1 . Remote controls are one of the most common symbols of our modern technologies. In fact, remote controls are an invention born in the 1800s. Famous inventor Nikola Tesla created one of the world’s first wireless remote controls, which he exhibited in public at Madison Square Garden in New York City in 1898.
Tesla called his system a “teleautomaton”, which could be used to control a mechanical device. For his demonstration, Tesla employed a minitype boat, which had a metal air wire that could receive exactly one radio frequency. He showed how his remote-controlled boat worked and whole process attracted many people. However, financially, Tesla’s remote-controlled boat was a failure. His intended client, the U.S. Navy, thought the technology was too easily damaged during use. But the concept of remote control caught on and quickly spread to many other types of equipment.
In the 1930s and 1940s, a new consumer electronics, such as garage door openers and model airplanes, arrived with remote controls. In the mid-1950s, Zenith engineer Eugene Polley designed his Flashmatic TV remote control, which used directional flashes of light to control the television. In 1956, Polley’s colleague, Robert Adler, created the Space Command control, which employed high-frequency, ultrasonic (超声的) sounds instead of light. This style of remote control increased the price of a new TV by a third, but that didn’t stop people from buying in mass quantities. Remote controls kept evolving, too. Ultrasonic sound remote controls were the standard for TVs until the 1980s, when remote controls began using the infrared (红外线) light signals that are very common today.
These days, you can find remote control capability built into a huge array of products such as toy cars and helicopters, video game consoles (控制台), ceiling fans, etc. There’s a good chance you can find a version that’s controlled by remote control. You can even buy a remote-controlled toilet.
Remote controls have allowed humans to perform many tasks that would be difficult, if not impossible. And although remote controls have a long history, they are anything but over. As we continue to introduce technology to every aspect of our lives, it’s very likely that we’ll need remote controls to keep things under control.
1. What made the U.S. Navy think poorly of Tesla’s remote-controlled boat?A.Its high cost. |
B.Its unsatisfactory quality. |
C.Its damage to people’s health. |
D.Its inaccuracy in sending signals. |
A.Directional flashes of light. | B.Infrared light signals. |
C.Various metal air wires. | D.High-frequency, ultrasonic sounds. |
A.To advertise some modern inventions. |
B.To prove the rapid evolution of kids’ toy. |
C.To show the wide application of remote controls. |
D.To show the principle of some high-tech products. |
A.Human are too dependent on technology. |
B.Remote controls are necessary in our life |
C.Humans are trying to keep everything under control. |
D.Remote controls will probably fade away in the future. |
A.The history of remote controls. |
B.The developments of our modern technologies. |
C.The achievements of some great inventors. |
D.The popularity of remote controls in our daily life. |
2 . Imagine a relay race. During this race, an athlete holds a stick as he runs a certain distance. Then he passes the stick to the next runner. That person runs faster, and then passes the stick to a third runner. Now imagine that the runners do not pass a stick. Instead they pass shiny silk, as well as gold, fruit, and glass. Imagine that the race does not move forward in just one direction. Instead the runners go back and forth along a road. They trade goods all along this route (路线) and at each end of it. Now imagine that the runners are businessmen. They lead caravans (商队) or lines of camels that carry things to sell. They travel on the ancient Silk Road to earn their living.
The Silk Road was a complex trade network. It passed through thousands of cities and towns. It stretched from eastern China, across central Asia and the Middle east, to the Mediterranean Sea. Businessmen traveled on the Silk Road from about 200 B.C. to about 1300 A.D.. Then sea travel began to offer new routes. Some people called the Silk Road the world’s longest highway. However, the Silk Road included many routes -- not just one smooth path. The routes ran through mountains and across deserts. They passed through an area that now includes 18 countries. The Silk Road had many dangers. These dangers ranged from hot sun and deep snow to thieves and wars. Only expert traders could survive.
The Silk Road got its name from its most prized goods. People used silk as money. They could pay taxes or buy goods with it. Traders carried more than just silk, though. They had gold, silver, and glass from Europe. People in the Middle East and Asia wanted these things. Businessmen also took horses from flat, grassy areas in central Asia and brought them to China and other areas. The horses changed the way people farmed and ran their armies. Indian businessmen traded salt and rare, beautiful stones. Chinese merchants traded medicine and china. They also traded paper, which quickly replaced animal skins in the west. Businessmen carried apples from central Asia to Rome. The Chinese had learned to combine different trees to create new kinds of fruit. They taught this science to others, such as the Romans. The Romans began to grow apples for food. The Silk Road led to worldwide commerce 2,000 years before the World Wide Web.
The people along the Silk Road did not share only goods. They also shared beliefs. Monks, priests, and other faith leaders taught their religions to others. The Silk Road created pathways for knowledge, diplomacy, and religion.
1. People turned to the sea for new routes after around 1300 A. D. because _____.A. the Silk Road included many routes |
B.the Silk Road passed through many areas |
C.people traveled on the Silk Road for too long |
D.there were more dangers along the Silk Road |
A.Influential | B.Private | C.Valuable | D.Useful |
A.The Silk Road helped spread religions to more people. |
B.The Silk Road gave people the idea to build highways. |
C.Some people probably died while travelling. |
D.Westerners probably used to write on animal skins. |
A.silk Road was built by China. |
B.there used to be deaths along the path |
C.trade went along with religion |
D.many apple trees used to grow along the path |
A.Science. | B.Travel. | C.Sports. | D.Culture. |
3 . Today we see writing all around us. We would be
The earliest people have no
Modern forms of writing began when people
Even greater advances were
A.lost | B.calm | C.hurt | D.skeptical |
A.pan | B.system | C.motivation | D.dream |
A.began | B.developed | C.appeared | D.failed |
A.When | B.While | C.After | D.Before |
A.communication | B.experience | C.relationship | D.education |
A.shows | B.notices | C.follows | D.produces |
A.joke | B.warning | C.memory | D.mistake |
A.begged | B.refused | C.learned | D.promised |
A.worries | B.cultures | C.ideas | D.questions |
A.lines | B.pictures | C.tools | D.animals |
A.For example | B.Above all | C.As usual | D.At first |
A.Less | B.Worse | C.Older | D.Further. |
A.letters | B.alphabets | C.stars | D.symbols |
A.prevented | B.checked | C.made | D.taught |
A.mix | B.read | C.write | D.remember |
A.however | B.besides | C.therefore | D.otherwise |
A.longer | B.easier | C.more interesting | D.more popular |
A.answer | B.problem | C.future | D.message |
A.never | B.hardly | C.even | D.often |
A.but | B.because | C.if | D.so |
4 . Britons are well known for the amount of tea that they drink. The average person in the UK consumes around 1.9 kg of tea yearly. That’s around 876 cups of tea. Tea is drunk by all sections of society. But tea is not native to Britain. Most tea is grown in India and China. So, how did it become an important part of British culture?
Tea arrived in London in the 1600s. At this time, British ships were exploring the world and came across the drink in China. It was not long before green tea was available to buy. However, this was only available to the richer sections of society.
At the beginning of the 1700s, the amount of tea arriving in Britain increased gradually. Black tea arrived at this time. At first people drank this tea exactly as it was in China. They soon discovered that it mixed really well with a little milk and sugar, giving the drink a special British characteristic.
In the 1800s tea was still a product enjoyed only by people with money. At this time they began to have “afternoon tea”. This involves drinking tea with a snack around 4 pm to avoid feeling hungry between lunch and dinner. It is a tradition that is still going today but has become less popular in recent times.
In the late 1800s, the price of tea decreased sharply as more tea began to arrive on ships from India and China. It was no longer a drink just for rich people. Tearooms — shops where you could buy and drink tea — started to appear across the country. People enjoyed drinking tea and socialising in these places. At the start of the 20th century, Britons began to make tea in their homes whenever they felt like it. Kettles became necessary in every kitchen.
1. How does the passage mainly develop?A.By providing examples. | B.By making comparisons. |
C.By following the order of time. | D.By following the order of importance. |
A.Tea reached Britain from China centuries ago. | B.Britons are famous for planting tea. |
C.Green tea was popular in China. | D.Most tea is grown in Britain. |
A.how British people drank black tea | B.why the amount of tea increased |
C.when green tea arrived in China | D.who discovered black tea |
A.In the early 1700s. | B.In the early 1800s. |
C.In the late 1800s. | D.In the late 20th century. |
A.To describe how to drink tea. | B.To explain why people love tea. |
C.To compare black tea with green tea. | D.To introduce the history of British tea culture. |
1.花木兰的生平故事;
2.花木兰在中国人心中的地位与影响。
注意:1.词数80-100;2.开头和结尾已经给出,不计入总词数。
参考词汇:dress up装扮;a symbol of .....的象征;
Dear Peter,
I’m glad to know that you are interested in the story of Mulan.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
Marco Polo came from a wealthy family and received a good education. He was only six years old when his father and uncle left for a journey to China or Cathay, as it was called at that time. At the age of 17, Marco followed his father and uncle on their second journey to Asia.
The Polos traveled through many countries, over mountains and along the Silk Road, the main travel route for traders. Marco would keep detailed journals and record his findings. The Polos also stopped for a year in the Mongol region. There they learnt about the lives and culture of the people. This was useful as Marco was able to share what he had learnt with the Emperor of China, Kublai Khab. The Emperor was impressed with him. The Polos traveled 9,000 kilometres in more than three and a half years before reaching China. There Marco was most surprised to find the stones that burnt like logs. The Chinese had found a source of fuel that nobody in Europe could have imagined. It was called coal.
In 1298, Marco wrote a book called The Travels of Marco Polo which was a record of his travels in Asia. The book enabled the Europeans to understand and carry out trading activities more easily with Asians.
1. What was China also called in the past? (1 word)2. What was the Silk Road mainly used as in ancient times? (no more than 10 words)
3. What did the Polos do during their stay in the Mongol region? (no more than 12 words)
4. Why was Marco impressed with the stones? (no more than 6 words)
5. What is the main idea of the last paragraph? (no more than 10 words)
1. What does the man think the gold cup was used for in the past?
A.Drinking wine. |
B.Drinking tea. |
C.Holding soup. |
A.It was used by the rich ones. |
B.It is a symbol of a man. |
C.It is really rare now. |
A.Buy the man a souvenir. |
B.Look at other items. |
C.Leave the museum. |
Windsor Castle is surrounded by a lot of green gardens in the English countryside. It looks out onto the River Thames and sits next
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest castle
Kings were born and
Today, Windsor Castle is the private home of Queen Elizabeth II. When she doesn’t meet guests at Buckingham Palace, she goes to Windsor Castle.
9 . A study of art history might be a good way to learn more about a culture than is possible to learn in general classes. Most typical history courses concentrate on politics, economics, and wars. But art history focuses on much more than this because art reflects not only the political values of a people, but also religious beliefs, emotions, and psychology. In addition, information about the daily activities of our ancestors ― or of people very different from our own ― can be provided by art. In short, art expresses the essential qualities of a time and a place, and a study of it clearly offers us a deeper understanding than what can be found in most history books.
In history books, objective information about the political life of a country is presented: that is, facts about politics are given, but opinions are not expressed. Art, on the other hand, is subjective: it reflects emotions and opinions. The great Spanish painter Franciso Goya was perhaps the first truly political artist. In his well-known painting The Third of May, 1808, he criticized the Spanish government for its misuse of power over people. Over a hundred years later, symbolic images were used in Pablo Picasso’s Guernica to express the horror of war. Meanwhile, on another continent, the powerful paintings of Diego Rivera, Jose Clements Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros ― as well as the works of Alfredo Ramos Martinez ― showed these Mexican artists’ deep anger and sadness about social problems.
In the same way, art can reflect a culture’s religious beliefs. Four hundreds of years in Europe, religious art was almost the only type of art that existed. Churches and other religious buildings were filled with paintings that depicted people and stories from the Bible. Although most people couldn’t read, they could still understand biblical stories in the pictures on church walls. By contrast, one of the main characteristics of art in the Middle East was (and still is) its absence of human and animal images. This reflects the Islamic(伊斯兰教的)belief that statues are unholy(不神圣的;亵渎的).
1. Which of the following sentences is WRONG according to the passage?A.Art history concentrates on religious beliefs, emotions and psychology only. |
B.Art can provide information about the everyday activities of ancient people. |
C.Information and facts about politics are given objectively in history. |
D.Franciso Goya was perhaps the first truly political artist. |
A.personal and emotional opinions are expressed through it |
B.it will make the viewers angry and sad about history |
C.it can help us understand historical facts better |
D.opinions about facts are not expressed |
A.art is subjective |
B.artists are very similar even over a hundred years |
C.art can reflect political life of a country |
D.history books present objective information |
A.Europe | B.America |
C.Mexico | D.Middle East |
A.the difference between general history and art history |
B.the development of art history |
C.the influence of artists on art history |
D.what we can learn from art |
A.Islamic artists focus on creating architectural decorations with pictures of flowers or geometric (几何) forms |
B.history teachers are more objective than artists |
C.it is more difficult to study art history than general history |
D.people and stories from the Bible were painted on churches and other buildings in order to popularize the Bible |
10 . Bicycles are very popular around the world nowadays. People ride their bicycles for exercise and enjoyment. In some places, people use bicycles to get to work. In other places, bicycle riding is a very popular exercise to people who live in cities. But who invented the first bicycle?
In 1791, a Frenchman named Comte de Sivrac invented and owned the first bicycle. Mrs. Sivrac rode the bicycle in Paris. The handles and the seat were wooden. This bicycle was very difficult to move. A rider even had to pick up the front wheel to change direction. What's worse, the bicycle had no brakes for stopping or pedals for the feet! Riding a bicycle took great risk.
In 1817, a German named Baron von Drais de Sauerbrun made the first bicycle better. The seat became more comfortable. The wheel could now change direction. His ride in the forest took only one hour instead of three hours on foot, which surprised people at that time.
Sauerbrun brought this kind of bicycle from Germany to France. Then Denis Johnson, an Englishman, made a bicycle for women. It had space for their dresses to hang down. But these bicycles still had no brakes or pedals, and riders often got hurt. These bicycles and the people who rode them were not very popular.
It took another forty-five years for the bicycle to become popular. More than 100 years later, bicycle riding is more popular than ever. In fact, in India and China, there are still many more bicycles than cars.
1. According to the passage, people ride bicycles in order to ______.A.find good jobs | B.take exercise |
C.be liked by others | D.live in cities |
A.difficult to move | B.popular with women |
C.comfortable to ride | D.easy to change direction |
A.It had brakes. | B.It had pedals. |
C.It was made for women. | D.It was very popular. |
A.1817 | B.1836 |
C.1862 | D.1962 |
A.The reasons for riding a bike. | B.The inventor of the bicycle. |
C.A very popular exercise. | D.The history of the bicycle. |