I made it all the way to fifth grade before anyone (except me) realized that I couldn’t see twenty feet in front of me. Our school had vision screenings (视力普查) every year, but somehow I had managed to fake good vision and pass the tests.
But then in the fifth grade, I failed. It was my turn to go into the screening room, and I nervously took my seat in front of the testing machine. The nurse told me to look into the little black machine and tell her which direction the letter E’s legs were pointing. Barely able to make out the black spot of an E, I made a guess: “Right, left, left, up, down, up, left, right”. I looked up at her.
She studied my face for a moment. Then she said, “Could you repeat that?”
I panicked. I’d never been asked to repeat it. And I hadn’t memorized the guess I’d just made up. I was trapped. So, I looked into the machine again and made up another sequence of guesses. I glanced over at the nurse, who was leaning forward with a frown on her face.
“You have no idea which way they’re facing, do you?” she asked.
“Not really,” I confessed.
“Can you even see the E at all?” she asked.
“Sort of.. no,” I admitted.
“Then why didn’t you just say so?” she demanded.
I didn’t respond. I thought the answer was obvious. Glasses in the fifth grade were a social death sentence. I would become a joke in my class.
The nurse sent me home with a note for my mother that said I needed to visit the eye doctor because I’d failed the vision test. The trip home today was very slow.
My mother (who wears glasses) said it would all be just fine. It wouldn’t hurt a bit, she said. But I wasn’t worried about pain—I was worried about looking like Super Geek (怪人).
注意:
1.续写词数应为150词左右;
2.请在答题卡相应位置作答。
The next day, my mother dragged me to the eye doctor’s office.
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But then Monday morning came, and I had to face what I fear: the kids in my classroom.
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Overfishing and climate change are pushing some of the
The study reveals that kittiwakes (海鸥) and gannets (塘鹅)
According to the study, birds are well studied and great indicators of the health of the wider environment. A species
The study finds that overfishing and changes in the Pacific and north Atlantic caused by climate change
“The alarming decline of the seabirds, provides a
3 . I remember one day last year when I was a counselor in training at my summer camp, and not having the greatest day. Nothing specific was
One of my
As I said earlier, it’s the smallest things that make the biggest
A.wrong | B.funny | C.impossible | D.safe |
A.wrote | B.said · | C.printed | D.described |
A.ruins | B.starts | C.reminds | D.brightens |
A.ever | B.once | C.still | D.only |
A.counts | B.hits | C.flashes | D.changes |
A.bitter | B.favourite | C.educational | D.unique |
A.representing | B.contacting | C.visiting | D.establishing |
A.umbrellas | B.flowers | C.books | D.files |
A.shown | B.given | C.made | D.awarded |
A.mixed | B.filled | C.surrounded | D.stamped |
A.deserted | B.stationed | C.hidden | D.wanted |
A.picking up | B.holding up | C.passing out | D.turning out |
A.opposite | B.current | C.correct | D.original |
A.task | B.deal | C.request | D.gesture |
A.compromise | B.impressions | C.impacts | D.progress |
4 . Listening to the radio is better at preventing dementia (痴呆) than exercise, a new study suggests. Dementia is one of Britain’s biggest killers, with one in ten male deaths caused by the neurodegenerative (神经退行性的) condition, and one in eight women.
But scientists have long believed that some hobbies and activities can protect the brain by delaying and potentially even completely protecting against the disease.
A large-scale review from scientists at Peking University in Beijing reviewed 38 different studies looking at what pastimes are most beneficial. The data included more than two million people and found that leisure activities were effective at protecting against the disease, lowering the risk by 17 percent, but some hobbies were found to be better than others. Mental activity — which includes reading, writing, watching television, listening to the radio and playing a musical instrument — was found to reduce the risk by 23 percent. In contrast, physical activity, including walking, running, swimming, dancing and yoga, lowered risk by just 17 percent. However, this was still better than people whose leisure time was spent doing social activities like visiting friends, going to church or volunteering, as this saw risk drop by just 7 percent.
“This meta-analysis suggests that being active has benefits, and there are plenty of activities that are easy to incorporate into daily life that may be beneficial to the brain,” said study author Dr Lin Lu of Peking University. “Our research found that leisure activities may reduce the risk of dementia. Future studies should include larger sample sizes and longer follow-up time to reveal more links between leisure activities and dementia.”
Dr Sara Imarisio, head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “There isn’t any conclusive evidence for particular brain training programmes or activities that are especially good for staying sharp, but activities that are mentally challenging, sociable and also enjoyable are likely to be better for the brain than spending time alone or engaged in passive hobbies.”
1. Which of the following activities lowers the chance of developing dementia most according to Peking University’s review?A.Swimming. | B.Watching television |
C.Volunteering. | D.Visiting Friends. |
A.More assistance. | B.Wider data. |
C.Longer trip. | D.Bigger budget. |
A.To present the background. | B.To put forward a concept. |
C.To provide support | D.To make a prediction. |
A.Scientists finally found Britain’s biggest killer |
B.Sad truth behind people suffering from Dementia |
C.Unexpected health benefits of listening to the radio |
D.The very simple tasks may keep dementia away |
5 . Candy Funhouse, an online retailer (零售商) of candy treats from chocolate bars to gummies (软糖) and licorice (甘草糖), is hiring for a $78,000 a year, work-from-home job as its Chief Candy Officer. The job includes: “leading candy board meetings, being the head taste tester... and all things fun.”
Several thousand candidates have already applied for the position, which was posted on LInkedIn in July, said Chief Executive Officer Jamal Hejazi. He noted that he’s been surprised by such a huge number of “golden ticket” themed applications and even some carefully prepared videos of entire families offering to share the tasting duties and salary.
Candy Funhouse, based outside of Toronto, is headed by a quartet of siblings whose parents owned donut shops and a local restaurant. “My brother Mo, a candyhead, founded it in 2018 and my mother was employee No. 2”, said Hejazi, adding that he and a younger sister and brother later joined the firm.
The family hoped to distinguish their company from other highly successful online competitors such as Mars, Hershey and Amazon with a weird mix of products, no minimum orders — “we’ll sell one lollipop (棒棒糖)” — and a strong push on social media.
The company said the Chief Candy Officer position is open to applicants as young as five years old — although parental permission would likely be required. Many parents have filmed their child filling out the application and posted it online.
Hejazi also noted that reports on social media claiming that the Chief Candy Officer will be required to eat 3, 500 pieces of candy per month are incorrect. (That number represents the different varieties the company stocks.) “That would be 117 a day,” Hejazi said. “That’s too many!”
1. What is the duty of a Chief Candy Officer?A.Tasting candies. | B.Selecting board members. |
C.Paying staffs. | D.Making Chocolate bars. |
A.Their fun will soon disappear. | B.They have to share salary with their family. |
C.They may face fierce competitions. | D.Their parents must approve their applications. |
A.It offers special discounts. | B.It doesn’t set limits on customers’ orders. |
C.It focuses on a single kind of product. | D.It doesn’t rely on social media. |
A.They are wonderful. | B.They are incomplete. |
C.They are unreasonable. | D.They are boring. |
6 . Remember the TV show Green Acres? This story is a little like that, only with more animals and an even better ending.
“My wife of 24 years, AnnMarie Roberts, was raised in New York City, worked in the fashion industry, and never got her hands dirty,” wrote Keith Roberts in the magazine Country Woman. “Then, nine years ago, I wanted to move home to Florida and reconnect to my country roots, but how would I inspire the same feeling in, well, a city woman? I brought her a two-month-old potbellied pig.”
AnnMarie, then 46, was fascinated by it immediately. Soon she took in another potbellied pig that had been abandoned. And thus began Sugarloaf Mountain Ranch, her animal shelter in central Florida.
The ranch now has 300 rescues, each with its own story. “Once, we rescued two roosters that had been shot — one has brain injuries. Many vets tell me, ‘Euthanize them — it’s too much work.’ But I say if they can live, then I’m going to help them live.” said AnnMarie.
AnnMarie is not only saving animals; she’s giving their owners peace of mind. “A woman called from her hospital bed.” AnnMarie recalls. “Her pigs would be killed if she couldn’t find a suitable home. ‘I only have a few months, and I need to know that they’ll be safe,’ she said.” So AnnMarie drove three hours and got them.
Soon after, AnnMarie received a note from the woman’s daughter. “Dear AnnMarie,” she wrote. “My mom went peacefully, and I owe part of that to you. She agonized over Bailey and Smitten, but she went knowing that they are forever loved. Thank you for being Mom’s angel.”
“She is a ball of energy,” Keith wrote. “I often found her sitting in the coop with ten chicks nestled in her lap, which is exactly what you’d expect from a true mother hen.”
1. What kind of TV show may Green Acres be about?A.Business women. | B.Modern city. | C.Fashion industry. | D.Country life. |
A.To treat their injuries. | B.To put an end to their life. |
C.To cut their feed cost. | D.To help them better live. |
A.Because she knew her pigs would be in good hands. |
B.Because her daughter called AnnMarie from hospital. |
C.Because AnnMarie wrote a note to comfort her. |
D.Because her pigs would be adopted by a vet. |
A.Humorous and caring. | B.Energetic and helpful. |
C.Ambitious and demanding. | D.Courageous and calm. |
7 . Welcome to the Spark 5G Street Museum
The Spark 5G Street Museum introduces a modern twist on the traditional museum experience. You will gain a co-created series of 5G-powered AR (增强现实) experiences that bring to life unseen stories of some of our nation’s most iconic artists: Parris Goebel, Benee, and David Dallas.
Dance with Parris Goebel
Co-created with Parris Goebel, this exhibit brings to life the feeling she describes when she performs: “When I dance I feel powerful, unstoppable — it’s as if I transform into a super-human version of myself.”
Step into the Beneeverse
Co-created with Stella Bennett (Benee), this exhibit embodies the source of her creative inspiration — the natural world. It immerses viewers in Benee’s world — a magical place where nature and imagination are flourishing.
Breakthrough with David Dallas
Co-created with David Dallas, the exhibit honours an important point for Dallas’ creative identity. It was director Joel Kefali who was first to ask Dallas what his aesthetic was, and it became a turning point in his career, as the two worked together on a series of music videos that set him apart in a world of hip-hop sameness.
*Exhibit locations
This is a location-based outdoor experience. Our exhibits can be found throughout the country in selected Spark 5G areas. We have museum locations in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Use our locations page or download the app to find your nearest exhibit.
1. Who would most probably choose Benee’s exhibit?A.A nature lover. | B.A professional dancer. | C.A music fan. | D.A song writer. |
A.His outstanding hip-hop skills. | B.His secret personal identity. |
C.His creative music videos. | D.His high sense of honour. |
A.They must be enjoyed through an app. | B.They offer a chance to meet the artists in person. |
C.They take place in traditional indoor museums. | D.They rely on modern scientific technology. |
It was just another busy day until I met the boy on the bus. He was not a passenger like me. He was, what we call a street child, an 8-10-year-old kid with a worn T-shirt. These poorly dressed kids were seen almost everywhere in Dhaka city. But what was special about that boy was his face. There was “something” in him that caught my attention. That was an angelic(天使般的)baby face with little care.
He got straight into the bus as it stopped at a traffic light. The bus helper shouted at him in the first place. But instead of talking back, the boy kept silent and started handing out a piece of paper to all the passengers. What was written in the paper was, in short, that his father died a couple of years ago. His mother worked at houses. He badly needed money to help his family, so he wished someone warm-hearted to buy chocolates from him.
This was nothing new to people who took a bus every day and I was no different. I had my earphones on, listening to some relaxing music to kill time. When he came to me to get the paper back, I casually gave him some money. Thankfully it brought some smiles on his face. He was about to give me ten chocolates in return for the money I gave to him when I stopped him.
“I don’t like chocolates, brother. So there is no need of chocolates. You can have the money,” I said.
All of a sudden, the smile on his face disappeared.
“I’m not a beggar. Please take the chocolate, or take your money back.”
His straight answer greatly surprised me. I even felt he was slightly angry. I had given money to many kids before, without taking their chocolates. But this time something seemed different. I realized his angelic baby face was not the only thing special about him.
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。
The boy put ten chocolates on my seat and got off the bus.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Having got the boy’s name, I decided to help him.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What is your first memory of being in the kitchen? Perhaps it’s making biscuits with your parents,
Cooking
Cooking encourages being in the present moment, because by
Cooking is a great way
Cooking also brings people together. Sitting down to eat with friends and family
10 . A man was driving home when he saw a car stuck on the side of the road. So he
All the problem she had was a
He waited until she
Halfway the lady stopped to grab a bite to
That night when the waitress got home, she shared the story with her husband and whispered, “With the
A.took over | B.pulled up | C.turned around | D.broke down |
A.worried | B.embarrassed | C.disappointed | D.annoyed |
A.round | B.spare | C.flat | D.thick |
A.engine | B.tire | C.car | D.route |
A.link | B.chat | C.event | D.aid |
A.money | B.idea | C.problem | D.fact |
A.disaster | B.panic | C.need | D.danger |
A.processed | B.polished | C.struck | D.started |
A.nervous | B.good | C.touched | D.puzzled |
A.eat | B.work | C.sing | D.appoint |
A.wished | B.admitted | C.introduced | D.noticed |
A.product | B.treasure | C.change | D.income |
A.quietly | B.patiently | C.sincerely | D.excitedly |
A.target | B.chain | C.wisdom | D.reward |
A.holiday | B.plan | C.success | D.baby |