Home fires can happen quickly, destroying lives and property, but unlike other disasters, most home fires can be prevented. Read on to learn 4 unexpected home fire dangers.
Having old smoke alarms
An effective smoke alarm can make much difference when it comes to surviving a house fire. It’s not enough to change the batteries twice a year, you also need to replace your alarms every decade. “You should test your smoke alarms every month,” says Lorraine Carli, vice president of the National Fire Protection Association. “But also don’t forget to check the dates and replace an alarm that is more than 10 years old.”
Leaving the kitchen while you cook
One in five Americans admitted leaving food cooking unattended on the stove, which was found an American Red Cross survey. Walking away from food cooking in the kitchen is a serious fire risk. “The leading cause of home fires is cooking and the leading cause of those fires is unattended cooking,” says Carli. “If you need to use the stove or oven, be sure to keep an eye on it.”
Turning the heat too high when you cook
Turning up the heat too high can be deadly, even if you’re in the kitchen while you cook. Kevin Kelley, senior director of the American Red Cross, recommends paying close attention and turning off the burner if you see smoke or grease (油脂) starting to boil while frying food.
Having a dirty stove while you cook
If your stove is covered with grease, a small kitchen fire can get out of hand quickly. Clean and clear the area around the stove before turning on the heat, or the result will be dangerous.
1. How long should a smoke alarm usually last?A.2 years. | B.10 years. | C.12 years. | D.8 years. |
A.Having a dirty stove. | B.Keeping burners at high temperatures. |
C.Using old smoke alarms. | D.Cooking with nobody in charge. |
A.Replacing stoves regularly. | B.Cleaning the stove area often. |
C.Checking the smoke alarms yearly. | D.Making less fried food. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】How to Talk so Parents will Listen
As most of us know, talking and listening don’t go smoothly every time. Emotions and past experiences can get in the way.
Will parents take you seriously, believe what you say, listen to and respect your opinions, and hear you out? A lot depends on your parents. Some parents are easy to talk to, some are great listeners, and some are hard to deal with.
So here are some guidelines to consider when talking to parents:
Be clear and direct. Be as clear as you can about what you think, feel, and want. Give details that can help parents understand your situation.
Be honest. If you’re always honest, a parent will be likely to believe what you say. If you sometimes hide the truth or add too much drama, parents will have a harder time believing what you tell them.
Try to understand their point of view.
Try not to argue or complain. Using a tone that’s friendly and respectful makes it more likely that parents will listen and take what you say seriously. It also makes it more likely that they’ll talk to you in the same way.
A.Pick a good time to talk. |
B.If you lie,they’ll find it hard to trust you. |
C.Maybe you need to break the bad news to a parent. |
D.But some of what happens depends on you, too. |
E.If you have a disagreement, can you see your parents’ side? |
F.Of course, this is hard for any of us when we’re feeling heated about something. |
G.They can listen better or be more helpful if they understand what you mean and what’s really going on. |
【推荐2】When something goes wrong, do you tend to bounce back or fall apart? Here are some strategics to help you manage a personal setback (挫折) and get back on track toward achieving your goal.
● Realize it’s normal. Less than 20 percent of people successfully achieve their goal the first time around. It’s normal and expected for setbacks to occur.
● Don’t deny it. Sometimes it’s hard to recognize a setback. The problem can be staring you right in the face, but you may deny there’s any cause for alarm.
● Learn from it. Learn from your analysis of the setback, and adjust your plan to try to prevent similar things from happening the next time. Each time you fine-tune your plan and put it into action again, you actually improve your odds of eventual success.
Remind yourself that your setback is a slip instead of a fall.
A.Don’t take it seriously. |
B.Analyze what happened. |
C.You haven’t lost all of the knowledge, skills, and support. |
D.In other words, it’s not whether a challenge will happen, but it’s when. |
E.This is because you learn from each misstep to make your plan more effective. |
F.Friends or family will voice their concerns, but you still may not be able to accept it. |
G.You might even write about past experiences in a journal to guide your future behavior. |
【推荐3】When was the last time something important slipped your mind?Maybe it was the answer to a test question,the name of an acquaintance or where you left your keys. Fortunately,memory can be improved so they won’t happen that often. People’s memory has much to do with training and practice. Applying effective means will help improve your memory so that you can access everything you learn whenever you need it.
When students want to prepare for a test,they often try to study by simply reading over the material again,copying notes,etc. But these methods of remembering are not always helpful. People remember more when actively taking part in their learning rather than passively receiving it.
One great way to do this is to test yourself on the material. Come up with questions about the topic,and try to answer them without looking at your notes. It also helps to try to summarize the material in different ways. You could diagram the information,or you could write your own outline. The more you use the information,the more likely you are to remember it.
When I was 8,I began learning to play the flute(长笛),and my music instructor said that it’s better to practice for five minutes a day,seven days a week,than for two hours on one day. The same goes for remembering information. The more you spread out the time you spend reviewing information,the more likely you are to remember it.
A psychologist named Hermann Ebbinghaus made an important discovery about memory and forgetting. He found that people tend to forget information in a regular pattern. They forget the most information shortly after learning it. The rate at which they forget then slows down over time. Every time people review the information,it causes them to forget less of it-which means they remember more. So it is vital to review things you want to remember shortly after learning them. Over time,you can review them less and less frequently.
1. What would happen if something slipped your mind?A.You let your mind wander. |
B.You think of the answer to a question. |
C.You fail to remember certain information. |
D.You keep a person’s name in mind. |
A.By making a comparison. |
B.By giving a summary. |
C.By conducting experiments. |
D.By offering examples. |
A.Practice makes perfect. |
B.Repeated revision is important. |
C.It’s vital to insist on what you are fond of. |
D.Efforts play a key part in learning. |
A.An explanation of Ebbinghaus’s theory. |
B.A description of the learning process. |
C.The approaches to improving memory. |
D.The relationship between time and memory. |
【推荐1】First aid is a crucial aspect of healthcare that can significantly save someone’s life or prevent further injury or illness. Knowing when to use first aid is essential so that proper measures are taken promptly.
Injuries and Accidents
One of the most common instances where first aid is required is in injuries and accidents.
Cardiac Arrest (心脏停跳)
Another critical situation where first aid can make a difference is during a cardiac arrest. A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops functioning; immediate intervention is necessary.
Choking and Suffocation (窒息)
Choking and suffocation are emergencies that can occur at any time, and immediate intervention is necessary to prevent further complications. If someone is choking, it is essential to act quickly.
When to use first aid can significantly save someone’s life or prevent further injury or illness.
A.In any emergency, it is essential to remain calm. |
B.This can include cuts, burns, falls, sprains, and other unpleasant injuries. |
C.If someone has taken a poisonous substance, calling emergency services. |
D.Perform the Heimlich manoeuvre to force out the object causing the obstruction. |
E.Bleeding and overdose are medical emergencies that require immediate attention. |
F.This blog post will discuss when to use first aid and the importance of early intervention. |
G.Blood circulation (血液循环) and oxygen supply to vital organs should be restored immediately. |
【推荐2】(Suez, Egypt) Rescue teams succeeded on Monday in freeing a massive container ship that had been stuck m the Suez Canal(苏伊士运河)for the past seven days, blocking billions of dollars’ worth of goods from crossing one of the world’s busiest waterways.
”We pulled it off?“ said Peter, the CEO of the Dutch rescue firm, which was hired to assist in the process ”I am excited to announce that our team of experts successfully released the Ever Given on 29 March at 15:05 local time, thereby making free passage through the Suez. Canal possible again. “
According to the Suez Canal Authority, the I. 400-foot long ship became jammed across a southern section of the Suez Canal early on 23 March, leaving a total of 367 ships, Including dozens of container ships and bulk carriers, unable to use the key trading route.
The block has created a massive traffic jam in the vital passage, costing global trade between $6 bullion and SIO bullion a day according to one estimate.
The closing of the Canal threatened the oil and gas shipments to Europe from the Middle East. Already. Syria had begun limiting the distribution(分发)of fuel in the country because of concerns about delays of shipments arriving.
Shipping costs for oil product nearly doubled after the ship became stuck, and the blockage had harmed global supply chains, already affected by Covid-19 restrictions.
The Ever Given had moved away from its lodged position and was pulled toward the Great Bitter Lake, the widest part of the Canal, where it will undergo inspection for any technical issues.
1. Who freed the massive container ship?A.Dozens of container ships. | B.The Suez Canal Authority. |
C.CEO of the Dutch firm. | D.The Dutch rescue firm. |
A.The closing has caused little loss to the global trade. |
B.Syria was not affected in the face of the Canal closing. |
C.Global supply chains were already stressed before the closing. |
D.The closing interrupted the sea route between America and Europe. |
A.The Huge Success of a Dutch Rescue Firm. |
B.Suez Canal Reopens after Ever Given Was Freed. |
C.Ever Given Pulled to Great Bitter Lake. |
D.The Block Affected Global Supply Chains. |
A.A news report | B.A research journal. | C.A travel brochure. | D.A biology textbook |
【推荐3】Rescuers in Jersey said Sunday after an all-night search that there was no hope of survivors from an explosion that flattened a three-story apartment block. At least three people were confirmed killed in the accident early Saturday in the Channel island’s port capital St Helier, following a suspected gas leak. “We have three confirmed deaths and it’s fair to say we expect to find more,” police chief Robin Smith told a news conference, saying that around 12 residents remained unaccounted for. “It is with sadness that I am confirming that the search-and-rescue operation has been moved to a recovery operation,” he said.
The phase involved a “painstaking search of the debris” which could take weeks, Smith said, adding that a gas leak was the ‘likely” cause. Aided by sniffer dogs and experts from southern England, Jersey emergency workers had searched the rubble (瓦砾)overnight.
Fire chief Paul Brown confirmed that firefighters were called out to investigate the smell of gas on Friday evening, more than seven hours before the explosion. But in vain. He admitted that something had gone “horribly wrong”, considering the subsequent disaster, but insisted that Jersey islanders could still have confidence in his service. Jersey’s gas supplier, Island Energy, said it was working with the fire service to understand what happened.
Like many others in St Helier, Jersey’s Chief Minister Kristina Moore said she was awoken by the explosion. “Across the island you could hear this extraordinary sound,” she told the BBC. “It’s unthinkable news, so we’re all absolutely shocked and really worried about the people who are involved and about those whose lives have been lost.”
The incident caps a tragic week for Jersey, a British Crown dependency not part of the United Kingdom, whose economy relies on banking, tourism and fishing. “We must call on the collective strength of the island community,” Moore said.
1. What’s the possible cause of the accident?A.The gas leak. | B.The gas supplier. |
C.The recovery operation. | D.The unexpected explosion. |
A.Rescuing the dead. | B.Searching the rubble. |
C.Searching for the debris. | D.Working with fire service. |
A.He had predicted the explosion hours before it. |
B.The fire service was investigating the explosion. |
C.People lost confidence in the island’s fire service. |
D.The fire service was partly responsible for the accident. |
A.Panicked and frightened. | B.Relieved and hopeful. |
C.Astonished and concerned. | D.Fearful and sorrowful. |
【推荐1】Cornell University researchers have found people have more efficient conversations, use more positive language and perceive each other more positively when using an artificial intelligence-enabled chat tool. However, apart from that, the group also found that when participants think their partner is using more AI-suggested responses, they perceive that partner as less cooperative, and feel less connection with them.
“Technology companies tend to emphasize the use of AI tools to accomplish tasks faster and better, but they ignore the social dimension,” said Malte Jung, associate professor of information science. “We do not live and work alone, and the systems we use impact our interactions with others.”
In an experiment, researchers developed a smart-reply platform the group called “Moshi”, patterned after the no longer existing Google “Allo”, the first smart-reply platform, released in 2016. Smart replies are generated from LLMs (large language models) to predict reasonable next responses in chat-based interactions.
Participants were asked to talk about a policy issue and assigned to one of three conditions: both participants can use smart replies; only one participant can use smart replies; or neither participant can use smart replies.
Researchers found that using smart replies increased communication efficiency, positive emotional language and positive evaluations by communication partners. On average, smart replies accounted for 14.3% of sent messages.
But participants who their partners suspected of responding with smart replies were evaluated more negatively than those who were thought to have typed their own responses, consistent with people’s common assumptions.
“While AI might be able to help you write,” Hohenstein, lead author and postdoctoral researcher, said, “it’s altering your language in ways you might not expect, especially by making you sound more positive. This suggests that by using text-generating AI, you’re sacrificing some of your own personal voice.”
1. How do people probably view a man using AI-suggested responses?A.He has strong opinions. |
B.He lacks cooperativeness. |
C.He is incapable of working on his own. |
D.He is efficient in positive communication. |
A.They explained how they used the platform. |
B.They predicted possible responses from AI. |
C.They evaluated replies made by their partners. |
D.They paired AI-generated questions and answers. |
A.It helps highlight your personal style. |
B.It increases your productivity. |
C.It changes the tone of your writing. |
D.It polishes your writing as you wish. |
A.The advance in AI-based chat tool |
B.The significance of AI in social context |
C.The efficiency of AI-involved conversation |
D.The effect of AI on interpersonal perception |
【推荐2】On January 15th, the Guardian showed off its new, smaller look, shifting from its distinctive “Berliner” format to a tabloid(娱乐小报) shape with a redesigned logo in black type. But the more dramatic makeover is of the financial books of Guardian Media Group (GMG), publisher of the Sunday Observer and the daily Guardian, which may find its new operation in the black next financial year. A newspaper business that two years ago was threatened with existentially worrying losses appears on the edge of breaking even.
The turnaround is partly due to steep cost-cutting, which is a dog-bites-man story in journalism. But the Guardian would manage the achievement while still giving away news free online, and that is a story worth telling.
In January 2016 David Pemsel, the new chief executive of GMG, and Katharine Viner, the new editor-in-chief of the Guardian, informed staff that GMG’s endowment fund, meant to ensure the financial security of the paper in the long run, had lost £100m ($140m) in just half a year, taking it to £740m. Mr Pemsel was advised by industry peers to cut costs and put online news behind a paywall. He and Ms Viner cut costs by 20%, or more than £50m. Alan Rusbridger, Ms Viner’s predecessor(前任), had led the newspaper to global relevance with a large online readership. But he spent without thinking of the consequences. In two years GMG has reduced its employees by 400, to about 1,500.
Yet unlike a growing number of newspapers, the Guardian has not put up a paywall. Instead it has pursued a membership model, asking online readers to contribute whatever they like. About 600,000 now do, with annual payments or one-off amounts. American readers tend to choose the latter option, Ms Viner says. GMG says the total figure amounts to tens of millions of pounds per year. Ms Viner says revenue from readers (including 200,000 print subscribers) is now greater than revenue from advertisers.
The result is steadily declining operating losses: from £69m two years ago to £45m last financial year and, Mr Pemsel says, less than £25m in the year that ends on April 1st. He predicts breaking even next year. Giving up its own printing presses and going tabloid will help, saving several million pounds a year. The Guardian may now physically look more like its peers, but its turnaround story remains distinctive.
1. The phrase “in the black”(Paragraph 1) most probably means ______.A.making profit | B.taking on a new look |
C.losing support | D.enjoying great popularity |
A.He advised GMG to cost costs. |
B.He got the Guardian into trouble. |
C.He was the founder of GMG’s endowment fund. |
D.He was fired due to his failure to bring the Guardian online. |
A.To pay as they like. | B.To skip the advertisements. |
C.To join its membership club. | D.To connect to other newspapers. |
A.The Guardian has been reduced to a tabloid. |
B.The Guardian succeeds by giving away news free online. |
C.The Guardian turns around by looking more likes its peers. |
D.The Guardian has broken even by cutting its operation costs. |
However, misplaced politeness can be dangerous. Typical example are the drivers who brakes violently to allow a car to came out of a side street at some danger to following traffic; or the man who wave a child across a zebra crossing into the path of oncoming vehicles that may be unable to stop in time. The same goes for encouraging old ladies to cross the road wherever and whenever they like to.
An experienced driver, whose manners are faultless, told me it would help if motorists learnt to move correctly into traffic streams one at a time without causing the total blockages that give rise to bad temper. Unfortunately, modern motorists can’t even learn to drive, let alone master the less obvious points of driving perfectly. Years ago the experts warned us that an explosion in car-ownership would demand a lot more give and take from all road users. It’s high time for all of us to take this message to heart.
1. According to the passage, the role of politeness can _______.
A.help us learn about traffic rules |
B.reduce the pleasure of driving |
C.make our life happier than others’ |
D.resist the temptation to take revenge on uncivilized behavior |
A.the driver’s ability to understand politeness and react reasonably |
B.the driver’s immediate response to terrible road conditions |
C.the driver’s skill of controlling his or her car in extreme situations |
D.the driver’s ability of driving safely in traffic jams |
oncoming vehicles.
A.The driver lets old ladies cross the road when they want to. |
B.The driver responses to an act of politeness in a friendly way. |
C.The driver suddenly stops to permit a car to come from a side street. |
D.The driver waves a child across a zebra crossing into the path of dangerous |
A.strict traffic regulations are badly needed |
B.drivers should apply road politeness properly |
C.rude drivers should be punished |
D.drivers should avoid traffic jams |