My husband Jeff and I moved into our new home in Scottsbluff last year just before Christmas. I did not have the time or energy to carry out my traditional Christmas decorating and baking activities. What was the point, anyway? It was going to be a lonely Christmas after all.
However, the neighborly nature of west Nebraska residents started to trickle (陆续来临) in.
There was a knock on the door one evening. It was Jeff’s new colleague, John Smith, and his wife, Phyllis. The Smiths had stopped by to welcome us to town with a loaf of homemade bread. They pointed out a package on the porch (门廊). Apparently the doorbell wasn’t working in the cold snowy weather and we had missed a visit from the Browns, our across-the-street neighbors, who brought us a Christmas card and more Christmas cookies.
Then, we received an invitation to share a Christmas Eve meal with our neighbors, Ernie and Nancy Sommer, and their guest—a 90-year-old lady, who also had no family in the immediate area with whom to spend the holiday.
I was so grateful for these gestures of welcome, especially during the holidays.
This year, we were again unable to be with our families for Christmas. The distance and work schedules just made things too difficult. Knowing that sense of Christmas isolation all too well, we decided to try to round up some other folks who were alone in the holidays.
Lonely people are all around us, but most of us seldom notice them. Just take a look around you. Sometimes, the smallest kind gesture can make a world of difference.
1.What can be inferred from paragraph 3?
A. The doorbell wouldn’t work in winter.
B. The Smiths happened to find the gifts sent by the Browns.
C. John Smith, Phyllis and Jeff worked in the same company.
D. The Browns put the gifts on the porch secretly.
2.What does the underlined word “isolation” in the last second paragraph mean?
A. Hurt. B. Love. C. Loneliness D. Happiness.
3.Welcomed by the neighbors, the author realizes ________.
A. even a small kind act can make people feel warm
B. lonely people should celebrate Christmas together
C. Christmas should be treated seriously
D. the people around us are all lonely
Dec.11 marked the 15th anniversary of China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO). On that day in 2001, China formally became a member of the WTO. Now the country has grown into the world’s second-largest economy and the largest trading country, while millions of Chinese have been lifted out of poverty. And 15 years on, it’s evident that being a WTO member has transformed the nation’s everyday lives for the better.
Imports are now a common sight in Chinese stores and supermarkets, while they were previously rarely seen on shelves. The Chinese now have access to many imports varying from luxury goods like high-end cars and famous brand watches, to daily necessities. China’s WTO membership has also made imports less expensive for the Chinese public.
For instance, since 2005, no tariffs (关税) have been imposed (施加) on Chinese imports of digital cameras and other devices.
Our education industry has also benefited from China’s WTO membership. Many top global universities have joined forces with Chinese ones to establish cooperative education institutions, bringing foreign teaching concepts to Chinese students. For example, New York University Shanghai was jointly founded by New York University and East China Normal University. In addition, an increasing number of Chinese students are furthering their studies abroad, while many foreign students are coming to China to carry out their higher education. According to the Ministry of Education, 523,700 students studied overseas last year, and the number is expected to keep growing this year.
China’s WTO entry has brought benefit not only to the country’s people, but also for the rest of the world.
1.One advantage of China’s WTO membership is that ________.
A. all the Chinese people are out of poverty
B. no tariffs will be charged for different kinds of imports
C. the Chinese can buy more foreign products at a lower price
D. it only brings benefits to Chinese agriculture and education
2.New York University Shanghai is an example of ________.
A. foreign-funded universities
B. educational reform
C. state-owned universities
D. international cooperation
3.What may be talked about in the following paragraph?
A. How China’s entry into the WTO has changed people’s lives.
B. What the Chinese have got from being a member of the WTO.
C. The efforts the Chinese government has made to fight against poverty.
D. The good effects on the other countries after China’s entering the WTO.
4.What is the text mainly about?
A. China’s entry into the WTO. B. Benefits of China’s entering the WTO.
C. Trade and education in China. D. The development of China’s economy.
At the end of every year, Time picks the best 25 inventions that are “making the world better and smarter”. Here we have picked three of this year’s inventions that could be a part of your life in the near future.
The levitating(悬浮的) lightbulb
This special lightbulb was invented by US artist and scientist Simon Morris. He got the idea of making a lightbulb float from hoverboards(悬浮滑板)，which he used to dream of having as a kid.
But the floating is not the most amazing part. The rejection force between the opposite ends of the magnets(磁铁)，which were put in the bottom of the bulb and in the wooden base, does the job. What’s new here is a technology called induction (电磁感应). It allows the lightbulb to get power from the base even they are not in contact.
Shoes that tie themselves
They’re not what you think-shoelaces that tie themselves in the way we tie them. Instead, the new shoes have small motors that control their laces. When you step in them, your feet will hit a sensor（传感器）in the shoes and the motor will automatically tighten the laces.
But the shoes weren’t just designed for lazy people’s needs. They could actually give athletes an advantage during competition. They are also useful for people who cannot move their arms or fingers easily.
The no-touch thermometer
Taking your body temperature usually means putting a thermometer (体温计) in your armpits (腋窝) and staying still for minutes. It may be easy for you, but it’s an impossible task for little kids.
Now, with the new thermometer, users can simply put it 2.5 centimeters from a patient’s forechead and press the button, and it can get the reading in two seconds.
1.The levitating lightbulb is special in that ________.
A. floating is the most amazing part of the levitating lightbulb
B. the inventor of the levitating lightbulb is more than a scientist
C. it makes use of the rejection force between opposite ends of magnets
D. induction allows the lightbulb to get power even when unconnected with the base
2.How is the no-touch thermometer different from other ones?
A. It makes it easier to take kid’s temperature.
B. You need wait two minutes for the reading.
C. You don’t need to press the button.
D. It should be put in one’s armpit.
3.In which part of a newspaper can you possibly read this text?
A. Education. B. Sports. C. Science. D. Entertainment.
假设你是李华，你的美国朋友Tom上个月来到北京学习。七月份你将去北京参加暑期中学生英语演讲比赛(speech contest)，你在资料搜集、语言运用等方面遇到了困难。请根据以下要点给Tom写一封电子邮件：
1．询问Tom的生活和学习情况；
2．谈谈你的困难并请Tom帮忙；
3．告诉Tom你打算赛后去看他。
注意：1.词数：120—150；
2．可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Tom，
Yours，
Li Hua
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；
允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
In the past, teachers always kept on to explaining the points in class. Our students just listened and take notes. But now we often discuss and try to solve the problems raising by the teachers or ourselves. After class, we enjoy different kind of activities instead of doing endless homework. For example, we can read that we are interested. We can go to the library and surf the Internet for variously kinds of information. In my opinion, exploring study does not only help us learn much, but also make us to enjoy study and become masters of study.
He surprised his fans by giving a concert c__________ classical music with Chinese folk music.
