One plus one equals two. There are 60 seconds in one minute. Sixty minutes equals one hour. There are 24 hours in one day. One year includes 365 days. These are all basic facts that we know by heart. But have you ever stopped to think how numbers came into being and how they developed?
It’s safe to say that our society would have never developed without numbers. However, the development of numbers is still a puzzle to us. That’s because when ancient people developed simple ways of counting, they didn’t leave any records behind.
It’s not difficult to guess that numbers and counting began with the number “1”, though ancient people probably didn’t call it “one.” They likely counted by ones and recorded by carving lines on a bone.
The earliest evidence of this is the Ishango Bone (伊尚戈骨), which was found in 1960 in Africa. The bone is believed to be more than 20,000 years old. It has many lines on it. The lines look like what we would call “tally marks” today. Scientists think those lines show how ancient people used numbers.
1. According to the article, we still don’t know ________.| A．the basic facts of numbers | B．where numbers come from |
| C．how to count with numbers | D．the importance of numbers |
| A．Because people today are not smart enough to find it out. |
| B．Because people today can’t find any records of ancient ways of counting. |
| C．Because ancient people forgot to leave any records of their ways of counting. |
| D．Because ancient people didn’t record their ways of counting at all. |
| A．In China. | B．In Africa. | C．In Egypt. | D．In India. |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．The Inshango Bone was found 20,000 years ago. |
| B．There are many numbers on the Inshango Bone. |
| C．Numbers are important to a society’s development. |
| D．Ancient people carved lines on the stones as a way of counting. |
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Everybody Should Say “Thank You” to Ray Tomlinson.
Why should you thank Ray Tomlinson? You might have never heard of his name before, but do you know that the email you use every day was his “child”?
Ray Tomlinson is known as “the father of email”. He was born in New York in 1941. He attended college at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he took part in a program with IBM and in 1963 he received a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering.
In 1971, Ray created the first email system, which allowed people to send message electronically from the same computer. But he thought that there might also be a way to send messages from different computers, which lead to the birth of email we know now. He chose the @ sign to separate local from global (全球的) emails in the mailing address. ‘I used the ‘@’ sign to show that the user was ‘at’ some other hosts (电脑主机) rather than being local,” said Ray in an interview. Person to person network email was born and user@ host became the standard for email addresses, as it remains today.
Ray Tomlinson died at the age of 74. Thank Ray Tomlinson for inventing the email and making the @SIGN well-known. Though he may not be as famous as Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates, Ray Tomlinson surely has his place among the geniuses (天才) that gave us the convenience in our life.
1. Ray Tomlinson is German and known as “the father of email”.2. We still see user@ host as the standard for email address now.
3. Ray Tomlinson created the first email system before he received a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering.
4. Ray Tomlinson may not be as famous as Bill Gates，but he surely has his place among geniuses.
5. We should thank Ray Tomlinson because he made our life more convenient.
【推荐2】Girls aren't any less capable（有能力的） than boys in the left-brain area. They just do far fewer science and math jobs than boys when they grow up.
Few girls like jobs about science and math, largely because they think they are less proficient （精通）in those subjects than boys. According to a study, only 15 percent of first-year college girls plan to study science, technology, engineering and math. Women make up half of the US workforce, but they only do 20 percent of jobs in science, technology, engineering and math.
The program named The Girls, Math & Science Partnership is for girls aged 11 to 17. “They feel safer taking challenges（挑战）, and feel safer asking questions,” Marcia Biswell says. “They seem to have more confidence（自信心） in the things they have learned in that environment.”
Biswell hopes to make excitement about math and science among girls. The girls can grow into women who can someday take a growing number of jobs in math and science.
The program is important to girls because so many high-paying jobs are out there, both now and in the future. In the early school years, girls have as much interest in math and science as boys do. However, the girls lose their interest as they get older.
"Even for kids who don't do math and science jobs, learning these subjects well is helpful for their everyday lives, such as spending money," Biswell says. "We can't turn them all into a scientist or an engineer or a doctor, but we can at least show them how math and science can be used in their lives."
1. Why do few women do jobs about science and math?| A．Because they don't think these are important jobs. |
| B．Because they don't think they are better at science and math. |
| C．Because they get less money when working on such jobs. |
| D．Because they are not interested in those jobs at all. |
| A．Helping girls have more confidence in language learning. |
| B．Asking girls to take safer challenges |
| C．Helping girls become more interested in math and science. |
| D．Encouraging more girls to ask questions about themselves. |
| A．Math and science jobs are more interesting than others. |
| B．Girls are less interested in math and science than boys at birth. |
| C．Math and science are mostly for studying some difficult problems. |
| D．The program may make more girls take jobs in science and math. |
| A．Girls are not less capable in math and science. |
| B．Teachers try hard to develop girls' left brain. |
| C．Girls should all like learning math and science. |
| D．It is important to use math and science in girls' lives. |
【推荐3】DNA is the whole "map" of the human body. It is something that all humans have, and it tells the body what to do.
People have been trying to understand the human body for a long time. In 1860, Mr. Mendel discovered why we look similar to other people in our family. It is because of small things called genes(基因)in our body. In 1953, two scientists, Watson and Crick, found out that those small parts are real messages. They are written in the DNA with a special language.
In 1961, another two scientists found the first "word" that they could understand in that language. It shows how DNA tells the cell(细胞)to build its parts. So far, scientists have found all the words in the DNA map, but we do not understand what they all do. By understanding what just one "word" means, humans can do a lot of things that we couldn’t do before. For example, we can help to save people from several illnesses and make better medicine to help sick people. The more we understand, the more doctors will be able to do. So most people hope that this will help doctors in their work greatly.
1. Why do humans look similar to their parents?| A．Because of small things called genes in our body. | B．Because of the DNA map. |
| C．Because of Watson and Crick. | D．Because of Mr. Mendel’s discovery. |
| A．The DNA map. |
| B．The small parts called genes. |
| C．The special language of DNA. |
| D．The first "word" in the DNA language they could understand. |
| A．help the cell to build its parts. | B．understand every word in the DNA map. |
| C．make medicine for people. | D．help doctors in their work greatly. |
| A．Science | B．Sports | C．Culture | D．History |
【推荐1】Do you know the numbers 0—9 well? They are numbers in Arabic numbers. People use them to mark numbers now. But it’s not the only number system that people use.
About 2,500 years ago, people in Rome used their hands to count. In Roman numerals, one finger means 1, two fingers means 2, three fingers means 3, four fingers means 4. If you want to say five, you can keep your four fingers close on one side and your thumb on the other side. Make each of your hands be five, then you’ll have ten. So in Rome, the numbers are “I, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, IV, V, VI, VⅡ, VⅢ, IX, X”. Also, “L” means fifty, “C”means one hundred. “D” means five hundred and “M”means one thousand. But there is no zero in Roman numerals. Today, few people use them because they are difficult to write and count. But we can still see them on some watches and clocks.
Today, most people use the Arabic numerals. They are easy to remember and write. They help people to count things every day. In fact, Indians first created and used the Arabic numerals. In the late 8th century, people in Arabic countries learned about them. Then the Arabic people took them into Europe. So people in Europe called them Arabic numerals. Today, people around the world use Arabic numerals and they help a lot.
1. Which of the following means five in Roman numerals?| A．5. | B．IV. | C．V. | D．X. |
| A．Arabic numerals. | B．Watches and clocks. |
| C．Zero. | D．Roman numerals. |
| A．People in Rome didn’t use them. |
| B．Arabic people taught the Indians about them. |
| C．Only Arabic people use them today. |
| D．“0” means “zero” in Arabic numerals. |
| A．Because they are not easy to write and count. |
| B．Because there are no Romans any more. |
| C．Because the numbers look stupid. |
| D．Because they are hard to remember. |
a. Arabic people learned about Arabic numerals.
b. Indians created Arabic numerals.
c. Arabic people took Arabic numerals into Europe.
d. People all over the world use Arabic numerals.
| A．b-c-a-d | B．b-a-c-d | C．d-b-a-c | D．d-c-b-a |
【推荐2】The number of people who have died worldwide in the CVID-19 pandemic（新冠肺炎疫情）has passed three million, according to Johns Hopkins University（约翰霍普金斯大学）. The milestone（转折点）comes the day after the head of the WHO（世卫组织）warned the world was “Reaching the highest rate of infection”（最高感染率）so far. India experiencing a second wave recorded more than 230,000 new cases（病例）on Saturday alone.
More than 140 million cases have been recorded all over the world since the pandemic began.
WHO chief Dr. Tedros warned on Friday that “cases and deaths are continuing to increase at worrying speeds”. He added that “All over the world, the number of new cases every week has nearly doubled over the past two months”.
The US, India and Brazil, the countries with the most recorded cases, have accounted for more than a million deaths between them, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Last week, an average（平均）of 12,000 deaths a day reported around the world, according to news agency AFP. However, official figures worldwide（世界官方数据）may not fully reflect the true number in many countries.
根据短文内容，选择最佳答案。
1. How many people have died all over the world according to Johns Hopkins University?
| A．More than 3,000,000. | B．Less than 3,000,000. | C．More than 30,000,000. | D．Less than 30,000,000. |
| A．According to Johns Hopkins University, the world was reaching the highest rate of infection. |
| B．India experiencing a second wave recorded more than 230,000 new cases only in one day. |
| C．More than 140 million cases have been recorded all over India since the pandemic began. |
| D．Dr. Tedros is the head of Johns Hopkins University. |
| A．The UK, the US. and India. | B．Brazil, the UK. and India. |
| C．Brazil, the US. and India. | D．Britain, the US and Brazil. |
| A．there will be the most deaths all over the world soon |
| B．there were the most deaths last week all over the world |
| C．official figures worldwide may reflect lager number of deaths in many countries |
| D．official figures worldwide may reflect smaller number of deaths in many countries |
| A．The COVID-19 pandemic is in control all over the word. |
| B．How to poet ourselves in the COVID 19 pandemic. |
| C．The cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| D．The COVID-19 pandemic is still serious in some countries. |
【推荐3】Would you pick up a book in your free time? Many teenagers in western countries would say “no”. Reading for pleasure is a hot topic in countries such as the USA and the UK. It means you read a book out of interest, not because teachers or parents tell you to do so.
About a third of 13-year-olds in the USA say that they read for pleasure fewer than twice a year, according to studies by the USA organization Common Sense Media. At the same time, in the UK, more than 60 percent of 18-to-30-year-olds prefer watching television or DVDs to reading, according to a survey from the charity Booktrust.
Computer games, online videos and social networking (社交网络) are pushing books off the shelf. Educational experts believe it’s a worrying fact.
“A reading child is, quite simply, a successful child,” said British children's writer Alan Gibbons, who used to be a school teacher. “When you read often with full interest, you lay foundations (打好基础) that last for life.”
It’s never too late to start reading. So try turning off the TV and jump into the wonderful world of a book!
1. What does the underlined word“It” in Paragraph 1 refer to（指代）?| A．Picking up a book. | B．Saying “no”. |
| C．Reading for pleasure. | D．Pushing books of the shelf. |
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
| A．Computer games. | B．Too much homework. | C．Social activities. | D．Offline videos. |
| A．a child could be successful in reading |
| B．reading for pleasure helped us succeed in our life |
| C．a child was interested in laying foundations |
| D．we should read often for other people |
| A．We are old enough to read now. | B．We should jump now. |
| C．We will be interested in reading later. | D．We’d better start to read now. |
【推荐1】People in Los Angeles love cars very much. The city is very big, and its public transportation (公共交通) is slow. So people drive everywhere. But now, a lot of people who like riding are trying to get people out of their cars but on bikes.
Devon says he has to be careful when he rides his bike on the streets. “A lot of people drive very fast, and it’s very difficult to be careful.” Although riding a bike to work can be dangerous, he likes to ride his bike to work. “It’s much better than driving a car. For example, I don’t have to think about where to park the car.”
Roger drives to work. “You always have to look at the both sides because someone would rush (冲) across by bike. Or you can easily get into an accident.”
If some people live and work near each other, they can ride to work together to make the bike ride relaxing. They call a “bike train”. Anna helps make the group—L. A. Bike Trains. “You’re in a big group. If you’re afraid of riding alone, you can now ride with other people.” Anna says that people would feel safer (更安全的) by riding together in a group.
1. Most people in Los Angeles use ________ in their lives.| A．cars | B．buses | C．trains | D．bicycles |
| A．safe | B．dangerous | C．boring | D．exciting |
| A．Because she drives fast. |
| B．Because she doesn’t look carefully at the both sides of the road. |
| C．Because someone would ride a bike and rush across the street suddenly. |
| D．Because too many people drive cars in Los Angeles. |
| A．Devon. | B．Anna. | C．Roger. | D．We don’t know. |
| A．riding in a “bike train” can help people feel safer |
| B．Devon is one bicyclist of the group—Bike Trains |
| C．Roger likes riding her bikes to work |
| D．Devon thinks riding a bike is more difficult |
【推荐2】People in Western countries are eating less meat these days, whether for their health or because they want to protect animals. But now they have another reason.
Eating less meat can help to prevent climate change, according to a recent study published in Nature.
Raising livestock (家畜) is bad for the environment. When animals like cows digest (消化) food, their stomachs make greenhouse gases, which are a major cause of global warming. Seventeen percent of greenhouse gas emissions (排放) come from livestock farming, The New York Times reported.
In addition, to raise these livestock, people have to cut down forests and turn them into farms. Forests play a key role in fighting global warming because they absorb greenhouse gases.
Eating less meat according to certain guidelines could cut global food-related emissions by nearly a third by 2050, the study found. Keeping a vegetarian diet in the long term could bring down emissions by 63 percent.
But eating less meat won’t be easy. According to the study, people in Western countries will need to eat 90 percent less meat than they do now in order to have an impact (影响) on our climate. Scientists are now trying to find new foods to replace meat.
Some say that insects could help. A 2013 UN report said that eating insects is healthier and better for the environment. They produce 75 percent less greenhouse gases than livestock.
Some experts are creating lab-grown meat. They make meat in a lab using livestock cells (细胞). In March, US company JUST said people in the US might be able to buy its lab-grown meat by the end of this year
1. How much less meat should people eat to influence the climate?| A．63 percent. | B．70 percent. | C．75 percent. | D．90 percent. |
| A．there will be more animal-related waste |
| B．less livestock means less greenhouse gas emissions |
| C．animals are an important part of the environment |
| D．people will plant more trees around their houses |
a. stay healthy b. reduce waste c. protect animals d. slow down climate change
| A．a;b;c | B．b;c;d | C．a;b;d | D．a;c;d |
| A．Why Westerners eat less meat these days. |
| B．What people will eat in the future. |
| C．How eating less meat influences the environment. |
| D．What the major cause of global warming is. |
【推荐3】Let’s imagine this: Your parents are going out of town for a week. You’re left with 800 yuan. How will you spend it? It would be silly to spend the money at the mall, especially if you already have great clothes in your room, right? A better way to spend that money would be on key things such as food and transportation. You’d probably also want to put part of the money aside for something else.
Well, you just learned how to budget (预算). It’s all about deciding what matters the most to you and how much you want to spend on these things.
Working out your priorities (优先事项) is the most important part of budgeting. For example, if you plan on buying a new smartphone and a cool smartwatch, you should consider saving some money. The next time your friends invite you to go to KTV with them, you might as well decide to pass.
But having a budget doesn’t mean you can’t have fun; you just have to get creative. Instead of meeting your friends at the pizza shop and then going to the movies, you could invite them over to your house. You can buy some frozen pizzas at the supermarket and watch a movie online. It’s a lot cheaper but just as fun.
If you search for budgeting tips, you’ll find many. As a young person, you have plenty of chances to experiment (尝试) with different ways. Once you find a way that works for you, it’s easier to get excited about budgeting.
Keep in mind that even adults make mistakes at times. If you go over your budget, just try to learn from your mistakes.
1. Why does the writer suggest spending the money on food and transportation?| A．Because they cost less money. |
| B．Because they may avoid trouble. |
| C．Because they are more important in daily life. |
| A．Go to the party. | B．Refuse the invitation. | C．Make a plan. |
| A．By searching things online. |
| B．By doing something by ourselves. |
| C．By working out how much we want to spend. |
| A．It can be easier for adults. | B．It can be difficult but helpful. | C．It can stop people having fun. |
| A．Learning to Spend Money Wisely |
| B．The Importance of Saving Money |
| C．Tips on How to Make More Money |
