1 . International Women's Day is March 8. The first celebration was held in 1911, and the event was recognized by the United Nations starting in 1975.
It's a great time to think about the origin of the word "woman". Some people think the word “woman" is a compound(混合)of the words“womb”and“man". Not so. Rather,it's a compound of "wife" and "man", a combination that can be traced back to Old English. You see, when Old English was first being spoken in the 5th century AD, there were two distinct words for men and women: "wer" meant "adult male",and "wif” meant “adult female". There was a third word,“man", which simply meant "person"or "human being”. These words could be combined:“wer" plus“man"(in the form of "waepman")meant "adult male person" and“wif” plus"man”("wilman") meant “adult female person”.
Those middle forms,“wimnan"and "wommon"with the two M's in the middle, remind me of Noah Webster's efforts to simplify English spelling by suggesting changing the spelling "woman” to“wimmen" to have the spelling better match the pronunciation. He put that in his 1806 Compendious Dictionary o f the English Language, but it didn't become popular.
And the Old English word for "adult male" evolved into a simplified form. The compound word "weapman" melted into the simple word we use today: "man".
Maybe the lesson to take from all this is that the role of women in society has always been complex. Whatever the case, the word "woman" today was originally a compound of the Old English words for"woman” and “human being”.
1. Where can you find the first source of the word "woman"?A.In paragraph 1. | B.In paragraph 2. | C.In paragraph 3. | D.In paragraph 4. |
A.To link the spelling to the pronunciation. |
B.To keep up with the times more closely. |
C.To satisfy the readers’ requests |
D.To make it easy to pronounce. |
A.By the 1600s. | B.In the 5th century AD, |
C.In 1809. | D.By the Middle English period |
A.To tell us the origin of Women's Day. |
B.To tell us the history of the word "woman". |
C.To stress the roles women are playing |
D.To teach us the development of a language |
I’m not Chinese, but I love Chinese New Year. There are many fun New Year
The sound of the drums,
The lion dance
I love all about the lion dance. The other day, I saw a film about a left-behind teenager who insisted on pursuing his dreams despite difficulties and
3 . Skeleton is one of the three sliding sports at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, alongside the luge(单雪橇)and bobsleigh(大雪橇). With only six medals up for grabs, skeleton has the fewest events at the Winter Games—which means competition will be fierce.
The sport of skeleton has its roots in the most popular winter pastime: sleighing. In the mid-19th century, British and American holidaymakers built the first toboggan(平底雪橇)run in Davos in 1882, and thus the sport of sleighing began.
Two years later, in 1884, the famed Cresta Run—a natural ice skeleton racing toboggan track—was built in St. Moritz, Switzerland(the course has hosted the annual Grand National championships since 1885).
In 1892, a new sledge made entirely of steel was introduced, and some claim that its bony appearance gave the sledge and the sport the name ‘skeleton’.
Men’s skeleton was first introduced on the Olympic program in the 1928 Games in St. Moritz. But due to the sport only being available at the Cresta Run at the time, it fell into obscurity(默默无闻)while the luge and bobsleigh grew in popularity. However, in 2002, the skeleton was reintroduced as a men’s and women’s event at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, and has remained a part of the Olympic program ever since.
While Great Britain has the most medals(nine)in skeleton competition at the Olympics, the top spot belongs to the United States(eight medals)by virtue of having four silvers to Great Britain’s one(both nations have three golds, while Britain has five bronze medals, and the United States one).
Great Britain is the only nation to have won a medal every time skeleton has featured at the Olympic Games, and has won at least one medal in each of the five contests of women’s skeleton since its introduction.
1. How many events does skeleton have in the Olympics?A.Two. | B.Three. | C.Five. | D.Six. |
A.In 1882. | B.In1885. | C.In1892. | D.In 1928. |
A.Because its material steel was rare. |
B.Because there was only one run for it. |
C.Because only men could take part in it. |
D.Because it was not on the Olympic program. |
A.The number of medals. | B.The composition of medals. |
C.The virtue of the athletes. | D.The times of hosting the Olympics. |
4 . Arden University
Arden University has physical study centres in London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Berlin, Germany, and also offers high quality online bachelor and master degree programmes to British and international students all over the world. They have supported over 50,000 students while remaining true to their core values, ensuring higher education is available for all. Covering a range of professional subjects in 12 academic fields, Arden University makes UK education accessible and affordable through their creative study platform. Click here to view this school.
University of London International Programmes
We have over 60,000 students in every corner of the globe studying on more than 100 different programmes. Our global footprint and flexible study method has enabled students to study wherever they live. As a family of 19 world-class colleges and admired institutes, the University of London has an international reputation for academic distinction in teaching and research. Our students achieve exactly the same standard of internationally recognized qualification as those who attend the University itself. Click here to view this school.
University of York
The University of York is one of the top ten universities in the UK for teaching and research, and is ranked in the top 100 universities in the world. This well-established university consists of over 30 academic departments and research centres and a student body of 13,000, and was named Times Higher Education University of the Year 2010. Most of the distance learning courses are designed to meet professional development needs, and reflect the benefits of online learning in this context. Click here to view this school.
Lloyd’s Maritime Academy
Course options include popular and well-established diplomas in Marine (海洋) Surveying, Ship Management, and Maritime Law. Various accreditation levels are available from short, online based certificate courses to fully-accredited diploma and postgraduate diploma study options. We also offer our best course — the MBA in Shipping&. Logistics. The continued strength of these distance learning programmes have over 6,000 students enrolled on our courses. Click here to view this school.
1. Which holds the largest number of students?A.Arden University. | B.University of York. |
C.Lloyd's Maritime Academy. | D.University of London International Programmes. |
A.How to be a training teacher. | B.How to be a good programmer. |
C.How to be a professional in shipping industry. | D.How to be an excellent shipbuilder. |
A.They all offer online courses. | B.They are only accessible to the British. |
C.They are all top ten schools in the world. | D.They were all built in the early 20th century. |
5 . The Best National Parks to Visit in Winter
While most parks tend to draw families in the summer and fall, there are also ideal spots for adventurous winter trips.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
The country’s oldest and best-known national park takes on an almost otherworldly atmosphere in winter: the air filled with rolling steam, the strong colors of hot springs, the surrounding white landscapes, let alone the impressive wildlife during this time, like bison, wolves, and playful red foxes. Just book a guided hiking tour to get a ranger’s perspective on the park and local people.
Joshua Tree National Park, California
With its giant red rocks and unique trees, you’ll feel like stepping onto a foreign planet as you spend hours hiking the Panorama Loop or Maze Loop. The park is recognized as an International Dark Sky Park, featuring virtually zero light pollution and the country’s best views of a starry sky.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
A significantly lower number of visitors in winter means you can take in unblocked views of the South Rim, and get to see the rare beauty of the Grand Canyon dusted with snow. For those adventurous and daring, it is recommended to hike the Bright Angel Trail and take the chance to see the canyon’s wintertime wildlife, including mule deer, elk, and bald eagles.
Virgin Islands National Park, St. John
Surprise! Not all wintertime national park trips need to involve snow. Virgin Islands National Park is most famous for its white-sand beaches. You can also hike inland to visit old sugar plantations, or venture out to the water to swim along with sea turtles and manta rays. You will definitely enjoy a different winter here.
1. Which park will one choose if he/she is interested in stars?A.Yellowstone National Park. | B.Joshua Tree National Park. |
C.Grand Canyon National Park. | D.Virgin Islands National Park. |
A.We can have a poor view of the South Rim there. | B.It lies in an area with rolling steam and hot springs. |
C.There is a slight decline in visitor numbers in winter. | D.The Bright Angel Trail is challenging in cold weather. |
A.Hiking. | B.Skiing. | C.Swimming. | D.Hunting. |
6 . People kept coming into St. Stephen’s asking for help with car repairs. Oh, this is obviously an urgent
So I
One day we were
“My
He glared at me. “I’m not going to let you
Tried again. And again. On the fourth try, I
Today I
Some people want to follow in our
A.discovery | B.promise | C.lesson | D.need |
A.affordable | B.free | C.essential | D.capital |
A.imagined | B.examined | C.found | D.absented |
A.dream | B.fashion | C.strategy | D.reality |
A.something | B.anything | C.nothing | D.everything |
A.Hopefully | B.Naturally | C.Luckily | D.Surprisingly |
A.copy | B.check | C.detect | D.grade |
A.forced | B.employed | C.assigned | D.permitted |
A.whispered | B.stated | C.argued | D.yelled |
A.shaking | B.tied | C.cut | D.waving |
A.open | B.straight | C.flat | D.steady |
A.day | B.class | C.term | D.year |
A.tool | B.brain | C.idea | D.car |
A.ask | B.relax | C.search | D.quit |
A.teacher | B.helper | C.graduate | D.failure |
A.made it | B.got it | C.turned around | D.fell down |
A.spot | B.launch | C.donate | D.sponsor |
A.debts | B.hopes | C.bills | D.efforts |
A.saved | B.left | C.owed | D.repaid |
A.opinions | B.footsteps | C.details | D.interests |
7 . A 29-year-old woman Chelsea Haley of Marietta, Georgia, who adopted (收养) a former student and his brother, is now celebrating being completely debt-free. She has paid off a total of $ 48,683.41 — the amount she owed in credit cards and student loans with interest. “It doesn’t feel real yet,” Haley, mom of Jerome, 17, and Jace, 6, told the press.
Haley was teaching in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 2015, on a two-year commitment to Teach for America, which is an organization that finds recent college graduates to work in low-income schools. Her son, Jerome, was in her 4th-grade class at the time.
When Haley saw Jerome having difficulty in progressing academically, she started spending time with him — going to his football games, buying him school supplies and more. Soon, Haley adopted Jerome together with his brother. “Being their mom is the greatest blessing of my life,” Haley said.
Haley went to all the expense of adopting the two boys. She also borrowed money to afford taking care of them, which increased the difficulty for her to pay their student loans. Determined to rid herself of debt, Haley took on part-time jobs. On top of being a teacher, she was teaching an individual student or a small group in her spare time a couple of days a week. On Fridays, she was paid extra to stay late at the school and work as the building manager. Haley also delivered (送) groceries. She sold her home and moved back to live with her parents on Nov. 6. Her goal is to save money for a new house and prepare Jerome for college. Both boys are doing well in school.
“It allows me to focus on the boys’ future,’’ Haley said. “Earning and saving money for them, and not spending money saved in the past.”
Her advice for making a determined effort to free us of debt is never to ignore your spending and stick to a plan.
1. How did Chelsea Haley feel when she had just paid off the debt?A.Unforgettable. | B.Unbelievable. |
C.Unpredictable. | D.Unacceptable. |
A.As soon as Jerome first became her student at school. |
B.Immediately she came to the school Jerome studied in. |
C.When she found Jerome had difficulty studying further. |
D.After she had decided to adopt Jerome and his brother. |
A.Why Haley returned to live with her parents. |
B.Why Haley kept herself busy making a living. |
C.What part-time jobs Haley did to earn money. |
D.How Haley managed to pay off her debt finally. |
A.Making a practical plan. | B.Relying on your savings. |
C.Getting help from parents. | D.Borrowing friends’ money. |
8 . On a September night almost anywhere in southern Europe, you might see beech trees rustle (发出沙沙声) with activity. If you shine a light into the branches,you may see animals with large eyes and bushy tails.
They are called fat dormice. Despite their name, all types of dormice are more closely related to squirrels than mice. That explains their bushy tails and why they hang out in trees and bushes. But most squirrels are active during the day. Like other dormice, fat dormice come out at night.
Once the sun sets, fat dormice go to work filling themselves with beech seeds until they grow fat. These animals add at least half their body weight in just a few weeks. They’re preparing for a winter sleep. Lots of animals hibernate (冬眠),but fat dormice do so for seven or eight months. After putting on plenty of eight, a fat dormouse makes a nest. There it will spend the winter. Its body uses the stored fat for energy while it hibernates. But seven months is a long time,so the dormouse needs to use its energy slowly.
Everything in a fat dormouse’s body slows down when it hibernates. That’s true of all hibernating animals. They breathe more slowly and their hearts beat less often. Those changes help the animals survive several months without eating. But in fat dormice, the bodies slow down even more than the bodies of other hibernating animals that live in similar environments. At temperatures well above freezing (15℃), hibernating fat dormice may breathe only once every 10 minutes. During a midwinter freeze, they breathe only once an hour. Hibernators such as little brown bats and squirrels breathe more often. Their hearts beat more often, too. But those animals hibernate for only five or six months. Fat dormice have to stretch their energy supply for two or three months longer.
Over seven or eight months, the fat dormouse slowly uses up the fat it stored in the fall. In May, it finally wakes up. It is much thinner, very hungry, and ready to make the most of its short summer before it is time to hibernate again.
1. What is a characteristic of fat dormice?A.They feed on insects. | B.They look the same as mice. |
C.They enjoy staying underground. | D.They are active during the night. |
A.To fight against enemies. | B.To protect their families. |
C.To survive during the winter. | D.To feed baby fat dormice. |
A.Fat dormice are super energy savers. |
B.Fat dormice are good food searchers. |
C.Fat dormice store more energy than other hibernators. |
D.Fat dormice breathe more quickly in midwinter than in summer. |
A.To compare several kinds of animals. |
B.To introduce a champion of hibernation. |
C.To explain how fat dormice earned their name. |
D.To show how hibernating animals spend the winter. |
9 . The Bad of Online Communication
Today, online services and products are where most development in communication is happening.
Apart from dependency, there are other objections and worries about the Internet.
A.Actually, going online has good points. |
B.Why do many think going online is worth trying? |
C.Then there is the problem of information being stolen. |
D.they will forget how to get on with people face to face. |
E.there are rules of polite behavior in face-to-face meetings. |
F.Not all people seeking relationships online have innocent intentions. |
G.With all these dangers, is going online to communicate really worthwhile? |
10 . In the wild, monkeys need to watch out for all sorts of dangers,like leopards (豹),eagles and snakes. But the green monkeys studied by Julia Fischer of the German Primate Center have an additional challenge: they also have to scan the skies for drones (无人机). "Why do we fly a drone over green monkeys?" one may ask. The answer is that Fischer and her colleagues are interested in how monkeys communicate.
In a classic study back in the 1980s, scientists showed that African vervet monkeys (长尾黑频猴) produce alarm calls that are specific to the hunters they meet. For example,vervet monkeys hearing a leopard alarm might climb up a tree hurriedly, whereas the eagle call sends them running for cover under the closest bush.
Now,the green monkeys that live in Senegal share a similar system to warn of leopards and snakes. But they aren’t known to raise much noise in response to bird hunters. Therefore,the researchers decided to fly a drone over them. They treated 80 green monkeys to a show of drones. How did the animals react to these unfamiliar drones? “These monkeys did respond. And they responded with alarm calls,and they responded by running away,” Fischer said.
Here’s where things get really interesting: the calls the green monkeys made after spotting the drones were different from the ones they used to signal leopards or snakes. But what's even more interesting is that when the researchers did an analysis of the sound,they found that these alarm calls were almost strangely similar to the ones of the African vervets. And the findings are described in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution.
The fact that the two monkey species seem to speak similar language, even though they separated from their last common ancestor some 3 million years ago,suggests that this kind of warning system is unchanged. So if you hear a monkey make alarm calls like that, watch out for a hungry bird, or check to see if your drone has delivered your package.
1. What did the study in the 1980s find about vervet monkeys?A.They could meet a variety of hunters in Africa. |
B.They separated from their very close cousins early. |
C.They could hide themselves very well from the hunters. |
D.They made particular alarm calls according to the hunters. |
A.By shouting and climbing up trees. | B.By making noises and playing dead |
C.By sending alarms and running away. | D.By hiding themselves under shelters. |
A.The alarm calls green monkeys made after spotting the drones. |
B.The alarm calls the African vervets made after spotting the drones. |
C.The alarm calls green monkeys used to signal leopards or snakes. |
D.The alarm calls the African vervets used to signal leopards or snakes. |
A.Survival of the Fittest— the Choice of Nature |
B.The Application of Drones in Scientific Studies |
C.Green Monkeys and Their Habits Are Back to Nature Finally |
D.Green Monkeys and Their Cousins May Share Similar Language |