store food and preserved pork is one such example. Some even say preserved pork tastes more delicious than fresh meat.
Avoiding spicy food
On cold days, people may be greedy for some hot and spicy food to keep warm.Experts say it’s wise not to eat overly spicy food since that will increase your inner heat.
1. Which of the following is true about Minor Snow?| A．It will certainly snow in this term. |
| B．It has the coldest days of the year. |
| C．It is a term used in China’s northern areas. |
| D．It is a term concerned with weather in China. |
| A．Cabbage and bean curd soup. | B．Preserved pork. |
| C．Cakes. | D．Spicy food. |
| A．Because people found it hard to store meat in cold winter. |
| B．Because it was more delicious to eat than fresh meat. |
| C．Because people couldn’t afford to buy fresh pork. |
| D．Because nowhere could people buy fresh pork in winter. |
【推荐3】A 22-year-old young man from Northeastern China, is reported to have spent 2 million yuan on studying in New Zealand but failed to get any diploma (毕业证). He even could not take care of himself and his grandmother had to feed him.
To use a popular label, the man in the case is a so-called adult baby, because his deeds make him al-most the same as a baby. However, he burns money faster than any normal baby. He spent 2 million yuan in two years overseas, but could not finish even the preparatory course. We do not mean to judge his choice, but someone who lacks the basic ability to survive has little chance of success in any modern society.
In a later interview, his mother was in tears and said she regretted not having taught her son well. She also told the story about how she “educated” her son: by meeting all his demands. When he did not perform well in school, she simply spent money sending him overseas. She would buy whatever he wanted. That was bad for her and bad for him.
No one is born an adult baby. It is a lack of proper education that makes adult babies. The failure of the young man has much to do with his parents giving in to his every demand.
The young man might be an extreme case. However, there are many more families that fail to educate their children properly and simply consider “raising a child” as “buying everything” they want. That might in turn make more adult babies for this society, and it is time for them to change.
1. What can we learn about the young man?| A．He is the only one child in his family. |
| B．He is poor in study but good at spending money. |
| C．His grandmother loves him more than anyone else. |
| D．He did well in school before he went to New Zealand. |
| A．The young man’s family was wealthy enough. |
| B．She wanted to satisfy her son’s need. |
| C．The young man could achieve his dream there. |
| D．She intended to offer her son better education. |
| A．His overseas university |
| B．His aged grandmother |
| C．The education system |
| D．His mother’s education manner |
| A．To warn parents baby adults. |
| B．To explain what is a baby adult. |
| C．To share a story about an overseas student. |
| D．To raise the problems with foreign education. |
【推荐1】The ability to predict the future is a rare talent. American author Isaac Asimov, one of the greatest science-fiction writers of his age, had such a talent. Back in 1983, he was asked to predict how the world would look like in 2019. Now that we’re here, let’s see what he got right.
On the role that computing would play in the future, he was amazingly accurate. Asimov thought computers would cause a revolution comparable to the industrial revolution of the 19th century. Specifically, he said that “mobile computerized objects” would be an important part of everyday life. Here, he clearly foresaw our world of smartphones, tablets and other devices. He also had a great deal to say about space exploration. The International Space Station proves his prediction that we would not simply visit space but seek to stay there.
How did Asimov develop his special sense of future developments? As a precocious boy, Asimov taught himself to read at the age of five. He read the newspapers and magazines sold in his parents’ candy store. His scientific interests gained sharper focus at Columbia University in New York. Asimov went to study chemistry, but became bored with pure laboratory science. Instead, he thought hard about the social significance of science. He wanted to communicate his ideas to the public. As an author, his books would feature the theme of social change caused by technology.
Asimov had his finger on the pulse of both scientific and social change. He had a clear sight of what was coming around the corner for humanity in his works like the Galactic Empire series.
“His predictions are absolutely fascinating,” Calum Chase, an English writer, told BBC News. “He was a genius.”
1. Which of the following has Asimov made a prediction about?①computers②environment③tablets④space⑤pollution⑥smartphones
| A．②⑤⑥ | B．①③④ |
| C．②③④ | D．①⑤⑥ |
| A．Asimov had great interest in pure lab science. |
| B．Asimov kept pace with scientific and social change. |
| C．Asimov cared less about the social significance of science. |
| D．Asimov would read in his neighbor’s candy store in his childhood. |
| A．Talented. | B．Naughty. |
| C．Considerate. | D．Optimistic. |
| A．The Focus on Social Change |
| B．A Great Science-fiction Writer |
| C．The Ability to Predict the Future |
| D．The Man Who Could See the Future |
【推荐2】What is the secret of happiness? A new study finds that happiness comes from exercise. People who exercise actively bring themselves happiness equal to earning an extra $ 25,000 a year.
Instead of recording extra hours at work in hopes of getting a raise, maybe you should hit the gym instead, as it could make you just as happy as that extra money. An interesting new study, published in the Lancet, found that people who are physically active have a greater sense of well—being than those who are inactive-and that active individuals feel as good as inactive people who earn $ 25,000 more per year.
Researchers from Oxford and Yale Universities used data gathered from more than 1.2milion Americans. They were asked, “How many times have you felt mentally unwell in the past30 days. for example, due to stress, depression, or emotional problems?” Participants were also asked about their exercise habits and were able to choose from 75 diverse physical activities, including doing housework and childcare, running, weightlifting, and cycling. The researchers found that people who exercise regularly feel bad for an average of 35 days per year, while inactive people feel bad for an additional 18 days.
All exercise types were associated with a lower mental health burden. Social physical activities （that is to say, team sports such as football, basketball, etc） had an even more positive effect, which can best help people relax mind.
It is possible for some to get too much exercise. From Business Insider's report on the study. “The mental health of those participants who exercised for longer than three hours a day suffered more than that of those who weren't particularly physically active.” The ideal amount seems to be three to five training sessions per week. lasting 30 to 60 minutes each.
But the conclusion should be that any amount helps, so don't stress about hitting that perfect balance: “All exercise types were associated with a lower mental health burden than not exercising.”
1. The question asked in Paragraph one is meant to ______.| A．introduce the researchers | B．tell the secret |
| C．draw a conclusion | D．lead to the topic |
| A．Running | B．Walking alone. | C．Playing football | D．Keeping fit in the gym. |
| A．people who exercise actively may feel bad for about 35 days per year. |
| B．The more exercise you take, the higher mental health burden you will get. |
| C．overdoing exercising will do harm to people's mental health. |
| D．doing exercise is better than not doing it. |
| A．Exercise can bring as much pleasure as an income rise. |
| B．The secret of happiness has nothing to do with wealth. |
| C．Choosing the right form of exercise is of vital importance. |
| D．The key to keep young is to exercise regularly. |
【推荐3】Having a light electric bike that can be folded(折叠) in to fit your backpack would be very practical, don’t you agree? Well, it seems Smacircle is the answer.
Inventors have created an electric bike called Smacircle which is not only as light as two newborn babies but folds up and fits in a backpack. The ebike can reach speeds of 20km/h and is controlled with a smartphone app.The ebike folds up into a backpack in less than ten seconds, by which time it’s no taller than 49cm. It weighs a little over 7kg and can be suitable for riders of different sizes. Powered by a 240W motor and built-in battery, this ebike allows you to ride up to 20km distance.
The first models have been made and tested, and its makers are seeking further investment with an aim to bring it to the mainstream market. Chinese designers believe it might change the way people commute (通勤) to work. They can avoid crowded public transport, simply go through heavy traffic, perfect to commute in the city when their destination is too far to walk yet too close to drive.
CEO Gavin Yang, from Shenzhen in China, said, Smacircle is a special creative design invented to fill in the gap in short commute personal transportation. Their team has spent countless hours on research and development, and are determined to bring the people the best possible solution for short commutes, he said.
As it has not yet hit the market, there is no price available. We have spent almost two years developing this Smacircle ebike and now we have made the concept a reality, said Mr Yang.
1. What is the main idea for the passage?| A．It mainly introduces Smacircle. |
| B．It advertises for the ebike. |
| C．Gavin Yang looks for business partners. |
| D．Gavin Yang has changed how people travel. |
| A．The bike is 94cm tall after you fold it. |
| B．You can ride within 20km with a full battery. |
| C．The ebike has been made a reality in the market. |
| D．Everyone can commute to work on the ebike. |
| A．Beat. | B．Cross. | C．Reach. | D．Affect. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Worrying. | C．Unsure. | D．Positive. |
