1 . There are three things you can watch forever: Instagram feeds, YouTube videos and water. Among them, water is definitely something no one argues about, and there are many unusual water attractions that you can find around the world.
Bangkok Floating Markets
There are many floating markets where goods are sold from boats. While modern markets are more popular, floating markets still are a huge attraction for local tourism. Any visitors can purchase local foods and traditional handcrafted (手工的) souvenirs. Bargaining is a part of experience. So, start low and get the price you are ready to pay.
Bregenzer Festspiele
The Bregenz Festival is held every year from July to August in Vorarlberg. It has the world’s largest stage on the water. The performances are different every year but they are usually united by one theme. The decorations are very impressive and are worth seeing.
Marina Bay Stadium
This stadium was built as a temporary solution while Singapore National Stadium was rebuilt. The stadium was used for the opening and closing ceremonies during 2010 Summer Youth Olympics. It was a floating platform where the Formula One Grand Prix event was successfully held.
Archipelago Cinema
Archipelago Cinema is probably one of the world’s most scenic open-air cinemas that floats in the middle of a lake. The cinema was designed by German architect Ole Scheeren, who built it using techniques popular among local people. This cinema stage was built specially for the film festival Film on the Rocks Yao Noi.
1. What is special about Bangkok Floating Markets?A.Local foods are free to taste. |
B.Visitors can make boats by themselves. |
C.Bargaining for a good price is an experience. |
D.Performances on water are impressive to see. |
A.Archipelago Cinema. | B.Marina Bay Stadium. |
C.Bregenzer Festspiele. | D.Bangkok Floating Markets. |
A.They both hold ceremonies every year. |
B.They both used local building techniques. |
C.They were both built for a special purpose. |
D.They both provide visitors with sports events. |
2 . How does it happen that some people never have to see the doctor while some are wasting much money in hospital? The answer lies in their proper, healthy diet. A balanced diet actually means eating all kinds of foods to provide the body with all the nutrients (营养物) it needs for its daily work. It means eating the right type of foods and eating a right amount of food for each meal.
Each food group contains different kinds of nutrients, and our body surely needs all of these, but in different amounts, and it differs from person to person. When it comes to going on a healthy diet, one size is not suitable for all. Everyone leads a different lifestyle, and has different jobs and fitness levels.
A balanced diet matters for everyone. If the body gets all the required nutrients, it’ll improve the immune (免疫) system, which prevents all kinds of diseases. A balanced diet would also be good for the state of mind and then help you remember something better. What’s more, if the body is supplied with all the necessary nutrients, the skin and hair also become healthier. A balanced diet also prevents our body from aging. As a result, you’ll have a more youthful look.
However, for a healthy body, a balanced diet is not enough; it has to be combined with the proper amount of sleep and exercise. These three things, when included in your daily routine, will make sure that you not only have a healthy body but also a healthy mind. So, go ahead and adopt a healthier lifestyle!
1. What does the underlined word “differs” in Paragraph 2 mean?A.Comes. | B.Grows. |
C.Changes. | D.Matters. |
A.The choice of a balanced diet. |
B.The features of a balanced diet. |
C.The importance of a balanced diet. |
D.The relationship between diet and aging. |
A.A balanced diet doesn’t work alone. |
B.Mind is closely linked to the body. |
C.Exercise is the most important. |
D.It's easy to get a healthier lifestyle. |
A.To show problems. | B.To give evidence. |
C.To list some facts. | D.To lead in the topic. |
3 . A British friend told me he couldn't understand why Chinese people love eating sunflower seeds (葵花子) as a snack so much. “I’ve met a lot of older Chinese and many have a crack in their front teeth; I believe that's from cracking the seeds,” he said.
I had never noticed the habit, but once he mentioned it, I suddenly became more aware. I realized that whenever I’m watching TV or typing a report, I always start mindlessly cracking sunflower seeds. My friend doesn't like sunflower seeds, and, to him, it seems unnecessary to work so hard just to get one small seed.
When we were young, the whole family would usually get together for Chinese New Year. Then, we all lived close to one another, usually in a small city, and sometimes even neighbors would go doortodoor on Chinese New Year’s Eve to check out what every household was making.
I remember my parents would be in the kitchen cooking. In the living room, a large table would already be laid out, complete with a fancy tablecloth, readymade dumpling fillings, and dishes full of candy, fruits and sunflower seeds.
Some of the dishes were to be offered to our ancestors later, while others were for neighbors and children to eat before the evening feast. I must have learned how to crack sunflower seeds back then.
I don’t think it’s right to criticize one’s choice in food or eating habits, no matter how strange they may seem.
It’s not only in China. When I went abroad, I found people had all sorts of strange habits when it came to food. In Denmark, they put salted red fish on bread and eat it for dinner, no matter how much it ruins their breath. They think it’s a delicacy, and it’s connected with their culture. I think it’s a wonderful tradition.
1. What lesson can we learn from the passage?A.One kind of food doesn’t necessarily suit everyone. |
B.Eating habits come from a certain culture. |
C.It is good to form healthy eating habits. |
D.Changing your eating habits will change your life. |
A.She had ever typed a report about seeds. |
B.She ate various snacks while watching TV. |
C.She has a habit of cracking sunflower seeds. |
D.She damaged her teeth by eating sunflower seeds. |
A.The traditions of celebrating it disappear. |
B.Children can eat delicious food on that day. |
C.The families would get together for it. |
D.Eating sunflower seeds is related to it. |
A.acceptable | B.critical |
C.neutral | D.doubtful |
4 . You will have an opportunity to meet your new neighbors after you move into the neighborhood. And getting to know your neighbors will help you feel like you're at home and settle into your new space.
Careful observation.
What if you have nothing in common? No problem. There's absolutely nothing wrong with just walking up to the from door, and introducing yourself or inviting them to a small get-together. Let them know you just moved in and where you moved from. If that still feels uncomfortable, then ask about garbage pick-up or recycling centers in the neighborhood. Remember that you live on the same street, in the same neighborhood.
Host a get-together. Though it might be the last thing you warn to do while you're still unpacking, hosting a casual get-together is a great way to meet your neighbors all at the same time.
A.Meet neighbors outdoors. |
B.Spend more time walking. |
C.Check out your neighborhood. |
D.If the weather is nice, host it outside. |
E.That's enough to start any conversation. |
F.If they're interested, they'll say so or even invite you in. |
G.The following suggestions do necessarily make it easier to do. |
5 . My brother Joe liked driving cars. He was especially
As a little boy, Joe would often say to me. “Sister, when I am old enough to drive my own car, I will fly so fast that angels will run scared.” With a big grin (咧嘴笑), he would
Joe was born blind. But he could
Growing up is a
One hot summer day when he was 16, Joe, with the help of stick, found his way to my stepfather’s car.
He felt the heat of the
I have heard various versions (版本) of this story. They all
A.lacking in | B.doubtful about | C.fond of | D.afraid of |
A.cheerful | B.disappointed | C.interested | D.worried |
A.locate | B.imagine | C.experience | D.seek |
A.really | B.definitely | C.fortunately | D.never |
A.act | B.dream | C.drive | D.see |
A.achieve | B.light | C.refuse | D.darken |
A.Story | B.Life | C.Dream | D.Car |
A.deserve | B.realize | C.satisfy | D.change |
A.difference | B.balance | C.war | D.mix |
A.nothing | B.anything | C.something | D.all |
A.metal | B.keys | C.seals | D.stick |
A.opened | B.began | C.fired | D.turned |
A.come up with | B.come down to | C.get reduced to | D.catch up with |
A.broke | B.exploded | C.roared | D.burst |
A.Definitely | B.Hopefully | C.Amazingly | D.Fortunately |
In October 2017,Margaret called a number that she believed belonged to (属于)her grandson Barry,and when he didn't pick up, she
"She called about once every two weeks to check in on Barry-whether he needed his shirt repaired
After trying to wish Barry
"This time the voicemail said,'Hello,Callie!' " Hall said." I worked out Barry's number.Thank you for being my friend. Love you ,later. "
From that day forward, they began to form a real
7 . Although Friends came to an end in 2004, it’s still considered one of the best sitcoms to ever make its way onto our screens. This show thrust the likes of Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and Courteney Cox into the limelight (聚光灯), and everyone had their favorites. Women wanted to have their hair cut just like Rachel, many people wanted to be as confident as Joey, and others wanted to be able to sing just like Phoebe! However, it seems as though Lisa Kudrow’s experience on the set of Friends wasn’t as perfect as it seemed.
Recently, Lisa Kudrow was asked to speak on Marc Maron’s podcast (播客), and she opened up about her experiences with her own body image. She noted that, while working on Friends, she would often compare herself to her co-stars. She would look at Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox, and she would then see her flaws compared to their perfections. She would see them as extremely thin and beautiful women, but then she looked at herself on her screen and saw someone who was much larger.
Because she often felt as though she was less of a woman because she felt larger than her co-stars, Lisa would lose weight on purpose to feel better about herself. The more she lost weight, the more she received compliments from those who knew her, and complete strangers. This heightened the idea that she needed to be thin to be beautiful.
Now, Lisa has put weight back on and feels more beautiful than ever.
1. Who were most probably Matthew Perry and Jennifer Aniston?A.Stars from Friends. | B.Characters from Friends. |
C.Fans of Friends. | D.Coauthors of Friends. |
A.Because she didn’t work well with other stars. |
B.Because she thought she was too fat. |
C.Because she wasn’t her audience’s favorite. |
D.Because she was poor at playing her role. |
A.Don’t think much of your appearance. |
B.Don’t express your true feelings to your fans. |
C.Don’t focus much on the comments of co-stars. |
D.Don’t make too much comparison with others. |
A.Dislike. | B.Comment. | C.Praise. | D.Requirement. |
8 . In May this year, as part of our 150th anniversary, we asked readers aged between 18 and 25 to enter an essay competition. The task was to tell us, in no more than 1,000 words, what scientific advance they would most like to see in their lifetimes, and why it mattered to them.
The response was phenomenal: we received 661 entries. Some entrants hoped that science would make their lifetimes much longer than they can currently expect. Many looked forward to work that will end climate change. Others wanted to see advances in our understanding of human history, crop growth, space exploration, and medical technologies. The ideas were inspiring.
The winner is a compelling essay by Yasmin Ali, a PhD student at the University of Nottingham, UK. Ali submitted a piece on Beethoven, her brother’s hearing loss and the science which she hoped would one day cure it. It stood out to the judges as a reminder of why many scientists do research: to make the world better tomorrow than it is today.
All essays were judged by a group of Nature editors. The top ten submissions were then ranked by three members of a separate judging group: Magdalena Skipper, editor-in-chief of Nature; Faith Osier, a researcher; and Jess Wade, a physicist. All submissions were kept anonymous throughout the process.
We also selected two runners-up(非冠军的获奖者).Physicist Robert Schittko at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, proposes that nuclear fusion(核聚变) could offer a solution to the climate crisis, in a piece that effortlessly mixes grand ambition with gentle humour. And chemist Matthew Zajac at the University of Chicago in Illinois wrote a powerful personal account of why he wants to see advances in the field of same-sex reproduction.
The results show that today’s young scientists have a wealth of ideas, talent and conviction that research can transform their world. We look forward to seeing what they do next.
1. What’s the essay competition about?A.The scientific expectation. |
B.The fantastic scientific ideas. |
C.The dreams of future life. |
D.The celebration of anniversary. |
A.She showed great talent in music. |
B.She found the cure for the loss of hearing. |
C.She appealed for people to care about hearing loss problem. |
D.She reminded people to remember the meaning of science development. |
A.Robert Schittko won the second place. |
B.There were two winners in the essay competition. |
C.Matthew Zajac presented his view of same-sex reproduction. |
D.The two runners-up were selected for the same field they chose. |
A.Doubtful. |
B.Favorable. |
C.Impossible. |
D.Ignorant. |
10 . As people get older, the types and numbers of friends they have tend to change. As young adults, humans have large groups of friends. With age, they often prefer to spend their time with just a few close, positive individuals. Researchers long believed that this aging attraction toward meaningful relationships was unique to humans, but a new study finds that chimps (大猩猩) also have similar tendencies.
Rosati and her colleagues used 78,000 hours of observations made over 20 years from the Kibale Chimpanzee Project in Uganda. The data looked at the social interactions of 21 male chimps between 15 and 58 years old. The researchers only studied male chimps because they show stronger social bonds and have more social interactions than female chimps.
Researchers found that wild chimpanzees share a similar pattern of social aging with humans. Rosati says, “They prefer strong, mutual social bonds and interact with others in more positive ways as they get older.” The older chimpanzees preferred spending more time with chimps that they had become friends with over the years. They would sit close to these long-time companions and groom (梳毛) each other. By contrast, younger chimps had more one-sided relationships where they would groom a friend, but the action wasn’t returned.
Older male chimps were also more likely to spend more time alone. The researchers said that they showed a shift from negative interactions to more positive ones, preferring to spend their later years in nonconfrontational (非对抗性的), positive relationships. Researchers call the preference a “positivity bias”.
Researchers theorize that chimps, like humans, are able to change their social focus as they age. “We propose that this aging pattern may be the result of shared changes in our abilities to regulate our emotions with age,” Rosati says. “This shared pattern between chimpanzees and humans could represent an adaptive response where older adults focus on important social relationships that provide benefits and avoid interactions that have negative consequences as they lose competitive fighting ability.”
1. What does the new study find about chimps?A.Male chimps show more interactions than females. |
B.Old chimps don’t care about friends as much as young ones. |
C.Chimps concentrate more on meaningful relations with age. |
D.Chimps share aging problems similar to human beings. |
A.By studying the data provided by other researchers. |
B.By making scientific investigations and observations. |
C.By setting up models on the computer in the lab. |
D.By monitoring both the humans’ and chimps’ behavior. |
A.Inability to regulate emotions. |
B.Eagerness to build closer relationships. |
C.Loss of competitiveness in strength. |
D.Failure to adapt to the changeable nature. |
A.A short story collection. | B.A popular science magazine. |
C.A graduate research paper. | D.A biology textbook. |