Over the course of more than 250 years, the US Postal Service has gone through many changes, including switching its focus from newspapers to package delivery service.
In the early 1830s, the Postal Service focused on delivering newspapers to keep Americans informed and connected. To keep newspaper subscriptions cheap and accessible, the Postal Service charged high prices for letter postage as much as a full-day’s wages. In order to help the expansion of the passenger transportation network in the new nation, the agency often shared the letter delivery with stagecoach lines. Later, it did the same for private steamboats and railroads, even airlines
But the competition for the letter delivery became so fierce that a wave of laws between 1845 and 1851 made the Postal Service the only letter-carrier and set aside an annual budget to support the agency. Helped by lowered rates, letters soon became the agency’s main business.
In 1863, the Postal Service began to experiment with home delivery, instead of just carrying letters from post office to post office. By the dawn of the 20th century, even remote farmers’ letters were dropped into their mailboxes. Since then, home delivery has become a “universal public service (UPS)” that every American deserves to receive at a low price.
By the early 20th century, the Postal Service had set a four-pound limit on mail: Anything heavier was supposed to be left to private companies. But the four largest private carriers secretly cooperated to charge confusing and often terribly high rates. In 1913, the Postal Service eventually took the parcel (包裹) service away from the private carriers.
Now the Postal Service’s only growing business is package delivery fed by the online shopping addictions. Since it is required by law to visit every household six days a week, the Postal Service now offers cheap rates to private companies like Amazon and FedEx to deliver their goods to our doorsteps. However, most Americans think that it is unfair to use taxpayer’s money to help such big private companies to deliver their goods.
1. What can we learn from the second paragraph?| A．Letter delivery was once a very profitable business. |
| B．The US was well connected by airlines in the 1820s. |
| C．The Postal Service charged high prices for newspapers. |
| D．In the 1830s. Americans had free access to newspapers. |
| A．Goods transportation. | B．Letter delivery. |
| C．Newspaper subscriptions. | D．Parcel services. |
| A．The private companies often charge terribly high rates. |
| B．The online-shoppers cannot receive their parcels on time. |
| C．The Postal Service usually leaves parcels in the local post offices. |
| D．The “UPS” is originally designed for non-commercial home delivery. |
| A．The Problems of the US Postal Service |
| B．The Postal Service’s Roles in the US History |
| C．A Brief History of the US Postal Service |
| D．The Main Functions of the US Postal Service |
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【推荐1】Zheng He was one of China's most famous explorers. Towards the end of the fourteenth century, his fleet (舰队) sailed to countries far away.
Zheng He had over 300 ships, some of which were over 150 meters long, and could carry up to 1 ,000 people. Besides, the ships carried gold, silver, silk, china and other treasures to give as gifts to the rulers of other countries. Some ships even had earth on board so that the sailors could grow their crops for food.
On Zheng He's first voyage(航海), he set sail across the Indian Ocean. His fleet travelled many days far away from land. One day, they were hit by a storm. All the sailors thought the fleet was going to sink. Then a strange light appeared and after that,the storm passed. The strange light was probably electricity from the thunderstorm (雷雨),but the sailors in Zheng He's fleet believed it was a sign of protection from the gods. With the belief, they were happy to follow Zheng He wherever he led them.
Zheng He completed seven famous voyages between 1405 and 1433. He visited many countries in Asia and Africa. He brought back many gifts from the countries he visited, such as medicines, pearls (珍珠) and strange animals. The most famous of them were a giraffe and a zebra.
In 28 years of travelling, Zheng He had managed to share the glory of China with many different countries. When he died in 1435,the stories of his travels made him one of China's most famous sailors.
1. On Zheng He's first voyage, he set sail across ________ Ocean.| A．the Atlantic | B．the Indian |
| C．the Pacific | D．the Arctic |
| A．use it as a gift |
| B．use it for exchange |
| C．plant trees for shade |
| D．grow their own crops for food |
| A．his leadership | B．his fame |
| C．the belief in gods' protecting them | D．a heavy storm |
| A．a monkey and a tiger |
| B．a giraffe and a zebra |
| C．gold and silver |
| D．medicines and pearls |
| A．The Glory of China |
| B．Zheng He's Life |
| C．Zheng He and His Voyages |
| D．China's Most Famous Explorers |
【推荐2】In 1826, a Frenchman named Niepce needed pictures for his business .But he was not a good artist .So he invented a very simple camera (照相机).He put it in a window of his house and took a picture of his garden .That was the first photo.
The next important date in the history of photography (摄影术) was in 1837. That year, Daguere, another Frenchman ,took a picture of his reading room .He used a new kind of camera in a different way. In his picture you could see everything very clearly ,even the smallest thing. This kind of photo was called a Daguerreotype.
Soon, other people began to use Daguerre’s way. Travelers brought back wonderful photos from all around the world .people took picture of famous buildings, cities and mountains.
In about 1840, photography was developed .Then photographers could take picture of people and moving things .That was not simple .The photographers had to carry a lot of film and other machines. But this did not stop them ,for example, some in the United States worked so hard.
Mathew Brady was a famous American photographers. He took many picture of great people .The picture were unusual because they were very lifelike(栩栩如生的)
Photographers also became one kind of art by the end of the 19th century .Some photos were nor just copies of the real world .They showed feelings,like other kinds of art.
1. The Daguerreotype was____________.
| A．a Frenchman | B．a kind of picture |
| C．a kind of camera | D．a photographer |
| A．watch lots of films | B．buy an expensive camera |
| C．stop in most cities | D．take many films and something else with him. |
| A．was very lifelike | B．was famous for his unusual pictures |
| C．was quite strong | D．took many pictures of moving people |
| A．how photography was developed | B．how to show your ideas and feelings in pictures |
| C．how to take pictures in the world | D．how to use different cameras |
| A．his business | B．his house |
| C．his garden | D．his window |
Washington was created in 1790, when the Congress (the highest lawmaking body of the U.S.A.) decided to place the nation’s new capital in the east of the country. It was built half-way between the northern and southern states of America. And of course it was named after George Washington, the first President of the United States.
There are many tourist sights in Washington. Perhaps the most important tourist sight is the Capital Building. This house is where the Congress is.
Another world-famous building in Washington is the White House. This is the home and office of the President of the United States. Most visitors are, however, surprised by how small the White House actually is.
Washington is also a great culture city. The Library of Congress contains one of the largest library collections in the world. The Smithsonian Museum holds the nation’s largest collection of cultural materials. And the John F. Kennedy Center is a famous center of art and culture. It has many great musical. and theatre performances throughout the year.
Now fill in the table with some information about Washington D.C.(注意：每空不要超过3个单词)
Washington D.C.
History and location | Created in | Lies halfway between |
A capital city | Center of the | |
A popular tourist attraction | Another important tourist sight is | |
A | John F. Kennedy Center is a center famous for |
【推荐1】If you grew up watching the kid’s television channel Nickelodeon, you will probably understand that there is nothing greater than enjoying its special bright green slime ( 水晶泥). The week of May 11, astronauts (宇航员) aboard the International Space Station(ISS) joined the slime.
Nickelodeon sent two kilos of its green slime into space in the summer of 2019. The Slime in Space project’s idea was to create an educational trip for teachers to use in class. The green slime was also used to guide astronauts through a series of experiments that were designed to learn more about how slime acts in microgravity.
Researchers from Portland State University(PSU) were excited to design the experiments for the project. Mark Weislogel and his partner designed eight shows for NASA astronauts and European Space Agency astronaut aboard to perform.
If you’re wondering what we could hope to learn from sending slime into space, the answer lies in its very name. Slime is slimy. This is because it is a liquid that is thicker than liquids like water. This makes slime act in unexpected ways in the microgravity of the ISS. Improving our understanding of how thicker liquids act in space may help us improve the design of systems that something were designed with Earth’s gravity in mind.
“Interestingly, we consider liquid on Earth as that takes the shape of its container,” Koch tells CNN. “Water just turns into a ball in microgravity, so we’ve had to have a new understanding of different kinds of matter in space. This experiment shows how microgravity can help us understand things on Earth, especially the things we take for granted.”
1. In paragraph one, Nickelodeon is mentioned______.| A．to introduce the topic | B．to attract the kids |
| C．to make advertisements | D．to share a TV show |
| A．Because they get students interested in space. |
| B．Because they help us understand how slime acts in microgravity. |
| C．Because slime is popular with kids in the TV show. |
| D．Because slime takes the shape of its container. |
| A．Confused. | B．Worried. | C．Positive. | D．Uninterested. |
| A．Microgravity makes a difference to matters. |
| B．Astronauts join the slime in space for science. |
| C．Kids join the slime so as to become astronauts. |
| D．Experiments are designed with slimy slime. |
【推荐2】CCTV9 is an English channel which was set up on September 25th，2000.It provides people around the world with programs 24 hours a day，seven days a week.Various programs about China's politics，economy，history，culture and customs are open up to the world.Here are some of its main programs.
CCTV NEWS
CCTV News is the main news program on CCTV9.The 30minute news program mainly reports on the latest news and social developments in China，and important international news.It's a good choice if you want to know about what's happening in China.
CULTURE EXPRESS
Culture Express is a 15minute program reporting news and stories about China's culture，art and education.China's long history has produced a colorful civilization.What is ancient Chinese culture like and how is the culture developing today? Culture Express records the changes and developments of Chinese culture.
CHINESE COOKING
Chinese food is worldfamous for its color，smell and taste. Follow famous cooks in this 15minute program and try to make Chinese food in your own kitchen.And you can find the great joy in preparing it yourself.
KUNGFU
From Monday to Saturday，Chinese kungfu masters show real kungfu and teach how to learn this traditional Chinese martial arts.
1. CCTV9 has been in service since ________.| A．2001 | B．2000 |
| C．2004 | D．2002 |
| A．Six. | B．Five. |
| C．Four. | D．Three. |
| A．Friday | B．Saturday |
| C．Monday | D．Sunday |
| A．It only reports on the latest news and social developments in China. |
| B．It is broadcast every day nonstop. |
| C．Chinese Cooking is 15 minutes long. |
| D．You can see Kungfu six times a week. |
| A．How to Receive CCTV9 |
| B．A Channel about Chinese Culture |
| C．An Introduction to CCTV9 |
| D．Why to Watch CCTV9 |
【推荐3】Can energy drinks really make you energetic? A survey, by Cancer Council Australia among more than 9000 students across the country, found teenagers who were bitten by the energy drinks bug and drank energy drinks at least once a day were twice as likely to get less than eight hours’ sleep on school night than those who didn’t.
The same survey found one in six teenagers take in at least 5.2kg of sugar each year from sugary drinks alone. “This can lead to weight gain and obesity, increasing the risk of heart and kidney disease, type2 diabetes, stroke and some cancers,” Mr Sinclair said, who led the survey. Craig Sinclair, head of Rethink Sugary Drink, said the levels of sugar in energy drinks are very high, causing teenagers to put on weight.
The survey also found the caffeine (咖啡因) levels of the drinks is also high and this could explain the survey results on their effect on teenage sleep. Energy drinks contain 160mg of caffeine, more than twice as much as a cup of coffee or a 500ml bottle of cola, Mr Sinclair said. The Sleep Health Foundation says teenagers need 8-10 hours of sleep, more than an adult, because their bodies and cognition are growing rapidly. Sleep is important for teen mental health and the US Sleep Foundation says shortage of sleep can contribute to acne, bad behaviour and unhealthy eating habits. Associate Professor Matthew Hopcraft from the Australian Dental Association Victoria said energy drinks are also a major contributing factor to tooth decay and tooth erosion.
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital heart doctor Professor Chris Semsarian has tested the effects of energy drinks on the heart and said they can lead to an increased heart rate and irregular heart beat. “Caffeine is not the only stimulant (兴奋剂) part of these drinks, most also have guarana which is also a stimulant,” he said. Energy drinks have been related to scores of deaths around the world because of their high caffeine content.
1. What does the underlined phrase “bitten by the energy drink bug”?| A．Tired of energy drinks. | B．Equipped with energy drinks. |
| C．Fascinated by energy drinks. | D．Attacked by an insect in energy drinks. |
| A．The high levels of caffeine. | B．The high levels of sugar. |
| C．The high levels of alcohol. | D．The shortage of exercise. |
| A．They can bring about decreased heart rate. |
| B．They can result in blood pressure rising. |
| C．They can lead to heart stopping working. |
| D．They can contribute to heart beating irregularly. |
| A．Energy Drinks’ Functions | B．Energy Drinks’ Harmful Effects |
| C．Energy Drinks’ Effect on Sleep | D．Different Opinions of Energy Drinks |
