Breathe, wave and smile. Along with more than 300 other seniors, I marched into the stadium on the afternoon of May 10. The audience burst into deafening cheers. The huge stadium shook with all the whistling and clapping.
It was as if a Hollywood superstar had walked on stage. And indeed, every single senior that day was a star of the moment. Each deserved it. The seniors had been preparing for four years for this once-in-a-lifetime moment—the commencement (graduation ceremony).
Seated, I waited anxiously for the opening address. As a foreign exchange student, I was not able to receive a diploma. However, I still had the wonderful feeling of being part of things. Like the other graduates, I was dressed in marron cap and gown.
Our principal, Mr. Glover, delivered a short, warm greeting. The US national anthem followed and then, hands on chests, a solemn Pledge of Allegiance(美国的爱国誓言).
Students who had excelled academically gave farewell speeches. The tears in some eyes convinced me that many had deep feelings about the occasion. It was as the class motto says, “Life brings us tears, smiles and memories. The tears dry; the smiles fade; but the memories last forever.”
Then came the core (the most important part) of the commencement. Hundreds of names were announced. Each graduate walked across the stage to receive his or her diploma from the principal. From the different cheers each graduate got, we had the funny sense that it was a kind of competition of who could cheer the loudest.
To be honest, the presentation of diplomas got boring. A girl sitting next to me even started yawning. But it wasn’t boring for those receiving the diploma: they would treasure the moment the principal placed the sacred brown document in their hands for the rest of their lives.
A new page in the book of that person’s life had turned. They were glimpsing their futures: futures of challenge, hardship, perhaps loneliness too, which would take all of their courage.
1.What’s the article mainly about?
A. An American high school’s graduation ceremony.
B. The opening ceremony of a sports meeting.
C. A presentation of college diplomas.
D. A US college’s farewell part
y.
2.Which of the following statements about the author is FALSE?
A. She was one of the graduates.
B. She was a foreign exchange student.
C. She was excited to receive her diploma.
D. She felt it great to be at the ceremony.
3.The right order of the following events is______.
a. Diplomas were presented to graduates.
b. Students gave farewell speeches.
c. The US national anthem was played.
d. The principal gave a short, warm speech.
e. Seniors went into the stadium.
A. b,c,a,d,e B. c,d,b,e,a
C. d,b,e,a,c D. e,d,c,b,a
4.From the text, we can conclude that_______.
A. a diploma ensures a good job
B. a diploma guarantees a bright future
C. the commencement symbolizes the beginning of a new stage in life
D. everyone felt excited at the presentation of the diploma
It's not often you get information about a destination from a heavy metal band, but in Debrecen, Hungary's second largest city, locals are used to having to make a noise to get heard.
Just off the historic center, Roncs bar is a pub that also hosts live music. It has the atmosphere of a student party in an old building that might soon be knocked down.
Roncs is owned by Hungary's best-known heavy metal rock band, Tankcsapda. Sometimes referred to as the “Hungarian Metallica", the band has taken a type of music that is famous worldwide and-through lyrics, album covers, and an annual New Year's party and concert-made it all about their home city.
It's perhaps fitting that Tankcsapda should be seen as ambassadors for Debrecen-the city sometimes needs loud heavy metal rock music to get noticed. “Foreigners think that Hungary is Budapest and there's nothing else," is a familiar saying on Debrecen's:streets.
Debrecen has, at times, been more important than the current seat of power, with locals claiming it takes over in times of trouble.
That doesn't quite add up.
Debrecen survived an attack from the Mongols in the 13th century, the Black Death, 150 years of struggle against the Ottomans and numerous conflicts, and yet it has still only briefly been the country's capital twice. This happened for the first time after a short-lived revolution in 1849, and for a second time at the end of World War II.
Today, Debrecen may not be well known to tourists, but that only adds to the charm of this relaxed city. It's a small place; the historical center is sized for strolling (散步) and regular cafe stops. There's also a view of Debrecen's mix of architectural styles, a result of the frequent large fires that back in the 19th century led the city's students to form one of Europe's first-ever fire brigades (消防队).
You can also see traditional weathercocks from the rooftops, featuring Islamic star and crescent moon symbols that once advertised to Ottoman invaders that the city preferred trading to fighting.
Trade meant that Debrecen's skilled people became very successful and the city became famous for-among other things-fine foods, hats and clay pipes. In the early 19th century, 10 million clay pipes were reportedly made a year, with thousands bought for Britain's navy.
1.What do Debrecen citizens expect Tankcsapda to do?
A. Introduce heavy metal music to Hungary.
B. Hold parties featuring live heavy metal music shows.
C. Try to make Debrecen known with its music.
D. Create a unique type of heavy metal music.
2.Why are locals used to having to make a noise to get heard?
A. Because they feel their city is too quiet and relaxed.
B. Because they dislike it that the world only knows Budapest in Hungary.
C. Because they think it helps create a powerful image of their city.
D. Because all kinds of music bars bring their city alive.
3.What does the underlined word refer to?
A. Styles. B. Conditions.
C. Atmosphere. D. Climate.
4.What is the key message the author wants to deliver in this passage?
A. Debrecen actually is more important than Budapest.
B. Debrecen is a place which is worth visiting.
C. Debrecen citizens love music and create their unique culture.
D. Debrecen citizens are proud of their culture and history.
Dyslexia(失读症) is a learning disorder, it interferes with the ability to recognise words, and for some readers to understand what they have read.
Experts say dyslexia affects about five to ten percent of the population of the United State. Researchers have long known that people with dyslexia write or read words and letters backwards in the wrong order.
But a new study shows that people with dyslexia may have trouble redirecting(重新传入) their attention between senses, from seeing something to hearing something. The study suggests something that might help dyslexic people learn more quickly — play video games.
Vanessa Harrar of Britain's University of Oxford led the study. She reported the findings in the journal Current Biology. The study suggests that dyslexic people may have trouble moving quickly from what they read to what they hear. Doctor Harrar calls this a "sluggish shifting of attention across the senses."
"So, if you are trying to read something and then trying to listen to somebody who's reading aloud and you're trying to follow along with what they are reading -- they have to switch their attention from hearing what they are saying to looking at the piece of paper and back again. So we found they have quite sluggish shifting of attention across the senses," said Harrar.
In the study, Doctor Harrar tested 17 people with dyslexia, and 19 others without reading problems. The volunteers were asked to push a button as quickly as possible when they heard a sound, saw a light or experienced both together. Doctor Harrar compared the speed of their reactions.
She found that people with dyslexia were just as fast as the others when they saw only a picture or heard only a sound. But the dyslexics had a slower reaction time when they heard a sound and saw a picture at the same time.
Doctor Harrar feels like playing action video games could help dyslexic people shift from seeing to hearing more quickly. She adds that images in video games force the eyes to move and focus quickly.
"Video game types of things pop out of here and there, they move your eyes around the screen quite quickly in response to things quite quickly, and the more you play a video game the faster you get that kind of thing. So, the video game is really training the attention system to move quickly," said Harrar.
The study also shows that dyslexic people have the most difficulty going between what they saw and what they heard, this may have an effect on how dyslexic children are taught how to read.
When children learn the alphabet, they usually see the letter first and then hear the sound, or they see and hear the letter at the same time. The study shows that dyslexics might learn more quickly if they hear the sound of a letter or word first before seeing it.
1.What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Video games are good for children.
B. Study suggests video games might help dyslexics
C. A study about Video Games is being carried out.
D. Children with dyslexics can learn better by playing video games.
2.What does the underlined word “sluggish” in Paragragh 4 mean?
A. slow B. wrong
C. specific D. accurate
3.Why can playing video games help dyslexic people learn more quickly?
A. While playing video games, people will train their reading and hearing.
B. While playing video games, people will have a good knowledge of the system.
C. While playing video games, people should move their eyes around the screen quite quickly train the attention system to move quickly.
D. Video games can arouse their interest in reading.
4.What is the importance of the finding?
A. The finding will prove video games are not necessarily bad for children.
B. People with Dyslexia will be cured by playing video games.
C. People with Dyslexia will not be made fun of by others.
D. The finding may have an effect on the way to teach dyslexic children how to read.
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1.Which is a necessary requirement to contribute a book?
A. One photo of you and your book.
B. A book never published.
C. Answering some questions.
D. An expert in your field.
2.What does the underlined part “we endeavor not to do this” in the sentence mean?
A. We try not to be personal.
B. We try not to change your writing.
C. We try not to reserve the right.
D. We try not to delay the publication.
3.Where does the passage come from?
A. A magazine.
B. A textbook.
C. A website.
D. A newspaper.
假定你是李华，是你班班长。学校外教James发电子邮件对没能参加你班上周日组织的登山活动表示抱歉并询问活动情况。请你根据以下提示，用英语回复邮件。
内容应包括：
1.对老师表示理解；
2.介绍活动的情况；
3.你们的愿望。
注意：
1.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
2.词数100左右。
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短文。短文中共有10处错误，每句中最多有两处。错误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（∧），并在此符号下面写出该加的词。
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。
I hardly remember my grandmother.She used to holding me on her knees and sing old songs.I was only four when she passes away.She is just a distant memory for me now.I remember my grandfather very much.He was tall, with broad shoulder and a beard that turned from black toward gray over the years.He had a deep voice,which set himself apart from others in our small town,he was strong and powerful.In a fact,he even scared my classmates away during they came over to play or do homework with me.However,he was the gentlest man I have never known.
