1 . I bought several packs of seeds, 24 small plastic seed pots, plant fertilizer and potting soil. I made sure the soil didn't contain added fertilizer. I wanted something that I could grow quickly, that wouldn't take up a lot of space and that wouldn't get too big. I ran this experiment in early fall in Maryland. So I knew I needed a plant that could grow when it's cool. I picked radishes (小萝卜), which grow well in the early fall or spring. Some varieties can grow a full radish in only 21 days.
I kept 12 of the pots and one pack of seeds for myself. I gave the other 12 pots and the other packet of seeds — along with some fertilizer and soil — to my editor, Sarah. This was to provide an additional control for location. After all, what if my yard just happens to be much better for growing plants? What if it's worse? By dividing the plants up between my yard and Sarah's, I hoped to make sure that any difference with the plants came from the fertilizer.
Sarah and I planted our seeds. Sometimes, seeds don’t sprout (发芽). So we carefully planted four evenly (相等地) spaced seeds in each pot. Six of my pots (and six of Sarah’s) served as controls — pots that would not get fertilizer. Our other six were treated with fertilizer. For each of us, this added up to 24 control seeds, and 24 seeds that would get fertilizer.
We watered all the plants equally with clean water every other day (unless it rained). Once a week, we applied fertilizer to half the pots. We also took pictures every day, so we could see the plants change over time. As I expected, many of our seeds didn't sprout. In fact, only about a fourth of mine sprouted. Sarah has a greener thumb. She successfully grew half of hers.
1. Why does the author want to grow such a plant?| A．To enjoy it. | B．To make it very cool. |
| C．To take up more space, | D．To make an experiment. |
| A．From the fertilizer used. | B．From the different way. |
| C．From the different soil. | D．From the seeds used. |
| A．The experiment is successful. | B．The author is respectful to her editor. |
| C．The author is considerate. | D．The process of the experiment is complex. |
| A．She's fond of growing plants. | B．She's smarter than the author. |
| C．She has a gifted for growing plants. | D．She's a devoted and friendly woman. |
2 . As we all know, Paris is a big city, which why it's worth spending a full week there. Don't expect to be able to see everything, and the best thing to do in Paris in a day is just relax at a cafe that is what you want to do.
Day 1 - Paris food tour
Food tours are our favorite way to begin a trip in a new city because they teach you about the cooking you'll be experiencing for the rest of the week as well as give you a look at the city. Often the guide will be able to recommend restaurants for you to try during your visit. Sometimes you'll even learn about a food you didn't know.
Day 2 - Eiffel Tower and Paris sightseeing
Let's face it, the Eiffel Tower is probably number 1 on your must-see list for Paris, whether you have a week or only two days in Paris. Get there early in the morning to try to beat the crowds, and after you've had your fill of the attractive views of Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower, explore other big sights. Check out Notre Dame Cathedral, considered one of the earliest and finest examples of French Gothic architecture. It is also famous for the part it plays in the Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Day 3 - Loire Valley Castle Day Trip
Some of Europe's most beautiful castles can be found in the Loire Valley. Luckily the region is within a day trip distance from Paris. You could base yourself in one of the towns in the area. But for many people, there's an appeal in taking a day trip from Paris instead of having to pack up and move hotels.
1. What would you like to do in a day when you visit Paris?| A．See everything in Paris. | B．Relax at a coffee shop. |
| C．Spend a whole week. | D．Have a good time. |
| A．To pay a visit to Eiffel Tower. | B．To explore many other big sights. |
| C．To introduce some good food to visit. | D．To teach visitors to learn about the city. |
| A．They are lucky to. find their favorite sights. |
| B．They have to pack up to be in search of hotels. |
| C．They see the earliest French Gothic architecture. |
| D．They can see beautiful castles without changing accommodation. |
3 . Online Bachelor's Degrees and Programs
The overview
Colleges offer online degrees in a range of fields. Click on a degree program to explore what courses you take, how long the program takes to complete, career options and average salary. For example, to earn an online health science bachelor's degree, you would take courses in public health, health communications and epidemiology(流行病学).
The benefits
Pursuing an accredited(官方认可的)online bachelor's degree can help you take the next step in your career. Through your program, you'll attend online lectures, study from home manage a busy schedule and interact virtually with professors and classmates.
The applicants
An online college degree may appeal to those who want more flexibility in completing their education, or who want to take classes while working full time or parenting. Choosing where to register online will likely be challenging, but below you'll find tools, advice and other resources to make your search easier.
Best online bachelor's programs
U. S. News evaluated several factors to rank the best online bachelor's degree programs, including graduation rates and support services available remotely.
| School name | Tuition per credit | Application deadline | Financial aid available |
| University of Georgia | $ 326 | May 1 | Yes |
| Georgia Washington University | $ 615 | June 10 | No |
| University of Arizona | $ 525 | July 12 | Yes |
| North Carolina University | $ 900 | February 15 | Yes |
To see the full ranking list, please click here.
1. What will you do after attending online degree programs?| A．Get a degree for free. | B．Attend lectures in a hall. |
| C．Take some related courses | D．Talk with teachers face to face. |
| A．Georgia Washington University. | B．University of Georgia. |
| C．North Carolina University. | D．University of Arizona. |
| A．On the Internet. | B．In a magazine. |
| C．In a textbook. | D．In a newspaper. |
Popular Article in the Magazine | |
| Relationship between you and food | Do you live to eat or eat to live? What kind of relationship do you have with food? Read this article to find out more about food. |
| Black sheep and Uncle Bob | There are sheep and an English teacher in this article. The teacher works in Russia. He explains why he finds family stories interesting. He also tells us what makes his own family special. |
| Films that aren't really about Canada | You can't see much of Canada in American films like the 1953 movie Niagara. For me, Canada is a place that starts somewhere on the other side of that waterfall. |
| Ice cream and banking | Most people in Britain believe that it's a good idea to save money. This is an important part of the culture, or at least it was in the past |
| A．About waterfall. | B．About culture. | C．About food. | D．About Russia. |
| A．Family stories. | B．Banking. | C．Canada. | D．American films. |
| A．Films that aren't really about Canada. | B．Ice cream and banking. |
| C．Relationship between you and food. | D．Black sheep and Uncle Bob. |
5 . What people say is only one aspect of good communication. Good listening skills and body language are also important for us to effectively communicate with others. Effective communication involves more than talking to a person. How things are said, words are chosen and tones are adopted are all aspects of good communication.
Body language, a common form of non-verbal communication, can support what a speaker is saying. Studies have shown that of the information that is received from other people, only 10% is from what they say and 40% is from the tone and speed of their voice. The other 50% is obtained from their body language. Reading body language is part of developing social skills.
Some professionals, such as lawyers, governmental security officers and doctors on mental problems, learn to read every type of body language of others to help in their jobs. They look for specific signs, while the average person reads some body language subconsciously（下意识地）. Body language can involve one aspect such as the eyes, or the use of different body parts. Where the body is positioned in relation to another person or at a table is another piece in communicating what the person is feeling. Troubles may arise（出现） when body language is misunderstood.
Good listening skills clear the way to a clear message while bad listening skills create barriers which can confuse or stop the message. Good listeners can use body language by nodding occasionally to show interest and understanding, make eye contact with the speaker, repeat some of the words and feelings, and summarize what they have heard. All these can avoid communication troubles.
Poor listeners rarely communicate effectively. Barriers they commonly use may include: interruptions, inappropriate humor, judgments, criticisms, and unrelated questions. People who are attempting to communicate with a person who continually throws out barriers will often stop talking and they even get angry as they feel misunderstood and frustrated. Healthy minded people are able to communicate with others effectively by avoiding these barriers. They are able to let their partners know what they want regularly and clearly.
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?| A．Speakers usually pay little attention to what they said and what words and tones they use. |
| B．Good communication means talking to a person effectively with right tones and speed. |
| C．Body language and listening skills are highly involved in successful communication. |
| D．The manner of communication is determined by the listener rather than the speaker. |
| A．makes up 40% of the information received from communication |
| B．sometimes leads people to misunderstand what others have said |
| C．can remind the listeners of what the speakers are actually expressing |
| D．can only be correctly read by people with excellent social skills |
| A．Making a summary of what he has heard. |
| B．Repeating the speaker’s words and ideas. |
| C．Showing his feeling to the speaker. |
| D．Bringing in an unrelated topic suddenly. |
| A．To emphasize that communication involves more than talking. |
| B．To introduce different types of non-verbal communication. |
| C．To suggest ways to effectively communicate with others. |
| D．To discuss the different effects of good and poor listening skills. |
6 . Drone（无人机）Training for Recreational Flyers
When: Saturday 12 December 9 a. m. to 1 p. m
Website: www. drone-wise. com. Au
Where: Hall ACT
Cost: $ 285 pp（per person）
This is the perfect training course if you plan to buy a drone soon. Best of all, no experience is required and the drones will be provided，so you just need to book online and come along on the day. The training course is held at Hall ACT. The 4-hour beginners course is $285. This includes written material, use of the Drone-wise aircraft for flying and morning tea. If you are under 18 years of age, you will need to be accompanied by a parent or grown-up friend or relative. Book your place today at drone-wise. com. au/our-training-courses.
Led by Martin Bass and Tim Robinson, commercially rated drone pilots with considerable experience, this training course is a chance to get.
Basic Knowledge
Recreational drone flying and the law
Risks and how to manage them
Flying environment
Basic Flying Skills
Pre-flight planning and checks
Aircraft handling skills
Obstacle avoidance
Your Instructors:
Martin Bass. Martin is a pilot with over 20-year experience He is also a commercial drone pilot and enjoys recreational drone flying as well. In his other role as a consultant and trainer to local government, Martin is an experienced educator and holds an honorary position with the University of Western Sydney.
Tim Robinson: Tim is an experienced photographer as well as a commercial drone pilot. His photos are about nature and wildlife. Tim is also an experienced adult educator and has lectured at the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Canberra.
1. What do we know about this training course?| A．it will last for an hour. |
| B．It requires experience of flying drones. |
| C．It asks people to pay more for morning tea. |
| D．Adolescents are not allowed in with no companion. |
| A．High-level drone flying skills. |
| B．A chance to be a commercial drone pilot. |
| C．An understanding of different aircraft types. |
| D．Knowledge of dealing with risks of drone flying. |
| A．They work at the same university. |
| B．They are experienced in photographing. |
| C．They are good at commercial drone flying. |
| D．They pay much attention to wildlife protection. |
7 . While flatmates can bring about stress and difficulty, they can also be great company and develop into wonderful, lifelong friends. Before making the decision to live with a flatmate or to live alone, consider carefully all the accompanying advantages and disadvantages.
Most people join forces with a flatmate primarily due to financial problem. A shared living space also means you're responsible for only half of the rent or shared bills. Additionally, when you're splitting costs, you can afford a better apartment than you could alone. However, money can become a point of argument for flatmates as well. If your flatmate gets laid off or quits his job, you may have to pick up his bill until he's back on his feet. Your flatmate may also insist he owe less because he doesn't use the shower too often.
In addition to bills and the rent, flatmates also typically share responsibility for unpleasant tasks, such as cleaning or doing the dishes. Without a flatmate, cleaning and tidying responsibilities are yours alone. However, flatmates also frequently end up sharing plenty of other things many people would rather not: use of the TV, the bathroom, food and even clothing, for example. You may have to wake up earlier than you'd like to get a hot shower before work or give up watching your favorite show because your flatmate beat you to it.
When you live alone, you get to determine the terms of your social life, and you go home to an empty house or apartment at the end of the day. That can be preferable if you're a serious student or professional, someone who needs to work and rest in the quiet of an apartment. With a flatmate, there are unexpected guests and your social options can expand sharply. Keep in mind, however, that having a flatmate means that he may feel social when you do not, and you may have to deal with wanted house guests.
1. What's the main reason for most people to share a flat?| A．Ensuring safety. | B．Saving money. |
| C．Sharing housework. | D．Reducing loneliness. |
| A．He likes a peaceful life. |
| B．He has excellent social manners. |
| C．He keeps everything in the room tidy. |
| D．He often turns away unexpected guests. |
| A．By describing the process. | B．By stating an argument. |
| C．By making comparisons. | D．By analyzing the outcome. |
| A．Buying a Flat or Sharing One? |
| B．The Reasons for Sharing a Flat. |
| C．How to Share a Flat with a Flatmate? |
| D．The Advantages and Disadvantages of Flatsharing. |
8 . Twelve-year-old Lydia Denton was recently named the winner of CITGO's Fueling Education Student Challenge, where she earned $20,000 after creating the Beat the Heat Car Seat, which is a portable device placed in the car seat that not only senses weight over five pounds but monitors temperature when the baby is in the seat.
The soon-to-be seventh grader says she became inspired to make the invention after watching the news that babies were being left in hot cars, often by accident.“At first, I thought about raising money for the families, but that wouldn't fix the problem: I wanted to invent something that could prevent the deaths from happening.”
Lydia's device is started when it senses the weight of the child and the temperature setting reaches over 100 F (38℃). At that point, an alarm goes off and a warning is sent via SMS to the parents. If the parents don't reset the device within 60 seconds, a built-in GPS chip sends a message to local authorities with the vehicle's location. After many rounds of testing with her local 911, Lydia is proud to say that Beat the Heat Car Seat is a success.
Though many newer vehicles come with warning systems and smart seat systems, Lydia's goal was to create a device that would reach more people and that could also transfer from car seat to car seat as the child grew. She decided to use her prize money to continue making improvements on the device, which would sell for only about $40.
Lydia is now working with an instructor who is helping her with production and teaching her about business. Lydia hopes that her work will inspire more kids of her age to make their ideas come true. “Don't think that you have to accept things in the world. If there is something that bothers you, think of ways to make it better!”
1. Why did Lydia make the invention?| A．To win 20,000-dollar prize. |
| B．To raise money for unlucky families. |
| C．To help stop babies dying in hot cars. |
| D．To guarantee babies' safety in a car crash. |
| A．How it works. | B．What it consists of. |
| C．Why it raises the alarm. | D．How parents respond to it. |
| A．It will be much stronger. | B．It will be more affordable. |
| C．It will be less problematic. | D．It will be more effective on older kids. |
| A．No competition, no progress. |
| B．It's never too late to go into business. |
| C．One should be open to any suggestion. |
| D．Creative thinking is the key to success. |
The Terra-cotta Warriors | The Terracotta Army or the "Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses", is a collection of terracotta sculptures showing the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. The purpose was to protect the emperor in his afterlife, and to make sure that he had people to rule over. Other terracotta non-military figures were also found in other pits and they include officials, acrobats, strongmen and musicians. Sadly, no photography or filming is allowed inside. |
Eiffel Tower | If you are planning a romantic getaway to Paris, don't think about posting a selfie in front of the Eiffel Tower. Taking photos is illegal, but the problem isn't with the building itself. The light show on it, designed by Pierre Bideau in 1985, is actually an artistic display and protected by copyright, Snopes.com explains. And since the lights go every five minutes, snapping a photo that doesn't break the law is impossible. |
Westminster Abbey | Westminster Abbey is a wonderful Gothic church. Yet no matter how historic or breathtaking it may be. you're not allowed to take photos. Luckily, there is a pretty good reason for it, according to the church's website: "We want you to take in its unique beauty and history without any distractions. We want to keep the sacred atmosphere of a church." |
The Sistine Chapel | As it's one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world, it's an upsetting thing that tourists aren't allowed to take photos around or inside. The chapel went under repair work funded by the Nippon Television Network Corporation of Japan. The costs ended up being $4.2 million. In return, Nippon got special rights to film and photograph the artwork. That copyright actually ended three years after each part was complete, but the Vatican decided to keep the ban in place to protect the precious artwork from harmful camera flashes. |
| A．Different figures buried underground. |
| B．Masses of amazing palaces around. |
| C．A wonderful film of a great emperor. |
| D．The future life of the non-military people. |
| A．The Terra-cotta Warriors | B．Eiflfel Tower |
| C．Westminster Abbey | D．The Sistine Chapel |
| A．One. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D．Four. |
10 . A new study on the link between chili and dementia(老年痴呆) may bring bad news for spicy food addicts. Researchers have found that eating lots of chili may cause an increased risk of dementia.
The study, led by Zumin Shi, analyzed 4,582 Chinese adults aged 55 and above between 1991 and 2006 and found evidence of faster cognitive decline in those who consistently ate more than 50 grams of chili a day. “Chili consumption was found to be beneficial to body weight and blood pressure in our previous studies. However, in this study, we found negative effects on cognition among older adults,” Shi said in a press release published Tuesday.
“Chili is one of the most commonly used spices in the world and particularly popular in Asia compared to European countries,” Ming Li from the University of Southern Australia said in the press release. “In certain regions of China, such as Sichuan and Hunan, almost one in three adults consumes spicy food every day.”
The researchers said people of normal body weight may be more sensitive to chili intake and hence their memory and weight suffer a bigger impact. Worldwide, around 50 million people have dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form that may contribute to 60 percent to 70 percent of the cases, according to the World Health Organization. At present, no treatment can cure dementia or change its progressive course.
1. According to the text, what aspect is chili consumption harmful to?| A．Body shape. | B．Body weight | C．Blood pressure. | D．Cognitive abilities. |
| A．The planting of chili. | B．The popularity of chili. |
| C．The bad effects of chili | D．The custom of eating chili. |
| A．Overweight seniors. | B．Overweight teenagers. |
| C．Seniors of normal body weight | D．Teenagers of normal body weight |
| A．It is incurable. | B．It affects people’s weight. |
| C．It determines blood types. | D．It can be cured by eating chili. |
