1 . Vehicles on our roads are now mostly petrol and diesel (柴油) cars, but their days cannot continue for much longer. A recent university study found that current electric cars could be used for 87 percent of daily car journeys in the US. That figure could rise to 98 percent by 2020.
One hurdle to the widespread adoption of electric cars has been “range anxiety” — drivers concerns about running out of electricity on a journey. While petrol stations are conveniently located across national road systems, the necessary network of electric charging stations is still being developed. That said, charging points are becoming increasingly common throughout the USA.
Attitudes towards electric vehicles have changed greatly over the last few years. Not that long ago, electric cars were met with distrust, and their high prices drove customers away. Thanks to improvements in battery capacity, recharging times, performance and price, the current generation of electric cars are starting to persuade picky consumers. Plug-in cars will soon give internal combustion engine (内燃机) models a run for their money.
As well as development on the road, electric vehicles are taking to the seas and skies. Electric boats are among the oldest methods of electric travel, having enjoyed several decades of popularity from the late 19th to the early 20th century before petrol-powered outboard motors took over. Now, the global drive for renewable energy sources is bringing electric boats back. Steps towards electric air travel are also being made, with Airbus and NASA among the organizations developing and testing battery-powered planes. The experiments could soon make commercial electric flight a reality.
Electric vehicles do not produce any emissions (排放). If the US could replace 87 percent of its cars with electric vehicles, it would reduce the national demand for petrol by 61 percent. However, because of the production processes and the generation of electricity required to charge these vehicles, they cannot claim (声称) to be completely emission-free. That said, as many countries continue to increase their use of renewable energy sources, electric vehicles will become even cleaner.
1. The underlined word “hurdle” in Paragraph 2 probably means________.A.aim | B.difficulty | C.result | D.step |
A.They were very poorly made. | B.They were not widely promoted. |
C.They were expensive. | D.They couldn’t travel at a high speed. |
A.To introduce the history of electric travel. |
B.To explain why the world needs more electric cars. |
C.To show why more people have interest in electric cars. |
D.To describe different ways electric vehicles can be used. |
A.Driving into a Cleaner Future | B.History of Electric Cars |
C.Problems with Petrol and Diesel Cars | D.Best Means of Transportation |
2 . Every festival has its own meaning. Labor Day, for example, celebrates the value of hard work. Thanksgiving is about showing thanks to people around you. And Valentines’ Day is a time when you express love to your loved ones. But somehow it now seems that all festivals we just care about one thing — shopping. And that can be a big problem.
“In a way, over-consumption (过度消费) is the mother of all our environmental problems,” Kalle Lasn once told CNN. Lasn is the organizer of Buy Nothing Day, a day set up in Canada in 1992 to fight against unhealthy spending habits, and has now become an international event. It’s held on the day, which is known as Black Friday — a famous shopping day in the US and Canada.
You can see the irony (讽刺) here.
Even though the idea of Buy Nothing Day was brought up 26 years ago, we seem to need it now more than ever. It’s just as Lasn said, all the different kinds of pollution in our lives today — bad air quality, the reduction of forest area, endangered animal species, and plastic bags found in the ocean — seem to be the same cause: over-consumption.
The latest example is the Singles’ Day shopping craze of Nov 11, which saw a new sales record. But as Nie Li, a campaigner at Greenpeace, told Reuters, “Record-setting over-consumption means record-setting waste.” And it was reported that last year the Singles’ Day packages left more than 160,000 tons of waste, including plastic and cardboard. The Collins Dictionary has also just named “single-use” its Word of the Year, pointing out the problem that there’re too many things we tow out after only using them once.
So, Buy Nothing Day might only be here for one day a year, but it’s not just to remind us to the a break from shopping on that day, but to change our lifestyle completely, focusing on fun “with people we care about” rather than wasting money on useless things.
1. What’s the authors purpose of writing the first paragraph?A.To express the people’s love for all festivals. |
B.To talk about the meaning of the festivals. |
C.To appreciate the value of the festivals. |
D.To bring out the topic of the passage. |
A.To help people save money. | B.To cut the cost for daily life. |
C.To prevent over-consumption. | D.To set up a new sales record. |
A.Opposed (反对的). | B.Supportive. |
C.Unknown. | D.Neutral (中立的). |
A.Creating a New Lifestyle | B.Buy Nothing Day |
C.Festivals Around the World | D.A Change in People’s Life |
3 . Some people love travelling while some prefer to stay at home. If you don’t love travelling, you can make a change now. Why?
Travelling takes you out of your comfort zone. Your comfort zone is comforting.
Travelling is a good way to expand your mind. It gets you out of a routine and makes you use your brain, your ears and your eyes. While travelling, there are a lot of things that have to be taken in: new sights, new flavours, new noises, etc.
Have you ever thought about travelling abroad as a volunteer? You can benefit a lot from this kind of trip.
A.Because you can really benefit a lot from travelling. |
B.All of them require your complete attention. |
C.It is not as expensive as you might expect. |
D.This kind of trip is really popular with people. |
E.Travelling can help you remove your fears. |
F.You are exposed to many new things. |
G.But it doesn’t always give you the opportunity to grow. |
4 .
Cheating can happen in a lot of different ways.When people cheat,it’s not fair to other people,like the kids who studied for the test or who the true winners of a game were.
Many people like the action of cheating.In their opinion,it makes difficult things seem easy,like getting all the right answers on the test.But it doesn't solve the problem of not knowing the material and it won't help on the next test—unless the person cheats again.
Some people lose respect for cheaters and think less of them.The cheaters themselves may feel bad because they know they shouldn't get that good grade.And,if they get caught cheating,they will be in trouble at school,and maybe at home,too.
Some kids cheat because they're busy or lazy and they want to get good grades without spending the time studying.Other kids might feel like they can’t pass the test without cheating.Even when there seems to be a “good reason” for cheating,cheating isn’t a good idea.
If you were sick or upset about something the night before the day and couldn’t study,it would be better to talk with the teacher about this.And if you don’t have enough time to study for a test because of swim practice,you need to talk with your parents about how to balance swimming and school.A kid who thinks cheating is the only way to pass a test needs to talk with the teacher and his or her parents so they can find some solutions together.Talking about these problems and working them out will feel better than cheating.
1. What does the author think when kids cheat in class?A.It is unfair to other people. |
B.It does harm to their health. |
C.Teachers should punish them. |
D.Teachers shouldn't stop them at once. |
A.Because they think the material in the test is very difficult. |
B.Because they want to do better than the others. |
C.Because cheating can make hard things seem very easy. |
D.Because they have little time to study their lessons. |
A.Some kids can’t pass the test without cheating. |
B.Why kids cheat in the test. |
C.Cheating isn’t a good idea. |
D.Some kids don't spend the time studying. |
A.Cheaters are often thought highly of. |
B.People show no respect for those who cheat. |
C.Parents whose kids cheat are often in trouble. |
D.Kids cheat in the test because of swim practice. |
5 . To help you understand what 5G is, and what it means to you, we’ve put together a handy guide here.
What is 5G?
5G will use new higher radio frequencies to send out data, which are less cluttered(挤了)and carry information much faster. While these higher bands(频段) are faster, they don’t carry information as far. That’s to say, smaller multiple input and output antennas (天线)will be used—promoting both signals and capacity(容量).
Why is it better than 4G?
5G is expected to be faster than 4G, with some firms claiming it could be as much as 100 times quicker. The fastest 4G networks can deliver 传输)peak(峰值)download speeds of around 300 Mbit/s.
Finally, 5G will have a larger capacity, meaning networks will be able to deal with several apps at once. Generally, this should mean that devices have a faster, more stable connection.
A.How does 5G work? |
B.How will 5G affect you? |
C.5G is also expected to have a lower lag(延迟). |
D.5G is short for “5th generation mobile network.” |
E.In comparison, 5G could offer download speeds of over 1 Gb/s. |
F.Therefore, the similarity between 5G and 4G technology is huge. |
G.This means 5G will support up to 1,000 more devices per meter than 4G. |
6 . San Francisco Fire Engine Tours
San Francisco Winery TourRunning: February 1st through April 30th
This delicious tour goes through the city on its way to Treasure Island where we will stop at the famous Winery SF. Here you can enjoy 4 pours of some of the best wine San Francisco has to offer.(Included in tickets price)
Departing from the Cannery: Tour times upon request.Duration(时长): 2 hours
Price: $90
Back to the Fifties Tour
Running: August 16th through August 31st
This tour transports you back in time to one of San Francisco’s most fantastic periods, the 1950s! Enjoy fun history as we take you through San Francisco for a free taste of ice cream.
Departing from the Cannery: 5:00 pm and 7:30 pmDuration: 2 hours
Price: $90
Spooky Halloween Tour
Running: October 10th through October 31st
Join us for a ride through the historical Presidio district. Authentic fire gear(服装) is provided for your warmth as our entertainers take you to some of the most thrilling parts of San Francisco.
Departing from the Cannery: 6:30 pm and 8:30 pmDuration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Price: Available upon request
Holiday Lights Tour
Running: December 6th through December 23rd
This attractive tour takes you to some of San Francisco’s most cheerful holiday scenes. Authentic fire gear is provided for your warmth as you get into the holiday spirit.
Departing from the Cannery: 7:00 pm and 9:00 pmDuration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Advance reservations required.
1. Which of the tours is available in March?
A.San Francisco Winery Tour. | B.Back to the Fifties Tour. |
C.Spooky Hallowen Tour. | D.Holiday Lights Tour. |
A.Go to Treasure Island. | B.Enjoy the holiday scenes. |
C.Have free ice cream. | D.Visit the Presidio district. |
A.Take some drinks. | B.Set off early in the morning. |
C.Wear warm clothes. | D.Make reservations in advance. |
7 . Central Park
Explore Central Park, one of the largest city parks in the world and one of the most famous symbols of New York. Let’s have a look at its main sights.
Central Park is New York’s largest city park and one of the biggest in the world, with an area of 843 acres (about 3.4km2). This park is home to man-made lakes, waterfalls, grass and wooded areas. You will also find the Central Park Zoo, among other attractions in this greenspace of New York.
Besides being the city’s primary green lungs, Central Park is also a favorite spot for many New Yorkers. It is perfect for sunbathing, going for walks, or doing any outdoor sports. Something that we found curious is seeing so many people running with their babies in prams (婴儿车).
On Foot or by BicycleTo get to know some of the wildest parts of Central Park we suggest walking. However, to get a general feel for the whole park, the best thing to do is hire a bicycle and enjoy the scenery.
If you decide to hire a bike, you will find lots of bike rental stores around Central Park that are not very expensive.
Open TimeFrom 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.
From 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on weekdays.
PriceEntry to the Park is free. But if you visit some parts like Central Park Zoo, you need to buy a ticket.
TransportSubway: Line 5, 6, 7, A, B, C and D.
Bus: Line M1, M2, M3, M4 and M10.
Nearby placesMetropolitan Museum of Art (447 m)
Guggenheim Museum (564 m)
American Museum of Natural History (688 m)
Whitney Museum of American Art (1 km)
The Frick Collection (1.3 km)
1. What can we learn about the Central Park from the text?A.It is home to lakes and waterfalls. |
B.It is perfect for doing outdoor sports. |
C.It is the largest city park in the world. |
D.It is the most famous symbol of New York. |
A.Hiring a bicycle. | B.Entrance to Central Park. |
C.Visiting Central Park Zoo. | D.Going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. |
A.In a science report. | B.In a geography book. |
C.In a fashion magazine. | D.In a travel guide. |
8 . It is quite reasonable to blame traffic jams, the cost of gas and the great speed of modern life, but manners on the road are becoming horrible. Everybody knows that the nicest men would become fierce tigers behind the wheel. It is all right to have a tiger in a cage, but to have one in the driver’s seat is another matter.
Road politeness is not only good manners, but a good sense. It takes the most cool-headed drivers great patience to give up the desire to beat back when forced to face rude driving. On the other hand, a little politeness goes a long way towards reducing the possibility of quarrelling and fighting. A friendly nod or a wave of thanks in answer to an act of politeness helps to create an atmosphere of good will and becomes so necessary in modern traffic conditions. But such behaviors of politeness are by no means enough. Many drivers nowadays don’t even seem able to recognize politeness when they see it.
However, misplaced politeness can also be dangerous. A typical example is the driver who waves to a child crossing the street at a wrong place into the path of oncoming cars that may not be able to stop in time. The same goes for encouraging old ladies to cross the road wherever and whenever they want to.
An experienced driver, whose manners are faultless, told me it would help if drivers learnt to correctly join in traffic stream without causing total blockages that give rise to unpleasant feelings. Unfortunately, modern drivers can’t even learn to drive, let alone master the roadmanship (公路驾车技能). Years ago, experts warned us that the fast increase of the car ownership would demand more give-and-take from all road users. It is high time for all of us to take this message to heart.
1. Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?A.Traffic Jams. | B.Good Manners. |
C.Road Politeness. | D.Modem Drivers. |
A.Traffic jams. | B.The behaviour of the drivers. |
C.The great speed of modern life. | D.Terrible road conditions. |
A.Encourage children to cross the road whenever they want to. |
B.Beat back when forced to face rude driving. |
C.Be able to recognise politeness when he sees it. |
D.Join in a traffic stream quickly however other people feel. |
A.master the roadmanship |
B.neglect politeness when they see it |
C.give a friendly nod in answer to an act of politeness |
D.encourage old ladies to cross the road whenever and wherever they want to |
9 . Donna Strickland was awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics jointly with Arthur Ashkin and Gérard Mourou.It’s the first time in 55 years that a woman has won this famous prize, but why has it taken so long? We look at five other pioneering female physicists — past and present — who actually deserve the prize.
Jocelyn Bell Burnell
Perhaps the most famous snub (冷落): the student Bell discovered the first radio pulsars in 1967, when she was a PhD student at Cambridge.The Nobel Prize that recognised this landmark discovery in 1974, however, went to her male supervisor, Antony Hewish.Recently awarded a £2.3 million Breakthrough Prize, which she gave away to help under-represented students, she joked to The Guardian, “I feel I’ve done very well out of not getting a Nobel Prize.”
Lene Hau
Hau is best-known for leading the research team at Harvard University in 1999 that managed to slow a beam of light, before managing to stop it completely in 2001.Often topping Nobel Prize prediction lists, could 2019 be Hau’s year.
Vera Rubin
Rubin discovered dark matter in the 1980s, opening up a new field of astronomy.She died in 2016, without recognition from the committee.
Chien-Shiung Wu
Wu’s “Wu experiment” helped disprove the “law of conservation of parity”.Her experimental work was helpful but never honoured, and instead, her male colleagues won the 1957 Nobel Prize for their theoretical work behind the study.
Lise Meitner
Meitner led groundbreaking work on the discovery of nuclear fission.However, the discovery was acknowledged by the 1944 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, which was won by her male co-lead, Otto Hahn.
1. When was the discovery of radio pulsars recognised by the Nobel?A.In 1944. | B.In 1967. | C.In 1974. | D.In 1980. |
A.Donna Strickland. | B.Jocelyn Bell Burnell. |
C.Lene Hau. | D.Vera Rubin. |
A.The five female scientists did greatly in chemistry. |
B.Vera Rubin had opened up a new field in geometry. |
C.Lise Meitner’s teacher won a Nobel Prize for her work. |
D.The five female scientists haven’t been awarded Nobel Prize. |
10 . Since the modern Olympics began in 1896, it has been held in more than 40 different cities. That gives Olympic fans quite a few possible travel destinations to choose from!
Beijing, China
Olympic fans should consider visiting the Beijing Olympic Park to check out the special buildings of the so—called “Bird’s Nest” and “Water Cube”—the national stadium and aquatics center built for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Popular historic places in Beijing include the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and Tian’anmen Square.
Innsbruck, Austria
Located in the heart of the Alps, Innsbruck is known as a great winter destination—which explains why it has hosted not one but two Winter Olympics. Known for its mountainous views, Innsbruck is the perfect stop for outdoor adventurers.
Mexico City, Mexico
This wonderful travel destination offers a wide number of popular museums, historic buildings, and public parks. People will love shopping for fresh meat and produce at the markets, taking a cooking class, and generally eating their way through Mexico City, which is especially known for its culinary(烹饪的)experiences that include both globally well—known restaurants and locally favored street carts.
Melbourne, Australia
Nearly half a century before Sydney hosted the 2000 Summer Olympics, Melbourne became the first Australian host city in 1956. Head to the “cultural capital of Australia”, located in Victoria on the southeastern coast, for an energetic cafe culture and art scene. Melbourne offers something for every type of traveler and everyone can enjoy an evening at one of the city’s many rooftop bars or a day of wine tasting.
1. Where will you go if you are fond of adventure?A.Beijing, China. | B.Mexico City, Mexico. |
C.Innsbruck, Austria. | D.Melbourne, Australia. |
A.Enjoy wonderful culinary classes. |
B.Get profit from making delicious food. |
C.Admire beautiful mountainous views. |
D.Visit special stadiums for the Olympics. |
A.It is famous for all kinds of wine. |
B.It has many world—famous hotels. |
C.It hosted the Summer Olympics twice. |
D.It can satisfy different travelers’ needs. |