1 . Some 70 countries, mostly in the Americas and Europe, apply Daylight Saving Time during the summer months. Europe’s clocks will move forward once again this weekend. Yet last week the European Union voted to end this long-established practice from 2022.
In the 18th century, Benjamin Franklin came up with the idea of moving the clocks forward in the summer. But the practice really took hold during World War I and since then it has brought several benefits. It might increase consumer spending, as shoppers are encouraged to stay out later into the evening. It might even reduce crime. As the saying goes, “The longer the daylight, the less I do wrong.”
In spite of all that, clock-changing is unpopular. When the European Union ran a poll(民意调查)among its citizens, it got nearly 5 million responses. Over 80% want to scrap clock-changing, and for good reasons. Although it has not been proven eventually, many scientists think that changing the clocks messes up humans’ biological clock, which may increase the chances of heart attacks and strokes. It could cause car accidents to increase, as drivers who are used to going to work in the daylight, for example, suddenly have to do so in the dark. In addition, many businesses find it extremely inconvenient that countries change their clocks at different times.
So, will Europeans choose to stick with winter or summer time? This has not been decided. It could be that each country will choose for itself, though each is likely to take careful note of neighbors’ decisions. The benefit, it seems, is not so much in deciding how long the evening is, or how dark the morning. It is in keeping it consistent throughout the year.
1. What can we learn from paragraph 2?A.Clock-changing has more benefits than expected. |
B.People adopted clock-changing after World War I. |
C.Clock-changing makes people sleepy in the day time. |
D.People might spend more money after clock-changing. |
A.Favor. | B.Stop. |
C.Obey. | D.Delay. |
A.People will continue to use it. |
B.More changes will be added to it. |
C.It remains to be seen whether to use it. |
D.The countries will change their clocks at same times. |
A.To recall the history of clock-changing. |
B.To stress the benefits of clock-changing. |
C.To show people’s opinions on clock-changing. |
D.To introduce the bad effects of clock-changing. |
假如你是李华,你的朋友陈林在邮件中告知你,她刚刚进入新的学校,还不能适应新的高中生活,同时英语学习出了问题。她向你咨询怎么办。请你根据她的情况给她回邮件。
内容包括:
1.写信目的。
2.给出建议。
3.期待建议有帮助。
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3 . You probably take many steps to protect your computer from getting a virus, but what about your cell phone? Cell phones are basically mini-computers, so, believe it or not, they too can get viruses.
“Viruses and malware(恶意软件)should not be a major concern to the average consumer who uses their device to make phone calls, take pictures, and download a few well-known apps from the major app marketplaces,” Tim Katsch Vice President of iDropped said. “If a user is downloading a lot of apps, changing and exploring settings within the device, and visiting a large number of websites from unknown sources, virus and malware protection should be kept on their mind.” If your phone gets a virus it can mess up your data, put random charges on your bill, and get private information such as your bank account number, credit card information, passwords, and your location.
The most common way that you could get a virus on your phone would be through downloading an infected app. Viruses can also get on your phone when you click on strange links or open up an email that contains a virus. Connecting to an unsecured wireless network in a public place is also a way for hackers(黑客)to get private information from your device.
If you're still convinced that your phone might get a virus, there are anti-virus apps that you can download that will constantly scan your phone to make sure it hasn't developed a virus, Apps like these will also check things before you download them to ensure that they are safe. Another tip is to always look over your cell phone bill every month to make sure there aren't charges from apps that you never downloaded.
Technology is getting smarter, but so are hackers, and it's important to always be cautious with anything you do on your phone. Many people store a lot of personal information on their phones, and while that might make life a little more convenient, it can also do a lot of damage if hacked.
1. What can we learn from Tim Katsch's words?A.The wireless network in the public places is safe to use. |
B.Viruses and malware will most probably attack average phones. |
C.Downloading a lot of apps will protect your phone from being hacked. |
D.The average consumer needn't worry much about a virus or malware. |
A.Downloading an infected app. |
B.Clicking on close friends' links. |
C.Connecting to your mobile data. |
D.Changing your private information. |
A.Harm set, harm get. |
B.Every coin has two sides. |
C.Kill two birds with one stone. |
D.Technology makes life smarter. |
A.Anti-Virus Apps Make Your Cell Phone Safe? |
B.Viruses and Malware Damage Your Cell Phone? |
C.Worried About Your Cell Phone Catching a Virus? |
D.Ready to Fight Against the Hackers to Your Cell Phone? |
Teenagers should never be
A.that | B.whether | C.what | D.how |
6 . Can't—miss exhibits at Chicago museums in 2020
Chicago is a city full of history, art, culture. This year, the city's major museums are staging several show—stopping exhibits. Here are just a few of the Chicago museum exhibits' worth a visit in 2020.
The Allure(魅力) of Matter: Material Art from China
Co—presented by Chicago's Smart Museum of Art and Wrightwood 659, the Allure of Matter: Material Art from China is a limited—time exhibit that focuses on charming material art from contemporary Chinese artists. See everyday objects transformed into large—scale artworks, with pieces made from plastic, wood, paper, and more. Guests are encouraged to visit both locations to fully experience the exhibit's 45 different works.
Feb.6—May. 2,2020
Wrightwood 659, Lincoln Park
Smart Museum of Art, Hyde Park
The March at the DuSable Museum
Chicago's DuSable Museum of African American History is the first independent African American history museum in the country, the exhibit of which showcases the 1963March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The groundbreaking exhibit will bring Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech to virtual reality for the first time and allow guests a one—of—a—kind, multi—level sensory experience.
Feb.28—Nov. 20,2020
The DuSable Museum of African American History, Hyde Park
Monet and Chicago
Chicago has always held a special connection to Monet. The Art institute was the first American museum to purchase one of Monet's paintings, and today the museum holds the largest collection of works by the artists outside of Paris. That makes the museum a perfect background for the pioneering Monet and Chicago. The exhibit explores Monet's connections to the city through 65 of his paintings—including both rare and iconic(标志性的) works.
May.10 — Sept.28, 2020
Art Institute of Chicago, Loop
1. What is the characteristic of Chinese artists' artworks?A.They are presented in a single location. |
B.They are made of materials for daily use. |
C.They are made by Chinese—American artists. |
D.They are held from January to May. |
A.An Institute of Chicago, Loop. |
B.Wrightwood 659, Lincoln Park. |
C.Smart Museum of Art, Hyde Park. |
D.The DuSable Museum of African American History, Hyde Park. |
A.Monet's life outside of Paris. | B.Monet's later life in Chicago. |
C.Monet's paintings of Chicago. | D.Monet's connection to Chicago. |
As the world
Though Xinjiang has little rainfall, it has a large number of snow-capped mountains, from which meltwater gives cotton abundant water resource. Meanwhile,
Xinjiang is lightly populated and has a vast planting area. It has
The combination of advantaged
8 . Six Solar Terms in Summer
Lixia
Lixia is the first solar term in summer, signifying the beginning of the hot summer.
Xiaoman and Mangzhong
During Xiaoman, summer harvest crops such as wheat already bear fruits, and their seeds are full though they are not ripe yet. Thus, the solar term is named Xiaoman. The solar term Xiaoman is in late May. Summer begins to reach all parts of the country. Rainfall begins to increase further. Mangzhong means, "wheat with awn(芒)should be harvested soon, and rice seeds with awn can be sown".
Xiazhi
On the day of Xiazhi, the daytime in the Northern Hemisphere(半球)reaches its maxi-mum length.
Xiaoshu and Dashu
A.The character shu means heat. |
B.It predicts the busy farming activities of farmers. |
C.The temperatures rise and summer drought begins. |
D.The more northern a place is, the longer its daytime is. |
E.People need to prepare for heat prevention and cooling. |
F.It means the end of spring, and the beginning of summer. |
G.It marks the hottest period with the highest temperatures in a year. |
9 . Despite the successful creation of young by cloning various species, researchers still have limited understanding of the technique. Although the overall efficiency and safety of cloning in animals has significantly increased over the past fifteen years, it is not yet a safe process. For example, the rate of dead births and developmental abnormalities remains high. Another source of concern is the risk of premature ageing because of shortened telomeres(端粒酶). Telomeres get shorter as an animal gets older. When the telomeres of a cell get so short that they disappear, the cell dies. The concern is that cloned animals may get the shortened telomeres, with possibly premature aging and a shortened lifespan as a result.
For many, the fact that cloning is unsafe provides a good reason not to pursue it. It has been argued that it would simply be wrong to put such significant health risks on humans. The strongest version of this argument states that it would be wrong now to produce a child by cloning because it would be a case of illegal birth. Against this, it has been argued that even if cloning is unsafe, it may still be permissible if there are no safer means to bring that very same child into existence.
With the actual rate of advancement in cloning, one cannot deny a future in which the safety and efficiency of cloning will be equal or superior to that of test-tube baby. A remaining question is, then, whether those who condemn(谴责)cloning because of its experimental nature should continue to condemn it morally and legally. Some authors have reasoned that if, in the future, cloning becomes safer than sexual reproduction, we should even make it our reproductive method of choice.
1. What's the main idea of paragraph 1?A.All species are able to be cloned technically. |
B.The efficiency and safety of cloning is increasing. |
C.Various risks still exist in the process of cloning. |
D.There's still a lot to learn about cloning technology. |
A.They differ from species to species. |
B.The longer they are, the older the cell. |
C.They tend to get thinner when aging. |
D.They don't exist in a dead cell. |
A.It would break the existing laws in nature. |
B.It would bring great health risks on humans. |
C.It has a large gap to be filled up technically. |
D.It is against the will of the majority of people. |
A.Positive. | B.Skeptical. |
C.Ambiguous. | D.Worried. |
10 . The remains of a gold mask were found at an archaeological site in China's Sichuan province in March 2021. Weighing about 280 grams and estimated to be made from 84% gold, the mask was one of over 500 items unearthed from six newly discovered sacrificial pits(坑), according to the country's National Cultural Heritage Administration.
The finds were made at Sanxingdui, a 4.6-square-mile area outside the provincial capital of Chengdu. Some experts say the items may shine further light on the ancient Shu state, a kingdom that ruled in the western Sichuan basin until it was conquered in 316 BC.
In addition to the gold mask, archaeologists uncovered golds and artifacts(手工艺品)made from ivory and bone. The six pits, of which the largest has a footprint of 19 square meters, also yielded an as-yet-unopened wooden box.
More than 50,000 ancient artifacts have been found at Sanxingdui since the 1920s, when a local farmer accidentally came upon a number of relics at the site. A major breakthrough occurred in 1986, with the discovery of two pits containing over 1,000 items.
A third pit was then found in late 2019, which led to the discovery of a further five last year. Experts believe the pits were used for sacrificial purposes, explaining why many of the items contained were burned as they were dropped in and buried.
Sanxingdui is believed to have sat at the heart of the Shu state, which historians know relatively little about due to a shortage of written records. The site has revolutionized experts' understanding of how civilization developed in ancient China. In particular, evidence of a unique Shu culture suggests that the kingdom developed independently of neighboring societies in the Yellow River Valley, which was traditionally considered to be the cradle(摇篮)of Chinese civilization.
1. Why are the remains of a gold mask mentioned in paragraph 1?A.To lead in the topic of the text. |
B.To stress the importance of gold. |
C.To show the symbolic meaning of gold. |
D.To praise the skills of ancient Shu state. |
A.3. | B.8. |
C.9. | D.14. |
A.promoted | B.strengthened |
C.weakened | D.updated |
A.A Complete Gold Mask Unearthed in Sichuan |
B.The History of China's Ancient Shu State |
C.Another Great Discovery in Sanxingdui |
D.Mystery of Sanxingdui Solved in 2021 |