In ancient China the kite was known as “Zhiyuan“. 1. (original) regarded as a technology, it also featured in many art collections, and was considered to have unique artistic value. It first 2. (appear) in the ware of the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC—476BC). According to historical records. Mo Zi spent three years 3. (construct) a wooden kite which failed after one day’s flight. One book noted that the master carpenter Lu Ban also made some which 4. (use) to spy on the situation of the enemy.
Now the basic procedure of making kites remains the same, but 5. (style) of kite-making vary in different regions. These in the “World Kite Capital” of Weifang in Shandong Province are well known for 6. (they) craftsmanship, materials, painting, sculpture and flexible flying movement. One of these kites, 7. was over 300 meters long, won first place in the International Kite Festival 8. (hold) in Italy. It is now housed in the Weifang Kite Museum. Even year, the festival is held there and is expected to draw many fans with a passion for flying kites.
9. you are interested in flying a kite, you should choose a sunny and windy day so you can enjoy the open air, and take care to avoid electric wires and cars. You could lake more than one with you and fly them according to the change of wind. And of course, a pair of sunglasses may prove useful in protecting your eyes 10. bright sunshine.
My 10-year-old son Arthur loves to help others. He never __ to help people in need. His favorite pastime is to volunteer __ at various charities in our community. One day, after purchasing the hamburger Arthur liked most, I tried to hurry him along when he __ next to our cur to look at something. I turned to see what stopped him.
Standing about five feet away was an old __ in rags. Every few seconds he smiled and tried to speak to the people who were walking by. At that moment, he turned around and __ my son watching him. __ I could say anything, he smiled broadly and said, “Hey do you happen to have any spare __?”
Arthur __ his empty pockets and then looked at me briefly. I shook my head---I hardly ever carry cash anymore. Arthur __ and then he said something that took my breath away.
“No, I don’t. But are you __? Do you like the hamburger?”
Knowing the old man was hungry, Arthur’s whole face __. “Good, here, you can have __.”
I thought about how many people had __ this man as he walked the streets that day. How many chose to act as if he hadn’t existed? But my son? The one who just moments before had loudly begged me for the hamburger was now __ giving his favorite away to a strange man because he was hungry. And he didn’t __ give the food and walk away. He engaged the man in a conversation. The smile on the man’s face told me this was the real __ for his happiness.
‘‘I’m really proud of you, Arthur. I think you __ his day.”
His __ was beyond my expectation. “It’s only __.”
It’s true that being kind doesn’t have to be difficult me, or complex. As Arthur often reminds me, __ is natural.
1.A. tries B. manages C. agrees D. refuses
2.A. actively B. carefully C. seriously D. curiously
3.A. ran B. paused C. parked D. walked
4.A. employee B. customer C. beggar D. policeman
5.A. spotted B. recognized C. heard D. understood
6.A. After B. Since C. Until D. Before
7.A. food B. change C. pocket D. lime
8.A. checked B. mended C. returned D. handed
9.A. sighed B. laughed C. cried D. screamed
10.A. angry B. thirsty C. hungry D. worried
11.A. turned red B. lit up C. froze up D. got up
12.A. his B. yours C. mine D. hers
13.A. minded B. welcomed C. ignored D. appreciated
14.A. willingly B. pitifully C. basically D. normally
15.A. even B. just C. yet D. still
16.A. excuse B. reason C. doubt D. fear
17.A. mined B. troubled C. made D. created
18.A. behavior B. response C. dream D. attitude
19.A. natural B. useless C. difficult D. calm
20.A. patience B. effort C. skill D. kindness
Everybody has dreams, but not all these dreams can come true easily. 1. Read on and you can make your dream come true.
Break your dream down into manageable “projects”. Achieving a dream can be complex and you might need to complete a number of different “projects” as you go forward. 2. Remember that you need to have all the parts and tools you need in order to be successful in achieving your dream.
Take action on each “project”. Start taking action on each part of your dream. If you can, work on all of your projects at the same time—for example, try to do something for each project each week. 3. And keeping yourself moving forward is one of the best ways to motivated toward achieving your goal.
4. Find out how others have accomplished their goal. Do some research to find out how other people have achieved the same dream. Seek out the people who have achieved their dreams and talk with them or read their stories. Find out what they learned from their journey, and what they like best about achieving their dreams. You can find out about other successful dreamers by reading their biographies, watching documentary films, or reading about people on the Internet.
Always know what’s next on your list. As you are taking action on the different projects that lead you to your dream, be sure that you always know what to do next. Being unsure of your next step is one common way that people get stuck in their progress toward a goal. 5. Be sure that you will be ready for each one.
A. Be inspired by others.
B. People give up their dreams for this or that reason.
C. Manage your lime so that there is room for your dream.
D. Each week revisit your project lists to see what tasks are coming up.
E. Achieving your dream might require you to gain new skills or knowledge.
F. Figuring out what the different “projects” arc will move you toward your dream.
G. Even if you are moving in small steps toward your goal, you are still heading in the right direction.
Breathing in polluted air on busy roads is as harmful as passively smoking ten cigarettes a day, new research has found. The drop in pollution had the same effects as avoiding four cigarettes a day. One of the researchers, Saskia van der Zee, explained why they compared the effects of pollution lo passive smoking. “We thought that passive smoking would be easier to understand,” she told The Times. ‘‘You don’t want your neighbors to come into your house and smoke three cigarettes every day.”
Earlier this week, doctors warned that Britain is facing a major health emergency unless diesel(柴油)cars are taken off the roads. Emissions (排放物) from diesel cars arc already contributing to smog which has been linked to the deaths of 40,000 people a year. Health charities, medical leaders and environmental groups have called for a modern Clean Air Act lo bring pollution under control. Separately, more than 300 doctors in the Doctors Against Diesel group have written to Theresa May, calling for a diesel reduction.
Professor John Middleton, president of the UK Faculty of Public Health, said, “Diesel is the primary source of nitrogen dioxide(二氧化氮)in urban areas and is linked to health effects that begin before birth and extend throughout life, from childhood lung development to increased risk of heart disease, stroke and lung cancer. It is high lime lo handle the problem.”
London is already planning to introduce an “emission zone” which diesel drivers would be charged to enter, and other cities are set to follow. But exerts are desperate to find new ways to control the damage done by pollution. Diesel drivers in Westminster have been told they may soon be charged 50 percent extra for on-street parking. And Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London，submitted a £ 3,500 plan to encourage drivers to switch to petrol or electric cars.
“Cutting diesel emissions would therefore have an immediate effect on children’s personal exposure, and improve their long-term health.” A government spokesman said.
1.Why did the researchers compare pollution to smoking?
A. It’s easier for people to understand.
B. It’s hard for people to quit smoking.
C. It’s a bad habit to smoke at home.
D. It’s harmful to breathe in polluted air.
2.How can the major health emergency be solved according to Britain doctors?
A. Give up smoking.
B. Abandon diesel cars.
C. Make strict laws.
D. Schedule yearly exams.
3.What can we infer from what Professor John Middleton said?
A. Cutting diesel emissions is urgent.
B. Prevention is better than relief.
C. Children are the worst victims.
D. People ignored the harm of diesel.
4.What is the purpose of the plan put forward by Sadiq Khan?
A. To improve air quality with high technology.
B. To limit the total number of cars on roads.
C. To inspire people to choose greener vehicles.
D. To carry out license plate restrictions.
Recently actor Adrien Grenier has launched(发动)a campaign to reduce the amount of single-use plastic usage in order to protect and save marine (海洋的)wildlife and the environment. Plastic drinking straws are among many single-use plastic products contributing to the great loss of marine life, but they’re a great place to start because they’re something that are used by millions of Americans who are unaware that they’re so damaging.
Americans use more than 500 million straws daily, which is enough to fill 127 school buses each day and they can’t be recycled. That means plastic straws might end up in oceans, where fish and other marine wildlife mistake the small bits for food and swallow them. After seeing a photo of a beached whale with a belly full of plastic, Grenier felt the inspiration to launch the Lonely Whale Foundation, hoping to inspire and educate others on the challenges faced by marine wildlife.
Along with stopping the use of straws, Grenier hopes to educate consumer on the dangers of other single-use plastic items such as grocery bags and water bottles. While many Americans use these plastic products in their daily life, there are many alternatives that can help protect the environment such as straws made from stainless steel, glass, and even bamboo instead of plastic.
In addition to quitting your straw habit, you can further help the environment by taking the I Choose to Reuse commitment, and stop your use of single-use coffee cups, checkout bags and bottled water. Instead, take advantage of any number of alternative reusable products.
Need another reason to stop drinking from straws? Grenier also says using straws can cause wrinkles!
1.Protecting marine wildlife can start with stopping using plastic drinking straws because
A. they are marine wildlife’s favorite food
B. they are the most harmful plastic products
C. they are the plastic products people use most
D. they are widely used but their harm isn’t fully realized
2.What made Grenier think of the idea to launch the Lonely Whale Foundation?
A. A photo of piles of plastic waste.
B. The sight of 127 school buses of straws.
C. The fuel that many whales beach on the shore.
3.What will Grenier encourage people to do in their daily life?
A. Avoid drinking from bottles. B. Use cloth bags when shopping.
C. Purchase single-use coffee cups. D. Use plastic straws to drink repeatedly.
4.Which word can best describe Adrien Grenier?
A. Adventurous. B. Humorous.
C. Responsible. D. Friendly.
I was at a loss for how to handle the fights among my kick- Many activities had been tried, but they didn’t work. After reading What I Know for Sure written by Oprah Winfrey, a thought occurred to me one day.
“Starting with Dora, I want everyone to find the chance to say ‘thank you’.” I declared.
“What?” Ashley asked. “What’s going on?’’
“Just do it.”
Naturally, the kid^ all thought I had lost my mind. I wasn’t sure if they were wrong, but I pressed on.
“Now, we’re going to keep going around and everyone tells what they’re thankful for.”
Clearly doubtful and frustrated, the kids launched in, and I kept them going.
“I’m thankful for our house.”
“I’m thankful for my clothes.”
“I’m thankful for my whole life and everyone in the world.”
“What? What am I supposed to say?”
‘‘Keep going.”
“I’m grateful for my underwear!” Instant laughter erupted, music to my ears!
“Great, lei it out!” I encouraged. “What else?”
And that was all we needed. The gratitude--great and small, serious and funny---came rolling out.
“My backpack.”
“My teachers.”
On and on it went until every face was lit with a new kind of joy and laughter. I could sense a new feeling of peace and comfort in the air a reminder of not only our blessings, but the love we really did have for each other.
“I’m grateful for being grateful!” Dora declared.
“Me, too!” was the unanimous response.
I don’t remember the activities that took place the rest of the day. But it was a day when our family was transformed by two simple words: thank you. Since then, it’s become a family motto.
1.Why did the author ask her kids to find the chance to say “thank you”?
A. To play games among them. B. To kill their free lime.
C. To solve their fights. D. To make them be polite.
2.How did Ashley react when hearing his mother’s suggestion at first?
A. He was puzzled. B. He felt very glad.
C. He supported it. D. He responded actively.
3.What does the underlined word “unanimous” probably mean?
A. Funny. B. Unimportant.
C. Unexpected. D. Agreed.
4.What may be the best title for the text?
A. Mom’s Big Heart B. A Sweet Home
C. Magic of a Family Motto D. A Meaningful Family Meeting
