On a college camping trip, curiosity about waves and sand caused Rob Thieler to study shorelines around the world. Thirty years later and now a U.S. Geological Survey research geologist, Thieler, is combining science and smartphone technology to help study an endangered bird, the Atlantic Coast piping plover.
The piping plover is a shorebird that breeds（繁殖）along the Atlantic Coast, the Great Lakes
and the Great Plains. Rising sea levels associated with climate change, as well as increased development in their beach habitats（栖息地）, threaten the species（物种）. To help track changes in piping plover habitats, Thieler developed a free app called iPlover in 2012. This is a marked change from the typical way scientists collect data, which involves gathering information using specialized equipment or writing in notebooks and then putting into spreadsheets.
Since releasing iPlover, scientists have gathered data across 1500 km of breeding range. That
equals about a third of the distance across the U.S., which is a large area to cover for only two thousand breeding pairs of piping plovers on the east coast. Instead of having to travel and spend days at each site, a number of cooperators in the field use the app to collect and send data, allowing scientists to gather data more efficiently. It also allows them to collect data at the same time during each breeding season, providing a better picture of changes that happen over longer periods of time. And fast, centralized access means scientists can look at data quickly to get a real-time idea of where and how piping plovers are using their habitats.
While iPlover is used by trained field staff, other apps like the U. S. Geological Survey’s
web-based “iCoast—Did the Coast Change?” invite citizen scientists to identify coastal changes by comparing bird’s-eye-view photographs taken before and after storms. All the information scientists and citizen scientists alike collect helps federal and state agencies create policy plans for addressing climate change impacts (影响) worldwide.
1.What can we know about the piping plover?
A. Its behaviour is changing.
B. Its habitat is growing bigger.
C. Its living environment is becoming worse.
D. Its breeding is limited to the Atlantic Coast.
2.Why did Thieler develop iPlover?
A. To study shorelines across America.
B. To advance information technology.
C. To find out global climate change.
D. To monitor changes of piping plover habitats.
3.Which of the following benefits the shorebirds?
A. The camping equipment. B. Research on smartphones.
C. The changeable coast. D. Progress in technology.
4.What would be the best title of the text?
A. Protecting Endangered Shorebirds
B. Rob Thieler, a Creative Scientist
C. IPlover, Tool for Training Field Staff
D. Differences Between IPlover and ICoast
If you thought pilots dimmed（调暗）the lights before takeoff to give you some shuteye, think again. Believe it or not, the dim lighting could actually help save your life in case of a plane emergency.
The dimmed lights before taking off the runway and landing are a flight precaution used to help passengers’ eyes adjust quicker during an emergency escape. “Going from a brightly lit environment to one that’s completely dark would require some time for our eyes to focus and see the escape slide,” Alice Theriault, service director for Air Canada wrote in a press statement. “Since we need to have all the seconds on our side in the event of an emergency, dimming the lights is one of many steps we take to ensure the safety of our customers.”
The phenomenon that your eyes see those strange speckles (小斑点) as your sight adjusts to a dark place after being in a light place is called dark adaptation. It normally takes our eyes about 20 to 30 minutes to see best in a dark room. The brighter the lights, the longer it takes for our eyes to adjust, which is why dimming the plane lights could shorten your “dark adaptation” time since you haven’t been sitting under fluorescent bulbs (荧光灯) all flight.
Not only does dimming lights add valuable time to the escape process, it reduces the tension on your eyes if you need to look outside, or see the emergency lighting along the passage. “It helps keep you in the right direction.” Patrick Smith, an airline pilot and author of Cockpit Confidential told The Telegraph. “It also makes it easier for flight attendants to assess any outside risks, such as fire or debris, that might affect an escape.” So next time a pilot dims the lights, just know it’s for your safety, even though it creates a gentle atmosphere for your takeoff into the sky.
1.The lights are turned down before takeoff to help passengers_______.
A. take a short break
B. escape in time of emergency
C. create a warm atmosphere
D. adapt their eyes to the bright environment
2.What is one of the roles of shortening “dark adaptation” time?
A. Slowing down the landing. B. Adjusting the plane lights.
C. Keeping passengers calm. D. Helping the crew judge outside risks.
3.What does the underlined word “It” in the last paragraph refer to?
A. Dimming lights. B. The escape process.
C. Reducing tension. D. The passage.
4.What is the text mainly about?
A. A tip of air travel.
B. An emergency event on a plane.
C. A warning message on a plane.
D. An explanation of an airline safety measure.
We’re Hiring Shift Workers For Our Production Plant Looking for a career with a company that values its employees, and promotes from within? Then Black Cat Blades is the company for you!
Cutting Operators
CNC Operators
Heat Treat Operators
Full training provided, starting at $14.50 per hour, with the potential to move to $18.16 in one year.
We also require a Skilled Welder (焊接工),to work 12-hour rotating shifts (轮班) in our cutting Department. The successful candidate must be a registered journeyman（熟练工人) within the Province of Alberta or a Red Seal.
We offer a great benefit package, including health, dental and RRSP’s. Numerous motivations: Profit Sharing, Pay for Years of Service, Fitness Program Allowance, and fun social events for you and your family.
Apply in person, and we’ll take you on a tour of our Production equipment or forward your personal information by fax or e-mail.
Black Cat Blades Ltd.
HR@ blackcatblades.com
5604-59 St., Edmonton, AB T6B 3C3
Fax: (780) 465-9595
1.What is the most attractive about the company? .
A. Charged training. B. Desirable welfare.
C. Working time. D. Free travelling.
2.Who can be admitted as a skilled welder?
A. An experienced operator. B. A person without a Red Seal.
C. A registered journeyman in Alberta. D. A clerk from Black Cat Blades.
3.How many kinds of work does the company offer?
A. Three. B. Four.
C. Five. D. Six.
假设你是李华，暑假即将来临，你校学生会决定组织在校学生到卧龙山进行一次拓展活动。请你给好友—美国交换生Peter写一封邮件告知相关情况。内容包括：
1. 时间：7月1日上午8:00乘车出发；
2. 安排：爬山，同时捡拾垃圾；
3. 注意事项：自带午餐、雨具等。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Peter,
Good news for you!________________________________________________________________________
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China has always been famous for being a “State of Etiquette (礼仪)”. According to historical documents, as early as 2,600 years ago, this nation has already established a thorough set 1. dining etiquette.
A famous 19th century Russian writer, Anton Chekhov, once invited a Chinese man 2. (have) a drink in a bar. Chekhov said, “Before drinking from his cup, he held it with his hands and presented to me and the bar owner and bartenders,3. (say) ‘qing (please)’. This is the custom of China. They are not like us to finish it in one drink,4. prefer to drink by taking a small amount at 5. time. With every sip (一小口), he 6. (eat) some food. Afterwards, he handed me some Chinese 7. (coin) to show gratitude. This is a rather interestingly polite nationality... “ This was the most valuable opinion of a Chinese person 8. was given by a foreigner two centuries ago. Chinese traditional dinner procedures used to be long and dealt 9. (serious) with; the 10. (important) the occasion, the more complex the procedures were.
She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful little image of innocence. It was ______ outside.
We all stood there, just inside the door of the Wal-Mart. We all waited, some ______, others anxiously, because the ______ messed up their hurried day. I got lost in the sound and sight of the rainfall.______ of running through the rain happily as a child came pouring, and ______ the worries of my day.
Her voice was so ______ as it broke the gloomy silence we were all caught in, “Mom, let’s ______ the rain.” she said.
“What?” Mom asked.
“Let’s run through the rain!” She ______.
“No, honey. We’ll ______ until it slows down a bit.” Mom replied.
This young child waited about another minute and repeated, “Mom, let’s run through the rain.”
“We’ll get ______ if we do.” Mom said.
“No, we won’t, Mom. That’s not what you said this morning,” the young girl said as she reached for her Mom’s arm.
“This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?”
“Don’t you ______? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, if God can get us through this, he can get us through ______!”
“The entire crowd ______, dead silent. You couldn’t hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.
Now some would ______ it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of approval in a young child’s life. Time when innocent trust can be cared for so that it will bloom into ______. “Honey, you are absolutely right. Let’s run through the rain. If we get wet, well maybe we just need ______ Mom said. Then off they ran.
We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they ran past the cars. They held their shopping bags over their ______ just in case. They got wet. But they were ______ by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.
Circumstances or people can take away your ______ possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your ______ memories. So, don’t forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories every day!
1.A. snowing B. blowing C. pouring D. lightning
2.A. amazingly B. sadly C. angrily D. patiently
3.A. rain B. thunder C. wind D. smog
4.A. Excitement B. Memories C. Wonders D. Worries
5.A. taking away B. taking down C. taking up D. taking in
6.A. quick B. low C. sweet D. frightened
7.A. walk through B. run through C. dance in D. sing in
8.A. repeated B. shouted C. cried D. added
9.A. move B. see C. listen D. wait
10.A. sick B. sorry C. wet D. down
11.A. remember B. forget C. regret D. worry
12.A. something B. anything C. anyone D. someone
13.A. laughed B. left C. shouted D. stopped
14.A. take B. break C. laugh D. keep
15.A. faith B. habit C. wisdom D. courage
16.A. changing B. washing C. fighting D. eating
17.A. body B. chest C. heads D. leg
18.A. welcomed B. break up C. cheered up D. followed
19.A. material B. mental C. spiritual D. physical
20.A. exciting B. precious C. considerable D. upset
