A few years ago I chose to carry out a “word of the year”. As I began 2014, I looked forward to how the word “________“ would shape the coming year.
I planned to give a gift a day for the ________ year. Some gifts would take time to prepare. Some of the other gifts came about more ________, such as helping someone cross the street. But either way, I always tried to seek a(n) ________ to serve.
Some gifts in 2014 ________ reading to my next door’s kids. I ________ that as my gift of the day. My mind is still crowded with precious ________ now.
Twice I left a few coins ________ on the sidewalk for a kid to find. It may have ________ a few cents, but I considered it a chance to ________ another person’s day. Along the way, I also made my own day pleasant.
One of my most ________ gifts throughout the whole year was letting other ________ go ahead of me in line at stores. Once again, ________ standing in line at a store one day, my son told me somebody ________ us had only two things to ________ I signed to the person to take our place in line. The few ________ minutes of wait time passed with hardly realizing it. They were minutes passing ________.
Although this act of ________ didn’t deserve something surprising, it remains one of my ________ gifts of 2014 and all because I saw how my ________ to give had become part of my children’s lives as well.
1.A. luck B. gift C. health D. money
2.A. entire B. next C. previous D. final
3.A. formally B. regularly C. suddenly D. naturally
4.A. job B. routine C. opportunity D. excuse
5.A. included B. suggested C. required D. kept
6.A. looked into B. looked upon C. went over D. went for
7.A. events B. changes C. motivations D. memories
8.A. accidentally B. cautiously C. deliberately D. constantly
9.A. cost B. made C. wasted D. occupied
10.A. shorten B. brighten C. start D. appreciate
11.A. expensive B. special C. expected D. repeated
12.A. friends B. relatives C. customers D. managers
13.A. while B. once C. since D. though
14.A. beyond B. behind C. ahead of D. next to
15.A. donate B. serve C. purchase D. share
16.A. necessary B. endless C. limited D. extra
17.A. rapidly B. slowly C. casually D. painfully
18.A. uniting B. delivering C. receiving D. giving
19.A. perfect B. favorite C. strangest D. richest
20.A. ability B. arrangement C. choice D. hesitation
Oumuamua,an object through space that was discovered on October 19th, has already made history.The speed at which it is moving relative to the sun means that it cannot be native to the solar system. Its official name is thus II/2017 UI, with the “I” standing for “interstellar(星际)”—the first time this name has ever been used.
That is exciting.Some scientists, though, entertain an even more exciting possibility: what if Oumuamua is not an asteroid(小行星),as most think, but an alien(外星的)spacecraft? Asteroids come in ll sorts of shapes and sizes, but Oumuamua seems particularly different.As best as astronomers can tell, it is cigarlike,being roughly 180 meters long but only about 30 meters wide.That makes it longer than anything known of in the solar system.Such a shape would be a sensible choice for a spaceship,since it would minimize the scouring(冲刷)effect of interstellar dust.
With that in mind the Breakthrough Listen project, an organization aimed at hunting for alien life, plans to turn the world’s biggest radio telescope,the Green Bank instrument in Virginia,towards Oumuamua to see if it can hear anything interesting.Oumuamua is currently about twice as far from Earth as Earth is from the sun. At that range,the telescope should be sensitive enough to pick up a transmitter about as powerful as a mobile phone after just a few seconds—worthy of observations.
Will it find anything? Almost certainly not.Oumuamua has the same reddish color as many as asteroids,so probably has a similar composition.And, if it really is a spaceship, it is strange that signs of its artificial origin have not been seen already.It could, in theory, be a derelict(遗弃星球). But in that case the telescope is unlikely to hear anything. By far the most likely option is that it is exactly what it seems to be: a huge space rock, one that has come to the solar system from the vast space between the stars.
1.What makes some scientists think Oumuamua is possibly an alien spacecraft?
A. Its size. B. Its color.
C. Its shape. D. Its speed.
2.What does the underlined word“that”in the third paragraph probably mean?
A. The research into the solar system.
B. The purpose of hunting for alien life.
C. The effect of interstellar dust on Oumuamua.
D. The possibility of Oumuamua being a spaceship.
3.What is Oumuamua most likely to be according to the author?
A. An asteroid. B. A space rock.
C. Interstellar dust. D. An alien spacecraft.
4.It can be inferred from the last paragraph that__________.
A. Oumuamua will return to where it’s from soon
B. Oumuamua’s real identity remains to be found out
C. astronomers have not seen signs of Oumuamua’s artificial origin
D. the Green Bank telescope has already heard something from Oumuamua
Our perception of hoe food tastes is influenced by cutlery like knives, forks, and spoons, research suggests.
“Size, weight, shape and color all have an effect on flavor,” says a University of Oxford team. Cheese tastes saltier when eaten from a knife rather than a fork; while white spoons make yoghurt taste better, experiments show.
The study in the journal Flavour suggests the brain makes judgments on food even before it goes in the mouth. More than 100 students took part in three experiments looking at the influence of weight, color and shape of cutlery on taste. The researchers found that when the weight of the cutlery is consistent with expectations, this had an influence on how the food tastes. For example, food tasted sweeter on the small spoons that are traditionally used to serve desserts.
Color contrast was also an important factor-white yoghurt eaten from a white spoon was rated sweeter than white yoghurt tasted on a black spoon. Similarly, when testers were offered cheese on a knife, spoon, fork or toothpick, they found that the cheese on a knife tasted saltiest.
“How we experience food is a multisensory experience involving taste, feel of the food in our mouths, pleasant smells, and the feasting of our eyes,” said Pro. Charles Spence and Dr. Vanessa Harrar. “Even before we put food into our mouths, our brains have made a judgment about it, which affects our overall experience.”
Past research has shown that china can change our perception of food and drink. For example, people generally eat less when food is served on smaller plates. “The new research into how the brain influences food perception could help dieters or improve gastronomic（美食的）experiences at restaurants,” said Pro. Spence. He told BBC News: “There’s a lot more to food than what’s on the plate. Many things we thought didn’t matter do. We’re going to see a lot more of neuroscience（神经科学）design around mealtimes.”
1.According to the text, we know that the cheese used in the experiment is ________.
A. salty B. sour
C. sweet D. bitter
2.What do we know about the weight of the cutlery in paragraph 3?
A. It is important for people.
B. People usually don’t care about it.
C. It affects how the food tastes.
D. It is always different from people’s expectation.
3.What does the underlined word “multisensory” in Paragraph 5 probably mean?
A. Coming from the senses.
B. Involving many different senses.
C. Able to feel or perceive.
D. Easily affected by other feelings.
4.What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A. Research on cutlery is of great importance.
B. Research on food will be continued in the future.
C. Research on the effect of nerves on the taste of food will be done.
D. Research on plates and food will be carried out in the near future.
Bob Dylan, the 75-year-old rock legend received the Nobel Prize for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition. Sara Danius, permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, said Dylan had been chosen because he was a great poet in the English speaking tradition.
Dylan, born on May 24, 1941 is an American songwriter, singer, artist, and writer. He has been influential in popular music and culture for more than five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s. Early songs such as Tangled up in Blue, Blowing in the Wing and The Times Are a-Changing became anthems（颂歌）for the American civil fights and anti-war movements. Leaving behind his initial base in the American folk music revival（复兴）, his six-minute single Like a Rolling Stone, recorded in 1965, enlarged the range of popular music.
Dylan’s lyrics（歌词）include a wide range of political, social, philosophical, and literary features. His recording career, spanning more than 50 years, has explored the traditions in American song---from folk, blues, and country to rock and roll, and rockabilly to English, Scottish, and Irish folk music, embracing even jazz and the Great American Songbook. Dylan performs with guitar, keyboards, and harmonica. Backed by a changing lineup of musicians, he has toured steadily since the late 1980s on what has been called the Never Ending Tour. His accomplishments as a recording artist and performer have been central to his career, but songwriting is considered his greatest contribution.
Since 1994, Dylan has published six books of drawings and paintings, and his work has been exhibited in major art galleries. As a musician, Dylan has sold more than 100 million records, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. He has also received numerous awards including eleven Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy Award. In May 2012, Dylan received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama.
1.Why was Bob Dylan awarded the Nobel Prize?
A. Because he invented many music expressions.
B. Because his lyrics in his songs rhymed like poems.
C. Because his works had the characteristics of Rock.
D. Because he changed the English speaking tradition.
2.Which of Dylan’s works expended the area of popular music?
A. Like a Rolling Stone B. Blowing in the Wind
C. Tangled up in Blue D. The Times Are a-Changing
3.According to the passage, Bob Dylan can be best described as ________.
A. knowledgeable and generous B. talented and socially responsible
C. thoughtful and warm-hearted D. hard-working and ambitious
4.What is considered to be Dylan’s greatest contribution in his career?
A. Composing Poems. B. Giving performances.
C. Making records. D. Writing songs.
Sydney Opera House Tours We offer three different tours of this iconic buildings. |
The Essential Tour brings to life the story behind the design and construction of one of the world’s most famous landmarks. Using interactive audiovisual technology, your guide will take you on a memorable journey inside the youngest building ever to be World Heritage listed. Afterwards, why not stay around and eat at the Studio Café, with its modern Australian menu? You can both enjoy the best views in Sydney and claim a 20% reduction on the total cost of your meal. (Don’t forget to show your ticket in order to claim your discount.) Language: English, French, German Takes place: Daily between 9 am and 5 pm. Prices: Adult $35/ Online $29.75. Concessions（优惠）： Children of 16 and under $24.50. Prior bookings are not essential. |
The Backstage Tour gives you backstage access to the Sydney Opera House. It is a unique opportunity to experience the real-life dramas behind the stage! You might even get to stand on the concert hall stage, take up a conductor’s baton in the orchestra pit and imagine you are leading the performance. You will also get to see inside the stars’ dressing rooms. The tour concludes with breakfast free of charge in the Green Room, the private dining area of performers past and present. Takes place: Daily at 7 am. Prices: $155. No concessions. To purchase: Bookings are essential. Limited to 8 people per tour. Online sales expire at 4:30 pm two days prior. Notes: The tour includes up to 300 steps. Flat, comfortable shoes must be worn. Foe safety reasons, children of 12 years old and under are not permitted. |
Opera High Tea consists of a tour where you will walk in the footsteps of world-class singers, dancers and musicians, followed by fine food and music in the spectacular surroundings of the Bennelong Dining Room. What could be better than a treat of delicious light snacks and soft drinks followed by a live recital（独唱会）by a leading Australian singer? An unforgettable treat for young and old! Takes place: Every second Wed, 2 pm. Duration: 1.5 hours. Prices: $145 per person. Book online or visit the Guided Tours Desk. |
1.A traveler will enjoy a performance if he chooses ________.
A. the Essential Tour B. the Backstage Tour
C. Opera High Tea D. any of the tours
2.Joining the Backstage Tour, a traveler ________.
A. is allowed to wear sport shoes when standing on the stage
B. will have an opportunity to be the conductor of the orchestra
C. can take his big family of 8 members to free breakfast except him
D. can buy the discount ticket the day before the tour
3.If a couple who travelled with their 17-year-old son joined the Essential Tour and had a meal of $150 there, what would the lowest cost be if paid in cash?
A. $203.25. B. $214.5.
C. $225. D. 239.25.
假如你是新华中学的学生李华，你的英国朋友Tom非常喜欢中国的传统文化，想到你校来学习一年的汉语，请根据以下要点用英语给他写一封电子邮件。
1．介绍你们学校：①百年历史；②48个教学班，300多名教职工；③坐落在山脚下，一条小河穿过校园。
2．他将面临的困难或问题：①语言障碍；②思乡。
3．你的建议。
注意：1．词数100左右；
2．可适当增加细节；
3．信的开头和结尾已经给出，但不计入总词数。
Dear Tom,
I’m very glad to hear that you are coming to our school to learn Chinese for a year. Here I’ll introduce our school first.
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Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
