1 . No one is sure how the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids near Cairo. But a new study suggests they used a little rock ‘n’ roll. Long-ago builders could have attached wooden poles to the stones and rolled them across the sand, the scientists say.
“Technically, I think what they're proposing is possible,” physicist Daniel Bonn said.
People have long puzzled over how the Egyptians moved such huge rocks. And there's no obvious answer. On average, each of the two million big stones weighed about as much as a large pickup truck. The Egyptians somehow moved the stone blocks to the pyramid site from about one kilometer away.
The most popular view is that Egyptian workers slid the blocks along smooth paths. Many scientists suspect workers first would have put the blocks on sleds(滑板). Then they would have dragged them along paths. To make the work easier, workers may have lubricated the paths either with wet clay or with the fat from cattle. Bonn has now tested this idea by building small sleds and dragging heavy objects over sand. .
Evidence from the sand supports this idea. Researchers found small amounts of fat, as well as a large amount of stone and the remains of paths.
However, physicist Joseph West, who led the new study, thinks there might have been a simpler way. West said, “I was inspired while watching a television program showing how sleds might have helped with pyramid construction. I thought, ‘Why don't they just try rolling the things?’” A square could be turned into a rough sort of wheel by attaching wooden poles to its sides, he realized. That, he noted, should make a block of stone “a lot easier to roll than a square”.
So he tried it. He and his students tied some poles to each of four sides of a 30-kilogram stone block. That action turned the block into somewhat a wheel. Then they placed the block on the ground.
They wrapped one end of a rope around the block and pulled. The researchers found they could easily roll the block along different kinds of paths. They calculated that rolling the block required about as much force as moving it along a slippery(滑的) path.
West hasn't tested his idea on larger blocks, but he thinks rolling has clear advantages over sliding. At least, workers wouldn't have needed to carry cattle fat or water to smooth the paths.
1. It's widely believed that the stone blocks were moved to the pyramid site by _________.| A．rolling them on roads | B．pushing them over the sand |
| C．sliding them on smooth paths | D．dragging them on some poles |
| A．Made the paths wet. | B．Made the paths hard. |
| C．Made the paths wide. | D．Made the paths slippery. |
| A．Because more force is needed for sliding. |
| B．Because rolling work can be done by fewer cattle. |
| C．Because sliding on smooth roads is more dangerous. |
| D．Because less preparation on paths is needed for rolling. |
| A．An experiment on ways of moving blocks to the pyramid site. |
| B．An application of the method of moving blocks to the pyramid site. |
| C．An argument about different methods of moving blocks to the pyramid site. |
| D．An introduction to a possible new way of moving blocks to the pyramid site. |
2 . Edmund Halley was an English scientist who lived over 200 years ago. He studied the observations of comets which other scientists had made. The orbit of one particular comet was a very difficult mathematical problem. He could not figure it out. Neither could other scientists who dealt with such problems.
However, Halley had a friend named Newton, who was a brilliant mathematician. Newton thought he had already worked out that problem, but he could not find the papers on which he had done it. He told Halley that the orbit of a comet had the shape of an ellipse.
Now Halley set to work. He figured out the orbits of some of the comets that had been observed by scientists. He made a surprising discovery. The comets that had appeared in the years 1531, 1607, and 1682 all had the same orbit. Yet their appearances had been 75 to 76 years apart.
This seemed very strange to Halley. The different comets followed the same orbit. The more Halley thought about it, the more he thought that there had not been three different comets, as people thought. He decided that they had simply seen the same comet three times. The comet had gone away and had come back again.
It was an astonishing idea! Halley felt certain enough to make a prediction of what comet would happen in the future. He decided that this comet would appear in the year 1758. There were 53 years to go before Halley’s prediction could be tested. In 1758 the comet appeared in the sky. Halley did not see it, for he had died some years before. Ever since then that comet has been called Halley’s comet, in his honor.
1. Halley made his discovery ________.| A．by doing experiments | B．by means of his own careful observation |
| C．by using the work of other scientists | D．by chance |
| A．1704 | B．1705 | C．1706 | D．1707 |
| A．Halley and other scientists | B．the orbit of a comet |
| C．Newton and Halley | D．Halley and his discovery |
| A．Edmund Halley was an American scientist. | B．Halley made his discovery by doing experiments. |
| C．Newton was a famous mathematician. | D．The orbit of a comet had the shape of a circle. |
3 . Four Free Mobile Apps to Help You Learn English Faster
Have you realised that you can put your smartphone to really good use for learning English? Here are 4 free mobile apps that will help you do just that.
Hello English
It covers all the aspects of language learning, including vocabulary, translation, grammar, spelling, speaking and reading skills. It uses interactive games to teach different English lessons and offers new audiobooks, the latest news, and books. However, you should already understand basic English structures and the alphabet, for the app can't help you learn English from scratch（从零开始）.
Duolingo
If you want to learn English from scratch, then this is the app you are looking for, Duolingo uses interactive games to help you learn English. For beginners, the app focuses on helping you learn verbs, phrases and sentences.
Lingbe
If you are ready to practise your spoken skills in the real-world communication, you'll need Lingbe. It's a community-based app where people help each other and share their native languages. It connects you with real people on call who are native English speakers.
HelloTalk
HelloTalk is similar to Lingbe as it connects you with native speakers to help improve your language skills. However, it adds a few extra functions that might interest you. You can view the information about users to find a match that interests you. Additionally, you can also send text and audio messages, and even make video calls with other people.
If you are a beginner, start from Duolingo and then use Hello English to have a good command of the language. For fluent spoken English learners, you can try out Lingbe or HelloTalk.
1. What should you already understand to use Hello English?| A．Good reading and writing skills. |
| B．Basic listening and speaking tips. |
| C．Different English lessons and books. |
| D．English letters and basic structures. |
| A．Hello English. | B．Duolingo. |
| C．Lingbe. | D．HelloTalk. |
| A．Read the latest news. |
| B．Enjoy the interactive games. |
| C．Practise your spoken English. |
| D．Talk with native speakers face-to-face. |
4 . It was just a normal day for Ruth Miller, a 63-year-old woman until everything went horribly wrong. She was walking to her car after shopping when the unthinkable happened.
Right as she was unlocking her car, a man quickly came up behind her and tried to wrestle her purse away. She was in a state of shock. Luckily she remembered she had her Safe Personal Alarm (SPA) on her purse, and since she was too scared to scream for help, she quickly reached for the alarm and pulled the pin (保险栓). Immediately her SPA started just screaming. The man didn’t know what to do! He froze for a second, and then ran away like a bat out of hell!
SPA is a safety device capable of creating a 125 dB sound that attracts attention and scares away potential attackers. To compare, it’s the same volume as a military jet during take-off.
Paul Davidson, the inventor of SPA, knows all too well the type of situation that Ruth found herself in. But that’s not the only type of situation that SPA helps protect against. Parents can give it to their kids as an extra means of protection. Teenagers can use it so they can feel safe walking home. Women can know ifs there when they have to use the parking lot at night. “My mother, who is 76 years old, carries it around in case she falls and needs to ask people for help. I only wish I’d have thought of it earlier,” said Paul.
The police have been recommending SPA since it first hit the market. In fact, since its launch, SPA has been in a state, shifting between in stock and sold out nearly every other week, and it’s also got tons of loyal followers worldwide.
1. What does the underlined part “the unthinkable” in Paragraph 1 refer to?| A．An attempted robbery. | B．A wrestling match. |
| C．An angry argument. | D．A car accident. |
| A．She fought violently. | B．She froze in great fear. |
| C．She cried desperately for help. | D．She sounded her safety device. |
| A．To imply the elderly need more care. | B．To suggest he cares about his mother. |
| C．To show SPA can be widely used. | D．To make an advertisement for SPA. |
| A．SPA is well received in the market. | B．People hesitate to pay for security. |
| C．SPA was sold out in the first two weeks. | D．The police seldom recommend products. |
5 . I had a picnic one day with my sister. We both like to ride her motorcycle and that day we rode it to the nearest park. We bought some coffee and cakes, and then we enjoyed our food. Within a few hours, the sky changed and looked ready for a heavy rain. We packed everything and were ready to go. My sister, who was sitting on a bench suddenly was very still and couldn't talk to me.She couldn't move. Her eyes were rolling and she was about to lose consciousness(知觉). I held her in my arms and asked if she wanted to rest. She didn’t answer and only said“Sorry.”
It started to rain and I didn't know what to do. She was fighting to stay aware but her skin was pale and her eyes were acting strangely. Suddenly, from nowhere, a woman on a bicycle appeared. wearing a raincoat." She isn't looking good. Do you want me to call an ambulance(救护车)?”“Yes, please,yes!”I begged.
She did. Struggling with the rain, she managed to call some policemen, who quickly helped me carry my sister to a safer place. The ambulance arrived and we went to a hospital where she was treated in time and she came to life the next morning after some rest and medical help.
An interesting fact was that I guessed the woman in the raincoat was a doctor or a nurse. I later learned from one of the police officers who told me: “No.She was an ordinary person who took some courses on emergency situations(紧急情况).”
I am so grateful that she appeared exactly at the moment I don’t know why or how .I didn’t even get the chance to say thanks to her.
1. What happened when the author and her sister were ready to go?| A．They had a fight. | B．The sister fell ill suddenly. |
| C．They were caught in the rain. | D．They had difficulty packing things. |
| A．By giving first aid to her sister. | B．By protecting her sister from the rain. |
| C．By carrying her sister to the hospital | D．By asking for emergency medical help |
| A．To keep order in the park. |
| B．To send the sick girl to hospital. |
| C．To carry the sick girl to a safer place quickly. |
| D．To carry the sick girl onto the ambulance. |
| A．Thankful | B．Friendly |
| C．Doubtful | D．Admirable |
6 . Just a few months earlier, I would never have pictured myself acting in a play in front of two hundred people. If not for my
In the first and second grade, I was extremely
One day, she announced our class was going to
After school, Mrs. Sather said to me, “Dallas, I was
I realized it was time to show the world who I really was. I
At the end of the play, when the audience stood and applauded, I knew they were not just
| A．partner | B．teacher | C．parent | D．classmate |
| A．shy | B．weak | C．energetic | D．ambitious |
| A．recommended | B．allowed | C．encouraged | D．accompanied |
| A．drawback | B．peace | C．character | D．strength |
| A．perform | B．watch | C．write | D．enjoy |
| A．put down | B．reached out | C．shot up | D．drew back |
| A．excited | B．amused | C．afraid | D．surprised |
| A．store | B．mind | C．memory | D．comparison |
| A．really | B．initially | C．finally | D．spiritually |
| A．turn | B．choice | C．luck | D．fault |
| A．created | B．played | C．accepted | D．remembered |
| A．practicing | B．learning | C．observing | D．communicating |
| A．celebrating | B．chatting | C．cheering | D．congratulating |
| A．praises | B．efforts | C．beliefs | D．performances |
| A．skill | B．confidence | C．interest | D．hobby |
7 . In all the world's cultures, people sing, play instruments, and celebrate with music. It plays such an important role in our lives that all fields focus on its study, including one looking at the biology of music. Experts find that because of the way our brains process music, learning to play an instrument or just listening to music can have a wide range of benefits.
Music education has received a lot of attention. Learning to play an instrument can help children improve math, science, and language skills. One study in Canada tracked children's IQ scores for nine months, discovering that children who studied music had the biggest test score improvements. The secret may lie in the way reading music and playing notes use several areas of the brain, increasing our ability to learn school subjects. For example, reading notes improves spatial (空间的) reasoning skills, which are helpful in solving math problems like fractions (分数).
Music is also used for medical purposes, such as the treatment of diseases which affect memories. The secret lies in the way the brain processes music. One area near the forehead, the medial prefrontal cortex(脑前额叶外皮), connects music with memories stored in two other areas: the amygdale(杏仁核) and hippocampus(海马体). That's why an old song can remind you of something that happened years ago. For patients suffering from diseases like Alzheimer's, listening to music can help unlock buried memories by strengthening musical pathways to memories.
With the evidence of music's benefits, it's no wonder some countries make music study a part of their education systems. People are recognizing that more than just a form of entertainment, music is also great for the brain.
1. According to the Canadian study, which children increased IQ scores?| A．Those who already had high IQ scores. |
| B．Those who had always played music. |
| C．Those who could not play any instrument. |
| D．Those who studied music for a period of time. |
| A．Spatial reasoning. |
| B．Alzheimer's. |
| C．The amygdale and hippocampus. |
| D．The medial prefrontal cortex. |
| A．Music and health |
| B．Music and education |
| C．Music and the mind |
| D．Music and instruments |
| A．music can be used for medical treatments |
| B．music plays a very important role in our lives |
| C．our brains can process music in different ways |
| D．music education has received a lot of attention |
8 . Rome can be pricey for travelers, which is why many choose to stay in a hostel (旅社). The hostels in Rome offer a bed in a dorm room for around $25 a night, and for that, you’ll often get to stay in a central location (位置) with security and comfort.
Yellow HostelIf I had to make just one recommendation for where to stay in Rome, it would be Yellow Hostel. It’s one of the best-rated hostels in the city, and for good reason. It’s affordable, and it’s got a fun atmosphere without being too noisy. As an added bonus, it’s close to the main train station.
Hostel Alessandro PalaceIf you love social hostels, this is the best hostel for you in Rome. Hostel Alessandro Palace is fun. Staff members hold plenty of bar events for guests like free shots, bar crawls and karaoke. There’s also an area on the rooftop for hanging out with other travelers during the summer.
Youth Station HostelIf you’re looking for cleanliness and a modern hostel, look no further than Youth Station. It offers beautiful furnishings and beds. There are plenty of other benefits, too; it doesn’t charge city tax; it has both air conditioning and a heater for the rooms; it also has free Wi-Fi in every room.
Hotel and Hostel Des ArtistesHotel and Hostel Des Artistes is located just a 10-minute walk from the central city station and it’s close to all of the city’s main attractions. The staff is friendly and helpful, providing you with a map of the city when you arrive, and offering advice if you require some. However, you need to pay 2 euros a day for Wi-Fi.
1. What is probably the major concern of travelers who choose to stay in a hostel?| A．Comfort. | B．Security. |
| C．Price. | D．Location. |
| A．Yellow Hostel. | B．Hostel Alessandro Palace. |
| C．Youth Station Hostel. | D．Hotel and Hostel Des Artistes. |
| A．It gets noisy at night. | B．Its staff is too talkative. |
| C．It charges for Wi-Fi. | D．It’s inconveniently located. |
9 . Edmund Halley was an English scientist who lived over 200 years ago. Some scientists had already observed comets then, and Halley studied them carefully. The orbit (轨道) of one special comet was a very hard mathematical (数学的) problem. He couldn’t work it out. Neither could other scientists who dealt with such problems.
However, Halley had a friend named Newton, who was an excellent mathematician. Newton thought he had already worked out that problem, but he could not find the papers on which he had done it. He told Halley that the orbit of a comet had the shape of an ellipse (椭圆).
Now Halley set to work. He worked out the orbits of some of the comets that had been observed by scientists. He made a surprising discovery. The comets that had appeared in the years 1531, 1607, and 1682 all had the same orbit. Yet their appearances had been 75 to 76 years apart.
This seemed very strange to Halley. The different comets followed the same orbit. The more Halley thought about it, the more he thought that there had not been three different comets, as people thought. He decided that they had simply seen the same comet three times. The comet had gone away and had come back again.
It was an astonishing idea! Halley felt certain enough to make a prediction of what comet would happen in the future. He decided that this comet would appear in the year 1758. There were 53 years to go before Halley's prediction could be tested. In 1758 the comet appeared in the sky. Halley did not see it, for he has died some years before. Ever since then that comet has been called Halley's comet, in his honor.
1. Halley made his discovery ________.| A．by using the work of other scientists | B．through his own careful observation |
| C．by doing some experiments secretly | D．by figuring out some hard problems |
| A．1607 | B．1682 | C．1705 | D．1811 |
| A．Halley and other scientists | B．the orbit of a comet |
| C．Newton and Halley | D．Halley and his discovery |
| A．The orbit of a comet was a round shape. |
| B．Halley did not live up to the year 1758. |
| C．Halley was an Australian mathematician. |
| D．Halley worked out the comet’s orbit first. |
10 . Mathilda, 15, is Turkana, a native people that has survived by raising cattle in a semiarid region. Mathilda's school, like most schools in the area, doesn't have access to clean water and sanitation facilities for its students. So instead of spending their whole school day learning, Mathilda and her classmates start their day by spending two hours to the closest river fetching water—water that is anyway most likely not safe to drink. They do the same thing again in the afternoon, so they often lose around half of their school day fetching water.
Mathilda has to do the same thing outside of school hours to get the water her family needs at home, leaving her little time for studying. Because of rising temperatures, water has become harder and harder to find here, and people have to spend more and more time trying to find it.
This is just one small example of how climate change is making it harder to realise people's rights to water, education and security. Unfortunately, most higher-income countries remained silent on the issue.
This shows that communities already facing marginalization, such as women and children, mostly suffer from climate change. This is especially the case for those in countries with limited resources and fragile ecosystems.
Meanwhile, women consist of the majority of the world's poor, and so are more dependent for their livelihood on natural resources that are threatened by climate change. And around the world, women and girls are the most likely to be responsible for fetching water for their families.
This exposes them to danger and leaves them with less time to attend school, earn money, or simply to rest. But the fact is that the effects of climate change will be felt globally.
Despite the difficulties she is facing, trying to get an education, Mathilda says she hopes to serve her community in a leadership role when she grows up.
“All of the world's leaders need to work together to solve this problem that we are all facing,” she said.
1. Mathilda has to spend _____ fetching water every school day.| A．two hours | B．four hours | C．more than four hours | D．almost a whole day |
| A．the cause and effect of lack of water |
| B．one serious consequence of climate change |
| C．the difficulties in fetching water in the semiarid region |
| D．the hardship of life for the people in the semiarid region |
| A．climate change is everyone's business |
| B．water is becoming rare because of rising temperatures |
| C．fetching water takes up Mathilda's half of studying time |
| D．females are more responsible for fetching water for their families |
| A．rising temperatures | B．fetching water | C．climate change | D．water shortage |
