As Amy walked home from school one afternoon, she saw images of symmetry (对称) all around her: in the faces of people, in the buildings she passed, and in the cars that went by. Even the autumn leaves that covered the sidewalk. A butterfly landed on a branch above her, and Amy suddenly stopped. She held her breath and smiled, watching as it opened and closed its perfectly symmetrical wings.
All that month, Amy’s class had been studying different forms of symmetry, and Amy was deeply attracted. They’d observed the mirror symmetry of violins and the rotational symmetry of starfish. They’d even studied symmetry using a microscope and recorded the beauty with a phone camera. Now Mr. Garcia, their science teacher, had given them their final assignment: to find the most beautiful example of symmetry and give a report to the class on it.
“The most beautiful example of symmetry. What on earth could that be?” Amy asked herself. She finally decided to use her microscope to find one. Amy spent hours in the garden on the examination of cells, pieces of rock, and drops of pond water. Although she was amazed by what she saw, none was truly beautiful.
“What are you bringing to class?” Amy asked her friend Cathy on the bus ride to school. “A model airplane,” replied Cathy proudly. “And my brother Mathew is bringing his guitar.” Those things are nice, thought Amy, but there must be something more beautiful.
That evening, she stayed with her microscope until her father called out, “Get inside, Amy. It’s freezing outside. The weather forecast says it’s going to snow.”
Amy’s heart sank. There would be fewer things to study under the microscope. Snow would cover the area like a blanket, hiding everything from sight. Her assignment was due in just a few days. Amy began to feel panic as she was packing up her microscope. Then she caught sight of something white blown onto the stage of her microscope. Yes! The snowflake (雪花)! She looked through the microscope and was amazed by its beauty.
注意:
1.续写词数应为 150 左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
“I have to show it to my class,” Amy cried excitedly.
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Finally, it was the day to report.
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2 . Handwritten Chinese characters (文字) can be beautiful. I still remember looking at Chinese and not understanding anything it said and yet feeling a strong attraction. In fact, some students start learning Chinese because of the characters. After having studied Chinese for a while, I realized that handwriting in Chinese takes a very long time to learn.
Living as we do in a digital era (数字时代) with smartphones and computers, most students sooner or later ask themselves this question: Is it really necessary to learn how to write by hand in Chinese? When using smartphones or computers, we can use phonetic input (语音输入) systems, which choose the characters we want for us as long as we can remember how they are pronounced. Since we enter different characters, we seldom need to be able to recognize the difference between characters in detail; the computer makes the right choices for us. Do we really need to write Chinese by hand at all?
I think most people agree that you should learn to write at least some characters at some point as a student of Chinese, although not necessarily straight away and not necessarily all the characters that you can say. But unless you don’t care about written language at all, you should learn the basics of handwriting. Without it, it will be very hard to understand characters. You don’t need to be a calligraphy master (书法大师), but you do need basic handwriting skills to do this. Simply looking at things is, as usual, a bad way of learning.
I think learning the most common 500 characters or so is a good idea for all students. If you actually want to write by hand, increase that to 1, 000. Then learn to handwrite characters outside of the 1, 000 most common on a need-to-know basis.
1. What does the author think of Chinese characters?A.They are less communicative than English words. |
B.They attract some foreigners to learn Chinese. |
C.They show the greatness of Chinese culture. |
D.They are not really that difficult. |
A.Characters are very difficult for foreigners to learn. |
B.People believe learning to write characters is important. |
C.People doubt the necessity of learning to write characters. |
D.Characters may disappear with the development of society. |
A.Understanding characters. |
B.Being a calligraphy master. |
C.Keeping a good learning habit. |
D.Learning basic handwriting skills. |
A.Uncaring. | B.Worried. |
C.Supportive. | D.Surprised. |
3 . Everybody knows that Massachusetts is a great place to see fall leaves. But surely there are other places to catch the leaves turning green to reddish-golden? The short answer is yes.
Aspen, Colorado
Aspen—as its name suggests—doesn’t fail to impress with its backdrop of majestic snow-capped mountains. Head to the Maroon Bells to look into mirror-like lakes to see double: on a calm day, the mountains and trees are reflected in the still waters.
Bavaria, Germany
Take a trip into a Brothers Grimm fairytale. Not only can you catch breathtaking views—such as castles emerging from red, green and golden trees—but you can experience the region’s fall traditions, such as the “Almabtrieb” event, bringing in the cattle from the grasslands, and local parish (教区) fairs, called “Kirchweih-Feste” where beer is everywhere.
Catskills, Upstate New York
If spotting fall in one state isn’t enough, head to the Catskills, where you can see five states at once. Head to the Northern Catskills of Greene County, to the “Five State Lookout” in Windham, where you can view treetops in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, as well as beautiful scenery of the Hudson River Valley.
Edinburgh, Scotland
This city is made for fall with its tree-lined streets and big open parks. Head to Princes Street Gardens, which is home to some of the city’s most typical monuments, such as the storybook-style Gardeners’ Cottage and the Scott Monument, or take a hike through Holyrood Park, marveling as the russet tones (红褐色) cover the rolling hills which climb up to the famed Arthurs Seat offering full views of the city and beyond.
1. What is a special view of the Maroon Bells?A.Typical monuments in Scottish style. |
B.Beautiful castles among golden trees. |
C.Clear lakes with reflections of surroundings. |
D.Mountains completely covered with snow. |
A.Aspen, Colorado. | B.Catskills, Upstate New York. |
C.Bavaria, Germany. | D.Edinburgh, Scotland. |
A.To explain how to develop hobbies in the fall. |
B.To stress the importance of traveling in the fall. |
C.To introduce some places to appreciate fall leaves. |
D.To describe how lo enjoy fall leaves with your own eyes. |
4 . Think back to the last time you shopped for fruits and vegetables. You may have noticed some items labelled with the word “organic”.
“Organic” refers to the way food is grown. To be labelled as organic, food production must meet strict guidelines. These can be different depending on where you live. In the United States, organic foods must be grown or raised without using pesticides or chemical fertilizers.
The organic movement was started to get back to the old traditional ways of farming. Why? Many believe the chemicals and pesticides used in modern farming can be harmful to your health.
Have you ever compared organic and non-organic foods at the grocery store? If so, you know that organic food tend to cost more. This happens for many reasons. Organic farming produces fewer crops.
Is organic food worth the extra cost? Some people believe it is. They may think it tastes better or just prefer to eat food that has not been grown using chemicals.
A.Have you ever wondered what that means? |
B.The cost of production is also usually higher. |
C.For most of history, almost all food was organic. |
D.Many people are willing to pay more for organic food. |
E.Some also think organic foods are naturally more nutritious. |
F.Are you wondering if organic food is right for you? |
G.Scientists have studied organic and non-organic foods for many years now. |
5 . Do you get nervous thinking about a coming math test? If yes, you are far from alone. Math anxiety has become a common condition among students around the world. Students in countries with higher levels of math anxiety tend to achieve lower math grades, according to a study published by the National Academy of Sciences on Feb 15.
Math anxiety — a negative emotional reaction to the core subject — causes fear, physical suffering and behavior problems among young pupils, according to a University of Cambridge study. Some people also experience physical symptoms such as sweaty palms or a racing heart. They may then try to avoid every situation involving numbers, meaning they are held back from pursuing careers related to this subject, such as technology or engineering, according to The Guardian.
Relief comes from the fact that those with math anxiety aren’t destined (注定的) to be bad at math. “If a child has math anxiety, don’t assume that they’re not good at math. They may have had a really bad experience with math and there are ways to improve math achievement,” Daniel Ansari, the senior author of the study told The London Free Press.
Also, there are ways to manage your stress related to math. If you’re feeling stressed before a math exam, it may help to spend a few minutes exploring those feelings before the exam begins. “It’s about making sure you’re interpreting your feelings correctly,” Sian Beilock, a cognitive (认知的) scientist told the BBC. “Just because you have a fast heartbeat and sweaty palms, that does not necessarily mean you will fail.”
Math doesn’t come easy, no matter how clever you are. Leonardo da Vinci, the famous Italian artist, was a huge fan of mathematics. But his notebooks show that Da Vinci couldn’t do fractions (分数). He could never grasp, for instance, that dividing a number by one-quarter is the same as multiplying by four, resulting in a higher number than the original.
1. What do we know about math anxiety?A.People who are good at math don’t experience math anxiety. |
B.It is most commonly seen among teenagers. |
C.It can cause unpleasant symptoms both mentally and physically. |
D.Math anxiety leads to people struggling in their career. |
A.Math anxiety may contribute to better grades. |
B.Students with math anxiety may have higher cognitive abilities. |
C.Math anxiety does not reflect the ability to solve math problems. |
D.Bad experience with math can cause cognitive disadvantages. |
A.Practice more before you take math exams. |
B.Learn to understand your feelings. |
C.Ask cognitive experts for help. |
D.Take all nervous energy as a challenge. |
A.To show that math definitely isn’t easy. |
B.To explain why math is a particularly difficult subject. |
C.To show da Vinci’s math anxiety is very serious. |
D.To suggest a way to solve math anxiety. |
(1)活动的时间、地点、目的等;
(2)活动的内容;
(3)活动的意义和自己的感受。
注意:
(1)词数不少于100;标题已给出,不计入总词数;
(2)可以适当增加细节,使内容充实、行文连贯。
Small Act,Big Difference
Last Sunday, I took part in a voluntary activity in our neighborhood with many other volunteers,
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7 . I often find myself drawn to books that explore rural settings. Here are a few books that I've read and loved.
Rush Oh!
by Shirley Barrett
Rush Oh! is one of the most touching books I’ve read. It follows the Davidsons, a whaling family from Wales. After the death of her mother, Mary Davidson has many worries: her five siblings(兄弟姐妹)and caring for her father. The author Barrett’s exploration of this world and her characters are bittersweet and humorous.
Questions of Travel
by Michelle de Kretser
Questions of Travel, is a portrait of Ravi, a Sri Lankan refugee(难民)who flees to Australia after his wife and son’s death, and Laura, a young woman who moves to London and back again. The writing is beautiful and touching. Never before have I read Sydney brought so vividly to life.
The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt
by Tracy Farr
Lena Gaunt, in her 80s, looks back on her long and fascinating life. She has eventually traveled widely as a player of an instrument. Lena Gaunt reveals the parts of her life that gave he joy—her music, her daughter, Grace, and her lover-as well as those touched by the sadness of loss.
Too Easy
by J. M. Green
Too Easy is an irresistible novel starring Stella Hardy, a social worker in Melbourne. When one of Stella's clients is murdered and a neighbor goes missing, Stella begins to investigate. The plot sets a cracking pace through police investigations and journeys to Western Australia.
1. Which of the following is set in Sydney?A.Rush Oh! | B.The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt |
C.Too Easy | D.Questions of Travel |
A.Bittersweet teenage experiences. | B.Attractive musical instruments. |
C.Heart-shaking investigations. | D.Happiness and sorrow in life. |
A.To recommend excellent writers. | B.To analyze book qualities. |
C.To introduce good works. | D.To express personal values. |
8 . Ellis Island is located in New York Harbor. Ellis Island is open daily year-round from 9:30am to 5:00pm, with extended hours during summer. It is closed on December 25. There is no admission charge to Ellis Island; donations are gratefully accepted.
At Your Fingertips
Park information (212) 363- 7620
Emergencies (212 ) 363- 3260
Ferryboat information (212) 269- 5755
Lost and found (212) 344- 7620
Dining, gifts, & audio tour (212) 344- 0996
Transportation
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Ferry: Boats leave from Battery Park, Manhattan, and from Liberty State Park, New Jersey. They run about every 30 to 45 minutes beginning at 9: 15 am(ferry schedule subject to change).
Hours: May vary; call the number below
Closed: December 25
Ferry fees (Includes Liberty and Ellis Islands): adults, $ 7; senior citizens, $6; children(age 3 to 17), $ 3. (lower group rates are available for 25 or more adults)
Ticket & schedule information: (212) 269- 5755
1. In summer, visitors will have ___________ to visit Ellis Island.A.no enough money | B.a longer time | C.a shorter time | D.a wonderful time |
A.(212) 344- 0996 | B.(212) 363- 7620 | C.(212 ) 363- 3260 | D.(212) 269- 5755 |
A.People can visit Ellis Island free of charge. |
B.The boats departure time from Battery Park is at 9:15 a.m. all the year round. |
C.Ferry fees for children are cheaper than for adults. |
D.Ferry fees for group visitors can be reduced. |
A.visitors prefer to go to Ellis Island by boat | B.there are more visitors in winter |
C.Ellis Island is open every day | D.Boat is the only transportation to Ellis Island |
9 . Do you like to eat out? Do you like to eat quickly? Do you like inexpensive food?
Some people go to fast-food restaurants for these reasons. In the past, people usually went to diners(路边餐馆)for these reasons. In fact, many people in the States still go to diners today for the same reasons.
A man named Walter Scott had the first “diner” in 1872. It wasn’t a real diner. It was only a food cart. People on the street walked up to the cart to buy food. These carts served late-night workers who wanted a cup of coffee and a late-night meal. The meal was a sandwich or boiled eggs.
In 1887, Samuel Jones built the first diner big enough to allow the customers to come inside. However, they did not sit down. Later, people built diners with counters and stools(凳子), and people sat down while they ate.
Before long, many diners stayed open around the clock. In other words, people were able to eat in diner at any time. Diners changed in other ways, too. The original(最初的) menu of sandwiches and coffee became bigger. It included soup, favorite dishes, and a breakfast menu. In addition, diners soon became permanent buildings. They were no longer carts on wheels.
Diners today look similar to the diners of the early 1900s. They are usually buildings with large windows. Inside, the diners have shining counters with stools, booths, and tables and chairs. People can eat all three meals in a modern diner.
Today, many people eat in fast-food restaurants such as McDonald’s and Burger King. However, the diner remains an American tradition, and thousands of people still enjoy eating there. It was popular a century ago, and it is still popular today.
1. What meals did the first diners serve?A.Only breakfast | B.Only lunch |
C.Only night-meals | D.All of the above |
A.Two ways | B.three ways |
C.four ways | D.five ways |
A.Diners existed before a fast-food restaurant |
B.The menu included more food than sandwiches and coffee. |
C.Burger King is a fast-food restaurant |
D.Sandwiches became smaller |
A.the diner is a traditional and popular place to eat in the United States. |
B.Samuel Johns built the first diner big enough to allow the customers to come inside. |
C.American diners serve many types of food 24 hours a day to their customers. |
D.Diners are different from fast-food restaurants in many ways. |
10 . Many teenagers feel that the most important people in their lives are their friends. They believe that their family members, especially their parents, don’t know them as well as their friends do. In large families, it is often for brothers and sisters to fight with each other and then they can only go to their friends for advice. It is very important for teenagers to have one good friend or many friends. Even when they are not with their friends, they usually spend a lot of time talking among themselves on the phone. This communication is very important in children’s growing up, because friends can discuss something difficult to say to their family members.
However, parents often try to choose their children’s friends for them. Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends. The question of “choice” is an interesting one. Have you ever thought of the following questions?
Who choose your friends?
Do you choose your friends or your friends choose you?
Have you got good friends your parents don’t like?
1. Many teenagers think their ___________know them better than their parents do.A.friends | B.teachers | C.brothers and sisters | D.classmates |
A.go to their friends | B.talk with their parents |
C.have a discussion with their family | D.talk with their friends on the phone |
A.Parents should like everything their children enjoy. |
B.In all families, children can choose everything they like. |
C.Parents should try their best to understand their children better. |
D.Teenagers can only go to their friends for help. |
A.Teenagers need friends |
B.Friends can give good advice |
C.Parents often choose their children’s friends for them |
D.Good friends can communicate with each other |