It's not unusual to be caught in your life. When you get caught in a moment, you should remember that somewhere out there, someone always comes along with a pocket full of____
Yesterday I spent all my coins and dollar______on little deeds. I had ____ breakfast because I got up late. Because of the mad rush, I forgot my______.When I was on my way to______my lunch, a person in need asked me if I could______him some cash, so I decided to lend him first.
So, then later in the evening, I was heading home______waiting for dinner.______，I got a call from my mum saying that she was to work______and wouldn't be able to prepare dinner for me.
____there was no food in the house, I told my mum not to worry______I would surely find myself something to eat.
While I was still______this sudden set of changes in my food options for the day, I passed a young man with a______smile handing out samples(样品)of cookies at a supermarket. He gave me a packet and said, "How about you_____ some more for school tomorrow?"______that, I returned a warm smile to him and______my bag. He gladly filled it with twenty packets. I was
____Whether you call it luck or fortune,______wanted to say that somewhere out there somebody came along carrying a pocket of hope in his______and shared a piece of it with me! Somebody out there will one day do______for you.
1.A. hope B. chance C. fortune D. food
2.A. checks B. bills C. cash D. change
3.A. refused B. ignored C. wasted D. skipped
4.A. packet B. keys C. purse D. lunch
5.A. serve B. cook C. buy D. prepare
6.A. give B. spare C. donate D. show
7.A. disappointedly B. gratefully C. anxiously D. willingly
8.A. However B. Therefore C. Besides D. Instead
9.A. well B. late C. hard D. alone
10.A. Since B. As if C. When D. Even though
11.A. because B. so C. before D. after
12.A. making B. introducing C. processing D. seeking
13.A. surprised B. broad C. awkward D. strange
14.A. adopting B. exchanging C. supplying D. taking
15.A. In response to B. Opposed to C. Owing to D. Contrary to
16.A. opened up B. put up C. set up D. pulled up
17.A. confused B. worried C. excited D. puzzled
18.A. seriously B. nearly C. normally D. simply
19.A. coat B. body C. heart D. pocket
20.A. a lot B. the same C. much D. some
Choosing the Right Path to Be a "Better" Person
Life is a constant exercise in self-improvement. In the rush to achieve, the idea of being "better" can become lost sometimes.1.Here are some tips for you.
Explore your talents.
Everybody has some outstanding skills or interests. So it's often necessary to be patient and try
many things before you find one that suits you.
2.For example, people loving adventure may not be interested in the quiet chess club, but someone who enjoys other quiet activities might be. Determining who you enjoy being around may help you know what you'll enjoy.
3.
No matter how much money you make, you will not be happy if you spend your entire life doing something you hate. It's important to at least devote some of your time to what makes you happy. If you're particularly unhappy at your job, consider why.4.If you feel your job isn't meaningful, or isn't in line with your values, consider finding another job
Experience something new.
Research has shown that when we're in our comfort zone, we aren't as productive as we are
when we step just beyond it.5.Because of that, we may react slowly to our own positive
experiences and interactions with others, even when those are little scary. Doing so can help you
achieve more.
A. Do what you love.
B. Devote yourself to your job.
C. Humans adapt very quickly to positive events.
D. It's possible that some changes may change your feeling.
E. Similar types of people may be attracted to the same activities.
F. Try not to allow yourself to focus so much on a certain aspect of your life.
G. You may wonder how to improve yourself and fulfill your dreams in an easier way.
According to a team of researchers, an animals' ability to perceive(感知)time is linked to their pace of life.
"Our results lend support to the importance of time perception in animals where the ability to
perceive time in a very short time may be the difference between life and death for fast moving
creatures." commented lead author Kevin Healy from Trinity College Dublin.
The study was done with a variety of animals using a phenomenon based on the maximum speed of flashes of light an individual can see before the light source is seen as constant. Dogs, for example, have eyes with a refresh rate higher than humans.
One example of this phenomenon at work, the authors say, is the housefly and its ability to avoid being hit. The research showed flies "observe motion in a shorter time than our own eyes can achieve," which allows them to avoid being hit.
Professor Graeme Ruxton of the University of St Andrews in Scotland, who worked jointly(共同地) on the research project, said in a statement, "Having eyes that send updates to the brain at much higher frequencies than our eyes do is of no value if the brain cannot process that information equally quickly. Thus, this work highlights the impressive abilities of even the smallest animal brains. Flies might not be deep thinkers, but they can make good decisions very quickly."
In comparison the tiger beetle(虎甲虫)runs faster than its eyes can keep up, basically becoming blind, which requires it to stop periodically to re-evaluate its prey's(猎物)position.
Our results suggest that time perception offers an as yet unstudied dimension along which
animals can specialize and there is considerable range to study this system in more detail.
1.What is the research mentioned in the passage mainly about?
A. Pace of life of animals. B. Time perception of animals.
C. Lifetime of small animals. D. Impressive abilities of animals.
2.Why can houseflies avoid being hit?
A. They can think very deeply before they act.
B. They can fly much faster than their eyes can keep up.
C. They can process the information as quickly as they receive it.
D. They can send information to brain more quickly than to their eyes.
3.What will a tiger beetle have to do to catch a moving prey?
A. Try to run as fast as it can. B. Prevent itself from becoming blind.
C. Slow down to gain its time perception. D. Stop occasionally to spot the prey again.
When others get off the train to finally go home, Leonie Muller stays behind. That's because she is already home: The train is her apartment, and she says she likes it that way. The German college student gave up her apartment in spring. "It all started with a quarrel I had with my landlord," Muller told The Washington Post via e-mail. "I immediately decided I didn't want to live there anymore and then I realized: Actually, l didn't want to live anywhere anymore."
Instead, she bought a subscription(会员费)that allows her to board every train in the country for free. Now, Muller washes her hair in the train bathroom and writes her college papers while traveling at a speed of up to 190 mph. She says that she enjoys the freedom since she gave up her apartment. "I really feel at home on trains. It's like being on vacation all the time," Muller said.
"I want to inspire people to question their habits and the things they consider to be normal,"
Muller told The Post. "There are always more opportunities than one thinks there are. The next
adventure is waiting just around the corner一provided that you want to find it."
Muller frequently travels late at night, although she tries to sleep at the apartments of relatives or friends. Often, she is accommodated by her boyfriend, her mother or grandmother. "Normally, we would have to have a long-distance relationship, but living on a train enables me to see him all the time," Muller told German TV station SWR regarding her boyfriend. "Most of my friends really like the idea, although some consider it to be quite adventurous. Others, however, have reacted more negatively. They feel offended by the fact that I question the ordinary way of life and living."
The only problem? "Possessing a headset that reduces most surrounding noises is important," she said.
1.What do we know about the direct reason for Muller's choice to live on trains?
A. She planned to act against tradition.
B. She had an argument with her landlord.
C. She wanted to visit more people on the way.
D. She had to finish her graduate paper on the topic.
2.According to Muller, which is one of the advantages of living on trains?
A. She can avoid the landowner. B. She can possess a headset.
C. She can escape from college life. D. She can see her boyfriend more often.
3.What does Muller want to express in Paragraph 3?
A. There are opportunities everywhere in life.
B. The next adventure is coming soon
C. People need to make changes in their life.
D. People need to follow in her footsteps to live on trains.
4.What does the underlined word "it" in Paragraph 4 refer to?
A. The ordinary way of life and living. B. The thought of living on a train.
C. German TV station SWR. D. A long-distance relationship.
Every year, billions of kilograms of fresh produce are wasted in the United States. Meanwhile, millions of poor Americans go hungry, without access to healthy and affordable meals.
Evan Lutz, CEO and founder of Hungry Harvest, was inspired to act after seeing extreme
poverty in areas of Baltimore, Maryland. He wants to reduce the so-called food desert in that area. His work is to make sure no food goes to waste and no person is ever hungry in America. And he
combines that goal with a love for business.
Hungry Harvest is a business which collects and sells "ugly produce". These are fruits and
vegetables that most food companies will throw away. More than six billion pounds are wasted each year due to "ugly" surface. Everything doesn't grow the same way on a farm. But all that is too big or too small gets thrown out. That is why everything in a grocery store looks similar, shiny and perfect. Hungry Harvest will box those imperfect ones and deliver them to customers once a week.
For Evan Lutz, giving back to others came from his upbringing.
When I was growing up my parents taught me the values of giving back, and giving is a lot
more powerful than receiving. We sell produce with a purpose and that doesn't just mean we reduce food from going to waste. We hire people that were formerly in prison and were formerly injured or sick living in homeless shelters. They really wanted to get back on their feet for a second chance in life."
In January 2016, Lutz appeared on the American business competition television show "Shark Tank" and got even more than he expected: $100,000. Lutz is using the money to realize his great mission that can really revolutionize the food industry in America.
1.The underlined part "food desert" in the second paragraph means .
A. food that grows in the desert B. the poor areas in Baltimore
C. a lack of fresh and healthy food D. the desert where food can grow
2.The food delivered by Hungry Harvest is .
A. popular with local fruit farmers B. easy to be found in grocery stores
C. fresh but hard to keep for food companies D. healthy and available to hungry people
3.Which of the following words can be used to describe Evan Lutz?
A. Strong-willed and smart. B. Kind-hearted and creative.
C. Warm-hearted and strict. D. Open-minded and humorous.
4.What can be a suitable title for this passage?
A. Giving Unused Produce a Purpose B. Making Profits from Shiny Produce
C. Creating Jobs for the Less Fortunate D. Helping the People in Hungry World
Festival of Light, Longleat Safari Park, Wiltshire
Longleat is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Giant lanterns take the shape of some of the park's animals, and there are also lots of characters in Beatrix Potter's book, such as Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck, Squirrel Nutkin, to mark the 150th anniversary of the author's birth. There is also a 20-metre-high birthday cake.
●£27. 85, adult/£20.65, child/under-threes, free.
●15 Dec. to 2 Jan.
Festival of Light, Enchanted Park, Gateshead
Enchanted Park is an interactive(交互的)walk through Saltwell Park, just south of the town
centre, along a trail of light with performances and sculptures. The story being told is a Midwinter
Night's Tale, inspired by the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death. Visitors can join
stories and songs with Santa, and attend decorating workshops.
●£8, adult/£2, child/under-fours, free.
●11～27 Dec.
Christmas Glow, RHS Wisley, Surrey
The garden is glowing with giant lighted flowers. Some of the trees are brilliant, too. The
glasshouse is decorated like a gingerbread house, and displays seasonal plants. There are lanterns
around the lake. The cafe serves hot chocolate and apple juice.
●£9.90, adult/£3.60, child/#28, family.
●20 Dec. to 2 Jan.
Christmas at Kew Gardens, London
Kew is a special place to visit at any time of the day or year, but the festive light show gives it a magical twist, as the mile-long trail through the garden is decorated with 60,000 lights. Some of the garden's oldest and tallest trees are also beautifully lit along the way.
●£16, adult/£10, child/under-fours, free.
●24 Dec. to 2 Jan.
1.What can people do in Enchanted Park?
A. Visit Shakespeare's house. B. Listen to stories.
C. Learn to create sculptures. D. Play the part of Santa.
2.Which place will attract children fond of fictional animal characters?
A. Kew Gardens. B. RHS Wisley.
C. Longleat Safari Park. D. Enchanted Park.
3.How much is the admission to Kew Gardens for the Smiths and a 6-year-old child?
A. £42. B. £16.
C. £10. D. £26.
4.What do the parks mentioned in the text have in common?
A. Their open times are the same. B. They serve free cakes to children.
C. They are free for children under four. D. They are full of Christmas atmosphere.
