As a young boy, I was always a troublemaker and up to no good. I liked playing tricks and enjoyed treating animals in an unfriendly way, like running after cats crazily, making them scared at the sight of me. Besides, I often used a handmade catapult (弹弓) to shoot at birds on the trees.
All this did afford me indescribable pleasure but also got me unkind stares and blames from people around. My parents disapproved of my behavior and were constantly criticizing me for the tricks I played. I was even given a good beating from my father from time to time. Nevertheless, I ignored their warnings and did not correct my ways until an incident occurred.
One summer noon when I was eight, I was alone at home and just finished lunch. Feeling very hot and bored, I decided to hang around the neighborhood, holding my trusty catapult.
Soon, I came to Mr Smith’s house. His pet dog, big and strong, was tied to a post outside his house, lying in the shade lazily. Looking around, I found that no one was in sight. I decided to make good use of my catapult to play tricks on the massive dog. Picking up a few small stones from the ground, I aimed at the dog and fired them one by one. Several stones hit the poor dog and it began to bark (吠) loudly in pain and jump up and down. But I felt so fun that I didn’t stop doing so. Eventually, the dog’s anger was fueled and it barked wildly at me while struggling to break away from the rope. Not realizing anything wrong with my crazy behavior, I was just laughing happily.
Suddenly, the rope that tied the dog loosened and the big dog got free from its bonds. In no time, with a few powerful steps the dog was on me. Its sharp teeth sank into my leg. I screamed with pain and fright and fell to the ground, shouting out for help.
注意:
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Luckily, my miserable shouts caught Mr Smith’s attention.
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His words left me ashamed and I decided to make a change.
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2 . Under the background of the slow growth of its total population to 1.44 billion, China has seen a sharp rise in older adults over the past decade, solidifying the country’s rapidly aging pattern, the latest national census (人口普查) data shows. The population on the Chinese mainland increased by an average of 0.53 percent annually during the past 10 years to 1.41 billion, compared with an annual growth rate of 0.57 percent from 2000 to 2010, according to the 7th national census published by the National Bureau of Statistics.
“The growth of the total population has slowed down but remains at a steady pace,” Ning Jizhe, head of the bureau, said at a news conference. “Based on trends in recent years, China’s population will grow at an increasingly slow rate in the future while remaining above 1.4 billion.” The increasing elderly population has become a defining feature of the past decade.
Ning said an aging society will set the tone for China's population structure for a long time, presenting challenges and opportunities. “A graying population will pile pressure on supply of labor force and social services, as well as adding to families’ elderly care burden. But more elderly people could also motivate consumption of products and services targeting this age group, and advance the development of some technologies,” he said.
Ning added that those between the ages of 60 and 69, who are equipped with knowledge, experience and skills and are generally in good health, make up nearly 56 percent of all older adults. “Their potential to continue making contributions to society and playing a constructive role is big,” he responded to a question on the outlook for raising the retirement age and carrying out other potential measures aimed at addressing the aging trend. Some population economists also said the latest number and proportion (比例) of elderly are largely within predictions, and the aging trend will continue for a long time.
1. What does the 7th national census data show?A.The aging population of China has risen rapidly. |
B.The annual growth rate has increased by 0.04%. |
C.The annual growth rate was 0.57% during the past 10 years. |
D.The total population of Chinese mainland increased to 1.44 billion. |
A.It is beyond predictions. | B.It brings few advantages. |
C.It has sharply slowed down. | D.It will increase pressure on family. |
A.Objective. | B.Doubtful. | C.Unclear. | D.Negative. |
A.The aging trend brings problems |
B.An aging society presents opportunities |
C.China’s population gets old as growth slows |
D.Measures are to be taken to tackle the aging trend |
3 . World’s richest woman Gina Rinehart is suffering a media firestorm over an article in which she blames the middle class for “drinking, or smoking and socializing” rather than working to earn their own fortune. What if she has a point?
Steve Siebold, author of “How Rich People Think”, spent nearly three decades interviewing millionaires around the world to find out what separates them from everyone else. It had little to do with money itself, he told Business Insider. It was about their mentality.
Average people think money is the root of all evil (罪恶). Rich people believe poverty is the root of all evil. “The average person has been brainwashed to believe rich people are lucky or dishonest,” Siebold writes. That’s why there’s a certain shame that comes along with getting rich in lower-income communities. “The rich knows that while having money doesn’t guarantee happiness, it does make your life easier and more enjoyable.”
Average people believe you have to do something to get rich. Rich people believe you have to be something to get rich. “While the masses are attached to the doing and the immediate results of their actions, the great ones are learning and growing from every experience, whether it’s a success or a failure, knowing their true reward is becoming a human success machine that eventually produces outstanding results,” he writes.
Average people would rather be entertained than educated. Rich people would rather be educated than entertained. The rich don’t think it a must to earn their wealth through formal education, and they appreciate the power of learning long after college is over, Siebold says. “Walk into a wealthy person’s home and you often see many books used to educate themselves on how to become more successful,” he writes. “The middle class reads novels, tabloids (小报) and entertainment magazines”.
1. What’s the function of the first paragraph?A.To lead in the topic of the text. |
B.To describe the life of the middle class. |
C.To introduce the richest woman in the world. |
D.To show readers the supporting details of the article. |
A.Probably because he succeeds by dishonest means. |
B.Probably because people are misled by false ideas. |
C.Probably because he becomes rich by pure chance. |
D.Probably because people think of him as the root of evil. |
A.Everyone can go to the library for further education. |
B.Education should be received through formal ways. |
C.Learning should last for one’s whole life. |
D.Novels and tabloids bring people poverty. |
A.Rich People Think Differently | B.Education or Entertainment? |
C.Average People Long for Fortune | D.How to Earn Wealth? |
4 . How did the ancient Chinese keep food warm in winter? In fact, ancient Chinese people used their own methods of heat preservation as early as the Shang and Zhou dynasties.
● “Wen Ding”, ancient rice cooker
One of the major functions of an electric rice cooker is to keep food warm. The “Wen Ding”, an ancient cooking container, served the same purpose. The “Wen Ding” unearthed in Nanjing in 1989 is thought to be the oldest of its kind discovered in China, dating back to the Stone Age. The craftsmanship of making the “Wen Ding” was developed in the Bronze Age. The bronze Ding from Shang and Zhou dynasties took on different shapes and structures.
● “Ran LU”, ancient small hot pot
The “Ran LU” is a small size cooking vessel (器皿) made of bronze, which can be divided into three parts. A charcoal stove forms the main structure, with a bottom tray to hold charcoal ashes, and a movable cup at the top. Some experts have concluded that the vessel’s structure suggests it may have been used as a small hot pot and that these vessels became popular in the Warring States Period (475—221 BC).
●Bronze You, ancient kettle
The Bronze You was one of the most common wine containers during the Shang and Zhou dynasties. The Bronze You can also be used to warm wine. For example, the Bronze You with beast mask design, unearthed in Jiangxi province, has an opening where charcoals could be placed. Just as people today can’t do without an electric kettle, the Bronze You allowed people to enjoy a hot drink
●Bronze Yan, ancient steamer
Although the “Wen Ding” was effective at keeping food warm, the ancient Chinese people later found that its burning produced pollution. As a result, the Bronze Yan was made with a two-tier structure and used to steam rice and other grains. After the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25-AD 220), further improvements to the Bronze Yan led to the modern-day steamer.
1. The Bronze You, unearthed in Jiangxi province, has an opening to________.A.store wine | B.pour water |
C.place charcoals | D.hold charcoal ashes |
A.It is warm | B.It is convenient |
C.It is useful | D.It is environment-friendly |
A.The “Wen Ding” | B.The “Ren LU” |
C.The Bronze You | D.The Bronze Yan |
5 . A Journey to the Yosemite Firefall
Each year, thousands of people are attracted to the Yosemite National Park in California for a chance of seeing —and photographing ——the unique “firefall”. The amazing “firefall” comes to life only when there is enough water from the melting(融化)snow to keep the Horsetail Fall flowing and when the light of the setting sun hits the waterfall at the right angle. It can only be seen for a short time in February on clear sunny days.
This year, the weather isn’t stopping the “firefall” from happening, but it is making the journey to see it more difficult.
“What would have been a 10-minute walk turned into a two-hour hike through deep snow,” photographer Ryan Fitzsimons said about his recent trip to see the phenomenon. “Our clothes were all wet by the time we got to a viewing site. But the heavy snow made the sight much more beautiful since the waterfall is much bigger this year.”
Another photographer Andy Heitz was making his first trip to see the “firefall”. He had to wait five hours in the extreme cold for his turn to take a picture.
“I got to the site at about 12:00 at noon. The place was already filled with hundreds of people waiting to see and photograph the ‘firefall’. I was so lucky that I shot a really wonderful burner! I was completely amazed with what I saw,” he said. “You know, only on a couple days of the year in February and when the sun sets down at the perfect angle to shine on Yosemite’s Horsetail Fall can we see the ‘Fire Fall’. I’ll never forget what I have seen.’’
The “firefall” should continue to be there from 20 to 24 February. But park officials said that there’s no guarantee(保证)that visitors will see it on any given day.
1. When might be the best time to take pictures of the “firefall”?A.Early in the morning. | B.At noon. |
C.Late in the afternoon. | D.At night. |
A.There wouldn’t be enough snow. | B.It might be too cloudy. |
C.The waterfall might not freeze. | D.The snow might melt too fast. |
A.A worker in the kitchen. |
B.The fire in the Yosemite National Park. |
C.A part of a cooker or stove. |
D.The unique Horsetail Fall in the setting sun. |
A.To introduce an attraction. | B.To give suggestions for a trip. |
C.To advertise a park in the US. | D.To explain what is a “firefall”. |
As everyone knows,it is Jingdezhen in Jiangxi province where the local porcelain(瓷器) is highly desirable
On our way to Jingdezhen,our guide introduced us to the basics of porcelain production. Our first stop was the Museum of Chinese Ceramics, which has
The guide told us of the great achievements in ceramics from ancient times until today. I listened carefully to everything.
On the second day, the team leader took us to a small DIY porcelain factory.
7 . I used to hate being called upon in class mainly because I didn't like attention drawn to myself. And
All this
Getting up the courage to go to the tryouts was only the
I practiced and practiced. Soon I knew the
With my
A.as | B.until | C.unless | D.though |
A.continued | B.changed | C.settled | D.started |
A.right | B.chance | C.ability | D.patience |
A.going | B.looking | C.cheering | D.applying |
A.point | B.half | C.rest | D.basis |
A.enjoying | B.preparing | C.attending | D.watching |
A.less | B.later | C.worse | D.further |
A.committed | B.motivated | C.embarrassed | D.confused |
A.focus | B.act | C.rely | D.try |
A.steps | B.orders | C.rules | D.games |
A.roles | B.part | C.mind | D.value |
A.process | B.operation | C.movement | D.situation |
A.expressed | B.improved | C.preserved | D.recognized |
A.dreaming | B.playing | C.relaxing | D.hiding |
A.lucky | B.happy | C.sure | D.satisfied |
In recent years, there
10 . Growing Pains
The term "adulting started as a sort of joke 一一 whenever a millennial(千禧一代)would do something age-appropriate, this was an act of "adulting." Now, though, millennials obviously require training in being an adult.
Rachel Flehinger has co-founded an Adulting School, which includes online courses on simple sewing, conflict resolution and cooking. The cause for such classes is that many millennials "haven’t left childhood homes" 一一 in America 34 percent of adults aged 18 to 34 still lived with their parents as of 2015, up from 26 percent a decade before.
There's a good deal of truth to this. If you're living at home, with Mom and Dad doing their best to spoil((溺爱)you, you're less likely to know how to do laundry, cook or balance a checkbook. Dependency breeds enervation.
But here's the catch: Living at home doesn't necessarily lead to dependency. As of 1940, more than 30 percent of 25- to 29-year-olds lived at home with parents or grandparents. They were adulting, even while living at home. Parents expected their kids to do chores, to prepare for life. Instead of blaming living at home, then, we have to blame our style of parenting. The truth is that we've simply become lazier as parents.
So what's the real problem?
We're more likely to let our kids crash on our couches(长沙发)than tell them to get a job and pay rent. We don't push our kids to build families of their own, as life expectancy has increased, so has adolescence. Americans aren't expected to start building a life, particularly middle- and upper-class Americans, until they're nearing their 30s. Then the question is how we can encourage young people to "'adult" in non-circumstance-driven fashion.
1. What does the last sentence in the third paragraph "Dependency breeds enervation." mean?A.Parents would like to do housework by themselves |
B.Present kids are too lazy to do housework. |
C.Dependency makes kids unable. |
D.Kids depend on their parents. |
A.Millennials would like to be trained in being an adult. |
B.Parents are too lazy to do chores. |
C.Millennials don't adult because they still live in their childhood homes. |
D.In the 1940s kids were adulting even when they were living at home. |
A."Adulting" is hard, but only because parents are too lazy to teach their kids. |
B.Millennials should leave home early to adult. |
C.Americans aren't expected to start building a life until they're nearing their 30s. |
D.Adulting schools with online courses are popular. |
A.The government should push off the age of adulthood. |
B.Parents should leave kids in charge of society. |
C.Parents should put responsibility on young people. |
D.Pushing kids to adult is painful for parents. |