Los Angeles is a relatively new and spreading city, which means there’s a big canvas (画布) for architects of many styles to put their 3D stamps on the city. For architecture fans, here are some must-see spots.
Watts Towers
Designed and constructed by Italian-born Simon Rodia over the course of three decades, the 17 towers—the tallest is 100 feet high—consist of metal and found objects such as broken glass, pottery chips (陶器碎片), seashells, etc. You can take a guided tour of this place, learning about the history of this attractive project. 1727 E. 107th St., LA.
Getty Center
Architect Richard Meier’s shining city on a hill took 16,000 tons of marble to build but today it’s a wonder, housing the Getty’s main art collection and offering unbelievable views of Los Angeles. 1200 Getty Center Dr., LA.
Sturges House
Frank Lloyd Wright designed nine different structures throughout Southern California. This was Wright’s first turn away from the textile (纺织) block buildings he’d been designing in California and toward stressing natural factors of the structure to mix with the natural surroundings. 449 N. Skyewiay Rd., LA.
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Frank Gehry has lived in Los Angele s for decade s and hi s world has been se en throughout the city. This one, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, is his most luxurious (奢侈的) building in Southern California. You need not sit through a symphony performance to get a glance at the interior(内饰). The concert hall offers free self-guided audio tours recorded by actor John Litligow. 111 S. Grand Ave., LA.
1. Where should you go to visit Watts Towers?A.1200 Getty Center Dr., LA. | B.1727 E. 107th St., LA. |
C.449 N. S kyewiay Rd., LA. | D.111 S. Grand Ave., LA. |
A.It is made up of 9 structures. | B.It is a textile block building. |
C.It fits in well with its environment. | D.It is a luxurious building. |
A.Simon Rodia. | B.Richard Meier. |
C.John Lithgow. | D.Frank Gehry. |
相似题推荐
Tree houses aren’t generally equal to splendor (壮丽). But the seven cabins at Sweden’s Treehotel could easily give The Swiss Family Robinson a run for its money. To begin with, the outside is extraordinary: one resembles a UFO, another resembles a bird's nest, and the bottom of the latest cabin—named the 7th Room—features a life-size photograph of the canopy (天蓬似的树荫)view. Inside, the cabins are equipped with fashionable, minimalist furniture and comfortable lounge areas. Although some guests may have to travel to a separate facility to shower, fans argue that that's a small sacrifice to make for a one-of-a-kind camping experience.
An ancient forest reborn—
AMANYANGYUN, SHANGHAI
When Chinese businessman Ma Dadong discovered that a forest of ancient camphor trees would be destroyed in China's Jiangxi Province, he undertook a mission to relocate thousands of them to the outskirts of Shanghai—700 km away—where they now surround 24 Ming Dynasty style suites and several villas (别墅) at Amanyangyun, which opened in January,201. It also nods to the past, making use of recycled wood and brick from centuries-old homes. Facilities include a club lounge, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa and a variety of luxurious dining spaces, including a 200-seat banquet hall. Calligraphy (书法) lessons and tea ceremonies are available to help guests feel part of “this monumental story”.
1. What does the author say about the Treehotel?A.It is a seven-story building. | B.It has an in-built shower. |
C.It is expensively decorated inside. | D.It has unique design features. |
A.Admire ancient Chinese architecture. | B.Pick tea leaves themselves. |
C.Learn the history of the Ming Dynasty. | D.Attend a fitness class. |
A.An exhibition review. | B.A hotel comment. |
C.A travel website. | D.An official report. |
【推荐2】Scotland is packed with beautiful places to visit and you could honestly spend months and months exploring everything this wonderful country has to offer! Next I’m going to take you through some of the best places to visit in Scotland, based on where we have personally visited so far!
Glen Coe
If you asked me where my favourite place to visit in all of Scotland is... I would say, Glen Coe. The whole area of Glen Coe constantly had my face in shock due to the beauty that I was witnessing. It’s just a stream of dramatic mountains, lakes, rugged beauty and more.
Fort William
Fort William is probably one of the most well-known places to visit in Scotland. It’s a popular tourist destination thanks to being home to the UK’s tallest mountain: Ben Nevis. Fort William is also the starting point for one of the world’s most famous train rides: The Jacobite. Harry Potter fans will recognize it as the Hogwarts Express, and this train ride will take you through the beautiful countryside, crossing some iconic Harry Potter filming locations such as the Dumbledore’s Grave and the Glenfinnan Viaduct!
Isle Of Skye
This island feels totally different from other parts of Scotland and is truly rugged and ready! There are many hot spots to explore including the Old Man of Storr, the Fairy Glen. I even stayed on a private island with its very own lighthouse, which was one of the coolest places I’ve ever visited and one of the most romantic places stay in Scotland.
Cairngorms National Park
This is the largest national park in the UK so it’s another popular place to visit in Scotland and it’s no surprise why. It’s absolutely beautiful and there’s so much happening at the Cairngorms National Park! From skiing or meeting local reindeers, you’ll not go bored and you’ll be surrounded by beauty the entire time.
1. Which place probably attracts Harry Potter fans most?A.Glen Coe. | B.Isle Of Skye. |
C.Cairngorms National Park. | D.Fort William. |
A.The Jacobite. | B.Local reindeers. |
C.The UK's tallest mountain. | D.A cool lighthouse. |
A.A geography textbook. | B.A science journal. |
C.A travel blog. | D.An autobiography. |
There have been fires in this area in the last few years and the Office of the National Park is not sure how many black bears are still living. Some bears have been seen since the fires, and the Office has asked for young people to help count them. The entire trip will last three hours. Bookings necessary.
Cost: Free When: May 8
Trip 2 Garland Valley
Bring your drink and lunch for this walk in a beautiful area of the Blue Mountains. Garland Valley is close to the town of Garland but is part of the National Park. Many wild animals live in this area, including many rare birds. This is a great walk for bird-lovers. The trip lasts four hours. Bookings necessary.
Cost: $ 15 When: May 8, May 15
Trip 3 Flashlight Adventure
Put on your warm clothes, bring a flashlight and a pair of glasses, and come for a night walk along the Dungog Valley. A guide will lead the tour. Many of the animals you will see on this trip. The guide will tell you about the lives of the animals you see. Numbers are strictly limited on night trips, so be sure to book early. This walk lasts two and a half hours.
Cost: $ 12 When: May 8, May 15, May22
Equipment to be needed:
• Please bring enough water and food for all walks.
• Wear good walking shoes—no high heels.
• Wear a hat for day walks.
• Dress warmly for night walks.
• Children must be with an adult.
• Make sure your flashlight works well and bring extra batteries for night walks.
• Follow all instructions from guides during the walks. The mountains are a dangerous place.
Bookings:
• Bookings for the above trips can be trade by telephone(893 — 4847)or on the Internet at www.Bluemountaintour.com.
1. Where are these trips?
A.In a large city. | B.In a park in the mountains. |
C.In a special kind of zoo. | D.In three different countries. |
A.Black Bear Count | B.Garland Valley |
C.Flashlight Adventure | D.None of the trips |
A.Good walking shoes | B.A pair of glasses |
C.Food and water | D.A sleeping-bag |
A.Bring your drink and lunch for this walk. |
B.Many of the animals you will see on this trip . |
C.The guide will tell you about the lives of the animals you see. |
D.There is no need to book early. |
A.Adventure Travel in America |
B.Hunting around the Great Mountains |
C.Interesting Trips in the East of the USA |
D.Discovery Trips in the Blue Mountains |
【推荐1】Libraries
Britain’s First Public Library
The first public library in Britain opened in Manchester in 1852. Its first librarian was a man called Edward Edwards. Edwards attended the library’s opening ceremony and two famous writers called Charles Dickens and William Thackeray were there too.
How to Join a Library
To join a library, go to your local library and fill in a form. You’ll receive a library card which is needed when using library services.
Library Services
Modern public libraries have something for everyone. Most of them have audio books, CDs, newspapers and DVDs as well as books to borrow.
All Aboard the Library!
A school in London didn’t have space for a library inside the building. However, everybody agreed that it was still important to have a school library. So, the head of the school, Graham Blake, decided to park an old bus in the school parking area and change it into a library. Pupils helped to paint the bus, and after eight months, the new library was ready.
1. Who was the first librarian of the first public library in Britain?A.Charles Dickens. | B.William Thackeray. |
C.Edward Edwards. | D.Graham Blake. |
A.Playing DVDs. | B.Listening to audio books. |
C.Borrowing books. | D.Selling books. |
A.Because parents offered the school an old bus. |
B.Because pupils thought it was fun to read on a bus. |
C.Because the school didn’t have enough money to buy books. |
D.Because the school didn’t have enough space inside the building. |
【推荐2】It’s a Saturday morning in a large courtyard. Young designers sell their creations, from fine tea sets to hand-painted earrings. I could be in east London until standard Chinese tones remind me I’m in Jingdezhen, a small Chinese city.
Centuries ago, when Europeans first saw Chinese porcelain, it seemed so fine that they concluded it must have been made with magic and called it “white gold”.
They couldn’t find out how it was made, but they knew where it came from: the town of Changnan. Changnan porcelain was so in demand that early traders began calling the whole country by this town’s name.
Two million years after porcelain’s invention, the town, now called Jingdezhen, is still one of the world’s most important centers for porcelain production.
“The people are the most important treasure here. Their roots are deep in history,” says Zhang Jia. She’s part of a new wave of designers who have come to Jingdezhen to learn techniques handed down and refined over a hundred generations. “This is the best place to study porcelain in China, perhaps in the entire world,” she adds.
Chinese artists aren’t the only ones drawn here. Founded in 2005 by Caroline Cheng, the Pottery Workshop runs classes for visitors from around the world.
Paul told me that when he first visited Jingdezhen there were no street lamps and only dirty pavements. There were workshops but their goods were bought by traders and sold elsewhere. These days, stylish cafes and bars pop up next to concept stores. At one such shop, I admired some tiny teacups like birds.
With the popularity of the Pottery Workshop, China’s young people are more interested in unique individually-made products. Many of the designers are using Jingdezhen’s master craftsmen to make them because they know they offer quality, attention to detail.
1. What makes the writer realize that he is in China?A.Fine tea sets. |
B.Fine Chinese porcelain. |
C.Hand-painted earrings. |
D.Standard Chinese tones. |
A.Because it was made in China. |
B.Because they knew it came from Changnan. |
C.Because they thought it was made with magic. |
D.Because they liked it so much and it was in demand. |
A.study techniques of making porcelain |
B.pay a visit to some of her foreign friends |
C.enjoy the beautiful scenery of Jingdezhen |
D.know something about Jingdezhen’s history |
A.the goods in the workshop were not popular in western countries |
B.in the past Jingdezhen was a poor and dirty place |
C.many foreign visitors came to Jingdezhen to study porcelain |
D.China’s young people were more interested in unique products |
【推荐3】Four villages in China were named Best Tourism Villages 2023, an award by the World Tourism Organization(UNWTO). They are Xiajiang village from Zhejiang province, Huangling village from Jiangxi province, Zhagana village from Gansu province and Zhujiawan village from Shanxi province. The decision was announced at the 25th session of the UNWTO General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Thursday local time.
Xiajiang village
Located in East China’s Zhejiang province, it has earned a striking spot for its unspoiled natural beauty and a unique cultural heritage that spans from traditional folk culture to historical “red culture”. This picturesque corner of East China is now witnessing waves of tourists. A 140-kilometer lakeside track weaves through the amazing setting, giving riders the chance to bury themselves in the natural beauty of the Qiandao Lake area. This inviting experience attracts cycling enthusiasts from all over the world.
Huangling village
Set in a mountainous region with terraced fields(梯田), forests, and rivers, Huangling village is famous for its breathtaking natural scenery, traditional architecture, and the preservation of ancient customs. Its ancient houses are characterized by whitewashed walls, black-tiled roofs, and carefully carved wooden elements. These architectural features provide a glimpse into China’s rich history and cultural heritage.
Zhagana village
The village has also been named as a globally important agricultural and cultural heritage site by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Zhagana is located at an altitude of 3,000 to 3,300 meters and is surrounded by mountains, with the highest peak reaching 4,500 meters. The steep mountains and old Tibetan-style houses make up a “grand stone palace” or an ancient city built by natural rock walls. It has changed from a closed mountainous village to a scenic spot where tourists can enjoy a slow and leisurely life.
Zhujiawan village
Zhujiawan village covers an area of 126 square kilometers with over 1,200 species of animals and plants. The village has 25 intangible cultural treasures, including the Zhashui Fish Drum and traditional brewing(酿造)practices. Additionally, it is home to 17 tangible cultural relics, such as ancient Qinling Mountain houses, time-worn road remains and the historic Xiaoyi Hall site. In recent years, Zhujiawan village has made full use of its ecological strengths to develop tourism. During this year’s tourist peak season, Zhujiawan Village is receiving over 15,000 visitors daily.
1. Which village would cyclists prefer?A.Huangling village. | B.Xiajiang village. |
C.Zhagana village. | D.Zhujiawan village. |
A.They are located at the riverside. |
B.They are surrounded by high peaks. |
C.They have houses in ancient styles. |
D.They have won another global award. |
A.Observe a variety of living species. |
B.Explore the remains of a lakeside track. |
C.Experience traditional farming practices. |
D.Visit ancient farms in Qinling Mountain. |
A.An art magazine. | B.A travel brochure. |
C.A history textbook. | D.A news report. |
【推荐1】From checking social media every minute to being lost in computer games, we tend to overuse technology. “For many people, a moment without your phone or laptop in sight can feel like a lifetime,” the Daily Mail commented.
A computer model called Mindy may persuade many people to think twice. A team from the US-based company Toll Free Forwarding built a three-dimensional model to uncover the negative effects technology can have on human bodies in less than 800 years.
“Spending hours looking down at your phone strains your neck and throws your spine off balance,” explained Caleb Backe, a health and wellness expert in the US. Then, the muscles in our neck need to spend extra effort to support the head, making our back hunched and neck wide.
“The way we hold our phones can cause pressure in certain points of contact-causing text claw,” Nikola Djordjevic, a practicing physician in Serbia told the team. It affects the elbows too, causing pain in the arm. Scientifically, it is called cubital tunnel syndrome. That’s why Mindy has a 90-degree elbow, and her hands look like she’s always holding a mobile phone.
Some people also commented that human evolution may not work this way. They believe that only features with actual benefits would be kept throughout the years. For example, features that can increase the rate of survival, instead of the negative impact of technology.
However, current human lifestyles still raise concerns. A model called Emma was built by researchers in the UK in 2019 to show how the way people work at their desks could change them in 20 years.
The research team built Emma based on the health issues mentioned by over 3,000 workers in France, Germany and the UK. Emma’s back stays bent, and her legs are swollen due to the time people spent in front of computers. With little time spent outdoors and in the sun, her skin is pale, too.
1. What is the purpose of building the model Mindy?A.To encourage better use of electric devices. |
B.To discourage people from overusing phones. |
C.To prove the immediate effects of using phones. |
D.To find solutions to overusing phones. |
A.She has bent fingers. | B.She has a normal elbow. |
C.She has dark and healthy skin. | D.She is hunch-backed and thin-necked. |
A.Negative technological impact. | B.Beneficial evolution prediction. |
C.Mindy’s future appearance. | D.The connection between evolution and technology. |
A.To compare the two models. | B.To promote healthy lifestyles. |
C.To relieve concerns of lifestyles. | D.To contradict the optimistic opinion. |
【推荐2】Don’t you have time for reading? If you are interested in non-fiction books, here are some good choices for you.
A Room of One’s Own
This essay by English writer Virginia Woolf is based on several lectures given to two women’s colleges at Cambridge University in 1928. In the essay, Woolf describes that it’s circumstance not talent alone, that allows men to be more successful at writing. Women, in other words, spend so much time cooking, cleaning, and tending to their children that they have no time left for art. To write well, therefore, a woman must have a “room of her own”. While on its surface, this essay appears to be only about writing, it is actually about wealth and class, freedom and confinement, and the power struggle between sexes.
The Art of War
Written by ancient Chinese warrior Sun Tzu, The Art of War is widely considered to be one of the best books about military strategies in human history. Consisting of 13 chapters, each dealing with a separate aspect about how to fight a war, the book has been translated into every major language and has thousands of editions. For centuries, it has been used to train world leaders for its detailed study of military strategies and effective leadership.
Letter to My Daughter
This book of essays by Maya Angelou, a respectable African-American poet, is written for “the daughter she never had” — the millions of women, both young and old, that she considers to be her “family”. From the viewpoint of a caring, older relative, this book contains lessons selected from her own life experiences, including the birth of her only child, a son, as well as the development and loss of friendship.
A Brief History of Time
If you’re short of time, then why not read about, well, the creation of time? This book, first published in 1998 from brilliant scientist and mathematician Stephen Hawking, explores mind-bending questions about the creation of the universe, including if and when it will end, and if so, how. Despite its heavy subject matter, Hawking addresses these questions in a way that’s easy to understand, even for those who know little about physics.
1. What can we learn about the four books?A.A Brief History of Time mainly focuses on the matter of time. |
B.Letter to My Daughter is actually a common family letter. |
C.The Art of War gives advice on how to be a world leader. |
D.A Room of One’s Own is more than about writing. |
A.As a physicist,Hawking is equally famous in writing. |
B.Maya devotes herself to fighting for women’s rights. |
C.The book by Sun Tzu is helpful in policy-making. |
D.Woolf looks down upon men in writing. |
A.To make comparisons among the four books. |
B.To recommend the four books to readers. |
C.To make comments on the four books. |
D.To promote sales of the four books. |
【推荐3】Recently, as a journalist, I have published many stories about social media, privacy and artificial intelligence (AI), among other things. So when ChatGPT told me that my output may have influenced its responses to other people’s prompts (提示), I rushed to wipe my data from its memory. As I quickly discovered, however, there is no delete button. AI-powered chatbots never forget what they have learned, because they are trained on data sets including vast numbers of websites and online articles. As long as they exist on the Internet, they get to be remembered.
That means the likes of ChatGPT are possible to let out sensitive personal information, if it has appeared online, and that the companies behind these AIs will struggle to make good on “right-to-be-forgotten” regulations, which force organizations to remove personal data on request. It also means we are powerless to stop hackers (黑客) controlling AI outputs by planting misinformation or ill instructions in training data. All of these explain why many computer scientists are busy to teach AIs to forget. While they are finding that it is extremely difficult, “machine unlearning” solutions are beginning to appear. And the work could prove vital beyond addressing concerns over privacy and misinformation.
The new generation of AI-powered chatbots like ChatGPT, which produce text in response to our prompts, are underpinned by large language models. These are trained on mountains of data, most of which is scraped from the Internet. From this, they learn to spot statistical patterns, which means they can predict the likeliest next word in a sentence, producing fluent answers to our every question.
The trouble is that the way AI chatbots work means that when they learn something, it can’t be unlearned. This creates a significant problem when it comes to privacy, as Dr. Zhang made clear in recent research. He highlighted how difficult it will be for AI companies to obey the “right to be forgotten”, which the European Union declared a human right back in 2014.
1. Why can chatbots store what it has learned forever?A.Lack of a delete button. | B.Manual code entry. |
C.Strong review ability. | D.The way they are trained. |
A.Because AI has many security risks. | B.Because AI stores limited information. |
C.Because AI needs to be updated regularly. | D.Because AI imitates humans completely. |
A.Chatbots can answer 90% of the questions. |
B.Chatbots’ data comes from the designer’s software. |
C.Chatbots produce the answers based on the prompts. |
D.Chatbots can predict your problems in advance. |
A.Controlled. | B.Adjusted. | C.Boosted. | D.Supported. |
【推荐1】Sometimes the best gift is the one you can use at home. These items will likely be appreciated all year for time spent relaxing, entertaining or getting things done.
Jawbone Jambox Wireless Speaker
$199 retail ( far cheaper online) . The bigger version goes for $299.
The cool-looking rechargeable wireless speaker is getting good reviews for its big, balanced sound and compact design. It lets you stream music from smartphones, laptops and other Bluetooth devices(设备).
Chalkboard Wall Planter
$129. 95 retail at Williams-Sonoma
No need to make room indoors for more flower pots. Grow a herb garden indoors in a wall-fixed vertical planter, and you'll get the benefits of fragrance (芳香). Fill the 10 planting cells with the herbs of your choice, and hang the planter in a sunny spot. Use the chalkboard borders to label each plant. Measures 16 by 5 by 24 inches and weighs 11 pounds.
Pocket Projector
$299 retail at Brookstone
Let everyone get a good look at the pictures on your smartphone, computer, video player, or digital camera. This rechargeable pocket projector can turn a flat surface into a 60-inch big screen with 1080p HD picture quality. Invite friends for a movie night or a presentation. An HDMI cable is included to connect it to your device.
Adjustable Tablet Stand
$159 at Sharper Image
This is the gift for the person who enjoys mobile. Use it to keep your hands free while doing homework, crafts or writing out bills. It can be rotated through 360 degrees. The stand slides easily under your furniture and can be used on either side of a bed or a sofa. It also folds for storage.
1. How much will you pay if you buy a bigger version of wireless speaker?A.$129. | B.$159. |
C.$199. | D.$299. |
A.A pocket projector. |
B.An adjustable tablet stand. |
C.A chalkboard wall planter. |
D.A Jawbone Jambox wireless speaker. |
A.To warn. | B.To advertise. |
C.To bargain. | D.To educate. |
【推荐2】Madison Williams was studying in her bedroom when her mother, Leigh Williams, came in and shouted, “A little boy fell into a septic tank (化粪池)!” Then she asked her 13-year-old daughter if she could help.
Madison and Leigh ran to a neighbor’s yard, where they found the boy’s mad mother and other adults around the septic tank. Madison quickly examined the situation. She was the only one who could fit through the small hole. Without waiting a second, she got on her stomach next to the opening, placed her arms out in front of her, and told the adults, “Lower me in.”
Leigh and others held her waist and legs. Inside, the tank was dark, and the air was terrible. In the process, she stuck her left wrist (手腕) against a pole, hurting the muscles in her wrist and arm so seriously that the hand was useless. Rather than deal with her pain, Madison looked for the boy in the water with her eyes and right hand. Minutes went by before she saw his foot. Madison shot her right hand out and held the foot tightly. “Pull me up!” she shouted to the others above.
As they were pulled up, the boy’s free foot got stuck inside the hole. “Lower me down!” she shouted. Then, ten minutes after Madison had entered the tank, they were lifted out. But the boy wasn’t breathing for the lack of fresh air. He was placed on his side, and an adult gave him several hard hits on the back. It was only when Madison heard him cry that she knew he was all right.
1. How did Madison know what had happened?A.She saw it herself. | B.She heard a cry for help. |
C.Her mother told her about it. | D.Her mother asked her to help. |
A.The boy’s cry of surprise. | B.People’s call. |
C.Her mother’s bravery. | D.Her own willingness. |
A.He was saved finally. | B.He was drowned to death. |
C.He wasn’t breathing. | D.He was sent to hospital. |
A.A girl and her brave mother. | B.A drowning boy in the water. |
C.A boy falling into a septic tank. | D.A girl voluntarily saving a little boy. |
EcoCentral
This website is all about looking after the Earth. There are facts about different animals, as well as information about forests, deserts and oceans. You can upload your own videos onto the site for everyone to see.
TeenPress
This is one of the best sites on the web for teenagers who love writing. You can share your work with others, and there are message boards where you can chat about things that are important to you.
ChannelTwenty
On this site you can watch a daily news program and search for information about big news stories. There are also videos on different subjects, articles about famous bands, games and competitions.
Inside-the-cover
Finding out about your favorite writers is easy on this site. There are lots of interesting articles and information about the latest books. You can read blogs by well-known writers and post questions to them. And you are likely to get replies from them.
Tune-in
There are millions of songs on this website for you to download or listen to online. You can save your favorite songs in your own list. If you’re in a band, you can record your music and upload it. The website is large, but the menus are easy to use.
ScienceZone
There’s lots of information on this site about maths, chemistry and biology. You can visit some of the world’s most famous museums, or watch wildlife via webcams. There are also some very cool games, such as Save the Planet.
1. TeenPress is a website for teenagers who _____.A.enjoy writing | B.care about the Earth |
C.like watching the news | D.are interested in music |
A.take writing classes | B.listen to songs |
C.learn about the latest books | D.watch news programs |
A.EcoCentral. | B.ChannelTwenty. |
C.Tune-in. | D.ScienceZone. |
A.introduce websites to teenagers |
B.teach teenagers to design(设计) websites |
C.encourage teenagers to create websites |
D.compare(比较) different websites for teenagers |