In the winter of 1664-65, a bitter cold fell on London in the days before Christmas. Above the city, an unusually bright comet (彗星) shot across the sky, exciting much prediction of a snow storm. Outside the city wall, a woman was announced dead of a disease that was spreading in that area. Her house was locked up and the phrase “Lord Have Mercy On Us” was painted on the door in red.
By the following Christmas, the virus that had killed the woman would go on to kill nearly 100,000 people living in and around London — almost a third of those who did not flee.
In The Great Plague (瘟疫), historian A. Lloyd Moote and microbiologist Dorothy C. Moote provide a deeply informed account of this plague year. Reading the book, readers are taken from the palaces of the city’s wealthiest citizens to the poor areas where the vast majority of Londoners were living, and to the surrounding countryside with those who fled. The Mootes point out that, even at the height of the plague, the city did not fall into chaos. Doctors, nurses and the church staff remained in the city to care for the sick; city officials tried their best to fight the crisis with all the legal tools; and commerce continued even as businesses shut down.
To describe life and death in and around London, the authors focus on the experiences of nine individuals. Through their letters and diaries, the Mootes offer fresh descriptions of key issues in the history of the Great Plague: how different communities understood and experienced the disease; how medical, religious, and government bodies reacted; how well the social order held together; the economic and moral dilemmas people faced when debating whether to flee the city; and the nature of the material, social, and spiritual resources supporting those who remained. Based on humanity (人性), the authors offer a masterful portrait of a city and its inhabitants attacked by — and daringly resisting — unimaginable horror.
1. What can we learn from Paragraph 1?| A．A comet always follows a storm. |
| B．London was under an approaching threat. |
| C．London was prepared for the disease. |
| D．The woman was the beginning of the disease. |
| A．The city remained organized. |
| B．The plague spared the rich areas. |
| C．The people tried a lot in vain. |
| D．The majority fled and thus survived. |
| A．They were famous people in history. |
| B．They all managed to survive the Plague. |
| C．They provided vivid stories of humanity. |
| D．They united by thinking and acting as one. |
| A．To introduce a new book. |
| B．To correct a misunderstanding. |
| C．To report a new research. |
| D．To show respect to the authors. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Habit refers to a behavior or practice that is often done without thinking. These following books are powerful when they come to building habits you need to succeed.
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
The interesting thing about habits is that once we develop them, they go totally unnoticed in our day-to-day activities. You just do it. That’s a habit. The Power of Habit teaches you how to build better habits that serve you both in life and work.
The ONE Thing by Gary Keller, Jay Papasan
One of the biggest reasons why most people fail at keeping their New Year’s resolutions is that they set too many of them to begin with. The key to continuous success is actually simple: focus on one thing and see it through for long enough that you achieve your goals. Success is step by step. You must learn to walk before you run.
Meditations (冥思录) by Marcus Aurelius
This book was written over 1800 years ago. Guess what? The powerful rules, written in the second century, remain just as practical today. Marcus Aurelius was known for going for excellence with strong determination, which was built by way of habit.
30 Days By Marc Reklau
The purpose of the book is to provide you with a 30-day challenge to build habits. What’s nice about this book is that it provides step by step instructions. The book encourages you to learn and apply every single day. It’s easier to do that when you are reading one step every single day for the next 30 days. Of course, you can read them all in one sitting if you like.
1. Who advises you to form better habits both in life and work?| A．Charles Duhigg. | B．Gary Keller and Jay Papasan. |
| C．Marcus Aurelius. | D．Marc Reklau. |
| A．The Power of Habit | B．The ONE Thing |
| C．Meditations | D．30 Days |
Both of the books believe ______.
| A．once developed, all habits are good |
| B．we develop habits easily and quickly |
| C．30 days is enough to form a new habit |
| D．only gradually can we achieve success |
【推荐2】Congratulations! You’ve gotten to college, and now you never have to read another book in your life!
Take a lecture course.
Take a literature class with a book on the syllabus that you’ve read before but hated. You know you should like The Sound and the Fury, which you read in junior year of high school. But somehow, you just couldn’t get into it then. Or you knew that Walt Whitman is supposed to be great, but you’ve never clicked with “I Hear America Singing.” This is your opportunity to re-discover the books and authors that you’ve completely written off.
In short, don’t be afraid to take a college literature class.
| A．All the excuses are just getting in the way. |
| B．But don’t be afraid to take a specialized lecture. |
| C．You might find something in them that you love after all. |
| D．But that’s exactly the opposite of what books can do for you in college. |
| E．Don’t be frightened by the fact that you have nowhere to hide — embrace it! |
| F．Take a small seminar, even if you’ve never taken a college literature course before. |
| G．Ask people who are majors in humanities departments to recommend professors to you. |
【推荐3】Whether we are young or old, we all have a dream we would love to come true. The issue is that most of us have no idea where to begin to turn a great idea into fact, or that we choose to abandon our dreams when the going gets tough. If this is you, then self-help guide Dream and Achieve: Discover and Express Your Passion in Your Lifetime by Kola Olutimehin should be at the top of your reading list.
Kola, who fittingly describes himself as a “Dream Driver”, has helped thousands of people achieve through his coaching and public speaking, and he has distilled (浓缩) all his wisdom and tried-and-tested methods into this book.
At the beginning of the book, Kola defines what we mean by a “dream”, stating that a dream is a long-cherished vision of what you want to make your inheritance and your contribution to the world. That doesn’t mean that this dream, whatever it may be, is already fully formed in your mind. It may be fuzzy (模糊的); it may just be a feeling that you were born to attain something you don’t currently possess.
What I love in this section of the book is how Kola, who has built his own business empire with blood, sweat and tears, debunks (驳斥) the common myths people associate with becoming a success, such as the need to make decisions with fully detailed plans.
He therefore urges readers, when faced with a decision, to consider the four “Ds”. These are Desire—questioning what you truly want and why you want it; acting on your Decision, which is an active step; Determination, chiefly having the staying power not to backtrack; and Discipline, which means you must continue to act upon your decision to help make your dreams a reality.
In conclusion, author Kola Olutimehin has captured the essence of success and set it down in print, and Dream and Achieve is the one book you need to find your life’s purpose, and achieve it.
1. What can you get from the book by Kola?| A．A guide to realize your dream. | B．Some skills about public speaking. |
| C．A way to become a rich businessman. | D．Some advice on wise reading choices. |
| A．The definition of a dream. | B．The importance of a dream. |
| C．The power of a dream. | D．The form of a dream. |
| A．Make fully detailed plans. | B．Get rid of your desires. |
| C．Stay optimistic and positive. | D．Think about things you really want. |
| A．A news report. | B．A short story. | C．A book review. | D．A research article. |
【推荐1】All over the world，children in hospital are being treated with a new kind of medicine：Laughter. Lucy is 23 and works for Theodora Children’s Trust. She is one of many clown (小丑) doctors who bring a smile to the faces of sick children.
“I’m a Theodora clown doctor. I call myself Dr Looloo. I spend two days a week in children’s hospitals，making funny faces，telling jokes，and doing magic tricks. As I walk into the wards(病房) I blow bubbles，shake hands with the kids，and make up nonsense songs for those children well enough to sing. I take special balloons to make ‘balloon animals’ and tell funny stories about them.
I’m naturally a very cheerful person. I’ve always been a clown. In fact my father’s a clown and I started working with him when I was eight years old. I knew it was just the job for me and I became a clown doctor because I think it’s a great way to cheer up sick, frightened children in hospital.
Being a clown in hospital is very tiring both physically and emotionally. We have to learn not to show our feelings，otherwise we’d be useless. Clown doctors are sensitive but this is not a side most people see. To the children we’re happy all the time. I’m still learning to allow myself to feel sad occasionally. There working with a very sick little girl from Bosnia who speaks no English，so our only common language is laughter.
At weekends I participate in events to raise money for Theodora Children’s Trust. It’s a charity, so we are paid with the money people give. Being a clown doctor makes the worries of everyday life seem small. All in all I feel honoured to do this job.”
1. Lucy works as a clown doctor because________.| A．her father is a clown |
| B．she has been a clown since she was eight |
| C．laughter is a great help to sick children |
| D．working in hospital brings her extra money |
| A．Teach kids how to speak English. |
| B．Cheer kids up with funny stories. |
| C．Join in activities to raise money. |
| D．Develop kids’ sense of humour. |
| A．an experience of great fun |
| B．an interesting job to make a living |
| C．a good way of getting rid of her worries |
| D．an honourable and meaningful practice |
【推荐2】More than 135,000 UK drinkers will die from cancer caused by alcohol（酒精）by the year 2035, researchers say. A study by Sheffield University and Cancer Research UK shows that alcohol will cost the NHS (National Health Service)￡53 billion over the next ten years including ￡2 billion on cancer.
Although alcohol is known to cause many types of cancer including breast and throat, most people don’t realize the relation between alcohol and cancer. A survey of 2,100 Britons by the researchers earlier this year found nine in ten did not connect drinking with cancer. The researchers used a computer model to work out the numbers of alcohol-related cancer deaths, hospital admissions（入院）and total costs to NHS over the next 20 years.
The study shows that a fifth of men and 1 in 10 women have alcohol every day—many of these are middle-aged and middle class. Researchers are very worried about this group as they believe cancer may be caused by drinking over long periods. The study shows that even if the cost stays as it is, alcohol-related cancer deaths will rise from 6,299 in 2015 to 7,097 in 2034. Alcohol will lead to 891,299 hospital admissions, up from 802,118 in 2015, and 65,005 will be caused by cancer.
Earlier this year Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies studied carefully the alcohol guidance（指导）for the first time in thirty years. She told people there was no safe level of drinking and advised them to drink no more than 14 units a week. But researchers say this guidance isn’t enough and want the government to increase a little price per unit of alcohol.
1. What can we learn from the text?| A．Alcohol will be the main cause of cancer deaths. |
| B．More people will get away from the habit of drinking. |
| C．The computer model can help researchers to cut down costs on cancer. |
| D．Most people are not clear about the relation between alcohol and cancer. |
| A．To continue to support the study. |
| B．To put up the price of alcohol properly. |
| C．To control alcohol-related cancer deaths. |
| D．To study the alcohol guidance carefully. |
| A．A Recent Study about Cancer |
| B．The Cost of the NHS on Alcohol |
| C．The Discovery of the Causes of Cancer |
| D．Alcohol-related cancer over the Coming Years |
【推荐3】One CT image of a brain changed science and medicine forever.
Half a century ago, the first CT image of a patient lifted the veil (面纱) of invisibility that covers the interior of the human body, providing scientists a window on our innards (内脏) unlike any before.
Today, doctors in the United States alone order more than 80 million scans per year. X-ray computed tomography, or CT, is frequently the quickest way of getting a handle on what’s causing a mysterious problem. CT scans can find out heart disease, tumors, blood clots, internal bleeding and more. The technique can give surgeons a heads-up about what they will encounter inside a patient, and guide treatment for cancer and other diseases.
“It answers so many questions quickly. That’s why it’s used,” says medical physicist Cynthia McCollough of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
A CT scan involves thousands of X-ray measurements taken from multiple angles. Here's how it works: A source of X-rays moves around the body, sending a beam (光束) of radiation through bone, blood and tissue, while moving detectors measure the beam that makes it through.
Different materials in the body absorb X-rays differently. The calcium (钙) in bone actively absorbs X-rays, for example, while soft tissues absorb less. So when the data collected by the detectors are joined together by a computer, it can form a cross-sectional view of what’s inside based on where X-rays are absorbed more or less. Moving the table holding the patient so that the X-ray beam and detectors slide along the body enables 3-D reconstructions of organs and other parts.
Over the years, scientists have continually improved the technology, making it faster and higher resolution (清晰度), and cutting the amount of radiation that patients receive. These improved CT scans have painted ever more detailed landscapes of the human body. It’s hard not to be impressed by the beauty of the inner world that the scans bring to the surface.
1. What does the underlined word “heads-up” in paragraph 3 mean?| A．Measure. | B．Choice. | C．Forecast. | D．Treatment. |
| A．By using different materials to absorb X-rays. |
| B．By collecting and sending data to the computer. |
| C．By checking the amount of calcium in the bone. |
| D．By scanning what’s inside based on different X-rays absorption. |
| A．Lower speed. | B．More radiation. | C．Higher resolution. | D．Fewer details. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Positive. | C．Disapproving. | D．Indifferent. |
【推荐1】This year, over 2,000 students across the UK participated in the Youth Industrial Strategy Competition, a national competition organized by the British Science Association. Let’s take a look at some of the most creative ideas that made it to the final.
Rushil Patel’s AI processor
Rushil Patel, a student from St Wilfrid’s Catholic Comprehensive School in Crawley, developed a project that uses offline AI to accurately process a specific object or event in the world around the user.
A Martian habitat to reduce overpopulation
Thinking outside the box, students from Altrincham Grammar School for Girls in Greater Manchester “created” a habitat for humans on Mars in order to reduce the effects of overpopulation on Earth. It’s an unusual idea.
A hydroelectric plumbing (水力发电的管道) system
Students from Mary Webb School and Science College in Shrewsbury made a hydroelectric plumbing system designed to reduce energy wastage. Their product aims to make use of water flowing through the pipes in our homes, by fitting a device into household water pipes that acts as a mini hydroelectric generator.
The rainwater-harvesting bench
Students from Dundonald High School in Northern Ireland created a project that harvests rainwater in the city that can then be used again for human consumption. The product can also operate as a public bench.
1. What makes Rushil Patel’s AI processor different from other ideas?| A．It made it to the final. |
| B．It can be used as a public bench. |
| C．It was invented by a single person. |
| D．It won first place in the competition. |
| A．Rushil Patel’s AI processor. |
| B．The rainwater-harvesting bench. |
| C．A hydroelectric plumbing system. |
| D．A Martian habitat to reduce overpopulation. |
| A．They are fixed in the house. |
| B．They aim to reduce pollution. |
| C．They are good for saving rainwater. |
| D．They relate to making use of water. |
【推荐2】Welcome to the British Museum (WWW.britishmuseum.org)where you can experience cultures across the globe, from the dawn of human history to the present. Here is some information you need to notice.
Opening times
Daily: 10: 00-17:00(Fridays:20:30)
Last entry: 16:00(Fridays: 19:30)
How to book
●We’re limiting numbers of people in the Museum to ensure there’s room for you to safely enjoy your visit. You’re advised to book a free ticket to guarantee Museum entry.
●To book, simply pick the date and time you’d like to visit.
●The date or time you wish to visit has no availability. Please note that walk-up visits are available each day for those who arrive at the Museum without advance bookings. But this does depend on capacity, as walk-up entry cannot be guaranteed.
●To book tickets for exhibitions, click here. Your exhibition ticket also gives you access to the permanent collection.
Entering the Museum
●Entry to the Museum is via the Main entrance on Great Russell Street or the Montague Place entrance.
●Once you’ve gone through the Main entrance, an easy access queuing route is available for disabled visitors, visitors with pushchairs and/or children under five, Members, exhibition and general admission ticket-holders.
●All visitors must pass through a security check which involves a bag search.
We look forward to welcoming you.
1. Which of the following is incorrect as to the visit time?| A．Final admission is one hour before closing. |
| B．Visitors can enjoy a longer stay on Fridays. |
| C．The museum is open for at least 7 hours every day. |
| D．The museum is closed at 16:00 except on Fridays. |
| A．Spend some money buying tickets in advance. |
| B．Have your bag checked for security purposes. |
| C．Buy extra tickets for permanent collection. |
| D．Guarantee the availability of walk-up visits. |
| A．On the Internet. | B．In a booklet. |
| C．In a magazine. | D．On a TV program. |
【推荐3】Here’re the discovery tours organized by our journal New Scientist. Book now for our October adventures.
Morocco and the science of how to get more from your time
4 October 2023/ 6 days
Experience an adventure in the Atlas Mountains designed to be challenging, educational and transformational. Experience a world where local culture is mixed with African and European influence, as crowds form around storytellers in the square. Breathe in the air on top of the Atlas Mountains as the sun rises.
Ancient caves, human origins: northern Spain
8 October or 15 October 2023/ 7 days
Discover some of the world’s oldest known cave paintings in Spain. Travel back 40,000 years to explore the wonders of caves full of art from before the dawn of civilization in small groups by torchlight, accompanied by New Scientist editor Emily, who will share insight on the dawn of human culture and civilization.
The Rockies and the Badlands
23 October 2023/ 7 days
This tour of the Rocky Mountains in America explores the surprising scenery and geology(地质学) of southern Alberta and brings to life the history of settlements in this remote but beautiful land. You will explore the geographic structure of the Kananaskis valley and visit the Lake Louise area, surrounded by mountains originally formed in ancient warm seas.
Neanderthal origins: southern France
25 October or 27 October 2023/10 days
Step back in time on a journey to the sites of southern France with archaeologist Dr. Rebecca. She shows our understanding of these ancient ancestors. As stone carpenters and inventors, Neanderthals pioneered new technologies, and they lived not just through ice ages but in warm woodland worlds too.
Find out more online at newscientist. com/tours.
1. What can one explore in the Atlas Mountains?| A．Cave paintings before human civilization. |
| B．The geographic structure of a river valley. |
| C．The stone inventions of ancient ancestors. |
| D．European cultural influence on the locals. |
| A．A tour of the Rocky Mountains in America. |
| B．A travel to ancient caves in nor them Spain |
| C．The journey to the sites of southern France. |
| D．The trip to see sunrise in the Atlas Mountains. |
| A．The Rockies and the Badlands. |
| B．Neanderthal origins: southern France. |
| C．Ancient caves, human origins: northern Spain. |
| D．Morocco and the science of how to get more from your time. |
