1 . You've been painting for a few years, and maybe you have even sold a painting or two. Are you ready to
Distinguishing green hand from professional artists is
To turn professional, people find it critical to develop a personal style. What makes your paintings
Artists talk about their
Many amateur artists passively wait for
Besides, professional artists are constantly prepared to grab new ideas for the next painting, which they believe is sure to be better than the previous one. The belief that there is always room for
A.step beyond | B.turn off | C.see through | D.make up |
A.rewarding | B.tricky | C.formal | D.temporary |
A.individually | B.thoroughly | C.instantly | D.sincerely |
A.different | B.superior | C.practical | D.reliable |
A.get | B.transfer | C.imitate | D.analyze |
A.recent | B.clear | C.modest | D.logical |
A.preservation | B.employment | C.adaption | D.recognition |
A.background | B.significance | C.motivation | D.routine |
A.To sum up | B.In contrast | C.In addition | D.In general |
A.academic | B.global | C.financial | D.original |
A.inspiration | B.fame | C.guidance | D.solution |
A.offended | B.dominated | C.distracted | D.rewarded |
A.studio | B.bedroom | C.garage | D.garden |
A.Reflection | B.Devotion | C.Creativity | D.Illustration |
A.negotiation | B.profit | C.criticism | D.improvement |
2 . For the first time in its history, the International Olympic Committee has allowed a team of refugees to compete at the Games. All of the team’s members were forced to leave their home countries. Now they’ve come together to compete under the Olympic flag instead.
Making it to the Olympics is something eighteen-year-old swimmer Yusra has always dreamed of. But just last year, she was swimming for her life. She and her sister were forced to leave their home in Syria because of the war there. They were trying to get to Greece in a rubber dinghy (橡皮艇) with eighteen other refugees, when their boat broke down and began filling with water. Most of the people on board couldn’t swim, so she and her sister jumped in to help push it to shore.
Three hours later, they made it to safety, and eventually to Germany as refugees. Refugees are people who have left their home country because their lives are threatened by war, bad treatment or violence---often because of their race, gender or beliefs. Around the world, more than 60 million people are in this situation. And some of them, like Yusra, are elite athletes who have trained all their lives to compete at the highest level, only to have that chance taken away.
Now, a team of ten, including swimmers, runners, and judokas from Syria, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Congo have been given the chance to compete at the Games under the Olympic flag. They’ve also been given their own coaches, officials, uniforms and a chef, all paid for by the IOC. And in the past few months they’ve been training hard. The IOC says it wants the team to inspire and give hope to other refugees, and draw attention to the issues millions of other around the world are facing. And these guys say they are up to the task whether they win gold or not.
“These refugee athletes will show the world that despite the unimaginable tragedies that they have faced, anyone can contribute to society through their talent, skills and strength of the human spirit,” the statement continues.
1. What does the underlined sentence mean?A.She trained all her life. |
B.She swam for the glory of life. |
C.She swam to escape being drowned. |
D.She swam to escape from other refugees. |
A.Syria | B.Germany | C.Congo | D.Ethiopia |
A.Race | B.Violence | C.Religion | D.Nationality |
A.help the refugees to fulfill their dreams of winning the Olympic gold medal. |
B.offer the refugees a chance to earn bread by themselves. |
C.light a candle of hope for all the refugees in the world. |
D.curse the darkness of the society by forcing them to pay attention to the life of refugees. |
3 . Born in the 1950s, shopping malls were once the symbol of the U.S. consumer culture, but many are now dying out.
Dying shopping malls can be found across the United States, often in middle-class suburbs. Economic decline in certain areas together with an upward trend towards online shopping and new forms of urban shopping centers have pushed the once seemingly unbeatable shopping malls into decline. It is estimated that 15 to 50 percent of shopping malls may close in the coming decades.
American shopping culture follows its housing culture. Numerous shopping malls were therefore born after the Second World War, as Americans with cars and fat wallets moved to the suburbs. U.S. shopping malls were built at a rapid pace as shoppers fled cities, peaking in the mid-1990s when they were being built at a rate of 140 a year. Thus, too many shopping malls are left though construction has gradually decreased since then.
Currently, there are around 1,500 shopping malls across the U.S. Most share a handful of similar feature. They usually contain two or three stories of stores separated by walkways. Food courts serve pizza and other fast food. Parking lots are big enough to easily misplace a car.
Shopping malls in Europe might contain grocery stores or childcare centers, while those in Japan are often built around mass transit (交通枢纽). But the suburban American shopping malls are hard to get to and mainly sell clothes and gifts.
As many shopping malls became redundant (过剩的), leaders in many U.S. towns who once fought for malls now struggle with how to transform them to new uses. Highland Mall in Texas is being transformed into a community college campus, and Lakeland Mall in Florida now houses a megachurch (大型教会). Others have been redeveloped to include housing, offices and even green space. However, it is hard to imagine every shopping mall meeting the demands for such transformations.
1. What is this passage mainly about?A.The introduction to American consumer culture. |
B.The changes in Americans' shopping habits. |
C.The growth of American shopping centers. |
D.The decline of American shopping malls. |
A.After the Second World War | B.In the mid-1990s. |
C.After mass transit appeared. | D.In the 2000s. |
A.They make them look different from each other. |
B.They make them more accessible to the public. |
C.They change them to serve other purposes. |
D.They move them to the urban areas. |
Ancient Myth---A Hit With Modern Audiences
This summer’s surprise hit at movie theaters across China was the re-telling of the ancient myth of Nezha. The animated film
The film, directed by Yang Yu, was a massive undertaking(任务) from start to finish. He spent two years writing the script(剧本) and three more years making a film which required the efforts of 1,600 animators. But for Yang, it was a way to prove to himself that he
“I used to suffer from a lot of prejudice after changing my career,” said Yang, “Since then I have thought about making an animated film to encourage young people to persist in their dreams.”
Over the years, I have come across a few students labeled as “devils.” Although some misbehaved simply
If you have seen Nezha, you know
One day Gene and Hannah Bortnick heard piano music
Having discovered his remarkable talent, Ethan’s parents changed their minds and agreed to his previous begging for piano lessons. They turned to a family member who taught piano, and she began working with Ethan. It wasn’t long, however,
With Dr. Kofman’s help, Ethan learned about piano technique and different types of music. Before long, he was being asked to perform for many events. Later he was receiving invitations from the likes of Jay Leno and Oprah. Ethan was 6 and in kindergarten
Today, at the age of 13, it seems there is
In 2010, Ethan became
Then in 2013, the performer starred in and wrote music for the movie Anything is Possible.
Time: is there ever enough of it? In today's modern world, most of us are
A study by Derek Thompson on the “myth" of being busy suggests that while
While being informed is important, it can lead to anxiety about keeping up with the times. If you find yourself unable to stop scrolling through Twitter, turn off the phone and take a mental break. Practice JOMO (joy of missing out), a(n)
Another thing technology has
Of course, if you want to move up the corporate ladder and get a bigger paycheck, working long hours has long been a
People working the same hours feel completely different levels of time pressure depending on their passion. If most of the hours are spent doing something you don't feel
7 . The largest genetic study of mosquitoes has found their ability to resist insecticides(杀虫剂) is evolving rapidly and spreading across Africa, putting millions of people at higher risk of contracting malaria(疟疾).
British scientists who led the work said mosquitoes’ growing resistance to control tools such as insecticide-treated bed nets and insecticide spraying, which have helped cut malaria cases since 2000, now threatens “to disturb malaria control” in Africa.
“Our study highlights the severe challenges facing public efforts to control mosquitoes and tomanage and limit insecticide resistance,” said Martin Donnelly of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, who worked on the study with a team from Britain’s Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.
Latest World Health Organization (WHO) data show that 216 million people were infected last year with the malaria parasite(寄生虫), which is transmitted by blood-sucking Anopheles mosquitoes. The disease killed 445,000 people in 2016, and the majority of them were children in sub-Saharan Africa.
To understand how mosquitoes are evolving, the researchers sequenced the DNA of 765 wild Anopheles mosquitoes taken from 15 locations across eight African countries. Their work, published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, created the largest data resource on natural genetic variation for any species of insect.
Analyzing the data, the scientists found that the Anopheles gamblae mosquitoes(冈比亚疟蚊)were extremely genetically diverse compared with most other animal species. This high genetic diversity enables rapid evolution, they said, and helps to explain how mosquitoes develop insecticide resistance so quickly.
The data also showed the rapid evolution of insecticide resistance appeared to be due to many previously unknown genetic variants(变体)within certain genes. The scientists said these genetic variants for insecticide resistance were not only emerging independently in different parts of Africa, but were also being spread across the continent by mosquito migration.
Michael Chew, an expert at Britain’s Wellcome Trust global health charity which helped fund the research, said the finds underlined the importance of pushing scientific research ahead to control malaria.
Global efforts to control malaria through effective vaccine, insecticides and the best drug combinations require urgent, united action by scientists, drug companies, governments and the WHO.
1. Which of the following is scientists’ headache?A.The number of mosquitoes in Africa is growing rapidly. |
B.Some genetic variants of mosquitoes are still unknown. |
C.The existing insecticides aren’t as effective as they used to be. |
D.Millions of African people have resistance to medicines for malaria. |
A.threatening drug companies | B.spraying insecticides |
C.limiting blood donation | D.transmitting data |
A.Children are more likely to be bit by mosquitoes. |
B.Many previously unknown variants are found in the study. |
C.The mosquito migration contributes to the spread of variants. |
D.Anopheles mosquitoes have great genetic diversity. |
A.It created the largest data on natural genetic variation for any insect species. |
B.It found the possible causes for the rapid evolution of insecticide resistance. |
C.It discovered where the genetic variants emerged and how they were spread. |
D.It highlighted the public efforts and appealed to limit the use of insecticides. |
8 . The American Craftsman style is a type of design. It was popular from 1900 to the 1930s. It changed the style of building in the United States.
The craftsman style originally began in Europe. The British Arts and Crafts style arose in the 1860s. The unique designs of this movement tried to offer dignity to the common person. Handmade items were preferred because they were thought better than items that were mass-produced. But this British style was still Victorian. It still only served the wealthiest clients.
In 1897 a group of Boston architects brought these handcrafted styles to American. They planned a show of craft objects, which turned out to be a huge success. Here they realized the potential and established the Society of Arts and Crafts on June 28, 1897. Its slogan was “to develop and encourage higher standards in the handicrafts.”
The American style began as the Victorian Era was ending. It emphasized handmade work. Originality and simplicity were highly valued. Local materials and the quality of the handicraft were very important. these traits were meant to dignify the modest homes of the middle class.
These simple designs used glass and wood that were produced locally. They were also very elegant. The metalwork was a reaction to Victorian Opulence. The increase of mass-produced housing items was rejected. The American Craftsman used clean lines. It also relied on sturdy structure. Natural materials were always used in these houses if possible.
This style introduced many changes to the average American home. New designs were made for families without servants. This was a trait of the new middle class. The kitchen went form being a hidden room to a prominent one. Another development was the breakfast nook. This new area provided the family with a place to gather at any time of day.
Also, inspirational to the Craftsman style were the Shaker and Mission designs. The American Craftsman style led to the Art Deco Movement of the 1930s.
1. According to the passage, the American Craftsman style is a type of ________.A.Shaker and Mission design |
B.house made for families with servants |
C.design which was popular from 1900 to the 1930s |
D.breakfast nook |
A.The breakfast nook provided the family with a place to gather. |
B.The kitchen became a more prominent room. |
C.This style did not make any changes to the middle-class American home. |
D.Houses were designed for a new middle class with no servants. |
A.richness | B.greed |
C.ugliness | D.distaste |
9 . Grown-ups are often surprised by how well they remember something they learned as children but have never practiced ever since. A man who has not had a chance to go swimming for years can still swim as well as ever when he gets back in the water. He can get on a bicycle after many years and still ride away. He can play catch and hit a ball as well as his son. A mother who has not thought about the words for years can teach her daughter the poem that begins “Twinkle, twinkle, little star” or remember the story of Cinderella or Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
One explanation is the law of overlearning, which can be stated as follows: Once we have learned something, additional learning experiences increase the length of time we will remember it.
In childhood we usually continue to practice such skills as swimming, bicycle riding, and playing baseball long after we have learned them. We continue to listen to and remind ourselves of words such as “Twinkle, twinkle, little star” and childhood tales such as Cinderella and Goldilocks. We not only learn but overlearn.
The multiplication tables(乘法口诀表) are an exception to the general rule that we forget rather quickly the things that we learn in school, because they are another of the things we overlearn in childhood.
The law of overlearning explains why cramming(突击学习) for an examination, though it may result in a passing grade, is not a satisfactory way to learn a college course. By cramming, a student may learn the subject well enough to get by on the examination, but he is likely soon to forget almost everything he learned. A little overlearning, on the other hand, is really necessary for one’s future development.
1. What’s the main idea of Paragraph 1?A.Stories for children are easy to remember. |
B.Children have a better memory than grown-ups. |
C.Poem reading is a good way to learn words. |
D.People remember well what they learned in childhood. |
A.presenting research findings | B.setting down general rules |
C.using examples | D.making a comparison |
A.a result of overlearning | B.a special case of cramming |
C.a skill to deal with math problems | D.a basic step towards advanced studies |
A.It leads to failure in college exams. | B.It’s helpful only in a limited way. |
C.It’s possible to result in poor memory. | D.It increases students’ learning interest. |
According to the World Bank, one of its chief supporters, economic globalization has helped reduce
Those who
Critics take a different view, believing that economic globalization is actually
One thing is certain about globalization—there is no
A.possible | B.smooth | C.good | D.easy |
A.crime | B.poverty | C.conflict | D.population |
A.contributing | B.responding | C.turning | D.owing |
A.remain | B.drop | C.shift | D.increase |
A.doubt | B.define | C.advocate | D.ignore |
A.In addition | B.For instance | C.In other words | D.All in all |
A.mature | B.new | C.local | D.foreign |
A.finding | B.exploring | C.bridging | D.widening |
A.suffered | B.profited | C.learned | D.withdrawn |
A.Furthermore | B.Therefore | C.However | D.Otherwise |
A.consume | B.deliver | C.export | D.advertise |
A.trouble | B.business | C.power | D.mind |
A.keep up | B.come in | C.go around | D.help out |
A.taking off | B.getting along | C.holding out | D.turning back |
A.agreement | B.prediction | C.outcome | D.challenge |