When a heavy rain hit Beijing one afternoon in May, for many the first thing to do was to rush for cover. For photographer Yang Dong, however, his first thought was to take his camera. The next morning, Yang got up at 2:30 am and drove to the Great Wall. Arriving at the foot of the mountain an hour and a half later, Yang started to climb with all his photography equipment. Before sunrise, Yang had already set up his camera, hoping to catch an impressive moment when the Great Wall would be partly hidden in the clouds. With a large amount of patience, he got what he came for.
“After heavy rain or snow, the next morning is the best time to find a sea of clouds around the Great Wall,” Yang says in a phone interview. The 28-year-old became popular on the Internet sharing the stories behind his photographs of the Great Wall over the past five years, with his stories being viewed more than 150 million times. One Internet user comments: “Only repeatedly measuring the Great Wall step by step can he know which angle (角度) is the most beautiful. I have never met such a professional photographer like him.”
He is known as the Great Wall photographer, and his stories are well-known among the fans. What’s more, he was invited to play a lead role in the documentary (纪录片) Loving the Great Wall issued in January, and was also the spokesman for the 2019 China Great Wall International Foto Week.
1. When a heavy rain came, Yang Dong ________.A.got up early | B.rushed for cover |
C.drove to the Great Wall | D.got ready to take photos |
A.The morning after sunrise. | B.The afternoon after rain. |
C.The next morning after rain. | D.The evening before snow. |
A.Admiring. | B.Doubtful. | C.Disappointed. | D.Uncertain. |
A.He was considered as a successful actor. |
B.He gained some achievements in his field. |
C.His stories were famous around the world. |
D.He became the spokesman of the Great Wall. |
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Caroll Spinney started working with puppets when he was eight years old. In 1969 he started working on Sesame Street, an American television series for children. Today, the series is shown on television in more than eighty countries and Spinney is still the man inside the eight-foot yellow chicken called Big Bird.
Spinney loves his work and knows that he has a responsibility for children watching the programme. He doesn’t want children to know that Big Bird is really a man, so he tries to notice every detail.
Caitlin Moran
When Caitlin Moran was eleven, her parents asked her if she wanted to leave school and study at home. She refused at first, but changed her mind and left school two years later. Her experiences provided the story for her first book, The Chronicles of Narmo.
It is a wonderful story about a year in the life of a family who educate their children at home. She started writing it at thirteen and finished it soon after her sixteenth birthday. Now she enjoys writing and is writing a play and her second book.
Rick Allen
Rick Allen, the well-known drummer of the Irish rock band Def Leppard, joined the band on his fifteenth birthday. A year later, in 1979, the band became famous. Then, in 1984, Rick had a very bad car accident and lost his left arm. A friend developed an electronic drum kit so that he could play the drums with an arm and two feet. He returned to the band with great happiness and he still performs with them now. The first time he played in a big concert everybody was so kind that he cried.
Now Rick is married and has a home life. Life with one arm is still a problem, but if he can 't chop vegetables with one hand he simply uses his feet.
1. Which of the following can describe Caroll Spinney?A.Creative and hopeful. |
B.Brave but proud. |
C.Responsible and careful. |
D.Hopeful but lazy. |
A.Her school life. |
B.Her birthday party. |
C.Her parents’ career. |
D.Her home-study experience. |
A.They enjoy their jobs. |
B.They are highly talented. |
C.They are good at performing. |
D.They became famous late in life. |
【推荐2】Peter Damon produces about 30 paintings a year and sells them for between US$250 and US$1,500. That’s not enough to make ends meet, but it has made him whole again. He lost both arms in an accident.
“Having this skill that even normal people find difficult was something that really helped me and made me feel like I fit in more in the world,” Damon said.
He was a worker in a car factory. One day when he was working, there was a gas explosion (爆炸), killing one worker and injuring him.
“I lost my right arm above the elbow, about three inches above the elbow, and my left about six inches below,” he explained.
“How am I going to make a living and take care of my family? I had always worked with my hands,” he said.
Then with a simple little drawing, a new future opened up for him.
“I thought it was wonderful in a way,” Damon said. “Something was telling me to focus on this and everything will be alright.” Damon doesn’t have a perfect prosthetic arm (假肢)—just a hook (钩子), which he finds works best.
He and his wife Jen run True Grit Art Gallery in Middleboro, Massachusetts, where he shows the works of local artists. With his disability check from the government, he can afford to be an artist. He is a man doing what he wants with his life, and doesn’t look at his situation as a hard time.
“I don’t see it that way,” Damon said. “Suffering an injury like this has a way of making you focus on what’s important in life.”
He believes his best work is still ahead of him. But with his pictures of simple American scenes, Damon has already produced his best work.
1. How did Damon lose his arms?A.A gas explosion injured his arms. |
B.He was attacked when he was driving a car. |
C.His arms were trapped by a worker by accident. |
D.He was knocked down by a car when he was working. |
A.His hope for life was brought back. |
B.He felt a lot of pressure at the beginning. |
C.He didn’t earn enough to support his family. |
D.His paintings were so expensive that few people wanted to buy them. |
A.Wonderful. | B.Positive. |
C.Pitiful. | D.Uncertain. |
A.Winners do what losers don’t want to do. |
B.Nothing is impossible if you try your best. |
C.God closes a door and another will open for you. |
D.Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. |
【推荐3】I was headed out the door the other day with my two sons. We were going to drive to the local grocery(杂货) store to pick up a few things that we had run out of during the week. I shut the door quickly because my dogs were already barking at being left behind in the house. We headed down the hill but when I reached into my pocket for the car keys, they weren’t there. Shaking my head, I walked back up the hill and saw my keys still dangling from the hook(挂钩) where I always hang them.
This, of course, isn’t the only time I have forgotten something recently. In fact, it seems to be happening more and more. There isn’t a week that goes by that I don’t forget something and then remember it later in the day or misplace something and have to go looking for it. The medical professionals all reassure (使...安心)me that this is a normal part of getting older. They say not to worry about it and to take it with a smile. I am doing my best to do so.
I think I will be alright with my forgetful mind too as long as I can keep remembering the important things in life. I don’t mind misplacing my keys as long as I can remember that God loves me. I don’t mind forgetting what I came into a room for as long as I can remember what I am in this life for. I don’t mind being a bit absent-minded as long as I am being loving-hearted.
May you always remember the important things in life: You were created in love. You were created to love. You are called to kindness and made for joy. You can make a difference in this world with every choice you make.
1. What happened to the author the other day ?A.He forgot to bring his car keys. | B.He was annoyed by his dogs. |
C.He lost his way to the grocery store. | D.He didn't take enough money. |
A.He has accepted the doctors' advice. |
B.He seldom forgets to put things in place. |
C.He doesn't like to be troubled by his dogs. |
D.He is sure to recover from his forgetful mind. |
A.would get mad. | B.would turn to God. |
C.wouldn't care about it. | D.wouldn't forget to smile. |
A.to tell us it is normal to get old. |
B.to describe an unforgettable story. |
C.to encourage us to love and help others. |
D.to remind us to value the important things. |
【推荐1】At first look, the playground at the Children’s Guild-Transformation Academy in Baltimore, Maryland, looks like any other. It has swings, slides, and places for children to climb and crawl. But the playground is not just a place for fun. It is also a place where students can learn, grow and gain independence. Everything—from the kind of surface it sits on, to the color of its sitting areas, to the placement of the surrounding fence—is specifically designed for kids with autism (自闭症).
Mark Rapaport is the managing director of autism services at the Transformation Academy. He told VOA Learning English the school accepts students aged 5 to 21 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are lower-functioning.
Rapaport said the goal of Transformation Academy is to make the students as independent as possible in an effort to help them prepare for adult life. The school aims to provide help with developing communication and social skills, as well as practical abilities like cleaning or cooking.
The playground, designed by Maryland company Sparks@Play, using structures manufactured by Landscape Structures, Inc., took a month to develop, said Dan Hack. He works for Sparks@Play and helped lead the playground’s design. Hack said he and others spent weeks getting to know the students and understanding their needs before any building was started. The design process involved physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other specialists. The huge $500,000 project was funded with support from the state of Maryland and the nonprofit Orokawa Foundation.
Parts of the playground that seem small are very important for children with autism and other disabilities. The surrounding fence extends into a wooded area to make it seem more open. And the ground under the play areas is made of soft, but solid materials to support students using wheelchairs or crutches. The benches on the outside of the playground look simple from far away, but are “one of our most inclusive sensory” elements, Hack said. They have many different colors that bring about feelings of calm and curiosity. They are also made with smooth material that can be felt and moved. The academy’s Rapaport said if a child starts to feel uneasy, they can sit down and feel the bench, which can help them relax.
1. Why does the playground in Baltimore be designed with special materials?A.To make it superior to other playgrounds. | B.To better serve Children with autism. |
C.To improve the quality of the playground. | D.To make it easier for kids to climb and crawl. |
A.Integrated. | B.Environmental-friendly. |
C.Functional. | D.Convenient. |
A.It took a month to complete the whole process. | B.The design process is single. |
C.The result of the project is uncertain. | D.It’s money-consuming. |
A.The advantages of the playground for autism and disabled kids. |
B.The scale and the structure of the playground. |
C.Ways for kids to free from the stress and relax themselves. |
D.The underlying logic and reasonable factors of the playground. |
【推荐2】What will the schools of the future look like? The answer is smart campuses, with high-tech features to help students learn more effectively and safely. They also bring convenience to teachers and administrators. Alexa, a voice-activated smart assistant, is being aimed at teachers in the US. It may help to run classes more efficiently. For example, if a teacher has to teach different classes in different rooms, Alexa can remember the teacher’s preferences, such as whether or not he needs to use a projector.
The University of British Columbia has what is believed to be Canada’s first 5G-powered smart campus. The school has a massive 5G network on its campus. Researchers at the school can use the network to test real-time 5G applications, as well as access data storage software similar to cloud storage.
Smart technology can also be used to keep students and teachers safe. At the Global Indian International School in Singapore, facial recognition scanners allow teachers to automatically lock or unlock classroom doors, and students can store their textbooks in smart lockers linked to their student ID cards.
People often describe college campuses as "minicities" .And just like the smart cities being designed around the world, many college campuses are adopting smart technology. The University of Michigan in the US, for example, has its own unmanned shuttle system, allowing students to go from building to building in a safe and efficient manner.
Unlike cities, universities are seen as particularly good testing grounds for smart technology. “Cities are so big, and there are so many players and stakeholders (有权益关系者), so it can be difficult. But many universities around the world have control over their property. They own all their buildings, so they can become like a living lab,” said Gemma Ginty, a designer working on a smart campus development strategy for the University of Glasgow, the UK, in a news report by the Guardian.
1. How is the text mainly developed?A.By explaining the cause and effect. | B.By making comparisons. |
C.By following the order of time. | D.By giving examples. |
A.It offers free cloud storage to its users. |
B.It is used to test real-time 5G applications. |
C.It can help improve classroom efficiency. |
D.It can help monitor students' class performance. |
A.Smart technology benefits students the most. |
B.Universities are full of laboratories and researchers. |
C.Control over their property makes it easier to test new technology. |
D.There are many players and stakeholders on university campuses. |
【推荐3】Every winter, Siberian cranes (白鹤) migrate from northeast Siberia in Russia to Poyang Lake in Jiangxi province, China. About 95 percent of the birds spend the season there. However, climate change has endangered the birds’ habitats.
“In some years, the Poyang Lake experiences floods, while in others, it experiences droughts. Both of these create food shortages in the cranes’ habitat,” Qian Fawen, a researcher from the National Bird Banding Center of China, told China Daily.
To help deal with the problem, the local government has built 70 hectares of lotus roots (莲藕) in Nanchang to provide food during the winter for the cranes. The birds’ population has risen from about 3,000 to more than 5,000 over the past 20 years, according to Qian.
Over the years, China has worked hard to protect migratory birds and wetlands. Known as the “Earth’s kidneys (肾脏)”, wetlands play a key role in cleaning water, preventing floods, and helping with biodiversity. The Wetlands Protection Law was introduced on June 1, 2022. It stops building work on important national wetlands and bans activities such as overgrazing (过度放牧) and giving out wastewater.
Thanks to these efforts, China has reported more birds wintering in the nation’s wetlands. In February, black-faced spoonbills (黑脸琵鹭), an endangered species, were seen wintering at Dongting Lake after disappearing for five years. Last December, Shanghai Chongming Dongtan Bird National Nature Reserve recorded more than 2,900 tundra swans up from some 1,000 seen during the winter of 2021.
1. The bird population is rising in Nanchang because ________.A.the city offers more food for birds | B.extreme weather hasn’t hit the city |
C.the city becomes increasingly warm | D.climate change doesn’t affect the place |
A.Saving endangered animal species. | B.Looking after water and biodiversity. |
C.Providing shade for migratory birds. | D.Avoiding overgrazing and water pollution. |
A.when the Wetlands Protection Law was introduced |
B.why the bird population in Nanchang rises quickly |
C.how China deals with water pollution and overpopulation |
D.what China has done to protect migratory birds and wetlands |
A.Migratory birds add biodiversity to China. |
B.New bird species leave China for winter. |
C.China has completed its wetlands protection. |
D.China’s environmental protection is successful. |
【推荐1】A team of well-known developers have built a security tool, Scanguard™, which they believe will be the last piece of software consumers will ever need.
Product Manager, David, from ScanGuard, explains, "The software can increase the security immediately by distinguishing any hidden dangers or online tracking cookies. Also, it discovers and removes unnecessary files and cached memory—the files that can make your PC run slow. To have perfect performance and keep your computer secure, schedule the scan to run every 7 days. It roughly takes 10 minutes to fully analyze your system."
"People already love the system. Our plan is to give as many free scan licenses away so that it gains widespread use until we think that's enough for us to start charging. If you own a Windows Computer then you are allowed to have a free security scan. We advise users not to hesitate and try it cautiously and bravely before it's too late. We feel good knowing that we're helping make things faster and more secure for our customers,'' he continues.
The Scanguard™ free plan will, offer you a version of the software which will monitor your PC in full for threats (威胁),unwanted software or potentially dangerous tracking cookies. If the software finds out threats you can remove them from your system by hand now or pay for it to have the software do the automatic job about them.
Once you have downloaded the software you can also have free licenses for all of your devices, including your,Office & Home PC, Smartphone & even Tablet. It's so convenient! It’s no surprise that thousands of computer owners are taking advantage of this approved security system to keep themselves and their devices safe.
1. Which of the following is one of the advantages of the application?A.Making the computer work faster. |
B.Recognizing the files more quickly. |
C.Helping turn on the computer faster. |
D.Finding lost files more quickly. |
A.They'll reduce the price of the software. |
B.They need to improve the Scanguard™. |
C.They will charge users fees sometime. |
D.They'll end the software-making plan. |
A.It is the team's last piece of software. |
B.It can remove dangers automatically. |
C.It needs updating every seven days. |
D.It can recycle unwanted software. |
A.Doubtful. | B.Ambiguous. |
C.Cautious. | D.Favorable. |
【推荐2】Reading the following passage about some words and answer the questions that follow.
ENERVATED People think it means “energized.” But it really means ‘"weakened.” The word nervus originally referred to muscles and tendons (腱), but around the 1600s it became a byword for strength and vigor. Enervate first meant “to cut the nerves or tendons” and later came to mean ‘"to lessen the vitality or strength of.”
FACTOID People think it means “a fun, unimportant fact”.But it originally meant “a fun, false fact.” Coined by Norman Mailer in 1973 to describe “facts’, invented by reporters, this word can (confusingly) describe both true and false information. But for Mailer’s intended meaning, look to the suffix: -oid. If a humanoid resembles a human (but isn9t one) and a planetoid resembles a planet (but isn’t one), it follows that a factoid resembles a fact—but isn’t one.
INFLAMMABLE People think it means “fireproof.” But it really means “easily inflamed.” Yep, flammable and inflammable mean the same exact thing. Make sure your home is equipped with a fire extinguisher (and a dictionary).
NOISOME People think it means “noisy.” But it really means “offensively smelly.” While a “noisome neighbor” will offend your senses,it’s not your sense of hearing you need to worry about. Noisome actually comes from the same root word as annoying-the Anglo-French anui.
NONPLUSSED People think it means “un-disturbed.” But it really means “in trouble.” The word comes from the Latin non plus, meaning “no more,” as in,“I am in a state where I can say,thinks or do no more. I am nonplussed.”
1. The five words introduced in the passage are similar in that__________.A.they were all coined by news reporters |
B.they all convey some negative meaning |
C.they all mean the opposite of what they sound like |
D.they are all used to show the development of language |
A.enervated | B.factoid |
C.inflammable | D.nonplussed |
A.enervated | B.flammable |
C.noisome | D.nonplussed |
【推荐3】For those who are addicted to mobile devices(终端), drawing provides some much needed time out. Nowadays, there is a global pencil shortage thanks to a sharp rise in the number of adults purchasing coloring books. Manufactures are reportedly struggling to deal with the heightened popularity of quality crayons(蜡笔).
British company Faber-Castell, the world’s largest pencil supplier, witnessed “double-digit(两位数)growth” in the sale of pencils. Workers in their German factory have been asked to do extra shifts in an effort to keep up with consumer demand.
“The production of our artists’ pencils has increased strongly compared to the previous year,” Sandra Suppa from Faber-Castell tells The Independent. “People are now not satisfied with ‘just’ 36 colors and we are noticing a trend(趋势)in people preferring, bigger sets of 72 or even 120 colors for colouring. We are also noticing that people are investing in our highest quality artists’ pencils.”
Regarded as the final cure for stress and anxiety, coloring in is a way to take a break from our fast-paced digital culture. It’s not just British who are rushing to buy crayons as the trend is a global one. Staedtler, the Nuremberg-based German pencil maker, is having trouble keeping supply levels up.”We have plans for expanding our resources. Right now we’re working at our limit,” a spokesperson tells Spiegel Online. Brazil has also suffered from pencil shortages, according to NEW York Post.
Coloring books for adults are now a feature in bookshops across the world. British seller, Waterstones reported a 300 percent rise in sales of the therapeutic(有助于放松精神的)books in the past year.
1. What in paragraph 1 mainly about?A.A high demand for quality pencils. | B.A growing interest in drawing. |
C.An addiction to mobile devices. | D.A shortage of coloring books. |
A.By opening up new markets in Brazil. | B.By rising the price of pencils sharply. |
C.By seeking the British company' s help. | D.By arranging more groups of workers. |
A.Mobile devices are far more expensive than coloring books |
B.Workers in crayon factories refuse to do extra shifts. |
C.Coloring in can free one from pressure and worry. |
D.Coloring in can promote one's creative spirit. |
A.Paragraph 2. | B.Paragraph 3. | C.Paragraph 4. | D.Paragraph 5. |
【推荐1】I’d flown across the country to attend a special ceremony at Fort Benning, Georgia, and for the weekend my son and I spent hours and days together in Columbus. Being a vegetarian, I’d prepared a list of cafes and restaurants that offered some selection of non-meat options. One cafe whose menu I wanted to try was behind, and many blocks away from the main street, but we eventually found it and entered.
Now I’m blue-eyed Irish-American but my son looks Asian. I noticed that, like Columbus itself, the room was filled with citizens and soldiers alike, and there were persons of many races, genders and age. The place was so cheerful. When we’d finished eating and I was waiting for the restroom to have a vacancy, an older Black customer, dressed in a Spring Green suit and hat came heading to the restrooms and I quietly said to her, “Oh, someone is still in there.” She looked at me with a cheerful, sweet smile and said, “Why, thank you!” Then she turned to my son dressed in his military uniform, chatting with him, and suddenly, cheerfully gave him a huge hug , telling him that he'd made a smart decision to choose a military career, and that she was thankful for his service! My son shyly thanked her, nodding, with “Thank you, Ma’am” many times.
But in this sudden short meeting, I was given the gift that I desperately needed... because up until that point I was so filled with worry and extreme loneliness, being the only person there that weekend to support my son about his choice.
Yet here was a beautiful black mother, a bundle of loving energy, wrapping my son in her arms and encouraging him, in front of a quiet white woman barely holding it all together.
1. Why could the writer meet her son in Columbus?A.She flew to Columbus specially to meet him. | B.She did something somewhere near to her son. |
C.Her son got a chance to return home to see her. | D.Her son is freed from the military services. |
A.She gladly encouraged him. | B.She patiently comforted him. |
C.She regretted his decision a bit. | D.She wanted him to change his mind. |
A.Thankful and proud. | B.Worried and lonely. |
C.Doubtful and concerned. | D.Anxious and embarrassed. |
A.Choosing the right career is important. | B.It’s necessary to show your gratitude. |
C.Thoughtfulness makes a difference. | D.Remember: every coin has two sides. |
【推荐2】MarineLand Theme Park
With numerous rides, a variety of wildlife from both land and sea and shows filled with action-packed excitement, no wonder it's a hit with visitors from all over the world. Whether riding on the world's biggest steel roller coaster, Dragon Mountain, or enjoying a show filled with fun-loving dolphins and intelligent whales, you’re sure to have the time of your life at MarineLand. Having been in business for more than 50 years, this park has something for every member of the family!
Highlights&Attractions:
The King Waldorf Stadium Show:This entertaining, educational and heart-warming show features dolphins, white whales, sea lions, and walruses and is sure to leave you in awe as well as help you understand and appreciate these wonderful marine mammals(海洋哺乳动物).
Arctic Cove: It featuring one of the largest white whale collections in the world, visitors are able to purchase a pass to Arctic Cove where they can touch and feed the whales as well as view them underwater.
Friendship Cove: Breathtaking underwater viewing allows you to enter the magic world of the killer whale below the water surface or on a surface level walkway.
Hotels:
Villager Lodge: It is located in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Diplomat Inn: Within half a mile of the Skylon Tower, it is the choice for an inexpensive location.
Marriott Niagara Falls Fallsview Hotel&Spa: It is close to popular attractions and the Scotiabank Convention Center.
Days Inn Lundy's Lane: It is located just two miles from the gorgeous Niagara Falls and the Skylon Tower Observation Deck.
Hours of Operation:10:00 am-5:00 pm(Sept. 11th—Oct. 13th)
Phone:417—823—0981
1. What can be learned about MarineLand Theme Park?A.It is only suitable for kids. |
B.It was opened fifty years ago. |
C.It has both land and marine animals. |
D.It has the world's biggest roller coaster. |
A.It has the largest white whale collection in the world. |
B.It allows visitors to enter the magic world of the killer whale. |
C.It features an entertaining show starring various marine mammals. |
D.It provides visitors with a chance to interact with white whales personally. |
A.Diplomat Inn. |
B.Villager Lodge. |
C.Days Inn Lundy's Lane. |
D.Marriott Niagara Fails Fallsview Hotel&Spa. |
【推荐3】Binge-watching (追剧) your favorite TV series is bad for your brain. Dr. Randall Wright, based in Texas, said the need to watch episode (集) after episode has a similar influence on the brain to gambling (赌博). What’s more, it often leads to social loneliness, snacking on junk food and a shortage of exercise and sleep, which, over time, is bad for the brain.
When you let auto play start the next episode, you can find out what happens next and your brain receives good feedback, Dr. Wright wrote in an article. This right-away satisfaction is similar to gambling where even after a win, you are not satisfied and want to continue playing. With binge-watching, you are not satisfied with stopping after episode five and want to continue watching. This cycle coupled with the snacking and the long time sitting can lead to unhealthy changes in your brain and body over time.
Dr. Wright said, “Binge-watching itself is not bad. It becomes problematic when you are watching a third, fourth or fifth episode instead of doing healthy activities.” But he said it is possible to avoid the bad influence of binge-watching with four tips, including staying away from salty, fatty, calorific foods, exercising before a binge-watching, setting an alarm for sleep and balancing TV viewing with socializing.
If you add these tips to your binge-watching practice, you can create lasting healthy habits and still enjoy the now-and-then binge-watching time without hurting your brain.
1. What might “it” in paragraph 1 refer to?A.Gambling. | B.Binge-watching. |
C.TV series. | D.Brain. |
A.The long time sitting. | B.The changes of feeling. |
C.The snacking on junk food. | D.The immediate satisfaction. |
A.The tips on how to develop a healthy lifestyle. |
B.The reasons why binge-watching is problematic. |
C.The ways to keep away from binge-watching. |
D.Do’s and don’ts of binge-watching. |
A.Ill Health: The Result of Addiction |
B.Healthy Habits: A Must of A Better Life |
C.Binge-watching: A Killer of Your Brain |
D.TV-Viewing: Gradual Harm on Your Health |