For most people, Friday, which happens to be the 13th, means little more than the start of a weekend. However, to million people worldwide who suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia (周五 13 恐惧症), the combination of the day and number brings had luck. While no one knows for sure how it began, there are many theories.
Experts think it starts with the fear of the number 13. The number 13 suffers from its position after 12, which is regarded as a complete number. After all, there are 12 months in a year, 12 gods of Olympus, and so on. This has caused the belief that 13 is incomplete and, therefore, unlucky.
The number’s bad name is worsened by the fact that several unfortunate incidents are linked with 13. One example is NASA’s Apollo 13 mission (任务). The seventh manned mission in the Apollo space program, launched (发射) at 13:13, never landed on moon. For some people, the mission failed because of the number 13.
If you are among those who can “Shake It Off”, you are in great company. Taylor Swift is not affected by the number, who says, “I was born on the 13th. I turned 13 on Friday the 13th. Every time I’ve won an award I’ve been seated in either the 13th seal or the 13th row. Basically, whenever a 13 comes up in my life, it’s a good thing.”
The fear of Friday appears to come mainly from ancient religion. It was the day Jesus was killed. Though the date was not the 13th, it happened after the Last Supper, which had 13 guests.
When the date and day meet, people suffer from anxiety. Construction and shipbuilding workers easily become nervous, which often leads to more accidents. This, of course, further adds to their anxiety. It is reported that businesses lose more than $800 million because many people avoid traveling or shopping on this day.
1.In which part of a newspaper might the passage come from?
A. Society and Culture. B. Wealth and Finance.
C. Health and Fitness. D. Arts and Entertainment.
2.Why was Apollo 13 mission mentioned?
A. To prove people’s fear of 13. B. To show the cause of the failure.
C. To point out the bad luck caused by 13. D. To give examples about the bad name of 13.
3.What does the underlined part “Shake It Off” in paragraph 4 probably mean?
A. Appreciate it. B. Defend it.
C. Imagine it. D. Get rid of it.
4.What can we know about paraskevidekatriaphobia from the last paragraph?
A. Its origin. B. Its effect.
C. Its cause. D. Its solution.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, a Sitka Spruce, growing on New Zealand’s southernmost island, is the loneliest and most distant tree on Earth. Not only is it the only tree on Campbell Island, but the nearest other tree can be found over 200 kilometers away.
Located (位于) about 700 km south of Bluff, Campbell Island is one of the harshest places in the world. With strong winds blowing almost all year round, less than 600 hours of sunshine and only 40 days per year without rain, it ‘ s not exactly a perfect place to live.
It is believed that this Sitka Spruce was planted by Lord Ranfurly, a former governor of New Zealand, sometime between 1901 and 1907. According to some sources, he realized that the environment was too bad, so he took the first step to cover it in forest. His idea was never going to work because of the terrible climate of the area.
Apart from being the loneliest tree on Earth, the Sitka Spruce of Campbell Island has a series of other particularities. First of all, its shape makes it look more like a huge cauliflower (花椰菜) than a tree. This is believed to have been caused by the repeated cutting every year, for decades. Luckily, no one has been cutting the tree down over the last six decades and it has grown to a height of over 10 meters.
Another interesting thing about the world’s loneliest tree is that, though it is over 100 years old, it has never produced cones (球果), which suggests the tree has remained in a permanently young state.
The Sitka Spruce of Campbell Island was recently in the news for helping researchers make sure that the Earth has entered an entirely new age, the Anthropocene (人类世).
Who knew a lonely tree growing 200 km away from its nearest cousins could be so interesting?
1.What makes the Sitka Spruce set a world record?
A. Its height. B. Its old age.
C. Its special shape. D. Its location.
2.What does the underlined word “harshest” in paragraph 2 probably mean?
A. Farthest. B. Hardest. C. Loneliest. D. Hottest.
3.Why did Lord Ranfurly plant Sitka Spruces on the Campbell Island?
A. To improve this place. B. To experiment with the tree.
C. In memory of his achievement. D. To help with researchers’ study.
4.What affected the shape of the Sitka Spruce according to the text?
A. Strong winds. B. Animals’ eating.
C. People’s cutting. D. Poor soil.
Kitchen Products Thai Will Make Your Life a Lot Easier
♦ Hanging Trash Bag
Speaking of clever bag that will change your world, how many times have you cut off loads of vegetables and tried to clean up the messy waste, only to make half of it accidentally drop on the floor? This hanging trash bag attachment makes clean-up super easy, so you’ll never end up with smelly chopped (切碎的) onions all over your floor again.
Available on Amazon, $ 6.99
♦ Dream Farm Spoon
How many times have you struggled for just that last little bit of something out of a jar or dish? This all-purpose cooking spoon helps scrap (刮擦) the edges of any pan, bowl, or strangely-shaped container with zero effort, so you’ll always get that last bit, every time.
Available on Amazon, $20.40
♦ Flex Pot Clip
For those of us who’d rather not balance our serving spoon or wooden spoon on the edge of the pot unsteadily, or rest it on the counter where it’ll definitely make a mess, allow me to introduce you to the Flex Pot Clip. Attach it to the edge of your pot so you can keep your counters clean and your hands free. It’s heat-resistant and dishwasher safe!
Available on Amazon, $7.88
♦ Reusable Silicone Lids
These are useful to cover your food before putting it in the fridge if you often have leftovers. These silicone lids are flexible, reusable, arid airtight, allowing you to leave your food right in its original dish or bowl and keep it fresh for days. They’re clear, eco-friendly, and super easy to store, since they hardly take up any space.
Available on Amazon, $15.97
1.What is the use of the Hanging Trash Bag?
A. To reduce waste of food. B. To make containers clean.
C. To collect kitchen waste. D. To make food easy to store.
2.Where can you fix a Flex Pot Clip?
A. On the edge of a pot. B. In a dishwasher.
C. On the counter. D. In a comer.
3.Which of the following products can make the food remain fresh?
A. Flex Pot Clip. B. Hanging Trash Bag.
C. Dream Farm Spoon. D. Reusable Silicone Lids.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What is the weather like this morning?
A. Cloudy and snowy. B. Windy and cold. C. Snowy and windy.
2.What is the expected temperature by noon?
A. 0℃ B. -20℃ C. 6℃
3.Where is the speaker right now?
A. In the newsroom.
B. At the top of Mount Raven.
C. On the ski slope.
4.What does the speaker advise the skiers to do tomorrow?
A. Watch sports games. B. stay at home. C. Put on warm clothes.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What kind of room does the man reserve?
A. A single room with a nice view.
B. A double room with a nice view.
C. An ordinary double room.
2.How long will the American couple stay in the hotel?
A. 5 nights. B. 7 nights. C. 6 nights.
3.How much does it cost to stay in the hotel for one night?
A. $188. B. $198. C. $288.
4.Where does the conversation take place?
A. In a hotel. B. In the office. C. On the phone.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Why did the man lose control of the car?
A. He hit an ice patch.
B. He had a bet with the other car.
C. He drove around the comer too quickly.
2.What do we know about the driver of the other car?
A. He was frightened at the news.
B. He was carried away in an ambulance.
C. He was nothing serious.
3.What did the man want to do at last?
A. Go to hospital. B. Visit the other driver. C. Call his family.
