1 . Believe it or not, dental floss(牙线) has been around for thousands of years. Researchers have discovered dental floss in the ancient teeth of prehistoric(史前的) humans. After all, people have been getting food stuck in their teeth since they began to eat!
In the early 1800s, a dentist advised people to use the dental floss. In 1819, New Orleans (新奥尔良) dentist Levi Spear Parmly wrote a book called A Practical Guide to the Management of the Teeth. In the book, he advised people to floss waxed(含蜡的) silk thread(线).
Although historians believe Parmly was the inventor of modern dental floss, the first patent(专利) for dental floss was presented to Asahel M. Shurtleff in 1874. Shurtleff's company didn’t begin to provide unwaxed silk floss for home use until 1882.
However, dental floss didn't become popular right away. Professional dentistry was still a developing field, and silk thread was expensive. Flossing didn’t become more common until World War II ended. Dr. Charles C. Bass used nylon (尼龙) floss to replace silk floss. Then Today, dental floss is still made of nylon, as well as other types of plastic fibers(纤维).
Some dentists say that we’d better floss at least once each day if we want to keep our teeth clean and healthy. Sadly; studies have shown that only 10 percent to 40 percent of Americans floss every day.
1. Parmly gave advice to people that they could use ________ to clean teeth.| A．waxed silk thread | B．unwaxed silk thread |
| C．nylon floss | D．plastic “floss picks” |
| A．Levi Spear Parmly. | B．Asahel M. Shurtleff. |
| C．Dr. Charles C．Bass. | D．Not mentioned. |
| A．take the place of | B．change the place of |
| C．help to produce | D．give up |
| A．A Practical Guide to the Management of the Teeth is an article |
| B．there hadn’t been unwaxed silk floss since people use dental floss |
| C．you need to wrap(包，缠绕) it around your finger when you use “floss picks” |
| D．some dentists advise us to floss at least once each day |
| A．Development of Dental Floss | B．Famous Dentists in America |
| C．A Famous Book about Dentistry | D．Different Materials of Dental Floss |
2 . How did we get the alphabet? It was a long process, covering thousands of years.
The first people to write things down carved symbols onto rocks or shells. These symbols represented people or things.
These people who lived a long time ago had simple lives with simple needs. One of the most basic needs was food. Before the introduction of agriculture, people were called HunterGatherers because they hunted animals and gathered nuts and berries for food. To tell each other about how to hunt animals or where to find them, these people drew on cave walls or on animal hides. Soon, people were growing their own crops. They were also using a system of symbols to stand for people, places and things. The best ancient example of this was found in Egypt, where hieroglyphs (象形字) were used. These people believed in many different gods. Each god had its own symbol. Symbols were also used to stand for water, buildings, food, and other parts of life.
But these picture drawings and hieroglyphs represented whole words, not just sounds. How did we get an alphabet? Recent research suggests that the idea of an alphabet was first used in Egypt about 1900 BC. Civilizations that traded with or fought against Egypt were exposed to this alphabet, and the idea spread.
The ancient Greeks adapted this alphabet and created their own. The ancient Romans polished it up to a state almost like our modern alphabet. The idea of stringing letters together to make words was born. You can see by looking at letters from the Roman alphabet that these letters survive almost unchanged in our modern English alphabet.
This was the case in the Western world. Actually, a similar thing also happened in the East. You can see many examples in such areas’ language development.
1. Why did HunterGatherers use drawings?| A．To assist them in searching for food. |
| B．To put a series of symbols into a system. |
| C．To warn their companions to hide safely. |
| D．To record some methods of growing crops. |
| A．The difficulties ancient people have learning languages. |
| B．The different kinds of religious beliefs in the same god. |
| C．The poor living conditions and agricultural development. |
| D．The needs of ancient people to survive and communicate. |
| A．They made improvements to it. |
| B．They created it all by themselves. |
| C．They managed to keep it unchanged. |
| D．They turned it into the modern one. |
| A．The effects of the alphabet on global languages. |
| B．Why the alphabet grew better in Western world. |
| C．How the alphabet appeared in the Eastern world. |
| D．A number of examples of language evolution. |
3 . When our ancestors were peasants in the earliest days of agriculture, the daily schedule was: work in field all day, eat midday meal in field, continue working in field. Today, after centuries of human advancement, it goes something like: work in coffee shop all day, buy and eat lunch there, continue toiling away on laptop until the sun sets. Though it may seem like the tech boom and gig economy(临时工经济) led the way in this modern mobile work style, working and dining have always been intertwined. In major cities like New York, Washington D.C., Sydney and Hong Kong, restaurants are changing into official co-working spaces during off-peak hours.
Dr. Megan Elias, director of the gastronomy program at Boston University, says food and business have been linked since as far back as the ancient Sumer (who established civilization as we know it around 4000 B.C.) “What we think of as street food has always been part of human civilization,” she says. “There have always been marketplaces where humans came together to conduct some kind of business — like trading grain, trading animals or building houses. As long as there have been marketplaces, people have been eating at them while also doing business.”
The first example of a brick-and-mortar “restaurant” came during the merchant economy in the 15th and 16th centuries, according to Elias. During this stage in European, African, and East and South Asian history, inns allowed merchant businessmen to rest — and of course, eat — throughout their travels. During the colonial era of the 1600s and 1700s, concrete examples of American restaurants emerged as “Coffee Houses”. Coffee Houses were places that had newspapers, which at the time were very small and commercial," author and social historian Jan Whitaker explains.
Coffee houses remained tradesman staples throughout the early 19th century, with simple menu items like rolls and meat pies. More “grand meals,” as Elias calls them, were still taking place within homes for non-traveling folk. But, when the U.S. began industrializing in the 1840s and people stayed near workplaces during the day, eating establishments popped up around factories.
“Industrialization of the city is also restaurantization of the city,” Elias says. “Places sprung up to serve a business lunch crowd and an after-work dining crowd again, still doing business.”
1. How does the author mentioned our ancestors in paragraph1?| A．To make comparisons | B．To present figures. |
| C．To raise questions | D．To give examples |
| A．around 4000 B.C. | B．in the 15th and 16th centuries. |
| C．During the 1600s and 1700s. | D．In the early 19th century. |
| A．Newspapers were produced there first. |
| B．The food served there was limited at first. |
| C．They were especially popular around factories. |
| D．It was a perfect place for entertainment and eating. |
| A．the function of eating out. | B．The slow formation of the modern city. |
| C．the evolution of the restaurant. | D．The age of more work, less eating. |
4 . Recently according to a new research, humans have had a link to starches (含淀粉的食物) for up to 120,000 years — that’s more than 100,000 years longer than we’ve been able to plant them in the soil during the time of the ice Age’s drawing to an end. The research is part of an ongoing study into the history of Middle Stone Age communities.
An international team of scientists identified evidence of prehistoric starch consumption in the Klasies River Cave, in present-day South Africa. Analyzing small, ashy, undisturbed hearths(壁炉) inside the cave, the researchers found “pieces of burned starches” ranging from around 120,000 to 65,000 years old. It made them the oldest known examples of starches eaten by humans.
The findings do not come as a complete surprise — but rather as welcome confirmation of older theories that lacked the related evidence. The lead author Cynthia Larbey said that there had previously only been genetic biological evidence to suggest that humans had been eating starch for this long. This new evidence, however, takes us directly to the dinner table, and supports the previous assumption that humans’ digestion genes gradually evolved in order to fit into an increased digestion of starch.
Co-author Sarah Wurz said, “The starch remains show that these early humans living in the Klasies River Cave could battle against their tough environment and find suitable foods and perhaps medicines. And as much as we all still desire the tubers (块茎), these cave communities were gilling starches such as potatoes on their foot-long hearths. They knew how to balance their diets as well as they could, with fats from local fish and other animals.”
As early as the 1990s, some researchers started to study the hearths in the Klasies River Cave. Scientist Hilary Deacon first suggested that these hearths contained burned plants. At the time, the proper methods of examining the remains were not yet available. We now know human beings have always been searching for their desired things.
1. When did humans begin to farm starches?| A．After the Ice Age. | B．After the Middle Stone Age. |
| C．About 20,000 years ago. | D．About 100,000 years ago. |
| A．Starch diet promoted food culture. | B．Starch diet shaped humans’ evolution. |
| C．Starches had a variety of functions. | D．Starches offered humans rich nutrition. |
| A．They were smart and tough. | B．They preferred plants to meat. |
| C．They were generally very healthy. | D．They got along with each other. |
| A．Great Civilization of South Africa | B．The Evolution of Foods in History |
| C．Starches--the Important Food of Today | D．Big Findings--the Starches in Ancient Times |
When foreigners negotiate, or register in certain areas of China, they may be
It is believed that seals came out as early
Then the local governments also needed seals for
6 . When most of us hear the word chocolate, the verb that comes to mind is probably “eat”, not “drink”, and the most proper adjective would seem to be “sweet”. But for about 90 percent of chocolate’s long history, it was strictly a beverage(饮料), and sugar didn’t have anything to do with it.
The Origin of Chocolate
Many modern historians have estimated that chocolate has been around for about 2000 years, but recent research suggests that it may be even older. In the book The True History of Chocolate, authors Sophie and Michael Coe prove that the earliest linguistic (语言学的) evidence of chocolate consumption dates back three or even four thousand years.
Valuable and Fashionable Chocolate Beverage
It’s hard to discover exactly when chocolate was born, but it’s clear that it was cherished from the start. For several centuries in pre-modern Latin America, cacao beans were considered valuable enough to use as currency. 100 beans could purchase a good turkey hen, according to a 16th-century Aztec document.
Sweetened chocolate didn’t appear until Europeans discovered the Americas and sampled (品尝) the native cuisine(烹饪). Chocolate didn’t suit the foreigners’ taste at first — one described it in his writings as “a bitter drink for pigs” — but once mixed with honey or cane sugar, it quickly became popular throughout Spain. By the 17th century, chocolate was a fashionable drink throughout Europe, believed to have nutritious, medicinal functions. But it remained largely a privilege of the rich until the invention of the steam engine made mass production possible in the late 1700s.
The Birth of Solid Chocolate
In 1828, a Dutch chemist found a way to make powdered chocolate. His product became known as “Dutch cocoa”, and it soon led to the creation of solid chocolate. In 1847, Joseph Fry created the first modern chocolate bar. By 1868, a little company called Cadbury was marketing boxes of chocolate candies in England. Milk chocolate hit the market a few years later.
Prosperous Chocolate Industry
In America, chocolate was so valued during the Revolutionary War that it was used instead of wages. Even now, statistics show that the humble cacao bean is still a powerful economic force. Chocolate manufacturing is a more than 4-billion-dollar industry in the United States, and the average American eats at least half a pound of the stuff per month.
1. The earliest chocolate was most probably____________.| A．a dish | B．a candy |
| C．a bar | D．a drink |
| A．The history of chocolate is at most 4,000 years |
| B．People around the world could buy things with chocolate |
| C．Chocolate was well paid attention to since it was born |
| D．An American at least eats a pound of chocolate per month |
| A．Because chocolate was so tasty and bitter |
| B．Because chocolate was sweetened with honey of cane sugar |
| C．Because chocolate was believed to be a source of nutrition |
| D．Because chocolate became a fashionable beverage |
| A．Chocolate beverage---chocolate bar—chocolate candies---milk chocolate |
| B．Chocolate bar—chocolate beverage---chocolate candies---milk chocolate |
| C．Chocolate bar—chocolate candies—milk chocolate—chocolate beverage |
| D．Chocolate beverage---chocolate candies---chocolate bar---milk chocolate |
7 . The United Kingdom has voted to leave the European Union, a historic decision that will reshape the nation^ place in the world and is already upsetting governments across the continent. The surprising turn of events caused a fall in the financial markets, with the value of the British pound and stock prices falling.
The campaign to leave the EU won by 52 percent to 48 percent. More than 17 million people in the UK—made up of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland — voted to sever ties with the EU, a Political and economic partnership comprising 28 countries across Europe. About 16.1 million voted to remain.
The result raises serious questions about the future of the EU. The British go out from the union-nicknamed Brexit — is just the latest in a series of crises to annoy the EU. The alliance is already dealing with economic bad results from the global financial collapse of 2008, along with a record arrival refugees to Europe due in part to Syria’s civil war.
Some British citizens believe the EU has too much influence over Britain’s authority and that the country’s industries would be more profitable on their own. Others want Britain to reclaim control of its borders and reduce how many people enter the country to work They say the EU’s open-border policy allows unlimited numbers of immigrants to come in from poorer nations—and that those people take jobs from British workers. Those who campaigned to stay in the EU, meanwhile, argued that the UK and its economy is stronger within the alliance.
Now the UK will become the first nation to leave the European Union. The decision is a huge blow the alliance because Britain is one of its most powerful members. “The main impact will be massive disorder in the EU system for the next two years,” said Thierry de Montbrial, of the French Institute of International Relations. “There will be huge political change costs on how to solve the British exit.” The decision could also have a domino effect, he warned, with other countries following the UK’s lead and exiting the EU.
1. What does the underlined word “sever” mean?| A．Settle down. | B．Take over. |
| C．Break off. | D．Build up. |
| A．they can help immigrants to create more job chances |
| B．they expect the EU to have an open border policy |
| C．they want to set up their own authority |
| D．they will lead a better life on their own |
| A．More countries will do as the UK does. |
| B．Scotland win their independence from the EU. |
| C．The EU will pay back more money to the UK. |
| D．The economy in the EU will suffer loss. |
| A．The UK Wins Independence with Votes |
| B．The UK Votes to Leave the European Union |
| C．The UK Makes a Historic Decision Again |
| D．The UK Remains Separated from the World |
8 . Given the tradition of students bringing apples to their teachers, it somehow seems fitting that an old apple barn(谷仓)will find a new life as a one-room schoolhouse. And it is just as fitting that a retired schoolteacher will become the caretaker of that historic treasure.
My friend Velma, a teacher for more than 30 years, has been retired for some time now, but that doesn’t stop her giving history lessons at the old Englewood School, located on her family’s
California farm. The lovingly restored building was constructed around 1850 as a home for a woodsman and later was used as apple barn. Then, in 1870 it began a new life as a schoolhouse.
Originally located in the nearby Englewood meadow, it was now moved its current site in 1978 by Velma’s late husband and his brother, Robert and Richard, who thought it would help keep
Velma busy in retirement. No nails had been used in the original construction, so each piece of wood had to be carefully marked and the building was reassembled（重装）on its new site. The brothers worked with much care and hard work to ensure a perfect fit of mitered（斜接的）corners.
After the relocation, Velma and her family furnished the school with some of its original desks. They also added a collection of schoolbooks, the oldest dating back to 1845. Perhaps the school’s most cherished souvenir is the diploma of student Hettie Essig, who graduated on June 30, 1904. Hettie’s daughter, Flora, presented Velma with the precious keepsake.
Nowadays Velma gives tours to local schoolchildren and other groups, who learn what it was like to attend school back in the good old days. She has kids ring the school bell, recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sing “Good Morning to You” as they might have done in days gone by. Then, with twinkling eyes and much enthusiasm, she tells the history of the school, and gives a short sample lesson.
1. The Englewood School was originally built as __________.| A．a man’ s house | B．a schoolhouse |
| C．a restroom | D．an apple barn |
| A．Inspiring | B．Refreshing |
| C．fashionable | D．Challenging |
| A．The school’s original supplies |
| B．The collection of schoolbooks |
| C．The oldest schoolbook |
| D．The diploma of Hettie Essig. |
| A．The Good Old Days in the Schoolhouse |
| B．A Mysterious Building with a Long History |
| C．A Historic One-room Schoolhouse |
| D．A Teacher Devoted to Restoring Old Buildings |
Its location on the east bank of the Mississippi River gave it control of the American hinerland and it became strategically important to many nations. It was transferred from France to Spain, returned to France, and finally sold by Napoleon to the United States in 1803. The city was the site of a famous battle fought in 1815 between the British, who hoped to control it, and the Americans under General Andrew Jackson.
The riverbed of the Mississippi is constantly silting（淤积）and the river is now actually higher than the city. Levees hold back the river and giant pumps are used to move water from the city into the river.
Although New Orleans has been a part of the United States for almost two centuries, its population takes great pride in its French heritage. Louisiana still retains parts of the Code Napoleon which, for many years, was its only law.
New Orleans is carefree city and it boasts its hot, spicy Creole seafood and its native Dixieland Jazz. The Jackson Square neighborhood maintains its French colonial homes and in other sections are pre-Civil War mansions. Visitors are surprised to find that behind this interesting surface of yesteryear is a busy industrial and port city. Grain and coal come from the Midwest and foreign goods are unloaded here. New Orleans is no longer a sleepy Southern town----but it's still fun to visit.
1. The battle of New Orleans was fought by Jackson against______.
| A．France | B．Britain | C．Spain | D．The North |
| A．an agreement to sell Louisiana |
| B．a body of laws |
| C．a city plan |
| D．a military code for the army |
| A．Pride in their French heritage. |
| B．A desire to retain colonial buildings. |
| C．A refusal to engage in trade and commerce |
| D．A praising of Dixieland Jazz. |
| A．Creole food | B．Dixieland jazz |
| C．a busy city | D．authentic colonial homes |
The latest and most surprising discovery is pieces of silk found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy from about 1000 BC, long before regular traffic on the Silk Road and at least one thousand years before silk was previously thought to be used in Egypt. Other research may extend human activity along this route back even further, perhaps a million years to the migration of human ancestors into eastern Asia.
The official origin of East-West commerce along the road is usually placed in the late 2nd century BC when an agent of the Chinese Emperor Wu-di returned from a dangerous secret mission (使命) across the desert into the remote high country of Central Asia. The agent, Zhang Qian, travelled as far as Afghanistan and brought back knowledge of even more distant lands such as Persia, Syria and a place known as Lijien, perhaps Rome. Historians have called this one of the most important journeys in ancient times. His journey opened the way for what have been thought to be the first indirect contacts between the ancient world’s two superpowers, China and Rome. Chinese silk, first traded to central Asian tribes for war horses and to the Parthians of old Persia in exchange for acrobats and ostrich eggs, was soon finding its way through a network of merchants to the luxury markets of Rome.
But the new discoveries show that Chinese silk was apparently present in the West long before the Han emperor started organized trade over the Silk Road. The research could change thinking about the early history of world trade and provide insights into the mystery of just how and when Europe and the Mediterranean lands first became aware of the glorious culture at the other end of Eurasia.
1. The word “coupled” in the first paragraph could best be replaced by ______.
| A．produced | B．contributed | C．doubled | D．combined |
| A．Egyptians had probably travelled to China to buy silk |
| B．trade along the Silk Road began earlier than once thought |
| C．historical research often achieves fascinating results |
| D．new light can now be thrown on ancient trading practices |
| A．originated in the 2nd century BC |
| B．extended human migration into eastern Asia |
| C．began a million years ago |
| D．primarily benefited the Egyptians |
| A．he brought back knowledge of Rome to the emperor | B．he discovered the Silk Road |
| C．he helped establish East-West trade | D．he travelled as far as Afghanistan |
