1 . A fat man with a camera around his neck and a bottle of sunscreen cream sticking out of his bag, he really did look like a tourist. He sat on the terrace (平台), sipping lemonade and pretending to look at a tourism brochure. His sunglasses masked his eyes, but I knew he wasn't looking at the brochure: he hadn't turned a page for the last ten minutes. As I brought him his dishes, he coughed up a "thank you" and looked at me briefly I tried not to stare at the tiny scar across his left eyebrow.
I walked back inside with my empty tray, shaking my head. He looked familiar, but I couldn't quite place him. Then it hit me. The car accident. The mysterious stranger who helped me out of my crashed car, just before it exploded. I rushed back to his table. He was gone.
I moved his saucer and found his tip, along with a card: I am deeply grateful to you. The night of your car accident, I was on my way to rob a jewelry store. Saving your life brought things back in a right way. I now live an honest life, thanks to you. God bless you! Mr. D.
I shivered (震颤). The night of my car accident, I was heading for an interview in an illegal dance club. Seeing human kindness through his heroic gesture (英雄姿态) turned my life around and brought faith back into my life. I unfolded the tip he left. Among the singles was a grand (一千块) with a pen mark underlining "In God We Trust. "I said a silent prayer for him and got back to work, smiling.
1. Why did the fat man look like a tourist?A.Because he doesn't look like a native citizen. |
B.Because he ordered strange food and drinks |
C.Because he used money not the same as the locals. |
D.Because he carried what tourists usually have on. |
A.The page remained unturned. | B.He was drinking all the time. |
C.He sat still with his sunglasses. | D.He was staring at the writer. |
A.The man became a rich man year later. |
B.The writer didn't go to that interview. |
C.The writer had been searching for the man. |
D.They kept in touch with each other since then. |
A.Cod. | B.Worried. | C.Grateful. | D.Trusty. |
2 . Plants cannot run or hide, so they need other strategies to avoid being eaten. Some curl up their leaves, others produce chemicals to make themselves taste bad if they sense animals drooling on them, chewing them up or laying eggs on them—all signals of an attack. New research now shows some flora can feel a plant-eating animal well before it launches an attack, letting a plant prepare a preemptive(先发制人的)defense that even works against other pest species.
When ecologist John Orrock of the University of Wisconsin-Madison sprayed snail slime—a liquid the animals release as they slide along—onto soil, nearby tomato plants appeared to notice. They increased their levels of an enzyme(酶), which is known to prevent plant-eating animals. “None of the plants were ever actually attacked,” Orrock says. “We just gave them cues that suggested an attack was coming, and that was enough to cause big changes in their chemistry.”
Initially Orrock found this defense worked against snails; in the latest study, his team measured the slimy warning’s impact on another potential threat. The investigators found that hungry caterpillars(毛虫), which usually eat tomato leaves greedily, had no appetite for them after the plants were exposed to snail slime and activated their chemical resistance. This nonspecific defense may be a strategy that benefits the plants by further improving their overall possibilities of survival, says Orrock, who reported the results with his colleagues in March in Oecologia.
The finding that a snail’s approach can cause a plant response that affects a different animal made Richard Karban curious, a plant communications expert, who was not involved in the study. “It is significant that the plants are responding before being damaged and that these cues are having such far-ranging effects, ” Karban says. The research was comprehensive, he adds, but he wonders how the tomato plants felt chemicals in snail slime that never actually touched them.
“That’s the million-dollar question,” Orrock says. He hopes future research will make out the mechanisms that enable plants to sense these relatively distant cues.
1. John Orrock sprayed a liquid onto soil near tomato plants to ________.A.make them grow better |
B.give them a warning |
C.keep plant-eating animals away |
D.inform plant-eating animals of danger |
A.To introduce another animal. |
B.To confirm the result of the study. |
C.To appeal to people to protect animals. |
D.To analyze different resistance chemicals. |
A.How tomato plants become aware of danger. |
B.What the chemicals in the snail slime are. |
C.Whether the research is of practical value. |
D.What the finding of the research is. |
A.Watchful Plants. | B.Greedy Animals. |
C.A Snail’s Approach. | D.A Defense Attack. |
3 . What do you plan to do when you retire? Keep working? Get more exercise? Or learn something new? You may put them on hold. There's a chance that, sooner or later, you might have to move further than you were thinking, as far as Mars.
On Thursday, National Geographic will show the first-ever Mars show home, giving earthlings (地球人)an idea of what their life could look like on the Red Planet. In the not-so-distant year of 2037, the igloo-shaped structure could be the home of your future.
It shows a house built using recycled spacecraft parts and Martian soil, called regolith, which has been microwaved into bricks. Some parts of the home are recognizable — a kitchen, a bedroom — but there are fundamental differences that are important to human survival.
As the Martian atmosphere is around one hundredth as thick as the Earth’s, people will need permanent (永久的) shelter from the sun;society will move largely indoors. Most buildings will be connected by underground passages and the houses won't have windows. The homes will have simulated solar lighting, or natural light that has been bent several times. Walls will need to be 10 to 12 feet thick, to protect people from dangerous rays (光线)that can pass through six feet of steel, and a double air-locked entrance to keep the home under proper pressure.
"We don’t think of our houses as things that keep us alive, but on Mars your house will be a survival centre, 99 says Stephen Petranek, author of How We’ll Live on Mars. This is not just the stuff of sci-fi. “10 to 20 years from now there will certainly be people on Mars,” Petranek says.
“We’ve had the technology for 30 years to land people on Mars, but we haven’t had the will, ”Petranek says. But two main factors have “completely swung public attitudes”.
The private companies’ participation has forced government agencies to speed up their game, and influential films such as Gravity and The Martian have caught society’s eye.
1. What do the underlined words "put them on hold" in paragraph 1 probably mean?A.Put them off. | B.Give them away. |
C.Carry them through. | D.Take them seriously. |
A.It has no windows or doors due to security concern. |
B.Its design presents the idea of environmental protection. |
C.It has thick walls keeping the home under propel pressure. |
D.Its underground passages connect all the buildings together. |
A.The development of related technology. |
B.The competition from private companies. |
C.The great influence of the Mars show home. |
D.The popularity of influential books on Mars. |
A.Living on Mars: Possible or Not | B.Sending People to Mars: Yes or No |
C.First-Ever Show Home: How Is It Made | D.Future Home on Mars: What Will It Be like |
4 . One form of social prejudice (偏见) against older people is the belief that they cannot understand or use modern technology. Activities like playing computer games, going on the Net and downloading MP3s are only for the youngsters. Isn’t it unfair that older people enjoying a computer game should be frowned upon (反对) by their children and grandchildren?
Nowadays older people have more control over their lives and they play a full part in society. Moreover, better health care has let more people in their sixties and seventies feeling fit and active after retirement. Mental activity, as well as physical exercise, can contribute to better health. Playing computer games is a very effective way of exercising the brain. So that’s why grey gamers are often seen now.
When personal computers were first introduced, most older people didn’t believe they would ever get familiar with them. Now computers have been around for a few generations and retired people have gradually become more relaxed about using them for fun. Gamers over 65 prefer playing puzzle games and card games. Kate Stevens, aged 72, says, “I find it very relaxing. It’s not very demanding, but you still need to concentrate.”
Another development that has favored “grey games” is a change in the type of video games available on the market. There’s a greater variety of games to choose from, including more intellectual and complex strategy and simulation (模拟) games. For example, Internet Chess and Train Simulator are among the most popular of these. Train Simulator is based on real — world rail activities. Players can choose from a variety of challengers, such as keeping to a strict timetable and using helper engines during a winter storm.
Some people argue that “grey gamers” simply don’t have the skills required for computer games, and that teenagers are better. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Most computer games require the kind of analytical thinking that improves with practice, which means that the “grey gamers” may well be far better than the young. In games where speed is the main consideration, older people would be at a disadvantage because they may have slower reaction. time. On the other hand, “grey gamers” have a preference for slower — paced, mind challenging games.
1. The second paragraph is intended to___________.A.show the best way to exercise the brain | B.stress the importance of good health |
C.explain why grey gamers exist | D.teach how to play video games |
A.Doubtful. | B.Concerned. | C.Enthusiastic. | D.Supportive. |
A.offering numbers | B.giving examples | C.making comparisons | D.providing details |
A.mind challenging games are not suitable for older people |
B.teenagers should improve their skills with practice |
C.playing computer games requires analytical thinking |
D.older people may perform well in computer games |
5 . Since 1984, Philadelphia has been cleaning up its act. One by one, graffiti-covered walls are being changed into outdoor art. So far, more than 1,800 murals (壁画) have been painted. Philadelphia now has more murals than any other American city.
The walls that were once ugly with graffiti (涂鸦) are now covered with beautiful pictures of historical heroes and modern art, thanks to the Mural Arts Program (MAP). Its work makes schools and public places attractive, and its citizens very proud. The program began as part of Philadelphia's Anti-Graffiti Network. Jane Golden is the MAP's artistic director. “When people ask me what our program is about,” she says, “I answer them with one word: hope”. Each year, the MAP offers youth art programs and workshops. Some one-time graffiti writers even help paint MAP murals.
The MAP's work, says Golden, is all about developing a sense of community (社区). When a neighborhood requests a mural, the MAP works with the people there to develop a message. Some messages have been “Safe Streets”,“Love and Care”,and “Peace Walk”.
The MAP receives up to 50 requests for murals each week. Last year, the workers painted 140 murals.
“The making of a mural enters people's collective memory as an extraordinary, pleasant moment in neighborhood history.” says Golden, who began as a muralist in Los Angeles.
1. What can be the best title for the text?A.Love, from Graffiti Writers to Muralists |
B.Hope, One Wall at a Time |
C.Jane, an Excellent Mural Artist |
D.MAP, a New Company in Philadelphia |
A.Helping the young find jobs. |
B.Protecting the neighborhood. |
C.Fighting against graffiti. |
D.Attracting more visitors. |
A.By having discussions with people in the community. |
B.By seeking advice from the city government. |
C.By learning from the young graffiti writers. |
D.By studying the history of the city. |
A.Difficult. | B.Meaningless. | C.Fruitless. | D.Successful. |
6 . Planning to get away? Think passport first
If you’re planning to get away from it all this year, you should think passport first. Checking you have a valid passport before you book your trip takes minutes but could save you the trouble and cost of not being able to go.
Renewing (更新) your passport before it runs out
You can renew your passport up to 9 months before it can no longer be legally used. So take the time now and save the tears later.
Applying for a passport for the first time
Our eligibility (资格) checks mean that it takes at least one week to issue (颁发) a passport. So make sure you don’t leave it to the last minute, and apply in plenty of time.
Help with your application is just around the corner
Selected Post Office branches and Worldchoice travel agents offer a Check and Send service that helps you with your application. It’s convenient and you should receive your passport within 2 weeks.
If you need to apply for or renew a passport, you can either:
Pick up a Passport Application Form at Selected Post Office branches and Worldchoice travel agents.
Or call the Application Form Request line on 0901 4700 100 or visit www.passport.gov.uk
If your need is urgent, call 0870 521 0410 for an appointment at one of our offices. We can’t guarantee to see customers without an appointment.
1. When applying for a passport for the first time, you need to know that ______.A.passports can be legally used forever |
B.passports are issued at the last minute |
C.application checks take at least one week |
D.applications are selected by post office branches |
A.going to the offices directly |
B.making a call for an appointment |
C.visiting www.passport.gov.uk for a guarantee |
D.getting in touch with Worldchoice travel agents |
A.Certain types of passports. | B.Instructions on applying for passports.. |
C.Advantages of holding passports. | D.Different functions of passports |
7 . It is a blue, cotton shirt. The shirt belonged to my
We shared the shirt, and as days
At times David also talked about his father. Usually it was late at night, in the dormitory just before bed, and the
Time passed and we had to say goodbye to each other. After lots of hugging, and words of thanks, we eventually departed. It was on my
I put aside the note, with
A.colleague | B.brother | C.roommate | D.professor |
A.Because | B.Unless | C.While | D.Even if |
A.came across | B.went by | C.ran out | D.came up |
A.victories | B.belongings | C.scholarships | D.stories |
A.happened | B.refused | C.struggled | D.failed |
A.turn out | B.stand out | C.figure out | D.drop out |
A.interview | B.discussion | C.conversation | D.debate |
A.failure | B.depression | C.poverty | D.illness |
A.connection | B.distance | C.difference | D.conflict |
A.first | B.last | C.next | D.second |
A.touched | B.pulled | C.removed | D.folded |
A.attached | B.applied | C.adjusted | D.admitted |
A.guidance | B.devotion | C.friendship | D.mercy |
A.less than | B.other than | C.more than | D.rather than |
A.sympathetic | B.grateful | C.joyful | D.painful |
8 . Learning to say “yes, and”
When I first heard about the improvisation (即兴交流) class, I was hesitating. As a quiet and shy girl, I feared improvising in front of strangers. However, I knew I wanted to work as a science communicator after finishing my Ph.D., so it seemed like a perfect chance to learn how to speak and communicate with others effectively. I signed up, knowing the experience would give me help.
During our first class, we learned an important concept of improvisation: “yes, and.” It means that, as improvisers, we’d better accept what fellow performers say. If someone says that rhinos (犀牛) are librarians, for example, then rhinos are librarians. We do not question the logic; we say “yes” and then continue with the scene as if nothing is wrong.
The first few scenes were hard, but as weeks turned into months, I became more comfortable and even started to enjoy our classes. I became better at listening, relating to my conversation partners, and communicating clearly in the moment. Once when I was giving a presentation about my science, an audience member surprised me with a question that didn’t grow out of the information I’d presented. Instead of getting confused and nervous, I took the “yes, and” approach—accepting the question and letting my mind focus on why it was asked. That helped me find an appropriate answer. I got pretty excited about it.
The benefits of improvisation go beyond communication. Before attending the class, I would get stuck when my experiments produced unexpected data, thinking that I had made a mistake. But now, instead of getting discouraged, I will stay open to the possibility that the results are real, keep exploring the data and end up identifying a new type of cell—one that isn’t behaving as expected.
I think all scientists can benefit from this lesson. If the data say rhinos are librarians, then it’s worth finding out whether rhinos are, in fact, librarians. As scientists, our job isn’t to challenge data that support, a preconceived story, but to say “yes, and.”
1. Why did the author attend the improvisation class?A.To get a different experience. |
B.To finish her Ph.D. at university. |
C.To give up her job as a science communicator. |
D.To improve her speaking and communicating ability. |
A.She formed her own idea quickly. |
B.She came up with lots of creative responses. |
C.She paid more attention to the logic of answers. |
D.She became a good listener before giving an opinion. |
A.explain the process of using the method |
B.prove the benefits of the improvisation class |
C.share her own research experiences with readers |
D.attract fellow scientists to attend the improvisation class |
A.They should attend the improvisation class. |
B.They should question all preconceived ideas. |
C.They should carry on research by admitting earlier data. |
D.They should try to improve their academic knowledge. |
9 . What you do after studying could have a big effect on how well you learn and remember. Today on Education Tips, we will explore two no-cost ways that can help you improve your learning: wakeful rest and sleep.
When many students finish studying, they often go straight to another activity. Perhaps they look at their phone or computer. They might even play a video game or watch television. But research suggests that resting after your study may help you remember what you have studied.
The basic idea is this: by stopping your activity after the study, your brain gets a chance to rest. Resting is difficult when you are playing computer games.
While this might sound unusual to you, many studies have explored the benefits of resting after learning—what is called “wakeful rest”.
A 2019 study found that both young and older adults were able to better remember information they learned after doing wakeful rest.
If you want to give “wakeful rest” a try, here are a few simple things to do. Rest quietly for five to ten minutes. Do not look at your phone, read stories or play games. It is really that easy!
Besides wakeful rest, sleep is also important for learning. The Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School (HMS) notes that sleep helps people to learn in two ways. A report on the school’s website explains that “a sleep-deprived person cannot focus attention well and therefore cannot learn well”. It also says, “Sleep itself helps us to memorize and that memorizing is very important for learning new information.”
The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) suggests that adults between the ages of 20 and 64 get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per day. Teenagers may need a little bit more, and people over the age of 65 may need a little less.
Try to get some “wakeful rest” after a study. Then try to get a good night’s sleep. That’s it—a simple, no-cost way to help you remember what you learn.
1. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?A.The importance of sleep. | B.The good ways to get a rest. |
C.The reason for having a rest. | D.The types of resting activities. |
A.Reading a newspaper. | B.Playing a video game. |
C.Sitting there doing nothing. | D.Having a nice sleep at night. |
A.Less than 7 hours. | B.Just 7 hours. |
C.No more than 9 hours. | D.Around 9 hours. |
A.Low-cost Tips on Working | B.Good Things to Do After Your Study |
C.Why Do We Need to Have a Good Sleep? | D.How Long Should We Rest After Learning? |
10 . You probably know who Marie Curie was, but you may not have heard of Rachel Carson. Of the outstanding ladies listed below, who do you think was the most important woman of the past 100 years?
Jane Addams (1860-1935)Anyone who has ever been helped by a social worker has Jane Addams to thank. Addams helped the poor and worked for peace. She encouraged a sense of community (社区) by creating shelters and promoting education and services for people in need. In 1931, Addams became the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Rachel Carson (1907-1964)If it weren’t for Rachel Carson, the environmental movement might not exist today. Her popular 1962 book Silent Spring raised awareness(意识) of the dangers of pollution and the harmful effects of chemicals on humans and on the world’s lakes and oceans.
Sandra Day O’Connor (1930-present)When Sandra Day O’Connor finished third in her class at Stanford Law School, in 1952, she could not find work at a law firm because she was a woman. She became an Arizona state senator (参议员) and in 1981, the first woman to join the U. S. Supreme Court (最高法院). O’Connor gave the deciding vote in many important cases during her 24 years on the top court.
Rosa Parks(1913-2005)On December 1,1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Rasa Parks would not give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. Her simple act landed Parks in prison. But it also set off the Montgomery bus boycott (抵制). It lasted for more than a year, and kicked off the civil-rights movement. “The only tired I was, was tired of giving in,” said Parks.
1. What is Jane Addams famous for in history?A.Her social work. | B.Her teaching skills. |
C.Her efforts to win a prize. | D.Her community background. |
A.Not having training in law. | B.Her little work experience in court. |
C.Her identity as a woman. | D.Her poor financial conditions. |
A.Jane Addams. | B.Rachel Carson. |
C.Sandra Day O’Connor. | D.Rosa Parks. |
A.They are highly educated. | B.They are truly creative. |
C.They are pioneers. | D.They are peace-lovers. |