When people today talk about a tiny house, they probably mean the trendy living space that‘s about the size of a shed (棚). But you would have to be five inches tall to live in the original tiny houses. Dollhouse(小房子),which have been around for several centuries, don’t offer shelter to real people, but they provide a vivid(生动的) experience of life in times and places both real and imaginary.
The National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., lets visitors time travel in this tiny world through ―Small Stories: At Home in a Dollhouse,” an exhibit that opened Saturday. Visitors can see twelve dollhouses from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England, which contain amazing tiny furnishings. But those people who put together the exhibit also wanted visitors to know the characters inside.
“It’s 300 years of British homes told through their inhabitants (居民),” said Alice Sage, who is in charge of the London museum.
So as visitors look inside the Tate Baby House, a fancy townhouse from 1760, they can push a button to hear a young woman get a lecture from her mother on the proper way to run a home. In the Killer Cabinet house, a servant named Betsy complains about the problems of city life in the 1830s. “We’ve got the cat to keep the rats away,” she says.
That dollhouse was John Killer‘s gift to his wife and five daughters. The girls were allowed to play with the house, but they probably also learned a few lessons, Sage said.
“The kitchen of the house would have been the perfect way to teach the girls about the management of a home,” she said, noting the tiny dishes and pots.
Those who prefer a more modern look won't be disappointed. There are two rooms displaying a white dollhouse from 1935, an apartment house from the 1960s and a brightly colored 21st-century design.
The end of the exhibit shows how imaginative design sometimes works best in small spaces.
The Building Museum asked twenty-four artists, designers and architects from across the United States to each create a “dream room” from the past, present or future. Some of these unique small rooms were made using traditional furnishings, others from materials such as clay, insects, 3D-printing, and even peeps marshmallow candies!
1.Which of the following were on show Saturday?
A. A dozen dollhouses from England.
B. Some old shelters for poor people.
C. Some imaginary tiny furnishings.
D. A couple of fashionable living spaces.
2.What is the function of the characters inside the Museum?
A. Working as organizers of the exhibit.
B. Making the exhibit more attractive.
C. Providing good services for visitors.
D. Helping visitors understand dollhouses.
3.What can we learn about the Killer Cabinet house?
A. It was made up of 24 tiny rooms.
B. Its kitchen may have an educational purpose.
C. Its history dates back to the 17th century.
D. It was owned by a woman named Betsy.
4.What might be the best title of the passage?
A. An exhibit of dollhouses.
B. The history of dollhouses.
C. How to make a dollhouse.
D. Amazing tiny furniture.
Babies should be given peanut early - some at four months old - in order to reduce the risk of allergy(过敏), according to new US guidance.
Studies have shown the risk of peanut allergy can be cut by more than 80% by early exposure(接触). The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said the new guidance was "an important step forward".
However, young children should not eat whole peanuts, because of the risk of choking.
Allergy levels are soaring in the US and have more than quadrupled since 2008. It is a pattern replicated across much of the Western world as well as parts of Asia and Africa. Parents are often wary about introducing peanut and in the past have been advised to wait until the child is three years old.
According to the new guidelines, children with other allergies or severe eczema should start on peanut-containing foods at between four and six months old, with medical supervision(监管). Babies with mild eczema should have peanut-containing food at about six months old. Those with no eczema or allergies can have peanut-containing food freely introduced.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said: "We expect that widespread implementation of these guidelines by healthcare providers will prevent the development of peanut allergy in many susceptible children and ultimately reduce the prevalence of peanut allergy in the United States."
Michael Walker, a member of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, said: "The guidelines are based on sound medical research carried out in the UK. UK parents should consult their GP, bringing attention to the guidelines if necessary, before attempting peanut allergy prevention in their infant themselves."
Professor Alan Boobis, from Imperial College London, said: "The previous(之前的) view that delaying(延迟) the introduction of allergenic foods decreases the risk of food allergy is incorrect and... if anything, the exclusion(除去) or delayed introduction of specific allergenic foods may increase the risk of allergy to the same foods, including peanut."
1.The new US guidance may agree that _________ .
A. children can have peanut-containing food freely
B. parents can feed kids peanut until they are three
C. early exposure to peanut can reduce peanut allergy
D. young children should not eat whole peanut to avoid allergy
2.The underlined word in Paragraph 6 means __________ .
A. easily influenced
B. seriously disabled
C. mentally healthy
D. terribly tired
3.What can we learn from Michael Walker?
A. The use of the guidelines should be limited in the UK.
B. The guidelines are scientific and thus can be trusted.
C. Parents should do peanut allergy prevention themselves.
D. Many doctors in the UK don’t agree with the guidelines.
4.What might be the author’s purpose of writing this passage?
A. To warm parents of the possible danger peanut may bring.
B. To recommend delaying the introduction of allergenic foods.
C. To compare two different scientific research on peanut allergy.
D. To introduce a new way of reducing the risk of peanut allergy.
Summer has finally arrived, which means kids are bound for the outdoors. It can be exciting for kids and parents to have a great opportunity to go swimming, picnicking or on adventures. This time of year is also a dangerous time of year as almost half of all injury-related deaths in children occur between May and August. Whether it be in the pool, on bike, out in the sun or in the backyard is always important. Here are some tips to keep the family safe over the summer.
Water Safety
At this time of year, drowning deaths among children skyrocket(飞涨) compared to the rest of the year. Never leave your child alone in the water, even in shallow water. A child can drown in as little as one inch of water. Enroll your children in swimming lessons. Some swim schools offer class for children as young as 6 months.
Sun Safety
We are fortunate enough to live in the Sunshine State, where sun shines year-round. But with all the time you and the kids will be spending outdoors this summer, it’s important to protect yourself. Make sure to use a widely-used sunscreen(防晒霜) that blocks both UVA and UVB sunlight. Cotton clothing has an estimated SPF of only 6, so even if your kids are going out wearing T-shirts and shorts, make sure they are covered up.
Bike Safety
Nothing says summer like a nice neighborhood bike ride. But bikes are not toys and can certainly cause injury. Don’t forget to always wear a helmet. Head injuries are reduced by 85 Percent when riders wear a helmet and other safety equipment like knee and wrist pads. It’s estimated that 75 percent of bicycle-related deaths could have been prevented with bicycle helmets. When riding on the street, make sure kids understand all riding hand signals, ride with the traffic flow and stay as far right as possible.
1.Summer is called a dangerous time because children .
A. are easily injured
B. enjoy staying in the sun
C. want to learn swimming
D. refuse to accept advice
2.What can be learned from the passage?
A. Kids only need to wear T-shirts and shorts.
B. Bikes, like toys, seldom lead to injury.
C. Some swim schools offer children class for free.
D. Deaths from drowning increase suddenly in summer.
The volunteers kept their hands in hot water __________ they could no longer tolerate the pain.
A. unless B. until
C. when D. after
By the 10 century, Old English __________ the official language of English.
A. has become B. became
C. had become D. would become
Recently, we have experienced __________ problems about the school computers, such as slow speed of the Internet.
A. constant B. commercial
C. contrary D. chief