1 . We all have memories of what our fathers enjoyed, and all the fun we had with him: travelling, reading, or exploring the neighborhood hiking trail. Each of us has treasured stories and memories of times with dad.
The charm of storytelling,the fun of traveling, the immersion in a book...these are the gifts of a lifetime my father helped me unwrap.
My father, turning 75 this year, is still a storyteller, but his exploration of the world has turned virtual. Like almost all children, I spent my twenties walking away from his stories since I was always “occupied with my work.”
Have you ever put your ear to a seashell and heard the waves whooshing in there? On the outside, it is a hard shell — pitted, untidily edged and boldly patterned.
A.I am no exception. |
B.A father brings the world to us. |
C.In some ways, this describes fathers. |
D.However, a father can sometimes be hard on us. |
E.Inside are some valuable contents that should be treasured. |
F.Now older and wiser, I restarted listening attentively to his tales. |
G.As I look back on my childhood, I see loads of books and miles of travel. |
2 . Randy happened to be watching the news on TV months ago. The reporter was interviewing a man, whose
Randy found that
It wasn’t long before Randy
Randy never knew his father, who
Eddie
A.face | B.family | C.name | D.profession |
A.mentioned | B.offered | C.confirmed | D.shared |
A.curious | B.familiar | C.natural | D.complicated |
A.difference | B.connection | C.alternative | D.explanation |
A.treasured | B.suspected | C.detected | D.appreciated |
A.imagined | B.determined | C.recalled | D.responded |
A.made friends with | B.took pity on | C.caught sight of | D.reached out to |
A.proud | B.convinced | C.upset | D.concerned |
A.left | B.contacted | C.informed | D.ignored |
A.raised | B.adopted. | C.influenced | D.comforted |
A.absence | B.separation | C.adventure | D.expectation |
A.talked | B.admitted | C.apologized | D.promised |
A.trust | B.blame | C.forgive | D.punish |
A.discovery | B.encounter | C.achievement | D.comparison |
A.responsibility | B.cooperation | C.acceptance | D.sympathy |
Wang Tao, founder and CEO of TAORAY WANG believes that beyond beauty, fashion is about absorbing and using social energy. As one of
The taoray taoray Spring Summer 2020
In order to create the collection, Wang and her team went to Chuxiong in Yunnan Province and
The taoray taoray collection
4 . Most young people are always on their phones, which may upset many people.
Each teen spent at least an hour of one-on-one time with their oldsters. Based on their
Some of the oldsters actually wanted to take part in e-commerce (电子商务), and needed help to
In addition to arranging group lessons for all of the seniors to
The eighth graders earned their “Silver Award,, for their job. After experiencing the
A.Otherwise | B.Therefore | C.However | D.Besides |
A.service | B.praise | C.invitation | D.donation |
A.keep | B.untie | C.share | D.unlock |
A.technological | B.medical | C.psychological | D.physical |
A.record | B.teach | C.recall | D.investigate |
A.get back | B.set up | C.check out | D.pay off |
A.patience | B.luck | C.fun | D.trouble |
A.write | B.phone | C.text | D.read |
A.sweet | B.simple | C.rare | D.common |
A.play | B.live | C.talk | D.review |
A.amazed | B.experienced | C.confused | D.respected |
A.success | B.arrangement | C.change | D.pressure |
A.performances | B.clinics | C.clubs | D.competitions |
A.organized | B.managed | C.visited | D.funded |
A.needed | B.refused | C.enjoyed | D.deserved |
5 . I began a new job in a new city six months ago. Big moments of changing like this have a way of dragging up deep, hidden fears we don’t face in our longer periods of stability.
Change is risk. Our primitive brains translate risk into danger, and our survival as a species depends on avoiding it. Though philosopher Nietzsche famously said, “That which does not kill us, makes us stronger”, the risk that it could kill you can easily cause anxiety.
Unluckily, there are always big changes we must face at some point.
Change, while requiring adjustment—sometimes painful adjustment—often finds its way back to balance. Change and struggle are usually the only ways to get to someplace better.
A.Crisis is also opportunity |
B.Change also never goes away |
C.I also managed to learn from the past |
D.That’s how species and individuals live together |
E.I managed poorly at the beginning of this change |
F.That’s why we are so restless when faced with changes |
G.That means finding the wisdom that helps us make the change |
6 . Can People Really Learn to "Speed Read”?
There never seems to be enough time to read these days. With so many books and articles—especially on social media——the ability to read faster could be a life-changer.
“Speed reading is not actually possible," said Elizabeth Schotter, a scientist at the University of South Florida.
Some books and classes train people to read whole passages all at once by scanning text in a zigzag(之字形)pattern. These methods suggest that our eyes make wasted movements when looking back and forth over words. But studies find that the limit to reading comprehension is the ability to recognize words.
In recent years, numerous apps have claimed they can boost reading speed. These apps display text just one word at a time, one after another at a certain rate.
A.So is there a way to become a faster reader? |
B.Is the scientific community doubtful about speed reading? |
C.So adjusting eye movements probably won't help you read faster. |
D.Most people who claim to be speed-reading are actually skimming. |
E.That way, your eyes are forced to focus on the word in front of you. |
F.Reading is a complex task that requires cooperation between mental systems. |
G.That is why so many classes, books and apps claim they can get you to read faster. |
7 . Lapland's reindeer (驯鹿) grow well in winters of -30℃ and even colder. So when rain falls instead of snow during the coldest months in the Arctic,it makes food hard to get for them. Now one of the best-loved symbols of Christmas is probably dying out. Numbers have fallen by over half in the last two decades as the place warms at four times the global average rate.
The animals are used to pull sleigh (雪橇) rides for tourists. The rides are part of Lapland winter wonderland experiences in thousands of British tourists each year. But this year the working herd had to be moved 60 miles further north due to the absence of snow. As a result, they can't be provided in some areas, making it hard for people to earn a living.
Lapland is often described as Europe's last great wilderness, home to lynxes, brown bears, wolverines and golden eagles. Tourism is a big part of the economy, and the town of Rovaniemi is also the "official home of Santa Claus". But changing climate (气候) is threatening its tourism industry. A report by The Finnish Climate Change Panel warns of flooding and increased rainfall, with Rovaniemi most at risk. Firms that rely on snow "will have great effects on visit levels" and these industries may be forced further north.
Erkkila of the Arctic Husky Park in Rovaniemi says: "Tourists see pictures of the Santa Claus village covered in snow and when they get here they think, 'Is this the winter wonderland?'." The Husky Park bought a wheeled cart (车) six years ago as a replacement for sleigh rides when the snow fails.
In the past it was thought the Arctic was warming twice as fast as the rest of the world. But a report published last week by scientists showed the rate is actually four times the global average.
1. What causes the drop in Lapland's reindeer population?A.Cold winter. | B.Polluted habitats. |
C.Heavy snow. | D.Rising temperatures. |
A.Rides. | B.Animals. | C.Experiences. | D.Tourists. |
A.Lapland is home to various wildlife. |
B.Increased rainfall threatens Rovaniemi. |
C.Rovaniemi is official home of Santa Claus. |
D.Changing climate affects Lapland's tourism. |
A.They feel excited. | B.They are disappointed. |
C.They enjoy themselves. | D.They prefer wheeled carts. |
8 . Recent research discovered that a low-cost computer training program can help older persons drive less dangerously.
“We developed a training program, called Drive Aware, which could be used by anyone who has a computer,” says Jing Feng, co-author of the study and a professor of psychology at NC State. “Drive Aware is a cognitive (认知的) training program for older persons that helps them notice traffic risks more effectively. The purpose of our recent study was to see how much Drive Aware changes trainees’ driving behaviors once they get behind the wheel.”
The researchers found 27 persons aged 65 and up to test Drive Aware. In a driving simulator (模拟器), all of the study participants (参与者) experienced a basic driving exam. The “active training” group was made up of nine of the study participants. Every two weeks, the active training group had two Drive Aware trainings. A group of nine additional study participants was asked to take “passive training”. This group watched videos of others receiving the Drive Aware instruction. This happened twice, with each lasting about a week. The control group, which was made up of the remaining nine study participants, received no training. After that, all 27 study participants performed a second driving exam in the simulator.
The study participants in the active training group experienced 25% fewer “unsafe incidents (事件)” following the training, according to the researchers. There was no obvious change in the number of dangerous incidents among study participants in the passive training and control groups.
“This testing was done with a fairly limited number of study participants,” Feng says. “If we can succeed in getting the fund, we’d like to further our testing with more people to clearly prove how effective this training is at reducing accidents among older drivers.”
1. What does the underlined phrase “get behind the wheel” in paragraph 2 mean?A.Take a risk. | B.Start a program. |
C.Drive a car. | D.Use a computer. |
A.Experience no training. | B.Receive two Drive Aware trainings. |
C.Take three driving tests. | D.Observe videos of Drive Aware trainings. |
A.By quoting former figures. | B.By investigating car accidents. |
C.By operating the driving simulator. | D.By comparing participants’ performances. |
A.Unclear. | B.Worried. | C.Positive. | D.Doubtful. |
9 . A new technology project in southern Greece is helping visitors experience the ancient birthplace of the Olympic Games.
The project used Augmented Reality (AR) to recreate temples and competition areas in the ancient city of Olympia. It was recently launched in the city, one of the world’s major archaeological sites. Augmented Reality is a technology that can project computer-created imagery onto special eyeglasses. Through the eyeglasses, the images appear along with other physical objects in the environment.
The project is a partnership between American software maker Microsoft and Greece’s Ministry of Culture and Sport. The ministry helped Microsoft map and build virtual representations of Olympia. The city was used for nearly a thousand years to host the games in ancient Greece that served as the model for the modern Olympics. The experience provides users the chance to virtually walk through the ruins of Olympia. At the Olympic Museum in Athens, people can also use Microsoft’s AR headsets for a similar experience.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis joined a group of schoolchildren who were using the app for the first time. “I’m absolutely thrilled that we’re able to present to the world a completely new cultural experience utilizing technology to recreate the ancient world of Olympia, ” Mitsotakis told the media.
Students from a local middle school looked at statues and structures that were brought to life on their phones. One of the children, Panagiotis Christopoulos, called the project “impressive”. “I think it can help with teaching in schools, ” the student said. They were able to virtually visit inside and outside settings to explore where ancient Olympians had competed in different sports.
The project began 18 months ago with a series of imaging flights to help map areas across Olympia. Microsoft is to build several data centers in and near Athens as part of a $ 1 billion investment agreement with the Greek government.
1. What can users do with the eyeglasses?A.Move physical objects. |
B.Take photos of the ruins of Olympia. |
C.Take part in the virtual Olympic Games. |
D.Be on a virtual visit to the ruins of Olympia. |
A.Using. | B.Determining. |
C.Replacing | D.Recycling |
A.Develop advanced operating systems. |
B.Help the Greek government plan the city. |
C.Make an agreement with other companies. |
D.Spend lots of money establishing data centers. |
A.Greece Will Open a New Olympic Museum |
B.Digital Project Brings Olympics Birthplace to Life |
C.The AR Glasses Helps You See More about the World |
D.The Olympic Museum in Athens Will Create a Virtual Map |
10 . Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde’s latest project, GROW, involved installing (安装) thousands of blue, red and purple LED lights in a 2-hectare field of leek (韭菜) for both artistic and practical purposes. People driving by the town of Lelystad, in central Netherlands, at night, this time of year are treated to a fantastic sight—a 20,000 square meters field of leek glowing blue, red and purple. Thought up by Studio Roosegaarde, the unique artistic installation is designed both as an honor to Dutch farmers and as an inspiration for them to experiment with artificial light in outdoor farming. Daan Roosegaarde also wants GROW to send a hopeful light to people in these trying times, giving new meaning to the word “agriculture” as a living cultural artwork.
Nighttime ultraviolet (紫外线的) light has been used in glasshouse agriculture for a while now, especially in places where direct sunlight is scarce, but its use in outdoor fanning has so far been very limited. Ultraviolet light is known to help plants grow better, but Studio Roosegaarde is also testing a theory according to which certain wavelengths of ultraviolet light could reduce the need for pesticides by up to 50%.
“So we started to scan the plants with these wavelengths of light and then suddenly it started to dance, the light,” Daan Roosegaarde said. “You had these huge fields of fireflies, as if they were, and we were testing it and the magic started kicking in, so I think that’s when the worlds of science, art and design meet and enhance each other.” Solar-powered LEDs give ultraviolet light onto the leek plants, thus adding the effect of natural sunlight after sunset, and creating a wonderful sight at the same time.
GROW is currently only visible near Lelystad, but Roosegaarde plans to take the visually-impressive installation on the road to over 40 countries. Each country will have its own local or national crop and its own unique light recipe. Over the years, Studio Roosegaarde has created a number of fascinating installations, like the glow-in-the-dark bicycle path powered directly by the sun.
1. What does GROW probably refer to?A.A project creating artworks. | B.A project installing LED lights. |
C.A project producing pesticides. | D.A project building glasshouses. |
A.Sufficient. | B.Enough. |
C.Steady. | D.Lacking. |
A.What artistic effects were caused by the project |
B.Why the project GROW was conducted. |
C.How Roosegaarde’s design idea came up. |
D.How Roosegaarde’s theory was tested. |
A.It is promising. | B.It is pressing. |
C.It is challenging. | D.It is demanding. |