I had been staring at the white walls of the video game store for about 2 hours since lunch. It was a very _________ day. I glanced at the table in front of the store, and my heart _________. It was the donation table for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda and even though I had donated what I could, I _________ felt sad whenever I saw the people on the TV suffering.
I was broken out of my _________ when the doors got open. Customers, _________!
She was a small girl about 10 or 11. Her mother was accompanying her with a few plastic bags. I _________ her mom. When I was selling cigarettes on the street, I saw her selling clothes she _________herself at the market.
The daughter just had a _________ and her mom finally had _________ money to buy a PS3 and some games.
The girl half-jogged, half-skipped to my counter. She __________ her backpack and pulled out a console(操纵板). Her mom handed me the bag full of games.
“Can I __________ this?”
“Sure sweetie, no problem.”
I inspected the console and the games, and nothing was opened. According to our __________, I returned the __________ to the mom. She handed it to the girl. And the girl ran off as fast as her little feet could take her. I was about to ask when the mom, seeing my __________, explained, “She wants to sell her birthday __________, so she can donate to the __________.”
She was __________ to give up what was supposed to be hers and gave to those __________. That's real generosity out there.
________ I was watching her talking to the girl at the donations table, I was reminded that even though there are a lot of __________ people in the world, there are still those people just like that little girl.
1.A. good B. cold C. warm D. slow
2.A. beat B. ached C. ran D. sank
3.A. almost B. also C. still D. never
4.A. moods B. dreams C. pains D. thoughts
5.A. firstly B. finally C. quickly D. excitedly
6.A. greeted B. found C. recognized D. told
7.A. wore B. made C. washed D. bought
8.A. date B. job C. birthday D. disease
9.A. enough B. little C. easy D. big
10.A. carried B. opened C. sold D. left
11.A. buy B. change C. return D. donate
12.A. plan B. decision C. discussion D. regulation
13.A. money B. backpack C. games D. receipt
14.A. smile B. expression C. unhappiness D. difficulty
15.A. card B. cake C. surprise D. gift
16.A. victims B. workers C. charities D. typhoons
17.A. grateful B. willing C. unhappy D. afraid
18.A. poor B. unfortunate C. in danger D. in need
19.A. Since B. Until C. While D. Although
20.A. selfish B. unlucky C. poor D. rich
How to Manage Your Phone’s Data Use
Smart phones give you access to a wealth of information and media, but most networks put a limit on the amount of data you can use each month. A typical phone contract includes a data allowance of between 500MB and 10GB per month. 1. You see, your usage can mount up surprisingly quickly — watching a film on the phone is about 700MB in SD, an hour of streaming TV is around 500MB or 60-140MB for the same of radio, chatting on Skype for an hour is around 40MB. 2.
·If possible, wait until you can connect to free Wi-Fi before using your phone’s data features.
·When you are on the road, use your car’s GPS, not your phone, to find the way.3. But maps are preloaded in a GPS, making this free to use.
·4. Many of these are funded by ads that pop up on your screen. Every ad has to download through your network, using up your data allowance.
·If you regularly need to use a lot of data on your phone, consider a data-compressing(压缩) app, such as Onavo(www.onavo.com).5. So you use less of your monthly allowance. You may have to subscribe to such compression services, so you’ll need to weigh up whether it’s worth the cost.
A. The more data, the higher the monthly cost.
B. Remember to use free Wi-Fi anywhere you go.
C. Try these tips to better manage your data use.
D. It compresses data before it is fed to your phone.
E. But you might end up paying more than expected.
F. The phone has to download map data as you move.
G. Be careful of how many “free” games you play on the phone.
The term “to extend an olive(橄榄) branch” means to make an offer of peace or reconciliation(和好). This term has Biblical(圣经的) origins, coming from the section of the Old Testament that deals with the flood; the sign that the flood is over is an olive branch brought back to the ark(方舟) by a dove. Olive branches were also symbols of peace in Ancient Greece and Rome, and they continue to be used in various works of art that are meant to suggest peace.
Some people have suggested that the olive was a very deliberate and well-considered choice as a metaphor(比喻) for peace, because olive trees famously take years to mature. War is typically very hard on the trees because people cannot take the time to nurture them and plant new ones. Therefore, the offer of an olive branch would suggest that someone is tired of war, whether it is an actual war or a falling out between friends.
In Ancient Greek and Roman times, people would offer actual olive branches. In Rome, for example, defeated armies traditionally carried olive branches to indicate that they were giving in, and the Greeks used them into weddings and other ceremonies. In the modern era, the branch is usually metaphorical, rather than actual, not least because the plants can be a bit difficult to obtain.
Many people agree that peace negotiations at all levels of society are a good idea. Between nations, obviously, it is important to extend an olive branch to ensure mutual safety and to help the world run more smoothly. This act can also be important on a personal level, as resolving conflict and learning to get along with others is viewed as an important life skill in many cultures.
At some point in their lives, many people will be advised to extend an olive branch to settle a dispute or resolve an issue. Some people believe that it takes an immense amount of courage to take this action, as it often comes with an admission of wrongdoing and regret.
1.According to the Bible, ________.
A. an olive branch suggests flood is coming
B. the ark is made of olive tree wood
C. an olive branch means flood is over
D. a dove loves to settle on the olive branch
2.The olive is considered a good choice as a metaphor for peace for the following reasons EXCEPT _______.
A. olive trees famously take years to mature
B. olive branches make people tired of war
C. war is typically very hard on the trees
D. people cannot take the time to nurture them while at war
3.Why are actual olive branches seldom used in modern times?
A. Olive trees are being protected now. B. Olive trees are planted only in certain countries.
C. Olive trees can be far to seek. D. There is no need to use real olive branches.
4.It can be learned from the text that to extend an olive branch________.
A. is not important on a personal level B. is only important between nations
C. takes a lot of courage D. is an important life skill in many cultures
You can tell a lot about people by looking at their hair — not just whether they brush, spray or blow-dry. Scientists have found a way to use hair to figure out where a person is from and where that person has been. The finding could help solve crimes, among other useful applications.
Water is central to the new technique. The liquid makes up more than half an adult human’s body weight. Our bodies break water down into hydrogen(氢) and oxygen. Atoms of these two elements end up in our tissues, fingernails, and hair.
But not all water is the same. Hydrogen and oxygen atoms can vary in how much they weigh. In the case of hydrogen, for example, there are three types according to their weights. Each type is called a hydrogen isotope(同位素). And depending on where you live, tap water contains different isotopes.
Can hair record this information? That’s what James R. Ehleringer, an environmental chemist at the University of Utah, wondered. To find it out, he and his colleagues collected hair from hair stylists in 65 cities across the United States. Even though people drink a lot of bottled water these days, the researchers have found that people’s hair has the same isotopes as found in local tap water. That’s probably because people usually cook their food with the local water.
Authorities can now use the information to analyze hair samples from criminals or crime victims and narrow their search for clues. For example, one hair sample used in Ehleringer’s study came from a man who had moved from San Francisco to Salt Lake City. As his hair grew, it reflected his change in location.
1.What do we know about the hydrogen isotopes according to Paragraph 3?
A. They are classified by size.
B. Each type of them differs in weight.
C. They can improve the quality of tap water.
D. Some of them cannot combine with oxygen.
2.Why is it possible to know where people are from by analyzing their hair?
A. People use the same bottled water.
B. People wash their hair in different ways.
C. People’s hair is affected by the weather of the places they stay.
D. People’s hair indicates the type of water in the places they stay.
3.The last paragraph is mainly to show _______.
A. how to recognize criminals B. how to collect hair samples
C. the usefulness of hair analysis D. the process of Ehleringer’s study
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
A. Water composition B. Change your hair
C. Hair detectives D. No way out
In agrarian(农业的), pre-industrial Europe, “you’d want to wake up early, start working with the sunrise, have a break to have the largest meal, and then you’d go back to work,” says Ken Albala, a professor of history at the University of the Pacific. “Later, at 5 or 6, you’d have a smaller supper.”
This comfortable cycle, in which the rhythms of the day helped shape the rhythms of the meals, gave rise to the custom of the large midday meal, eaten with the extended family. “Meals are the foundation of the family,” says Carole Couniban, a professor at Millersville University in Pennsylvania, “so there was a very important interconnection between eating together and strengthening family ties.”
Since industrialization, maintaining such a slow cultural metabolism has been much harder, with the long midday meal shrinking to whatever could be stuffed into a lunch bucket or bought at a food stand. Certainly, there were benefits. Modern techniques for producing and shipping food led to greater variety and quantity, including a tremendous increase in the amount of animal protein and dairy products available, making us more energetic than our ancestors.
Yet plenty has been lost too, even in cultures that still live to eat. Take Italy. It’s no secret that the Mediterranean diet is healthy, but it was also a joy to prepare and eat. Italians, says Counihan, traditionally began the day with a small meal. The big meal came at around 1 p.m. In between the midday meal and a late, smaller dinner came a small snack. Today, when time zones have less and less meaning, there is little tolerance for offices’ closing for lunch, and worsening traffic in cities means workers can’t make it home and back fast enough anyway. So the formerly small supper after sundown becomes the big meal of the day, the only one at which the family has a chance to get together. “The evening meal carries the full burden that used to be spread over two meals,” says Counihan.
1.What does Professor Carole Counihan say about pre-industrial European families eating meals together？
A. It was helpful to maintaining a nation’s tradition.
B. It brought family members closer to each other.
C. It was characteristic of the agrarian culture.
D. It enabled families to save a lot of money.
2.What does “cultural metabolism”（Line 1, Para. 3) refer to？
A. Evolutionary adaptation. B. Changes in lifestyle.
C. Social progress. D. Pace of life.
3.What does the author think of the food people eat today?
A. Its quality is usually guaranteed.
B. It is varied, abundant and nutritious.
C. It is more costly than what our ancestors ate.
D. Its production depends too much on technology.
4.What does the author say about Italians of the old days?
A. They enjoyed cooking as well as eating.
B. They ate a big dinner late in the evening.
C. They ate three meals regularly every day.
D. They were expert at cooking meals.
For families on vacation, a playground provides a welcome break. It can also provide a glimpse into the local culture, from the setup of the park to the ways families interact. Here are the designs that live up to that challenge.
Fruit and Scent Playground, Stockholm
Is there a picky eater on a steady diet of chicken fingers and cheese? Perhaps a trip to Sweden’s Fruit and Scent Playground will change his or her culinary(烹饪的) tune. This playground features a banana slide, an orange seesaw, pear huts, a watermelon jungle gym and a pair of cherry swings, all designed by public artist Johan Ferner Strom. Now, who can say you can’t play with your food?
Nishi Rokugo Park, Tokyo
Located between central Tokyo and the city of Kawasaki, Nishi Rokugo combines recycled rubber tires(橡胶轮胎) with traditional playground equipment. In total, more than 3,000 tires of different sizes are used to create tunnels, bridges, tall sculptures for climbing and, of course, tire swings. There’s little shade, so you can visit here in the early morning or late afternoon for the most comfortable weather, and be sure to wear your play clothes.
Bicentennial Children’s Park, Santiago, Chile
Bicentennial Children’s playground in Metropolitan Park was built to celebrate 200 years of Chilean independence and improve the lives of Santiago citizens. Dozens of slides are built into the slope, creating a design completely complementary(互为补充的) of the surrounding landscape. Fountains offer some relief from the sun, and ample seating gives parents a place to relax.
1.What can be learned about Fruit and Scent Playground?
A. It is located in Tokyo, Japan.
B. Its design was led by some artists.
C. It is aimed at balancing people’s diet.
D. Its facilities are modeled after fruits.
2.When visiting Nishi Rokugo Park, it is better to ________.
A. wear thick protective clothes
B. avoid moments when it’s hot
C. take umbrellas and raincoats
D. watch out for the equipment
3.Why does the author recommend Bicentennial Children’s Park?
A. It becomes part of the surroundings.
B. It was built to improve people’s lives.
C. It amuses kids and helps parents get relaxed.
D. It provides slides for both children and adults.
