Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is gaining global popularity. According to a government white paper, TCM has been introduced in 183 countries and regions around the world.
Westerners’ understanding of TCM, however, may be limited to acupuncture, cupping and massage(针灸，拔罐和按摩). For instance, the purple, injury-like marks left on U. S. swimmer Michael Phelps，back from cupping for the purpose of relaxing his muscles and reducing pain became the center of attention during the Rio Olympics in 2016.
As a matter of fact, Chinese herbs play a more important role in getting rid of diseases and keeping the body in good condition in the TCM treatment system than physical treatment. It is therefore disheartening to know that while 103 World Health Organization member countries have given approval to the practice of acupuncture, not many recognize Chinese herbal medicine. TCM falls far behind Western medicine owing partly to the slow development of Chinese herbs.
Herbs are made into pills, powder and soup, and the kind of herbs used, their quality and quantity, and the processing of the ingredients (原材料) jointly determine the effectiveness of the prescription. Compared with Western medicine, which has standardized drug production processes and treatment methods, TCM lacks standardization, with the chemical composition and functions of its medicines being unclear and their effects being unstable. Fortunately, standardization has improved in recent decades, with an increasing number of factories producing patented TCM drugs.
Another factor that has prevented the development of TCM prescription drugs is the lack of creativity. While Western medicine-making companies come up with new products every year, TCM drug producers tend to make medicines according to prescriptions handed down from the past. Chinese chemist Tu Youyou’s winning the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her research into malaria (疟疾) treatment may drive creativity to some extent in China’s TCM industry. However, the current state of affairs cannot be changed within a short time.
1.Why does the author mention the example of Michael Phelps?
A. Because he was injured in his swimming.
B. Because cupping is a kind of important TCM treatment.
C. Because westerners know a little about TCM.
D. Because westerners attach great importance to TCM.
2.Why don’t some member countries of WHO recognize Chinese herbal medicine?
A. Because Chinese herbs can get rid of diseases.
B. Because they only approve the practice of acupuncture.
C. Because Western medicine is more effective.
D. Because medicine made out of Chinese herbs develops slowly.
3.Compared with Western medicine, what is the weak point of TCM in Paragraph 4?
A. The methods of planting herbs.
B. The effectiveness of prescription.
C. Lacking in standardization.
D. Its stable functions.
4.The lack of creativity in TCM refers to the fact that ________.
A. medicine-making companies lack creativity
B. prescriptions are got from the past
C. Western companies are more experienced
D. medicine-making companies lack driving force
A Song of Ice and Fire is a seven-part series of fantasy written for adults. George R. R. Martin writes each chapter from the perspective of a specific character, providing a limited point of view for each section. The reader is able to understand the inner workings of the individual, but the reader is barred from a whole understanding of the text. The world he has created has magic, but there is much more than that. While magic exists, it exists on the edge, and the inner unrest of the characters is much more important.
His work also has a level of realness that is astonishing in a work of fantasy. Characters are imperfect, and many make questionable moral choices. In the end, however, Martin shows that both good and bad happen to both the people of high moral standard and the corrupt. He has made it clear that any character can die at any point, which has led to a lot of heartbreak from readers.
In 2011, A Song of Ice and Fire became a television series titled Game of Thrones. Martin has been closely involved with the production. It has currently run for seven seasons, and viewers anxiously await the eighth season to answer their questions from the season seven finale.
His fans are also waiting for The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring, the next books in the series, to answer the questions Martin and the television show have not yet addressed. Martin, however, has no plans to rush. He has made it clear that he will continue to write the books while working on the television show and writing other novels.
But how will the story continue? What is going to happen in Westeros, and more importantly: when are we going to find out? Martinis skill as a writer has kept readers and viewers spellbound. Many hope he will finish the next book before the next season of the show begins, but no one knows with Martin. He always keeps his readers guessing.
1.One of the characteristics of A Song of Ice and Fire is ________.
A. each chapter is written from a limited point of view
B. magic is the center of the story
C. Martin has made imperfect characters die at any point
D. many characters make astonishing choices
2.What is George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire considered to be?
A. One of his masterworks of fantasy.
B. An unsuccessful screen adaptation.
C. An artistic creation for the TV.
D. One of the best TV programmes.
3.What does the word “address” in the fourth paragraph mean?
A. written B. spoken
C. solved D. directed
4.How will the ending of the story be?
A. Interesting. B. Confusing.
C. Novel. D. Unknown.
LIANG TAO sold 80 pink Givenchy bags in 12 minutes. Becky Fang sold 100 Mini Cooper cars in just five. Both are wanghong, literally “red-hot on the web”. Every day millions of Chinese search social media for wanghong posts or tune in to live-streams for wanghong’s opinions on everything. The fans are helping this new Chinese Internet star to make money out of their popularity—and to shake up the country’s e-commerce industry in the process.
A few of wanghong have been hired by luxury brands. Jaeger-LeCoultre, a Swiss watchmaker, hired Papi Jiang for a video ad targeting young urbanites (都市人), including her 27m fans on Sina Weibo, a Twitter-like microblog. Zhang Yi of iiMedia Research, a consulting firm, estimates that up to 15% of sales on shopping sites like Taobao or social-media apps such as WeChat are influenced by wanghong’s public support. The length of a dress might be decided by a survey of a wanghong’s fans; its launch date might be based on the number of hits, shares or comments it collects, some of which can cause last-minute design changes.
This poses a new challenge for retailers(零售商), whose supply chains must respond ever more quickly to wanghong’s opinions. Whereas previously a company would look for a celebrity to match its image, wanghong and their admirers are shaping goods.
Another challenge comes directly from wanghong themselves. They increasingly make money not merely from online support or advice but by launching their own e-commerce stores. Sales of goods accounted for just under half of wanghong earnings of 53bn yuan ($8bn) in 2016, estimates Analysys, a Chinese market-research firm (the rest came mostly from live-show tips and adverts).
Some wanghong are going a step further. In November Becky Fang launched her own clothing line. Part of her motivation, she says, was that the brands she supported did not always match the trends she was sharing with her followers. By creating her own brand, Becky’s Fantasy, she have full control of the quality. She also gains a new income. For the time being only 3-5% of wanghong follow Becky Fang’s example, iiMedia Research estimates. But it expects the model to become an industry in its own right, including entertainment and e-commerce, and driven by online data.
1.Why can wanghong use their popularity to make money?
A. Because they are Internet stars.
B. Because they use social media.
C. Because their opinions influence fans.
D. Because they can shake the e-commerce industry.
2.What is the characteristic of the products supported by wanghong?
A. It is fans-based. B. It is social-media-based.
C. It is design-shared. D. It is youth-targeted.
3.What are the challenges for retailers?
A. Online support and advice.
B. Increasing sales of goods online.
C. Quick responses to the market changes.
D. Wanghong’s opinions and e-commerce stores.
4.Why do some wanghong create their own brands?
A. Because they want to attract more fans.
B. Because they want to share with their followers.
C. Because they want to set up a new industry model.
D. Because the brands they speak for can’t satisfy their fans.
Last year, when our three-year-old great-granddaughter Kylie was taken to see Santa Claus, she made sure to give him her wish list of toys. A week later, she ran into a different Santa in a mall. He stopped to ask what she wanted for Christmas. Kylie was surprised and let him know: “If you can’t remember what I told you last week, how are you going to remember on Christmas Eve?!”
Mary Paul, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
As my son Mike and I drove to the mall, we passed a Salvation Army Santa ringing his bell. “Mike,” I said, “there’s Santa!” He shook his head. “That’s just some guy in a Santa suit,” he said. It saddened me to think that maybe my son no longer believed in Santa, and we drove the rest of the way in silence. At the mall, we spotted another Santa greeting young believers. Suddenly, Mike took off toward him. Turning back to me, he shouted. “Now, there’s the real Santa!”
Michael E. Fahey, Huntley, Illinois
We immigrated to America from China when I was six. Because I was shy and didn’t speak English, I had few friends. My days were spent at home with my brother. Sometimes we’d help our neighbor Mr. Mueller pull weeds. One Christmas Day, there was a knock at the door. Grandma opened it, and there stood a big fellow in red with a snow-white beard, laughing, “Ho, ho, ho!” He handed out presents and made us laugh. I had so much fun. It was years later when I learned that our special Santa was our neighbor Mr. Mueller.
Joanne Tang, Litchfield Park, Arizona
1.Why was Kylie surprised when running into a different Santa?
A. Because she got what she wished.
B. Because she knew who the Santa was.
C. Because she wished to get another toy.
D. Because she thought they were the same Santa.
2.What would Mike’s parent feel as to Mike’s different attitudes towards Santa?
A. Angry. B. Sad.
C. Confused. D. Understandable.
3.What did Mr. Mueller do on Christmas Day?
A. He stood outside our house.
B. He gave out gifts by acting as Santa.
C. He continued to pull weeds.
D. He stayed with us in our home.
A few days ago, I observed a teenager doing yardwork that his dad had told him to do. Instead of doing the task ________, he wandered around there for hours,________ to himself and doing a bad job.
The person he hurt the most was himself. His dad was trying to teach him _______ and how to do a good job. As a result of his _________ attitude, he spent the whole afternoon finishing a task that should have taken one or two hours. And the yard _______ wasn’t clean enough when he got through.
He _______ his day because of his attitude. And his dad was _______ with him, and the boy’ s bad mood ended up ________ the whole family that day.
A sweet lady was working in a fast-food _______. The minute I walked in, she welcomed me ________. She smiled as she took my order, and then as we ________ for the food, she talked with me. As I walked off with my tray, she said with a big ________, “I hope you have a blessed day!” I think the food tasted better because of her ______. There was a delay, during which I sat there hearing her singing as she ________ her tasks behind the counter.
She wasn’t making a large salary, and she didn’t have a powerful ________, either. In addition, she stood on her feet for a long shift each day, often dealing with ________ customers. But she chose to be joyful.
I want to ________ from her. I want to do my best, even when there’s no ________ or glory. Other people are watching me _______ I might not realize it at the time. I want to bring joy to all those around me. A(n)____
can make a great difference.
1.A. gradually B. happily C. secretly D. silently
2.A. responding B. applying C. explaining D. complaining
3.A. goodness B. safety C. responsibility D. gardening
4.A. poor B. positive C. strange D. efficient
5.A. almost B. even C. still D. ever
6.A. lost B. ruined C. perfected D. changed
7.A. upset B. pleased C. impressed D. satisfied
8.A. breaking B. benefiting C. affecting D. controlling
9.A. factory B. restaurant C. supermarket D. shop
10.A. warmly B. proudly C. seriously D. coldly
11.A. looked B. asked C. waited D. struggled
12.A. shout B. smile C. cheer D. decision
13.A. experience B. trust C. courage D. kindness
14.A. performed B. started C. discovered D. planned
15.A. appearnce B. motivation C. position D. effort
16.A. ordinary B. painful C. important D. difficult
17.A. escape B. learn C. hear D. differ
18.A. applause B. regret C. sadness D. forgiveness
19.A. now that B. in case C. even though D. as if
20.A. lifestyle B. attitude C. habit D. attempt
Brandon and Derek’s mother, Beth Lash, shared a Facebook video on Dec. 25, 2017. It captured the moment when Bandon______his card out loud. On Brandon Lash’s 24th birthday, his little brother, Derek, __________ him with a rather large card filled with an even bigger _________.
“I have always ________ you,” Brandon reads from the front of the card, ________ by this brother.
“I love spending time with you. I’m so ________ I have you for my brother. You have always been there for me, even though I get on your nerves sometimes. You will always have a piece of my heart,” Brandon continues, opening up the _________.
“And now you will have my _______, too. We are a ________ match.” Brandon reads, _________the card to the floor and breaking down into _________.
Brandon has kidney receives _________three times a week, and was told that he had been recommended for the transplant list. Unfortunately, his parents are not a match, but _________, his brother is.
“I can’t believe Derek would ________so much all this for me,” Brandon tells the publication. “He’s giving me a _____to have a healthy life again. I _________ can’t believe it’s happening.”
“I _________ seeing him sick and knew something needed to be done to make him healthy again.” Derek adds. “Not only was I the ________ thing to do, but the only thing to do. He’s my brother. We didn’t know _________ he could be on the transplant list, and I knew I just wanted my __________ brother back.”
1.A. read B. sang C. called D. shouted
2.A. provided B. issued C. presented D. supplied
3.A. claim B. award C. smile D. surprise
4.A. taken charge of B. looked up to C. got hold of D. lived up to
5.A. signed B. drawn C. written D. described
6.A. thankful B. satisfied C. awkward D. confused
7.A. paper B. card C. book D. cover
8.A. nerves B. eves C. kidney D. heart
9.A. perfect B. possible C. equal D. friendly
10.A. losing B. dropping C. throwing D. blowing
11.A. screams B. worries C. laughs D. tears
12.A. treatments B. experiments C. directions D. observations
13.A. finally B. possibly C. luckily D. exactly
14.A. advise B. experience C. allow D. sacrifice
15.A. chance B. fortune C. accident D. occasion
16.A. always B. already C. forever D. still
17.A. regretted B. minded C. hated D. opposed
18.A. fair B. right C. normal D. real
19.A. when B. how long C. how much D. while
20.A. lovely B. brave C. honest D. healthy
