It’s true to say that technology makes our lives easier. However, increasingly scientists are saying that we need to give ourselves a break-----otherwise we put ourselves at risk(风险) of developing hundreds of health problems. Over the summer the days are longer and sunnier. Why not put this free time to good use and do something away from technology?
You could learn a new skill. There are hundreds of possibilities: cooking, a musical instrument or a new sport. Haven’t you always wanted to learn how to knit(编织)? You could use your free time to practice these new things, which might lead to an exciting opportunity in the future.
If you just want to relax, why not head to a beach? Take along your favorite book and relax on the sand, or go for a walk along the coastline. If you don’t live near a beach, you could go to your local park. Why not have a picnic, or try to explore some of the local wildlife? You could even get involved in the latest craze(狂热): adult coloring books! Coloring is a surprising thing to help you relax, and it can be a nice way to escape from the stress of modern life!
Whatever you choose to do, try something new! You might surprise yourself and find a hidden gift within you; you might make new friends along the way. Next time you find yourself changing TV channels(频道) from one to another without a clear purpose, think about what else you could spend your time doing.
1.According to the text, technology_______.
A. makes our life harder
B. may bring us illness
C. keep us busy
D. gives us a break from work
2.In the author’s opinion, one of the best ways to relax is probably_______.
A. doing net shopping
B. watching TV at home
C. reading books on a beach
D. learning a new skill
3.Which of the following might be the best title of the text?
A. Spending your free time away from technology.
B. The disadvantages of Watching TV.
C. The relationship between technology and health.
D. Finding the hidden gift in you.
Seal(海豹) seizes raft
This seal really rocked the boat when he found himself an unusual place to hang out. After the seal came across a boat in the harbor where he lives, he fell inside and wouldn’t budge for four days.
“One morning the seal just pulled himself aboard,” says Ed Stubbings, who owns the boat-turned-bed. Probably thinking the boat was a rock, the seal made himself at home. The seal didn’t move an inch-----not even to eat or drink.
Stubbings was a little worried that the 500-pound animal might sink it. Luckily on the fifth day, the seal fell back into the water and swam off.
Alligator(短吻鳄)gets new tail
When Mr. Stubbs the alligator swims through his pool at the Phoenix Herpetological Society, he looks like any other gator-----except that his tail is made of rubber. Mr. Stubbs is the first alligator known to wear an artificial tail.
Mr. Stubbs was brought to the society nine years ago. “His tail was missing when he arrived,” says President Russ Johnson. Mr. Stubbs couldn’t walk or swim properly. “We showed him how to swim in the water,” Johnson says. “But that hurt his back.” Later, the scientists used rubber to build an artificial tail attached to Mr. Stubbs’s back legs. “Once we put the tail on him, he walked with ease,” Johnson says.
Dog delivers papers
Morgan started her “paper route” when she was young. One day as Morgan and her owner Bill set out on a walk, she spotted a rolled-up paper. To Bill’s surprise, Morgan grabbed the object in her mouth, walked back to the house, and dropped it on the doorstep. Morgan enjoyed the activity so much that she wanted to deliver every paper she saw on her walks.
Now three-year-old Morgan brings the paper to her owner and neighbors, even in bad weather. “Morgan has a natural instinct(本能) to carry things with her mouth,” dog behaviorist Pat Miller says. “And she feels rewarded by the activity, so she keeps it up.”
1.The underlined word “budge” can be replaced by________.
A. move B. change C. swim D. sleep
2.It can be learned that Mr. Stubbs_______.
A. injured his back
B. lost his tail and back legs
C. quickly got used to his new tail
D. was found by Ed Stubbings
3.What made Morgan deliver papers?
A. Her owner Bill’s praise.
B. Her neighbors’ rewards.
C. Pat Miller’s encouragement.
D. Her natural ability.
Most people who move to a foreign country may experience a period of time when they have a lot of stress in the new culture. This feeling is often called “culture shock” and it is important to learn how to deal with culture shock. First of all, you should know that everyone in a new situation will go through some form of culture shock. There are four general stages of cultural adjustment(适应).
The first stage is usually referred to as the honeymoon stage. Upon arriving in a new environment, you’ll be interested in the new culture. Everything will seem exciting, and everyone will seem friendly and helpful.
The second stage is called the withdrawal stage. The excitement that you felt before changes to frustration(沮丧) as you find it difficult to deal with new problems. The language is hard to learn; friends are hard to make; simple things like shopping and going to the bank are challenges. It is at this stage that you are likely to feel anxious and homesick.
If you are one of those who manage to stick it out (坚持下来), you will enter the third stage---- the recovery stage. At this point, you’ll feel more confident in the new culture. You’ll start to understand and accept the way things are done and the way people behave in your new environment.
The last stage is the stability stage---- this is the point when people start to feel at home in the new culture. At this stage, you will behave well in the new culture, and prefer some aspects(方面) of the new culture to your own culture.
There is, in a sense, a fifth stage to this process. If you decide to return home after a long period in a new culture, you may experience what is called “reverse culture shock”. This means that you may find aspects of your own culture “foreign”, because you’re so used to the new culture. Reverse culture shock is usually pretty mild(温和的) and doesn’t last for very long.
1.At the honeymoon stage, people will__________.
A. find the new culture is hard to accept
B. miss their family and friends very much
C. begin to understand what culture shock is
D. have a good impression of the new culture
2.In which stage will people feel most uncomfortable?
A. The honeymoon stage. B. The withdrawal stage.
C. The recovery stage. D. The stability stage.
3.At the stability stage, people usually feel__________.
A. lucky B. relaxed
C. nervous D. disappointed
4.Which of the following opinions does the author agree with?
A. It’s important to know that culture shock is natural.
B. People will suffer less from culture shock in future.
C. Reverse culture shock usually happens in the foreign countries.
D. Reverse culture shock is as difficult to deal with as culture shock.
假定你是李华，从互联网上得知一个野生动物保护组织现正在招募志愿者，你希望成为其中一员。请写一封电子邮件申请加入。内容主要包括：
1. 自我介绍；
2. 申请条件（性格爱好，英语能力等；）
3. 参加意图（宣传保护动物的重要性）
4. 希望获准。
注意： 1. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯； 2．词数100左右。
3. 文中不能出现考生的具体信息。
Dear Sir/Madam,
I’m Li Hua,
________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Looking forward to your reply!
Yours faithfully,
Li Hua
短文改错
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。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(＼)划掉。
修改：在错的词下画一横线，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。
Dear cousin,
Long time no see! It has been almost a year ever since you move to London. I miss you a lot of. I’m writing the letter to ask you for help. As you know, I am eager to be a photographer like you, so I asked my parents to buy me the camera last week. But he told me I wouldn’t concentrate in my schoolwork if I got it. Oh, my God! What can I make them trust me? I’m not a kid any longer, but I can control myself. What’s worse, I have promised that I will take photos for the school’s newspaper next month. When asking by my classmates, I will be absolutely embarrassed. Therefore, would you like to lend me some money? If you’d like to, I will return it as soon as possibly.
Yours Sincerely,
Tom
A man came to the USA from other country. After 1. (settle) down at an island, he went into a cafeteria to get something 2. (eat). He sat down at an empty table and waited for someone to take his order, but nobody did. 3.(final), a woman with a tray full of food sat down opposite him and informed him4.the cafeteria worked.
“Start out at that end,” she said. “Just go along the line and pick out what you want. At5.other end they’ll tell you how much you have to pay.”
“I soon 6. (learn) how everything worked in the USA,” the man told his friend. “Life’s a cafeteria there. You can get anything you want as long as you are willing to pay the price. You can even get success, 7. you’ll never get it if you wait for someone to bring it to you. You have to get up and get it8..”
You can’t change the inevitable. The only thing you can do 9. (be)to control your attitude. Once you reach that point in life, happiness and 10. (satisfy) can’t be too far away.
