1 . Important Things to Know When Dining Out
Cultural dining etiquette (礼节) might surprise you with some of its important rules.
The way you handle chopsticks is important to avoid annoying your companions. When you put them down between bites, always put them down together so they are parallel with the edge of the table in front of you.
In India and the Middle East, it’s considered very rude to eat with your left hand. People in France expect you to eat with a utensil in each hand.
Some of these cultural dining etiquette rules may seem random and strange, but they are important in various countries.
| A．The more friends you make in your lifetime |
| B．The more time you spend in any given country |
| C．Mexicans consider it inappropriate to eat with utensils |
| D．Don’t get caught making an embarrassing mistake at a restaurant |
| E．It’s a good sign for the chef if you make a mess around your plate |
| F．Never stick them upright in your food or cross them as you use them |
| G．It may seem like a simple request to ask for salt and pepper at a meal |
2 . Scientists have discovered how plants manage to live alongside each other in places that are dark and shady. Plants in the deep darkness of a thick forest, where natural supplies are not very great in amount, won’t attempt to top their neighbors in growth as those in moderate (中度的) shade do. In deep shade conditions, it would be a waste of energy and harmful to survival because green shoots would never be able to top their larger neighbors in growth.
So how do plants prevent such growth in deep shade conditions? The secret lies in the clocks insides them, say scientists from the John Ines Centre and the University of Bristol.
They have discovered that when plants notice deep shade, this changes the expression of genes parts of the circadian clock (昼夜节律时钟) — the inner daily timer found in plants and other things. These clock parts perform an additional role in preventing plants from lengthening and overtopping neighbors.
The work identifies a previously unknown role of the circadian clock in controlling plant development and the findings may have possible effects on both natural plant populations and crops. Professor Antony Dodd of the John Innes Centre said, “The biological clock of plants plays a big part in their development and fitness. This work casts new light on a new role of the circadian clock in adapting plants to competition with other plants in their environments.” “It also gives us new insights into how plants adapt to very deep shade, where resources are very limited,” said Professor Kerry Franklin at the University of Bristol.
This work provides evidence for the firmness of the circadian clock in stressful environments, and information that may be useful in developing new generations of crops in a challenging climate.
1. What do plants normally do in moderate shade?| A．Struggle to preserve energy. | B．Compete for limited resources. |
| C．Try to outgrow their neighbors. | D．Depend on each other to survive. |
| A．By changing their gene expression. | B．By making them realize light change. |
| C．By helping them adapt to the darkness. | D．By controlling their growth in deep shade. |
| A．To share a new discovery about plants. | B．To introduce the role of the circadian clock. |
| C．To explain plants secret of living in forests. | D．To compare plants living in certain condition. |
| A．How plants face a challenging climate |
| B．Why plants respond to different shade levels |
| C．Why the circadian clock is vital to plants' growth |
| D．How plants become good neighbors in times of stress |
3 . It is not always easy to keep a conversation going in English. You might not be sure about what to say. Or maybe you are afraid that your pronunciation is not good. So how can we continue a conversation in English?
Listen and follow up
First, remember the importance of listening. Listen to the other person attentively, so that you can ask a follow-up question. For example, let’s say the other person tells you, “I just got back from a trip to Canada.”
How was the food there?
Avold simple “yes” or “no” questions
If you want to keep a conversation going, it’s a good idea to ask questions that cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no”. If the other person asks you a “yes” or “no” question, try to give a longer answer to help keep the conversation going.
For example, a friend might ask, “Hey, have you seen the new Star Wars movie?” You could just answer, “No, I haven’t.”
Do not worry about your pronunciation. If your pronunciation is a little different, the other person will still understand your message if you try speaking slowly and clearly. When you are traveling in an English-speaking country and have some free time, be brave and speak in English with someone who does not look too busy.
| A．Or, you could say more. |
| B．Be brave and practice often. |
| C．You can try the following ways. |
| D．Why did you choose the destination? |
| E．Then you may make a new friend. |
| F．Correct your pronunciation if possible. |
| G．You can continue with a question using where, what, why, or how. |
4 . When I was growing up in Minnesota, Joe Versus the Volcano was one of my favorite movies. I
I had come
It wasn’t long before the airlines canceled all flights. When
For two days, I wandered
Like the people of La Palma, I
As I finally left, I realized how
| A．seemed | B．pretended | C．refused | D．longed |
| A．recording | B．checking | C．reporting | D．focusing |
| A．guessed | B．realized | C．agreed | D．imagined |
| A．excited | B．disappointed | C．prepared | D．confused |
| A．rock | B．ash | C．lava | D．smoke |
| A．covering | B．blocking | C．breaking | D．destroying |
| A．managers | B．actors | C．tourists | D．residents |
| A．driven | B．forgot | C．cleaned | D．missed |
| A．broad | B．beautiful | C．empty | D．crowded |
| A．panicked | B．satisfied | C．relaxed | D．inspired |
| A．ability | B．chance | C．talent | D．right |
| A．studying | B．noticing | C．writing | D．experiencing |
| A．relied on | B．appealed to | C．dealt with | D．believed in |
| A．lent | B．gave | C．sent | D．sold |
| A．upset | B．smart | C．anxious | D．grateful |
5 . 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 |
7 . 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. |
9 . The COVID-19 epidemic(新冠疫情)is sill spreading rapidly throughout the world. Luckily, it is under control in China with the efforts of our government and all the people. However, we should still be careful in our daily life. There’re some rules for us to follow.
1. Get vaccinated (打疫苗)
Since there’s still no special medicine to cure(治愈) COVID-19,
2. Wear masks(口罩)
People have been used to wearing masks since the epidemic broke out. It is summer now, maybe wearing masks in hot weather makes you feel uncomfortable. However,
So whenever you go out, don’t forget to put on your mask. You may look cooler with a mask on!
3. Wash your hands
4. Keep safe social distance(距离)
You’d better not go to crowded places. The summer vacation is beginning. If you have to go to the stores, movies, parties, supermarkets, etc, besides wearing masks, remember to keep social distance.
Anyway, take good care of yourself and live a safe and happy life!
| A．Wash your hands as often as possible. |
| B．But you have to pay! |
| C．we don’t need to do anything about it. |
| D．What’s more, it is free! |
| E．Avoid getting too close to other people. |
| F．the vaccine is the most important way to prevent it. |
| G．it is till a good way to stop the virus(病毒)from spreading among people. |
10 . Women have been making scientific discoveries since ancient times. Twelve women have won the Nobel Prize for Science, one of the highest honors in the world. Some women scientists never married, some worked with their husbands, and others raised large families. It has been difficult for women to be successful scientists.
In the early 1800s in England, Mary Anning became one of the first women recognized for her discoveries about the ancient history of the earth. Mary and her father collected fossils(化石) in their village on the south coast of Great Britain. Fossils are parts of plants or animals that have been saved in rocks for millions of years.
When she was only twelve years old, Mary became the first person to find the almost complete skeletons(骨架) of several animals that no longer existed on the earth.She didn’t become famous for her discoveries at that time because she often sold her fossils to get money to support her family.
In 1891, a young Polish woman named Marie Sklodowska traveled to Paris to study physics. She did so because she could not get a college education in Poland.She began working in the laboratory of a man named Pierre Curie. Marie and Pierre Curie got married and made many discoveries together. They received the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1903 along with another scientist.Marie Curie became the first person to be awarded a second Noble Prize in 1911, this time for Chemistry. Marie Curie was one of the few women at the time who became famous as a scientist.
1. The author believes that women scientists________.| A．have more opportunities to become successful |
| B．can not get the highest honors in the world |
| C．go through difficulties to be successful |
| D．had better pay more attention to their families |
| A．win the Noble Prize for Science after getting married |
| B．make achievements in the study of ancient earth |
| C．research animals and their bones |
| D．study the mystery of all kinds of plants |
| A．She studied physics in Poland and got a college education. |
| B．She received the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1903 on her own. |
| C．She only got one Nobel Prize during her lifetime. |
| D．She made many discoveries after she got married. |
| A．Ancient discoveries. | B．Women scientists. |
| C．Successful marriages. | D．Different prizes. |
