In August 2015, President Obama announced that North America’s highest mountain, Mount McKinley, would be renamed. Its new moniker (名字), Denali, was actually its original Aleut name, meaning “the high one”. The previous name, on the other hand, only dates back to 1896 — the year when it was named in honour of William McKinley (1843—1901), who was shortly to become President of the United States. Denali is of course not the only mountain with an interesting linguistic history, so let’s travel to Asia, and across Europe, to explore the naming of those continents’ most famous peaks and mountain ranges.
The Nepalese name Himalaya comes from a Sanskrit word meaning “Abode of Snow”, from hima for “snow” and ālaya for “abode”. In Buddhist sources, Himalaya is known by various names such as Himavā and Himavanta.
In 1856, Mount Everest was named after Sir George Everest (1790—1866), who was the superintendent (负责人) of the Trigonometrical Survey of India. Everest himself was initially displeased by the naming, since he feared that local inhabitants might not be able to pronounce it.
K2 stands for Karakoram 2, because it was the second peak to be surveyed in the Trigonometrical Survey in the Karakoram system. It was also formerly known as Mount Godwin Austen after Col. H. H. Godwin Austen, who first surveyed it. Another alternative name for the mountain is Chhogori.
Annapurna is a household Goddess for Hindus, who guarantees to her worshippers (崇拜者) that food will not fail. The name derives (源出) from a Sanskrit word meaning “one who gives nourishment”.
The Matterhorn’s name derives from the name of the nearby town of Zermatt, the second element of which is apparently Matte “meadow”, and Horn, “horn”. Horn is not an unusual element in German names of mountains with jutting (突出的) peaks. The mountain is called Mont Cervin in French and Monte Cervino in Italian, from the Italian adjective cervino “deer-like”, which conjures up (使想起) a deer’s antlers.
Ben Nevis is the Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic name Beinn Nibheis, which means “Mountain by the (River) Nevis”. The name of the river apparently derives from a Celtic root for “water”.
1. How many continents’ mountains are mentioned in the passage?| A．2 | B．3 | C．4 | D．5 |
| A．Nepalese | B．Abode of Snow | C．Alaya | D．Himavā |
| A．Everest was unhappy about the name of Mount Everest at first. |
| B．K2 was once called Col. H. H. Godwin. |
| C．Annapurna means “one who offers food”. |
| D．Matterhorn comes from the name of the nearby town of Zermatt. |
| A．color | B．a Sanskrit word |
| C．a person’s name | D．geographic name |
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【推荐1】Not all bodies of water are so evidently alive as the Atlantic Ocean, an S-shaped body of water covering 33 million square miles. The Atlantic has, in a sense, replaced the Mediterranean as the inland sea of Western civilization. Unlike real inland seas, which seem strangely still, the Atlantic is rich in oceanic liveliness. It is perhaps not surprising that its vitality has been much written about by ancient poets.
“Storm at Sea”, a short poem written around 700 BC, is generally regarded as one of mankind's earliest artistic representations of the Atlantic.
When the wind is from the west
All the waves that cannot rest
To the east must thunder on
Where the bright tree of the sun
Is rooted in the ocean 's breast
As the poem suggests, the Atlantic is never dead and dull. It is an ocean that moves, impressively and endlessly. It makes all kinds of noise it is forever thundering, boiling, crashing, and whistling.
It is easy to imagine the Atlantic trying to draw breath——perhaps not so noticeably out in mid-ocean, but where it meets land, its waters are bathing up and down a sandy beach. It imitates nearly perfectly the steady breathing of a living creature. It is filled with symbiotic existences, too; little and large alike, mix within its depths in a kind of oceanic harmony, giving to the waters a feeling of heartbeat, a kind of sub-ocean vitality. And it has a psychology. It has personalities: sometimes peaceful and pleasant, on rare occasions rough and wild; always it is strong and striking.
1. Unlike real inland seas, the Atlantic Ocean is___________.| A．always energetic | B．lacking in liveliness |
| C．shaped like a square | D．favored by ancient poets |
| A．To describe the movement of the waves. | B．To show the strength of the storm. |
| C．To represent the vitality of the ocean. | D．To prove the vastness of the ocean. |
| A．Living together. | B．Growing fast. |
| C．Moving harmoniously. | D．Breathing peacefully. |
| A．a beautiful and poetic place | B．a living person |
| C．a wonderful world | D．a perfect animal |
【推荐2】Huge areas of the Amazon, which serves as the lungs of the planet by taking in carbon dioxide and producing oxygen, are burning. Smoke from the widespread fires have turned day into night in Sao Paulo. The fires have covered the Brazilian city of San Paulo in dark smoke, and raising concerns that the rainforest, which is one of the most biologically diverse regions on earth.
The recent Amazon fires have been widespread and some happened rather suddenly. Farmers cleared land for agriculture and also burned areas of rainforest for further development. Cleared rainforests in this region are typically used for cattle farming and growing soybeans, and much of the land-clearing is done illegally. One contributing factor to the fires in the Amazon is the fact that it is the dry season there, the time of year when wildfires tend to break out from human activities, either intentionally or by accident.
The Amazon, which spans 2.12 million square miles, sucks up about a quarter of the 2.4 billion metric 57 tons of carbon that global forests absorb each year. However, the ability of the rainforest to pull in more carbon than it releases is diminishing weakened by changing weather patterns, deforestation and increasing tree mortality（死亡率）, among other factors.
According to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service, the fires have led to a clear increase in carbon monoxide- emissions as well as planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions, posing a threat to human health and aggravating global warming.
If the Amazon were to turn into a consistent net source of carbon emissions, it would accelerate global warming while also leading to a huge loss in species that are not found anywhere else on earth.
1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?| A．The introduction of the Amazon fires | B．The seriousness of the Amazon fires |
| C．The likely causes of the Amazon fires | D．The influence of the Amazon fires |
| A．lowering | B．decreasing | C．increasing | D．enlarging |
| A．human health | B．global warming | C．deforestation | D．species loss |
| A．Amazon: Where have all the trees gone? |
| B．Cutting trees should be prohibited in Amazon |
| C．Why are trees so important in Amazon |
| D．Amazon fires could accelerate global warming and causing lasting harm to us |
【推荐3】They say that Mexico is a country no one ever leaves. Every year, millions of tourists pass through, and Mexicans happily warn that a part of them will remain behind forever. Most visitors are vacationing North Americans who end up on the brilliant beaches of Cancun, Acapulco, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. The beaches, of course, are among the world’s best – but those who venture inland are rewarded with the true soul of Mexico.
And it is a big soul. The Republic of Mexico is vast, consisting of nearly two million square miles of coastline, desert, rain forest, mountains and fertile plains. From the American borderlands of the wide, agriculturally rich north, the country narrows gently as it sweeps south and east. The two main mountain ranges, the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre Oriental, hug the west and east, finally merging into the volcanically active central highlands and the capital, Mexico City – the most populous city in the world. Further south, the country narrows to only 100 miles, then broadens again before reaching the Guatemalan border. There are two major peninsulas (半岛) in Mexico: the Baja Peninsula to the west and the Yucatan peninsula to the east.
The population is about 106 million, and the generosity (宽宏大量的) of the Mexican people is unsurpassed. Knowing a few simple sentences in Spanish will win hearts.
Mexico has been graced with an unusually temperate climate all year round. The most important thing to remember is that the Mexican summer is also the rainy season, although the rain rarely lasts more than a few hours, and typically arrives in the late afternoon. Extremes are present only in the north and in Baja, both of which have deserts where the temperature leaps above 100℉. Mexico City has a year-round temperature in the high 80s, while the coasts usually stay in the mid-90s. Night time temperatures fall somewhat, but rarely break down below a comfortable 60℉.
1. What’s the author’s writing purpose?| A．To introduce Mexico. | B．To appeal people to travel in Mexico |
| C．To tell the beauty and ugliness of Mexico. | D．To make people aware of the extreme conditions of Mexico. |
| A．remarkable | B．limited | C．traditional | D．unspoken |
| A．the east | B．the west | C．the south | D．the north |
| A．Geography. | B．History. | C．Language. | D．Climate. |
【推荐1】If you wear glasses, chances are you are smarter. Research published in the famous British journal Nature Communications has found that people who displayed higher levels of intelligence were almost 30 percent more likely to wear glasses.
The scientists studied the genes of thousands of people between the ages of 16 and 102.The study showed intelligence can be connected to physical characteristics. One characteristic was eyesight.In out of 10 people who were more intelligent, there was a higher chance they needed glasses. Scientists also said being smarter has better benefits. It is connected to better health.
It is important to remember these are connections which are not proven causes. Scientists call this correlation. Just because something is connected to something else does not mean one of those things caused the other. And it's worth noting that what constitutes intelligence is subjective and can be difficult, if not impossible, to measure.
Forget genes though. Plenty of proof shows wearing glasses makes people think you are more intelligent, even if you do not need glasses. A number of studies have found people who wear glasses are seen as smarter, hard working and honest. Many lawyers use this idea to help win their cases. Lawyer Harvey Slovis explained this. Glasses soften their appearance, he said. Sometimes there has been a huge amount of proof showing that people he was defending broke the law. He had them wear glasses and they weren't found guilty.
Glasses are also used to show someone is intelligent in movies and on TV. Ideas about people who wear glasses have begun to shift. People who do not need glasses sometimes wear them for fashion only. They want to look worldly or cool. But not everyone is impressed by this idea, though. GQ magazine said people who wear glasses for fashion are trying too hard to look smart and hip（时髦的）. However， that hasn’t stopped many celebrities from happily wearing glasses even if they do not need them. Justin Bieber is just one high-profile fan of fashion glasses.
1. What does the new study show?| A．People wearing glasses are smarter. |
| B．People wearing glasses are healthier. |
| C．Wearing glasses can make people cleverer. |
| D．Wearing glasses is associated with higher IQ. |
| A．Shift | B．Link |
| C．Proof | D．Consequence |
| A．Because it can create a moral image. |
| B．Because it can mislead the witnesses. |
| C．Because it can highlight clients’ qualities. |
| D．Because it can prove the clients' innocence. |
【推荐2】Life is full of struggles. Sometimes, we simply want to avoid them. But even when our minds are constantly telling us that we should call it a day, we can still keep on going. The solution is the Cookie Jar.
The Cookie Jar method was created by one of the toughest men alive, David Goggins. Goggins is a retired Navy SEAL, who has competed in more than sixty ultra-marathons triathlon.
To raise money for a non-profit organization for orphans, Goggins decided to run Badwater 135. Badwater is the world’s hardest foot race. To qualify for Badwater, one has to run 100 miles in 3 days, that is, 4 marathons in one go. With zero preparation and training, Goggins decided to have a try.
For the first few miles of the race, he felt fine and had no trouble running. But at mile 50, his legs felt like they were loaded with lead. Still he ran. Then at mile 70, he couldn’t take another step forward. Exhausted and feeling beaten down, he sat down to rest. He kept on asking himself, “Why? Why are you still doing this to yourself?” He then remembered this wasn’t the first time he’d taken on an impossible task. And he suddenly felt some energy build up. He started walking slowly, step by step. He kept on digging in his past while remembering all his previous victories (胜利), making him get the energy he needed to keep on going. His feet were still a bloody mess, full of blisters. But it gave him just enough drive to sustain him, until the 100-mile mark. And that’s what the Cookie Jar is.
We all have a cookie jar inside us. Whenever you face a challenge, whenever you want to give up, you open the cookie jar and pick a cookie. The cookie reminds you of something you’ve overcome and how far you’ve come. Eventually, you’ll slowly build up your mind to be more mentally tough. Impossible, will turn into, I can do this.
1. What does the underlined phrase “call it a day” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Stop and give up. | B．Celebrate a day. |
| C．Name a day. | D．Have a new start. |
| A．He is a member of Navy SEAL now. |
| B．He got injured halfway through the race. |
| C．He is a determined man with public spirit. |
| D．He was informed of the Cookie Jar method. |
| A．The happy memory. | B．The past achievement. |
| C．The container for cookies. | D．The challenge to face. |
| A．Find the Cookie Jar inside Us. |
| B．The Advantages of Cookie Jar. |
| C．The World’s Hardest Foot Race. |
| D．How to Create Your Cookie Jar. |
【推荐3】Every country has certain cultural patterns making it unique. Of course, habits and customs between cultures and countries tend to overlap(重叠). The popularity of social media, for instance, ignores borders and breaks down cultural differences. Technology has made the world a much smaller and culturally similar place. However, when looking at a foreign country, we will always find differences between our traditions and theirs. Young Italians and young Americans, for example, though alike in many respects, have also some pronounced differences, especially when it comes to work, pastimes and sports.
Most American teens have part-time jobs through high school and college. Youths in Italy tend not to. The reasons behind this are multifaceted. It is, to begin with, rather hard in Italy to find the type of part-time jobs students usually take up. Moreover, there is also a different cultural attitude to take into consideration, especially when thinking of certain parts of Italy. Young Italians like to enjoy life to the full and feel there will be time to work once they become adults, hence the lack of interest in finding odd jobs while still in school. Like the old saying goes, some Italians work to Live, while some Americans often live to work.
In a lot of ways, young Italians and Americans spend their free time in a similar fashion. Listening to music, watching movies, hanging out, practicing sports and surfing the Internet are all common ways to pass some free time. Italians, especially, make a point of going out and being social, often choosing between pizzeria or birrerie (place for pizza or beer), which stay open late. Italians often pile into a couple of cars and go out in a big group. In general, American teens participate in a lot of extracurricular(课外的) activities, many often through school, while Italians may not take part in so many.
When going out, Italian teens tend to meet and gather on the streets of their cities or towns, something not as common in the United States, especially in highly populated areas. This very Italian habit can be linked to the urban arrangement of Italian towns. Many of them date back thousands of years and feature central piazzas(广场) and areas built around historical sites that have now become gathering places for the young. If you’re in Italy, don’t be surprised by the sight of hundreds gathered in a piazza or on the street, laughing and drinking the night away.
1. The passage is mainly about ________.| A．the unique lifestyles shared by American and Italian teens |
| B．the relationship between young people of America and Italy |
| C．some customs and habits of the Americans and Italians |
| D．some differences in tradition between young Americans and Italians |
| A．Italians have a better life attitude toward working |
| B．Americans are more diligent and thus live a better life |
| C．Americans and Italians both find it hard to locate a satisfying job |
| D．Italians and Americans have different choices regarding work |
| A．American teens practice sports and surf the Internet to pass time. |
| B．Italian youth take an active part in extracurricular activities. |
| C．American teens like to drive out and social together in big groups. |
| D．Italian youth enjoy pizza and beer because they are cheap. |
| A．The working conditions of the young Americans and Italians. |
| B．The differences in practicing sports between teens of the two nations. |
| C．The central piazzas and areas built around historical sites in Italy. |
| D．The urban arrangement of the highly populated American cities. |
