1 . What if our city streets could act like forests and reduce pollution? Thanks to scientific innovation, roads treated with a new pavement technology can now eat smog and help keep cities cool. Since there is little room for forests in urban areas, where air pollution actually occurs, Pavement Technology Inc. (PTI), together with researchers from Louisiana State University, came up with an asphalt spray (沥青喷雾) called A.R.A.-1 Ti.
The spray's exact composition hasn't been revealed, but it is known to be based on titanium oxide (二氧化钛), a component contained in many sunscreens on the market. When ultraviolet rays(紫外线) from the sun activate this chemical substance, light and heat are absorbed and moved apart. Through a chemical process, titanium oxide also breaks down poisonous substances in the air. “In good conditions, we can achieve a 60% reduction”, said Michael Durante, PTI's vice president of finance and strategic planning. But the spray is not only meant to address overheating and to remove harmful gases produced by cars. It can also make aging asphalt stronger, preventing breaks generated by severe heat.
These impressive characteristics have encouraged several cities in the US to try out the product. The success stories keep adding up. At Orlando International Airport, taxiway pavements that had been sprayed with the titanium dioxide-based composition have already managed to reduce nitrogen oxide(一氧化氮) rates by half. And in Charleston,the pavement treatment is being used in low-income neighborhoods that have many asphalt-coated roads.
The company suggests that while heat shortens pavement life, their product's components can extend it from five to ten years, which translates the pavements into sustainable roads. And although green spaces are still necessary and cannot be fully replaced due to their multiple environmental and health benefits, innovations like A.R.A.-1 Ti are extremely promising. We may expect to see the major benefits it can bring to public health, positively affecting the lives of billions living in urban areas worldwide.
1. What is the function of the asphalt spray according to paragraph 1?A.To effectively protect forests. |
B.To relieve traffic jams in city streets. |
C.To reduce urban heat and air pollution. |
D.To detect the weather and road conditions. |
A.It extends life of roads. |
B.It blocks out ultraviolet light. |
C.It is produced by sunscreens' components. |
D.It may absorb harmful substances in the air. |
A.To impress the importance of the invention. |
B.To prove the successful application of the spray. |
C.To emphasis the necessity of the road treatment. |
D.To show the increasing popularity of the product. |
A.A Major Reform in Urban Construction |
B.Green Spaces: The Access to Public Health |
C.The Bright Prospect of the Pavement Technology |
D.A New Asphalt Spray: The Welfare to Urban Areas |
2 . A 70-year-old grandfather has successfully rowed a boat unassisted across the entire Atlantic Ocean-and he didn't do it for himself. Frank Rothwell took the challenge in memory of his brother-in-law Roger, who died of Alzheimer's disease (阿尔茨海默病) during Frank's crossing.
Requiring 18 months of hard training, the entire trip took eight challenging weeks for Rothwell to travel from La Gomera in the Canary Islands on December 12 to the finish line 3000 miles away in Antigua on February 6. “I like a challenge!” explains Frank on his fundraising site. “In 2017, I spent five weeks on a deserted island for the Channel 4 program, The Island with Bear Grylls. Before that, I was only the 10th person ever to circumnavigate North and South America.”
In a statement, Hilary Evans, chief executive of Alzheimer's Research UK, said, “We're honored to have such amazing support from Frank. His courage and determination helped him to complete his epic challenge and raise £1 million for dementia(痴呆)research.”
“This incredible amount will be a huge benefit to the groundbreaking research we carry out here at Alzheimer's Research UK, as we continue our mission to bring about life-changing treatments for people affected by dementia,”added Evans.
Crossing the finish line was an emotional moment for Rothwell. He said, “I am on cloud nine! I set out in December wishing to raise £1 million for Alzheimer's Research UK but I never thought I'd actually achieve it. At times, the challenge was incredibly tough, with rough seas, huge waves, and missing my wife, Judith. But as exhausting as it was, it was all totally worth it.”
He also said, “Having received hundreds of messages from people who, like me, have witnessed the heartbreak of dementia, I am proud to have raised such an incredible amount in honor of Roger and everyone else who has experienced the destruction it causes.”
1. Why did Rothwell sail across the Atlantic Ocean?A.To raise money for Roger to receive treatment. |
B.To call on people to challenge themselves. |
C.To collect money for Alzheimer's research. |
D.To photograph the rare view of seas and waves. |
A.At a loss | B.In surprise |
C.In great shape | D.In wild excitement |
A.Courageous and helpful. | B.Humorous and patient. |
C.Optimistic and cautious. | D.Generous and wise. |
A.Sports | B.Society | C.Education | D.Health |
3 . On the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), red tourism has gained popularity among tourists who flood in to visit historic sites with a modern revolutionary heritage.
Jinggangshan
This is one of the most crucial and splendid chapters of history of establishing Red China as well as a unique and wonderful ecosystem, which is covered with rich forest, rugged peaks and several memorials to the Red Army. The best time to visit is between April and October, with the most temperature timing April and May when the large azaleas (杜鹃花) bloom.
Open: 8:00-17:00 (Feb. 16-Nov. 15). 8:00-16:30 (Nov. 16-Feb. 15)
Xibaipo
It is an old revolutionary base where the leadership of the Communist Party of China was stationed, drawing up the blueprint for a new country. A memorial hall was built to honor the memory of this site. The lake and the hill here add brilliance and beauty to each other and form pleasant scenery.
Open: Tuesdays to Sundays 9:30-17:00 (Xibaipo Memorial Hall)
The Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall
A new exhibition is held with updated display approaches, including phantom imaging (全息影像) and oil painting, which are used to improve visitors' experiences. The exhibition shows four stages of the CPC from its establishment to its achievements.
Open: Tuesdays to Sundays 8:30-18:00 (closed on Mondays)
Former Site of the Editorial Department of New Youth
New Youth started the New Culture Movement and spread the influence of the May Fourth Movement. The site was briefly based in Beijing but moved back to Shanghai in 1920 and also served as the office for the Communist Party of China Central Committee in the 1920s.
Open: Thursdays to Tuesdays 9:00 - 11:30, 13:30 - 16:30 (closed on Wednesdays)
1. Where would visitors learn more about the history of the Red Army?A.Jinggangshan. |
B.Xibaipo. |
C.The Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall. |
D.Former Site of the Editorial Department of New Youth. |
A.It focuses on Chinese achievements in art. |
B.It mainly advertises the coming anniversary. |
C.It applies modernized methods to the exhibition. |
D.It briefly introduces the rise and fall of Nanhu. |
A.At 1:00 p.m. on Mondays. | B.At 9:00 a.m. on Wednesdays. |
C.At 2:00 p.m. on Fridays. | D.At 5:00 p.m on Sundays. |
Although tobacco use among Chinese middle school students has decreased in recent years, the number of electronic cigarette smokers
Despite being called
The newly revised Law on the Protection of Minors (未成年人),
The new law
A water bearer had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years, this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you". The bearer asked, "Why? What are you ashamed of? " The pot replied, "For these past two years I am able to deliver only half of my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you don't get full value for your efforts".
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion, he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." As they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it somewhat. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.
Paragraph 1:
“Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? ” The bearer said to the pot.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
We're all cracked pots and each of us has our own unique flaws.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6 . Popularization has in some cases changed the original meaning of emotional (情感的) intelligence. Many people now misunderstand emotional intelligence as almost everything desirable in a person's makeup that cannot be measured by an IQ test, such as character, motivation, confidence, mental stability, optimism and “people skills.” Research has shown that emotional skills may contribute to some of these qualities, but most of them move far beyond skill-based emotional intelligence.
We prefer to describe emotional intelligence as a specific set of skills that can be used for either good or bad purposes. The ability to accurately understand how others are feeling may be used by a doctor to find how best to help her patients, while a cheater might use it to control potential victims. Being emotionally intelligent does not necessarily make one a moral person.
Although popular beliefs regarding emotional intelligence run far ahead of what research can reasonably support, the overall effects of the publicity have been more beneficial than harmful. The most positive aspect of this popularization is a new and much needed emphasis (重视) on emotion by employers, educators and others interested in promoting social well-being. The popularization of emotional intelligence has helped both the public and researchers re-evaluate the functionality of emotions and how they serve people adaptively in everyday life.
Although the continuing popular appeal of emotional intelligence is desirable, we hope that such attention will excite a greater interest in the scientific and scholarly study of emotion. It is our hope that in coming decades, advances in science will offer new perspectives (视角) from which to study how people manage their lives. Emotional intelligence, with its focus on both head and heart, may serve to point us in the right direction.
1. What is a common misunderstanding of emotional intelligence?A.It can be measured by an IQ test. | B.It helps to exercise a person’s mind. |
C.It includes a set of emotional skills. | D.It refers to a person’s positive qualities. |
A.To explain a rule. | B.To clarify a concept. |
C.To present a fact. | D.To make a prediction. |
A.Favorable. | B.Intolerant. |
C.Doubtful. | D.Unclear. |
A.Its appeal to the public. | B.Expectations for future studies. |
C.Its practical application. | D.Scientists with new perspectives. |
7 . 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. |
8 . When almost everyone has a mobile phone, why are more than half of Australian homes still paying for a landline (座机)?
These days you’d be hard pressed to find anyone in Australia over the age of 15 who doesn’t own a mobile phone. In fact plenty of younger kids have one in their pocket. Practically everyone can make and receive calls anywhere, anytime.
Still, 55 percent of Australians have a landline phone at home and only just over a quarter (29%) rely only on their smartphones according to a survey (调查). Of those Australians who still have a landline, a third concede that it’s not really necessary and they’re keeping it as a security blanket — 19 percent say they never use it while a further 13 percent keep it in case of emergencies. I think my home falls into that category.
More than half of Australian homes are still choosing to stick with their home phone. Age is naturally a factor (因素)— only 58 percent of Generation Ys still use landlines now and then, compared to 84 percent of Baby Boomers who’ve perhaps had the same home number for 50 years. Age isn’t the only factor; I’d say it’s also to do with the makeup of your household.
Generation Xers with young families, like my wife and I, can still find it convenient to have a home phone rather than providing a mobile phone for every family member. That said, to be honest the only people who ever ring our home phone are our Baby Boomers parents, to the point where we play a game and guess who is calling before we pick up the phone (using Caller ID would take the fun out of it).
How attached are you to your landline? How long until they go the way of gas street lamps and morning milk deliveries?
1. What does paragraph 2 mainly tell us about mobile phones?A.Their target users. | B.Their wide popularity. |
C.Their major functions. | D.Their complex design. |
A.Admit. | B.Argue. |
C.Remember. | D.Remark. |
A.They like smartphone games. | B.They enjoy guessing callers’ identity. |
C.They keep using landline phones. | D.They are attached to their family. |
A.It remains a family necessity. |
B.It will fall out of use some day. |
C.It may increase daily expenses. |
D.It is as important as the gas light. |
9 . Many creative people grew up feeling alienated from their surroundings. That was the
Jennifer Doudna's father was a book-lover and he would
The
Driven by a passion to understand how nature
A.Excuse | B.fate | C.case | D.loss |
A.Learning | B.eating | C.sleeping | D.thinking |
A.developed | B.broke | C.blocked | D.removed |
A.external | B.guilty | C.generous | D.internal |
A.write | B.publish | C.revise | D.bring |
A.what | B.where | C.how | D.when |
A.caught up | B.ended up | C.stepped up | D.piled up |
A.bookstore | B.woods | C.school | D.hospital |
A.trouble | B.hunting | C.teacher | D.book |
A.science | B.nature | C.success | D.failure |
A.interesting | B.awful | C.artificial | D.expensive |
A.dismiss | B.cite | C.delete | D.interpret |
A.emerges | B.functions | C.continues | D.exists |
A.profits | B.plans | C.discoveries | D.decisions |
A.scientific | B.peaceful | C.economic | D.permanent |
10 . It can be very easy to stick with what you know, instead of trying to meet people who are different from you.
Become self-aware.
Talk to someone from a different cultural background. Try and get to know someone from a different cultural background better.
Be more accepting. Sometimes, for one reason or another, it's not all that easy to understand some cultural differences.
A.Do your own research. |
B.Think beyond stereotypes. |
C.Practice being sympathetic towards people. |
D.Work out your own beliefs, values and personal biases. |
E.Instead of asking them questions directly, treat them as friends. |
F.And the best approach is to acknowledge people are different and to accept that's okay. |
G.However, trying to understand people from other countries can help you experience more. |