Even after centuries of exploration(探险), the ocean still holds its mysteries. Although we know more today about the world’s oceans and creatures living in them than ever before, every once in a while the sea brings up something so strange, so unexpected, that makes the world wonder what it could be.
Such was the case when the currents (水流) of the Mediterranean Ocean recently washed a 13-foot-long, smelly body onto the shores of the village of Villaricos in Andalusia, Spain. An early report in the Spanish publication Lavante described the strange, horned (带角的) body as what might seem like a big fish, but it was already in pieces. Locals joked that it was some kind of Loch Ness Monster.
The media jumped right on the creature, of course. Some sites called it a horned sea monster. The popular newspaper Boing Boing called it a dragon. Some people guessed that it might be an oarfish(皇带鱼), which is actually a rarely seen kind of big fish that can grow up to 55 feet long.
But now the experts have weighed in and we’re sorry to report that it’s not a dragon, a Loch Ness Monster, or even an oarfish. “That is actually a shark skeleton (骨架),” Professor Grubbs from Florida State University told NBC News. “The parts toward the back were confusing me, but those are the lower caudal fin (尾鳍) supports. The “horns” are the scapulocoracoids which support the pectoral fins(胸鳍).” Scapulocoracoids are backbones common to many animals.
So there we go, another mystery solved. Well, the ancient maps that once described areas of the ocean as places of dragons have yet to be proven true. But it’s good to know that the ocean still has a few surprises for us, even in cases where they’re just dead, smelly bodies.
1.The creature mentioned in the text _____.
A. was about 15 feet long with a horn
B. could probably grow up to 55 feet long
C. was already in pieces but it was still alive
D. was found on the shores of a village in Spain
2.What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 really refer to?
A. A dragon. B. A shark skeleton.
C. An oarfish. D. A horned sea monster.
3.The third paragraph is mainly about _____.
A. how the creature was found
B. the characteristics of an oarfish
C. people’s guesses about the creature
D. Boing Boing’s opinion of the creature
4.The main purpose of the text is to _____.
A. show the mystery of the ocean
B. ask people to protect sea animals
C. introduce a rarely seen kind of fish
D. show how to find surprises in the sea
Teachers Wanted for Nexus English Language Learning Centre
Posted By: Nexus English Language Learning Centre (nexus.english.dos@gmail.com)
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for starting teachers that have just finished their qualification (资格) to work and to get professional experience. The position will suit enthusiastic and hardworking career-minded people who want to show how good they are or can become.
Of course, you need to have excellent subject knowledge. And you must be prepared to do front and back end work including developing guidebooks and co-writing workbooks. High rewards await top performers who also want to be leaders. You will also need to be a team player and a skilled organizer.
Application Requirements
* You must have the legal right to work in the UK.
* You must hold a UK recognized teaching qualification.
The Benefits
Nexus English Language Learning Centre (NELLC) offers competitive rates of pay, additional bonuses (奖金), a chance to work in top London schools, and continuous professional development. We pride ourselves on our personal service and support. If you work hard with a strong teaching skill including a high self-motivation, then we certainly want you.
● Location: Talbot Avenue, Leeds LS17 6SF
● Salary (薪水): £110 — £150 per day
● Hours: Full Time
● Telephone: 0113 3368585
● Published: 8, February 2014
● Closing Date: 5, April 2014
Due to the large number of applications, it is not always possible to respond to each candidate. If you are interested in this position, send us a personalized cover letter and tell us more about yourself right now.
1.To work in NELLC, you need to _____.
A. be prepared to work full-time
B. have plenty of teaching experience
C. be allowed by the law to live in the US
D. be able to write workbooks independently
2.What benefits can candidates expect from NELLC?
A. Additional language skills.
B. More earnings and holidays.
C. More professional experience.
D. Chances of working in a college.
3.Which of the following dates is suitable for you to send a cover letter to NELLC?
A. 5, January 2014. B. 6, February 2014.
C. 8, March 2014. D. 10, April 2014.
When someone told 85-year-old Johnny Long that he was called a living legend, he replied, “I don’t know about that, but I’m living, and that’s important.”
Starting in 1949 as a high school band director and later as director of the Troy University band, Johnny Long became known as one of the most inspirational band directors in America. More than three hundred of his students went on to become band directors them-selves. “I have been a band director for more than 60 years and all I know about the word band is that you spell it F-U-N,” Long said. “And if you change that, it’s over.”
Long retired 14 years ago to spend more time with his wife Mary Lynn. But his passion (热情) for bands never went away. He dreamed of forming a top-notch (拔尖的) community band in Troy. But Troy is a small town — with not a ton of top-notch talent. “I didn’t think it would work, I really didn’t,” Long said.
Fortunately, there was one thing Johnny hadn’t considered: the devotion of his former students. Now, once a week during the concert season, they drive in from all over the south and across the decades.
65-year-old Bobby Johnson was in Long’s first college class. He lives in Atlanta and drives 3 hours to practice. Johnson said he does it because Long’s “such a unique character and I just admire him so much.”
Many people do it for the same reason. “He’s the single biggest influence on my career.” “He was a father figure to me. He’s just a genuine person.”
Long said he wanted to be remembered as a teacher. “I think ‘teacher’ is the greatest word in the English language, next to ‘mother’.”
1.What Long got most from bands was ______.
A. pleasure B. health C. wealth D. honor
2.Why did Long retire 14 years ago?
A. Because he found no band talent in Troy.
B. Because he was tired of working as a director.
C. Because he hoped to spend more time with his wife.
D. Because he found his students were not devoted to music.
3.The words of Long’s students show that ______.
A. Long treated his students like a father
B. Long was born to be a good teacher
C. Long influenced his students greatly
D. Long was very special as a teacher
4.What’s the main idea of the text?
A. Johnny Long still teaches at the age of 85.
B. A band director had more than 300 students.
C. A band lover organized a band in a small town.
D. 85-year-old band director still inspires others.
It was September 5, 2009. Lexi Youngberg, then 16, was on vacation in Spring Lake, Michigan. She was riding on a small boat with her friends, Robby and Kaitlin, when a motorboat crashed into them. The sound was so loud that other boaters heard it over the roar (轰鸣声) of their engines. The teen boy who had been driving the motorboat stepped on the gas by mistake. Kaitlin, 23, had only small cuts, but Robby, 15, had been badly cut by the propeller (螺旋桨). And Lexi was floating facedown in the water. When one boater swam to Lexi, she was breathing. However, she was unconscious. She had a deep cut on her head. And the lower part of her left leg, just below the knee, was gone. A doctor rode up in another boat and tried to save Robby, but it was too late.
For Lexi, the good news is that she survived while the bad news is that she lost one of her legs forever. When Lexi looked at her swollen(浮肿的) leg, she felt hopeless. But as time passed, Lexi began to feel stronger. She was grateful that her life had been spared, and she decided to make the most of it. At the end of November 2009, Lexi met with Dr. John Hardy, who was an expert at making artificial legs. She hoped he would help her get back to doing the things she loved.
Three years after the accident, Lexi moved on with her life. In spring 2011, she joined a soccer team in her school. That fall, she started college. Lexi is thankful that she can still do the things she loves. One day, she wants to be a physical therapist (理疗师) and work with those with disabilities. But first she plans to compete in the Paralympics. Whatever Lexi decides to do, one thing is certain: Nothing is going to get in her way.
1.How was Lexi in the accident?
A. She had a small cut on her head.
B. She was unable to feel anything.
C. She was badly cut by the propeller.
D. She lost the lower parts of her legs.
2.What’s the right order of the events about Lexi?
a. She went to college.
b. She met with Dr. John Hardy.
c. She had one of her legs removed.
d. She played with her friends on a boat.
e. She joined a soccer team in her school.
A. d, c, b, e, a B. c, b, a, e, d
C. d, c, e, a, b D. c, d, a, e, b
3.It can be inferred from the text that Lexi was _____.
A. generous B. strong-minded
C. creative D. warm-hearted
4.The main purpose of the text is to _____.
A. persuade us not to go boating
B. entertain us with sports news
C. tell us the story of a brave teen
D. show how to survive an accident
假设你是李越，你和你的好友张华现在都是高一学生。近日，他来信向你求助，提到了自己一年来的学习和生活，感到心理压力很大。请你用英语给他回一封信，信中应包含以下内容：
1. 分析造成心理压力的原因；
2. 介绍自己的经验；
3. 提出减压建议。
要求：
1. 文章必须包含所给信息要点；
2. 字数100词左右，信的开头已经为你写好，不计入总字数；
3. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Zhang Hua,
I am sorry to hear about your problem and would like to share some of my thoughts and experience with you.
Yours faithfully,
Li Yue
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Zhang Yining, a world champion, is 1.68 meter tall. She begin to play ping-pong at the age of six. In 1993, he worked in the province team with other colleagues, all of them were hard-working. Under the help of her coach, Zhang Yining succeeded in winning scores of gold medals. She thinks doing sports and games help us keep strong and healthy. If we take no exercise, we may feel tired but get sick easily. In the brief, she attaches great important to health. Besides, she gets on very well with her teammates. The world champion enjoys surfing the Internet and playing trick on others.
