Dancing until you drop is a wellknown saying, but would you really be able to dance until you dropped dead? In 1374, in some European towns, people did exactly that. They were struck by a dancing plague (瘟疫) that forced them to dance.
This phenomenon (现象) was reported to have happened throughout parts of Western Europe, affecting people from the 14th to the 17th century. Hardly stopping to eat or even sleep, they would dance, sometimes for days on end, making this one of the strangest sicknesses in Western history.
Over the next century, there were only a few outbreaks. However, in the summer of 1518, it reappeared in the city of Strasbourg, France. It all began with a woman called Mrs. Troffea, who started to dance crazily in the street.
She was soon joined by 34 people within a week; by the end of the month, the crowd had increased to 400, most of whom were women. Again, people were dancing until they could no longer continue, with some finally dying from heart attacks or exhaustion. One report shows that the plague was killing around 15 people per day.
As the plague worsened, concerned nobles (贵族) turned to the advice of local doctors, who said that the plague was a “natural disease” caused by “hot blood”. So the nobles encouraged more dancing.
The reason behind their actions was they believed the dancers could only recover if they danced continuously night and day. The nobles even paid for musicians to keep the moving.
Then, as before, it disappeared almost as suddenly as it had come.
While these events may sound highly unbelievable, there is clear written evidence that it did happen.
Now, historians and scientists are still trying to find out the true cause of this phenomenon.
1. What do we know about the plague?| A．It cost some people's lives. |
| B．It took place twice in history. |
| C．It affected people of all ages. |
| D．It stopped in the 16th century. |
| A．To see the hot blood. |
| B．To kill the dancing people. |
| C．To free people of the plague. |
| D．To prove the doctors' words. |
| A．For no reason. |
| B．With local doctors' help. |
| C．With Mrs. Troffea's help. |
| D．Because of some natural power. |
| A．To show the history of dancing. |
| B．To introduce a wellknown English saying. |
| C．To provide information on the dancing plague. |
| D．To explain the reason behind the dancing plague. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】A century ago in the United States, when an individual brought suit against a company, public opinion tended to protect that company. But perhaps this phenomenon was most striking in the case of the railroads. Nearly half of all negligence cases decided through 1896 involved railroads. And the railroads usually won.
Most of the cases were decided in sate courts, when the railroads had the climate of the times on their sides. Government supported the railroad industry; the progress railroads represented was not to be slowed down by requiring them often to pay damages to those unlucky enough to be hurt working for them.
Court decisions always went against railroad workers. A Mr. Farwell, an engineer, lost his right hand when a switchman’s negligence ran his engine off the track. The court reasoned that since Farwell had taken the job of an engineer voluntarily at good pay, he had accepted the risk. Therefore the accident, though avoidable had the switchmen acted carefully, was a “pure accident”. In effect a railroad could never be held responsible for injury to one employee caused by the mistake of another.
In one case where a Pennsylvania Railroad worker had started a fire at a warehouse and the fire had spread several blocks, causing widespread damage, a jury found the company responsible for all the damage. But the court overturned the jury’s decision because it argued that the railroad’s negligence was the immediate cause of damage only to the nearest buildings. Beyond them the connection was too remote to consider.
As the century wore on, public sentiment began to turn against the railroads—against their economic and political power and high fares as well as against their callousness toward individuals.
1. Which of the following is NOT true in Farwell’s case?| A．Farwell was injured because he negligently ran his engine off the track. |
| B．Farwell would not have been injured if the switchman had been more careful. |
| C．The court argued that the victim had accepted the risk since he had willingly taken his job. |
| D．The court decided that the railroad should not be held responsible. |
| A．The railroad compensated for the damage to the immediate buildings. |
| B．The railroad compensated for all the damage by the fire. |
| C．The railroad paid nothing for the damaged building. |
| D．The railroad worker paid for the property damage himself. |
| A．political power | B．high fares | C．economic loss | D．indifference |
| A．Railroad oppressing individuals in the US. |
| B．History of the US railroads. |
| C．Railroad workers’ working rights. |
| D．Law cases concerning the railroads. |
【推荐2】About 12,000 years ago — long before the famous Roswell UFO crash made headlines in America — an alien (外星人的) spaceship crashed in China. And their descendants are still living in a faraway Chinese village today! That is the mind-bending claim made in the new book Out of Time and Place, a collection of reports from the files of Fate, a magazine edited by Terry O’Neill.
The story first came to light in 1937 when an expedition led by Chi Pu-Tei came across a group of caves deep in the Bayan-Kara-Ula Mountains. In the caves were found strange-looking skeletons with big heads and small, slender bodies —closely matching typical descriptions of space aliens. The explorers also uncovered 716 mysterious stone discs with strange hieroglyphics (象形文字) on them.
In Qinghai province, where the mountains lie, ancient stories tell of small, skinny beings with oversize heads who came from the sky long long ago. And to this day, locals live in fear of attack from strange-looking creatures from above.
And there’s more. In 1947, British scientist Karyl Robin-Evans led an expedition into the mountains and discovered a group of dwarfs (侏儒) who called themselves the Droza. “They told him that their ancestors came from a planet in the Sirius (天狼星) system and crashed in this mountain area a long time ago,” writes Hausdorf, “Many of them were killed, but survivors adapted themselves to living on this rough planet far from home.”
For decades, Robin-Evans’ claims were dismissed as nonsense. But in 1995, the Associated Press reported that in the region a village named Huilong had been recently discovered — populated by 120 dwarfs ranging from 3-foot-10 to 2-foot-1 tall. Hausdorf asks, “Could these people be the last living descendants of the survivors of the legendary UFO crash — the Chinese Roswell?”
1. What is the meaning of the underlined word “descendants”?| A．Ancestors. | B．Siblings. |
| C．Intelligent people. | D．Later generations. |
| A．Many people are curious about aliens from outer space. |
| B．Chinese are descendants of the survivors of the alien spaceship crash. |
| C．The UFO crash in the Byan-Kara-Ula Mountains has recently been seen. |
| D．This passage is a piece of science news recently issued. |
| A．Robin-Evans’ claims. |
| B．Chi Pu-Tei’s discovery in China. |
| C．News stories about Rosewell UFO Crash. |
| D．Recent research about the Chinese Rosewell. |
【推荐3】How and when did Australia begin? It is believed that
Australian history began at the end of the eighteenth century. After several centuries of European Voyaging in the southern oceans, the English naval officer James Cook sailed the eastern coast in 1770, named it New South Wales and took control of it in the name of his king.
Within twenty years, the British government sent a team of explorers to settle in New South Wales. On 26 January 1788, its commander, Arthur Phillip, began to rule over the eastern half of the country. The thousand officers, soldiers, officials, and prisoners who got off from the eleven ships of the First Fleet, anchored (停泊) in the port of Sydney. They prepared the way for later immigrants who spread out over the continent.
This is the story of a sleep land brought to life by Endeavour, the name given to Cook’s ship and the quality given to those who followed him.
The newcomers brought with them some animals, plants and tools. They also brought with them new ideas. That achievement in turn shaped what Australia is now.
1. According to this passage, Australian history began at the end of ____________.| A．the sixteenth century |
| B．the seventeenth century |
| C．the eighteenth century |
| D．the nineteenth century |
| A．James Cook | B．Arthur Phillip |
| C．George Washington | D．William Shakespeare |
| A．twelve | B．sixteen |
| C．twenty | D．eighteen |
| A．an army officer | B．a rich businessman |
| C．a poor farmer | D．a university student |
【推荐1】I was no slow reader, going through books like combine harvesters through crops in the English village of my childhood. But having been prevented from visiting bookstores and libraries during these days of isolation, I have decided to make changes. After all, didn’t someone once say, “It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good.”?
I imagine slow reading to be like slow cooking: a variety of ingredients mixed into something one can truly enjoy. Slow reading means enjoying each sentence, absorbing all of those paragraphs of description that had probably been sweated over by the author and, more often than not, skipped over by readers like me.
Most recently, I had selected two books Transcription and The Innocents. In order to truly enjoy these two novels, I limited my reading to two hours a day — no more and no less. A funny thing happens when you take two hours out of the day ― every day ― for something you really, really enjoy.
Rather than reading Transcription at my usual pace, I made myself completely involved in the life of 18-year-old Juliet. The Innocents is about the life of two orphans in an isolated bay in Newfoundland, which is said to be a richly imagined and fascinating story of hardship and survival. My slow reading was rewarded with a deeper understanding of the characters and rich descriptions of northern Newfoundland ― so real that I could almost feel the lichen (地衣) between my toes. I experienced a quiet sense of achievement that I had missed for years.
So here I am, two books finished that took me a month to read. I have been entertained, enriched and transported in time and place like I never have before. Having discovered the joys of taking my time over a book now, I doubt I will ever again announce proudly, “It only took me a day or a couple of hours to finish!”
1. According to the article, the author used to ________.| A．read novels while cooking her food |
| B．consider herself to be a slow reader |
| C．finish reading a book in a day or even hours |
| D．spend no more than two hours reading every day |
| A．Even the craziest idea can become popular. |
| B．Even the most popular idea can go out of fashion. |
| C．Even the most positive situation can harm someone. |
| D．Even the most negative situation can benefit someone. |
| A．Because it is fun to read books related to food. |
| B．Because it is rewarding to pick up various types of books. |
| C．Because it is worthwhile to admire the brilliance of every sentence. |
| D．Because it is important to skip over those paragraphs of description. |
| A．imagined herself to be an orphan |
| B．ended up with a deep appreciation of the story |
| C．read through the descriptive part of the book quickly |
| D．thought about the relationship between hardship and survival |
【推荐2】In the city I live in, we have a small local national park full of trees. I like that place very much, although I do wish it was bigger.
One day, I was walking around in the park along a path (小路) when I saw a beautiful squirrel (松鼠) lying in the middle of the path. I stopped and found that there was something wrong with one of its legs.
Just at that time, a man with two little kids was behind me. They were my neighbors. They were going up the same path. I said hello to them. The dad asked me, “Why are you standing still here?” I said,“Look! Here is a beautiful squirrel, but....” Noticing the squirrel, one of the kids shouted, “Quickly dad, catch it for me. I want to put it in my birdcage.” His brother nodded, asking their dad to catch the squirrel.
Then I stopped them.“Please wait. Do you really want to catch it and put it into the birdcage?” My neighbor said, “Yes. I will catch it and take it home.” I said angrily, “Animals are our friends and this is the last place in our city that the squirrel can live in. We must protect them. If we are kind to this tiny animal then we can start to be kind to bigger ones.” My neighbor smiled and said,“You misunderstood me. I will take it home and cure (治疗) it and when it is well, I will take it back to the park and set it free. Do you come long with me?”After hearing his words, I became happy. I followed him with the injured squirrel to his home. A few days later, when the squirrel was well, we took it back to the park and sent it free.
I felt glad that we did a good thing. We should protect animals.
1. Where did the author see the squirrel?| A．In his back yard. | B．In a small birdcage. |
| C．In a local park. | D．In his neighbor’s home. |
| A．It was injured. | B．It was lost. |
| C．It was dead. | D．It was dirty. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Excited. | C．Anxious. | D．Angry. |
| A．It was killed. |
| B．It was sold. |
| C．It was sent back to the park. |
| D．It was kept in the birdcage. |
| A．treat animals friendly |
| B．communicate with kids sometimes |
| C．go to local parks more often |
| D．get along well with neighbors |
【推荐3】During my first year in college. I didn’t speak even though I was in a program called the Great Conversation. I was too afraid of saying something wrong.
I took a class from Barbara as a second year student. My mind was split open by the quality of Barbara’s questions. I finally had something to say and the energy to say it. I was a frequent visitor during Barbara’s office hours.
In my junior year, Barbara announced the birth of her daughter. Maggie. That time I still knew little about her life. During my senior year, when Barbara was my essay adviser, I became Maggie’s babysitter. She had to leave to teach her class. I sang Maggie lullabies(摇篮曲), fed her tiny cheese cubes, and gave her hot milk. And also in the same year, with Barbara’s help, I finished my essay successfully and graduated as an outstanding student.
During the six years after graduation, I visited Barbara and her husband often. Our relationship gradually deepened, but I was always conscious of a teacher-student relationship.
It was another two years later that this changed fundamentally when I became a parent and had my son in 2010, and Barbara was one of the first to congratulate me. When, nine months later, my child was diagnosed with Tay-Sachs disease, a serious and rare illness, she sent me a letter handwritten on a white legal pad(信笺薄). For the next two and a half years, Barbara wrote me regular, sometimes weekly, remarkable letters that are revealing, loving, and kind.
When I began writing about my son in a very public blog format, Barbara responded to each post.
Through our back-and-forths, I began to realize that I hadn’t really known her at all—not until now, as she revealed more about herself than she ever had. A little over a year ago, she wrote, “I’m sending you lots of love and positive thoughts. Hope you feel it.” I did, and I do. Yes, we had decades of shared history behind us, but now we had gotten to know and love each other as women, mothers and equals.
1. Why didn’t the author speak in the program the Great Conversation?| A．She actually had nothing to say to her teacher. |
| B．She had no opportunity to speak in Barbara’s class. |
| C．She feared making some mistakes. |
| D．She was too proud to say something. |
| A．When she was a college freshman. | B．When she was a fourth-year college student. |
| C．When she was a third-year college student. | D．When she was a postgraduate. |
| A．Nine. | B．Eleven. | C．Twelve. | D．Fourteen. |
| A．Thoughtful and positive. | B．Outgoing and creative. |
| C．Easygoing and ambitious. | D．Dutiful and humorous. |
【推荐1】The following are the essential and sustainable sites to see in 2021. Grab your hags and go!
●Magdalen Island, Canada
Why go now: See a beautiful but decreasing world of ice — and the harp seals that depend on it.
What to know: The baby seals are born on the ice in late February and early March. The young seals are one of the most attractive creatures on the planet.
When to go: February-March
How to go: Live aboard boat expeditions offer the luxury of time with the seals above and below the sea ice.
●Abu Simbel, Egypt
Why go now: Enjoy a private audience with Ramses II
What to know: Abu Simbel is deep in the south of Egypt near its border with Sudan. The temples are archaeological treasures and wonders of modern engineering. Buried by sand for thousands of years, the towering landmarks were unearthed by archaeologists in 1813 and saved from the rising waters of Lake Nasser.
When to go: February-March
How to go: A good way to experience Abu Simbel is as part of a Nile cruise.
● Fort Kochi, India
Why go now: Track artful trends in creative Kerala
What to know: It is gaining notice as a new arts center. The four-month-long Kochi-Miseries Biennale is the largest event of its kind in South Asia. Launched in 2012, the Biennale shows contemporary international. Indian, and cross-cultural visual art and experiences.
When to go: December— April
● Zakouma National Park, Chad
Why go now: Support an African elephant haven
What to know: Zakouma National Park is home to a rapidly growing African elephant population---some 559 in 2019 and a thousand expected by 2024. The park's location, in southeastern Chad, one of the world’s least visited countries, makes Zakouma a best-kept secret-one worth sharing to help ensure its continued success.
When to go: March—April
1. What attracts tourists in Magdalen Island most?
| A．Waters. | B．Fishing. | C．Seals. | D．Expeditions. |
| A．History lovers. | B．Art lovers. | C．Photographers. | D．Designers. |
| A．People there are poor. | B．Measures are proper. |
| C．Tourists are fewer. | D．Laws play a role. |
【推荐2】Sunrise Hike
Saturday, October 21, 6:45 am---7:45 am
Enjoy sunrise from the hilltop as you learn about wildlife, plants, history and forest. Ages 8 and up; under 18 with an adult. To register (报名)by phone, call 630-933-7248.
Meet in the parking lot on the west side of Greene Road south of 79th Street. Dress for the weather, wear comfortable shoes and bring water.
Trick Or Treat
Saturday, October 28, 9:00 am---11:30 am
You and your family are invited to join the YMCA for a Halloween hike up Badger Mountain! Make sure to wear your Halloween costumes (戏装)!
Free shirts for the first 200 kids registered. Remember to take away your shirt by 11:30 am or it will be given away.
Cost: Trick or Treat is a FREE event.
Discovery Hike
Thursday, October 26, 1:00 pm---4:00 pm; Ages 3-8
Fall is pumpkin time. Listen to a pumpkin story and learn how pumpkins grow. Then we will head out on the path in search of a little pumpkin just for you and maybe, we will find the great pumpkin along the way. $7 per child.
Harvest Day Camp
Monday, October 31, 8:00 am---5:00 pm
Harvest Camp is an opportunity for children aged 5-13 to find the wonder of autumn at Keystone Science School and enjoy all the fun the Halloween season offers. We’ll explore the ways our natural environment has changed from summer to fall. As always, our programming is focused on building skills, knowledge and confidence. Cost: $0.00.
1. What do these activities have in common?| A．They are designed only for children. |
| B．They are held in a mountain. |
| C．They are to celebrate Halloween. |
| D．They all take place in autumn. |
| A．Sunrise Hike |
| B．Discovery Hike |
| C．Harvest Day Camp |
| D．Trick Or Treat |
| A．Listen to a pumpkin story. |
| B．Hike with their parents. |
| C．Enjoy the beauty of autumn. |
| D．Learn about wildlife and forest. |
【推荐3】Listening looks easy, yet hard to master. Don’t worry. Here we’ve collected four books to help you to be a good listener.
The Good Listener by James E. Sullivan
The book points out how our poor listening hurts others and how much we can heal（使……好受些）a person just by listening and understanding his/her feelings. It also gives suggestions on how we can improve our listening and how we can share so others will understand us better.
Just Listen by Mark Goulston
This book is about listening and giving responses. Just Listen is a good how-to guide to becoming a better face-to-face communicator. It reveals（揭露）how to make a powerful first impression, how to respond positively and more. If you deal with difficult people around you, this is a must-read for you to not only understand them but also make them feel understood.
Power Listening by Bernard T. Ferrari
Poor listening can lead to poor business decisions. The book focuses on corporate（团体的）listening. It’s great for anyone who leads groups through decision and design. The author offers a step-by-step guide to turn readers into active listeners.
The Lost Art of Listening by Michael P. Nichols
What is it that keeps so many of us from really listening? Nichols answers the question. The book is filled with real-world examples that show easy-to-learn techniques for becoming a better listener. The techniques enable us to break through misunderstandings and conflicts in our relationships.
1. Who gives helpful guides on listening and responding?| A．Mark Goulston | B．James E. Sullivan |
| C．Bernard T. Ferrari | D．Michael P. Nichols |
| A．Just Listen | B．Power Listening |
| C．The Good Listener | D．The lost Art of Listening |
| A．They are based on the author’s experience. |
| B．They are written in the same style. |
| C．They provide real-life stories. |
| D．They share the same theme. |
【推荐1】A big eating show, or mukbang in Korean, is an online audiovisual show in which a vlogger consumes large quantities of food while interacting with the audience. These shows originated in South Korea and have become a worldwide trend.
This eating performance has rapidly spread its influence to some Asign countries such as Japan and China where it became popular. In China, mukbang is' called “chibo”, in which mukbangers make their content into short videos and vlogs and upload them onto huge social media platforms like Weibo.
Many hosts of such shows become popular for their ability to eat large amounts of food, But these shows have also received criticism for their waste of food. On Aug 12，CCTV exposed several Chinese hosts who were pretending to eat large amounts of food while on camera, but actually later threw it away.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, about a third of the world's food 1.3 billion tons is wasted every year, In China alone, as it was once reported that the amount of food wasted in China was enough to feed 200 million people a year.
In June 2020，the United Nations warned that the world is on the road of the worst food crisis in 50 years.
To discourage this practice, many video and live- streaming platforms, including Douyin, Kuaishou and Bilibili, have removed videos that show food waste.
People in China have realized the need for safeguarding food security and halting food waste. In Shanxi province，local restaurants have been asked to serve half portions to avoid waste. The Wuhan Catering Association proposed that restaurants adopt the“N-1 mode”. For example, a group of 10 diners should only order enough for nine people at first. More food is only brought to the table if required.
In addition, a nationwide “Clear Your Plate” campaign has been launched online. Users of Sina Weibo are encouraged to share photos or videos of empty plates after finishing their meals.
1. Why do many hosts of mukbang become popular?| A．It has been a worldwide trend. | B．They are expert at attracting audience. |
| C．They are able to eat large amounts of food. | D．They can pretend to eat a lot in a vivid way. |
| A．The food waste has been shocking. |
| B．China is to blame for wasting food. |
| C．Food waste in the world is increasing annually. |
| D．The United Nations is preparing for the future food crisis. |
| A．defending | B．quitting | C．encouraging | D．criticizing |
| A．The“N-1 mode" is created to reduce cost on food. |
| B．Videos, about food should be, strictly banned online. |
| C．Chinese people are taking pains to fight against food wasting. |
| D．Only users of Sina Weibo participate in “Clear Your Plate"” campaign. |
【推荐2】When I met her， I had a lot of anger inside of me. I've lived my whole life in Spanish Harlem， but in my neighborhood， there are shoot﹣ups（枪击）all the time. I know kids who have been shot or beaten up I have friends who ended up in prison. I could have ended up that way， too. but Ms. Clark wouldn't let that happen.
Ms. Clark worked long hours， making sure I did my work. My grades rose. In fact， the scores of our whole class rose. One day， she took our class to see The Phantom of the Opera， and it was the first time some kids had ever been out of Harlem. Before the show， she treated us to dinner at a restaurant and taught us not to talk with our mouths full. We did not want to let her down.
Ms. Clark was selected as Disney's 2015 Teacher of the Year. She said she would draw three names out of a hat； those students would go with her to Los Angeles to get the award. But when the time came to draw names， Ms Clark said， "You're all going. "
On graduation day， there were a lot of tears. We didn't want her class to end. In 2016. she moved to Atlanta， but she always kept in touch. She started giving lectures about education， and wrote a bestselling book based on her classroom rules， The Essential 55. In 2018， Ms Clark took some of us on a trip to South Africa to deliver school supplies and visit orphanages （孤儿院）. It was the most amazing experience of my life.
1. Why was the writer angry when he first knew Ms. Clark？| A．Because Ms Clark taught boring classes. |
| B．Because he lived in a danger area. |
| C．Because Ms Clark was once in prison. |
| D．Because he was ever beaten up. |
| A．With sympathy. |
| B．As her guests. |
| C．With caution. |
| D．As her children. |
| A．Education system. |
| B．Safety rules. |
| C．Classroom teaching. |
| D．Travel arrangements. |
| A．A leading writer. |
| B．A demanding educator. |
| C．A devoted mother. |
| D．An unforgettable teacher. |
【推荐3】One Chicago kindergartner wanted to feed the homeless instead of holding a birthday party.
Armani Crews, who turned 6 earlier this month, had been begging her parents for “a few months ”to feed homeless people in her community, but her parents thought “she was joking”. Her mother, Artesha Crews, told ABC News.
“I said, ‘OK, we’ll make some sandwiches,’ to which Armani said, ‘No. I want the same thing we’d have at my birthday party,’ ” her mother recalled.
Even when her father, Antoine, informed her that if she wanted to go through with this, she wouldn’t get a birthday gift, the girl, whose birthday was on March 5, persisted.
So the Chicago family spent about $300 buying food to deliver to homeless people in the city’s East Garfield Park neighborhood. They purchased chicken, fish, spaghetti, corn, green Deans, mashed potatoes, rolls, cake, cookies, fruit and water.
After Armani mentioned her plan at the family’s local church, congregation members donated other items to create care packages for the homeless. Each care package included a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a snack, such as a granola bar and so on.
Armani’s birthday party was a success, with the family feeding more than 125 people who gathered.
In a statement, the kindergarten student told ABC News, “It was nice to be nice.” Her mother added, “She was excited. She was happy. Everybody was being fed.....One of the gentlemen said he hadn’t had a hot meal in a long time.”
Now the 6-year-old wants to host another community meal for the homeless. Her mother said the family plans to return to the park “within the next couple of weeks”. They hope more and more people will give a hand to the massive homeless people in Chicago.
1. What do we know about Armani Crews?| A．She was a six-year-old girl disliking birthday gifts. |
| B．She begged her parents to feed the homeless regularly. |
| C．She gave up her birthday party to feed the homeless. |
| D．She was willing to protect the pride of the homeless. |
| A．Armani and her family. | B．East Garfield Park. |
| C．Congregation members. | D．ABC News reporters. |
| A．Armani Crews held a birthday party for them. |
| B．The Chicago family spent more to feed them. |
| C．The girl felt disappointed with the party for them. |
| D．Homeless people are a great concern in Chicago. |
| A．Lifestyle. | B．Sports &Games. |
| C．Health&Fitness. | D．Entertainment. |
