With great beauty comes great pain. Lauren Lovette is one of the New York City Ballet’s lead dancers. And her ______ are killing her. She has injured them many times. She had an operation to ____ a bone abnormality. ______, even with daily ankle exercises, ice baths and soft creams, the 25-year-old still hasn’t made ______ with her feet.
Lovette ______ this struggle with many dancers. Their feet are seriously ______. They may ____, jump, leap and turn around like any NBA basketball star, but they do it without any foot-comfort features ______ shock absorption (减震). Most athletes get to wear shoes that are ____ of their feet, but not dancers.
Dancers ______ around the stage barefoot, in heels or in thin slippers (软鞋). Or, if they’re ballet dancers, they wear tight-fitting pointe shoes (芭蕾舞鞋). Pointe shoes may look ______, but there’s a seriousness to their purpose: helping the dancer do what no human is ______ to do.
“Generally, dancers are just as ______ as football players, ______ not stronger,” says Lisa M. Schoene, a Chicago ______. She’s also an athletic trainer who treats dancers and Olympians. Ballet dancers must ______ all of their weight on the tiniest tips of their toes, known as dancing “en pointe” (足尖舞). “______ on pointe is one of the most athletic things you can do,” Schoene says, “The feet are holding 10 to 12 times of the body weight, going up and down on that pointe shoe.”
____ a ballet dancer treats her feet is important. And it’s true for any of us. Our footwear is an essential tool no matter what we do. “Some shoes, ______ too often, can cause more pressure than pointe shoes,” the doctor ______. Wearing long lip-flops (人字拖鞋), high heels and what few dancers would ever wear outside the studio---ballet flats, does more harm than good.
1.A. dances B. shoes C. feet D. teeth
2.A. make B. affect C. observe D. correct
3.A. Instead B. Besides C. Yet D. So
4.A. peace B. compromises C. contact D. arrangements
5.A. ends B. shares C. wins D. mentions
6.A. hurt B. hit C. touched D. operated
7.A. sit B. play C. score D. run
8.A. in B. with C. like D. on
9.A. fond B. afraid C. suggestive D. protective
10.A. speak B. speed C. reflect D. settle
11.A. expensive B. tidy C. gorgeous D. tight
12.A. born B. taken C. ordered D. taught
13.A. happy B. strong C. healthy D. energetic
14.A. if B. though C. unless D. while
15.A. athlete B. dancer C. doctor D. teacher
16.A. lose B. prevent C. balance D. gain
17.A. Taking up B. Picking up C. Getting up D. Pulling up
18.A. Why B. How C. Where D. When
19.A. polished B. cleaned C. worn D. repaired
20.A. adds B. agrees C. answers D. predicts
Everyone deals with discouragement at some point in their life. 1. Discouragement, disappointment, failure, and setbacks—these are all things that can help us if we maintain an empowering mindset. So next time you start to feel discouraged, here is what you should do:
1. 2.
Discouragement generally occurs when our expectations don’t agree with reality. In many cases our expectations are unrealistic, and this often has to do with how long we think things will last. If we take a longer view, and relax our expectations a little, it can really help to decrease discouragement. So be patient!
2. Think of failure as education.
When we feel like we have failed at something, discouragement often follows. However, failure doesn’t really exist, except for the meaning that we give it. We can choose to think of failure as education, and therefore good, instead of thinking of failure as bad. When we view it this way we realize that failure isn’t something that is bad, or something to be avoided. It is simply feedback.
3.
3. Stop comparing ourselves with others.
No doubt, if we always compare ourselves with others, we will get discouraged easily. We generally see their victories, successes, and strengths. When we do this we get discouraged and we feel sorry for ourselves. 4. We are on a unique path. Then we need to just focus on our own path.
4. Consider who we are spending time with.
If we spend all our time with people who are constantly negative, we can be influenced to see life through a similar lens. So what can we do? We can’t simply cut loved ones out of our lives.
5. Start to surround ourselves with positive people as a balance. Over time we will start to take on their mindset and this will help with any feelings of discouragement we may have.
A. So don’t compare.
B. Take the long view.
C. It may be a while before it comes true.
D. We ease discouragement when we think this way.
E. But it is not always a bad thing.
F. What we should do is simply expand our social network.
G. Don’t let our discouragement get in the way of our development.
Even as Google plans to test its fleet (车队) of self-driving cars on public roads this summer, its business model remains a bit of a mystery. By 2025, as many as 250,000 self-driving vehicles could be sold each year globally, according to a study by an industry research firm.
“Vehicles that can take anyone from A to B at the push of a button could transform mobility for millions of people,” said Chris Urmson, director of Google’s self-driving car project. For now, Google has no plans to sell any of its self-driving cars. They are strictly for research. But they will hit public roads this summer near Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, California. Previous testing has taken place only on closed courses.
The cars are built to operate without a steering wheel, accelerator (油门) or brake pedal. “Our software and sensors do all the work,” Urmson said. “The vehicles will be very basic — we want to learn from them and adapt them as quickly as possible — but they will take you where you want to go at the push of a button.” The prototype (雏形) is the first of a 100-car fleet the tech giant is building.
In the long run, Urmson sees a future of safer roads — the majority of auto accidents are caused by human error — and fewer traffic jams. Robotic cars could also shuttle people who can’t drive because of age or illness.
Google has said that self-driving cars could launch new business models in which people buy the use of vehicles they don’t own. The company has already tested other types of self-driving cars on public streets, including modified Lexus sport-utility vehicles, under a special permit program by the California Department of Motor Vehicles that requires a human driver at the controls.
The state has issued six other companies permits to operate such cars, including Delphi, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Tesla, Bosch and Nissan. The vehicles that will be tested on open roads this summer will have removable steering wheels, accelerators and brake pedals to allow “safety drivers” to take control if needed.
1.According to Chris Urmson, __________.
A. self-driving cars can give driving orders to humans
B. self-driving cars are specially designed for the elderly
C. software and sensors are vital for self-driving cars
D. ordinary vehicles will be replaced by self-driving cars
2.Paragraph 4 is meant to tell us that __________.
A. many traffic accidents are caused by human error
B. some people can’t drive because of illness or age
C. Urmson has promised to create safer roads in the future
D. self-driving cars will probably help to make safer roads and decrease traffic jams
3.The underlined word “issued” in the last paragraph can probably be replaced by__________.
A. given B. claimed
C. awarded D. prohibited
4.What’s the author’s attitude towards self-driving cars?
A. Objective. B. Indifferent.
C. Subjective. D. Favorable.
Many Americans buy an evergreen tree for Christmas. They put the tree in their home and hang small lights and colorful objects on it. The evergreen is usually a pine or a fir tree (冷杉树). It remains green during the cold, dark months of winter in the northern part of the world. So it is a sign of everlasting life.
Early long ago, Romans probably planted evergreen trees during a celebration in honor of their god of agriculture. The Christmas tree may have developed from a popular play performed hundreds of years ago in what is now Germany. Traditionally, the play was on December 24th, the day before Christmas. The play was about the first people that God created—Adam and Eve. People put apples on an evergreen tree to represent the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden.
By the year 1600, some Germans began bringing evergreen trees into their homes. They put fruit, nuts and sweets on the trees. They gave the food to the family members and friends after the holiday season. Some people say the German religious reformer Martin Luther was the first person to add lighted candles to the tree. They say he did this to show how wonderful the stars had appeared as he travelled one night.
In the early 1800’s, German settlers in the state of Pennsylvania were the first to celebrate the holiday with Christmas trees in the United States. The Christmas tree tradition spread to many parts of the world. Today, some form of the Christmas tree is part of most Christmas celebrations.
1.Why do people choose the evergreen tree for the Christmas tree?
A. It suffers from cold and dark months.
B. It’s evergreen and represents long life.
C. It’s convenient for people to put things on it.
D. It can be found everywhere in winter.
2.What can we infer from Paragraph 2?
A. The Christmas tree dates back to ancient times.
B. It was in a film that the Christmas tree was first used.
C. Early Romans honored the god of wisdom with trees.
D. The Christmas tree was regarded as the tree of wealth.
3.We can learn from the passage that _______.
A. German settlers celebrated the holiday with fir trees
B. Germans would give each other the food on the trees at Christmas
C. Martin Luther was the first person to decorate the Christmas tree
D. many people in the world follow the Christmas tree tradition
4.What’s the best title for this passage?
A. The Long History of Christmas
B. The Use of Evergreen Trees During Christmas
C. The Origin of the Christmas Tree
D. How to Decorate Christmas Tree
Bob Wallace was 25 minutes from home in Tennessee, on a cold December night in 2015 when he got a cell phone call from his mother. “The mountain is on fire,” she screamed, “and Brian’s up there!”
Wallace’s family owned a dozen rental cabins (小屋) on Shields Mountain, and Wallace’s friend and fellow rental-cabin owner, Brian McGee, aged 56, was up there trying to put the fire out by himself. Wallace, 32, lived on the mountain too.
Wallace turned around and headed for a dirt road. He made it about halfway up the steep, winding path before his front-wheel-drive car gave up. He called McGee, who drove down in his pickup so they could fight the fire together.
They headed first to their rental cabins. “I wanted to make sure our guests were gone. They were,” says Wallace. At that point, he had a choice: try to save his cabins or rescue people renting other cabins nearby. “On the moun¬tain, you don’t have many locals. They’re mostly tourists who don’t know their way around,” he says.
Over the next two hours, the two friends drove through the smoky moun¬tain, knocking on doors and leading panicked people to safety. “I know that mountain so well,” Wallace says, “I could drive and know exactly where I am just by time traveled.” Thanks to their brave and immediate action, the two helped 14 people out of the danger.
Fourteen people died that night in Sevier County. But the fire didn’t take away a single life on Shields Mountain. And though his home and business were destroyed, Wallace remains calm. “I wasn’t worried about my loss, not when I saw those families trapped on the mountain,” he says, “I knew I was gonna help them.”
1.Where was Wallace when the fire broke out?
A. On the way to visit his mother. B. Away from his home.
C. On the way to the cabins. D. On a dirt road.
2.What is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Wallace’s car broke down halfway.
B. Wallace was picked up by McGee on the path.
C. Brian tried to put the fire out by himself.
D. They hadn’t planned to save their guests first.
3.What was the main reason why the two friends could rescue the people?
A. They gave up their own cabins.
B. They turned to locals for help.
C. Wallace was familiar with the area.
D. They put out the fire before it spread.
4.Which of the following words can best describe Wallace?
A. Satisfied. B. Intelligent.
C. Wise. D. Selfless.
Redoxon Double Action Kids Chewable
This product provides a unique combination of Vitamin C and Zinc, active ingredients which are suited for the growth and development of kids (2-12 years). Vitamin C helps to speed up recovery from colds and Zinc is crucial for the normal cellular immune function. The tablets come in a heart shaped format with a delicious tutti frutti flavor.
Sugar-Free
Dosage:
Children (2-3 years): 1 tablet daily
Children (4 years and above): 1-2 tablets daily
Or as directed by a physician.
Store below 25℃.
Recommended to children who can thoroughly chew and safely swallow without supervision.
A2
Always wash hands with soap and water and dry using a clean cloth. Add two built-in level scoops of powder for each 100ml of water. Serve immediately or chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes. Prepare each drink as needed. It is safer to use freshly prepared drinks. Do not store drinks for more than 24 hours in the refrigerator. After months, water and milk should be your toddler’s (学步的小孩) main drinks. These should be offered in a cup rather than a feeding bottle. Always close lid immediately after use. Use contents within 4 weeks of opening.
MFD 21/04/2016 20:26 USE BY 19/04/2017
Made In New Zealand
1.Who may need Redoxon Double Action Kids Chewable most?
A. A 2-year-old boy who likes a heart shape.
B. A 3-year-old girl who often suffers from colds.
C. A baby who has a sweet tooth.
D. A high school student who lacks Vitamin C.
2.Which of the following statements is true about A2?
A. For a toddler a cup instead of a feeding bottle is recommended.
B. It’s better to use this can of A2 before April 19, 2016.
C. We’d better use up A2 within about 4 months.
D. Unfinished drinks must be abandoned immediately.
3.The information is most probably taken from _____________.
A. a beauty magazine B. a travel brochure
C. instructions of products D. feeding guides
