A European Union program is letting blind people experience famous paintings for the first time. It uses three dimensional (3-D) printing to re-create famous paintings so they can be touched.
One painting printed with the new technology is Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss.” It is a popular attraction at the Belvedere Museum in Vienna, Austria. The painting shows a man and a woman standing in a field filled with flowers. They are wearing gold robes and have their arms around each other. The man leans down to kiss the woman.
Klimt finished the painting in 1908. Until now, people who had trouble seeing could not appreciate the artwork. But thanks to the reproduction they can touch the piece and feel the ridges and depressions. Andreas Reichinger started making 3-D versions of artwork in 2010. He said this reproduction was his most difficult project because the couple’s robes are so detailed.
Dominika Raditsch is a blind museum visitor. She touched the reproduction. As she moved her hands around it she said, ”Exactly, can you see these? There are so many details.“ Raditsch said she can imagine what the original painting looks like when she touches the reproduction. “It’s somehow round. You can feel it. It comes with it. And in many places it’s so smooth. And then I think to myself: it probably shines too!” Raditsch said.
The Belvedere is not the only museum to have 3-D versions of its artwork. Some of the pieces at the Prado, in Madrid, Spain, have reproductions that can be touched. But the piece in Vienna has one special part: it is made with widely available 3-D printing technology. That means one day, blind art fans anywhere in the world could download the source files and print the reproductions themselves.
1.What is ”The kiss”?
A. A European Union project. B. A popular painting.
C. A 3-D technology. D. A famous museum.
2.Why did Reichinger say this reproduction was difficult to finish?
A. The painting was reproduced detailedly.
B. The original artwork was made in 1908.
C. Blind art fans can’t download the source.
D. The 3-D technology is not available.
3.How did Raditsch feel when she first touched the reproduction?
A. Awkward. B. Puzzled.
C. Excited. D. Nervous.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A. A European Union Program for Museum Visitors
B. 3-D Printing Lets Blind Experience Famous Painting
C. How to Reproduce the World-famous Paintings
D. A Special Museum for Art Fans in Vienna, Austria
In an effort to discourage people from using plastics, scientists have been hard at work inventing alternative packaging products. From water bottles made from seaweed to cutlery(餐具) made from rice and wheat, a number of inventions are set to change the way we eat while we are on the go, or having a relaxing picnic in the park.
The idea of using seaweed to make eco-friendly water bottles has been around for a few years. Recently, Ari Jonsson took his invention—a water bottle made from red seaweed—to show off at a festival. The bottles will only hold their shape as long as they are filled. As soon as these bottles are empty they will begin to break down, though they would be perfectly safe to eat. Ari Jonsson's bottles are a step closer to a widely used alternative to the current plastic ones.
The eatable water container is not the only product to add to our image of the future. Narayana Pessapaty has also created eatable spoons. After the success of his spoons, Mr. Pessapaty is ready to expand and introduce forks and chopsticks to his menu. His aim is to largely reduce the amount of plastic waste, which is a huge problem for waste sites all over the world, It is a product that may take up to 500 years to break down, and recycling companies worldwide are struggling to deal with it.
Aside from the obvious benefits to the environment, this new packaging is also cheap to produce and therefore cheap to buy. Even better is the fact that similar eatable cutlery can be made at home, possibly a science project for children or just fun with friends. Why not experiment and create your own recipes?
1.Why do scientists invent alternative packaging products?
A. To make people's life more convenient.
B. To show off their inventive talents.
C. To change the way we picnic outside.
D. To reduce the amount of plastic waste.
2.What makes Art Jonsson's water bottles eco-friendly?
A. They can be made at home.
B. They are cheap to produce and buy.
C. They will hold their shape when they are filled.
D. They will break down themselves when empty.
3.What do Ari and Narayana's inventions have in common?
A. They are convenient to carry.
B. They are safe to eat.
C. They can be used for a short time.
D. They are heavier than plastics.
4.What can be inferred from this passage?
A. Home-made eatable cutlery is likely to be popular.
B. Eatable cutlery will completely replace plastics in the near future.
C. No recycling companies can break down plastic waste.
D. It’s unsafe for individuals to invent eatable cutlery at home.
We moved to Elmont in 1956. I was 4 years old. Elmont was a wonderful place to grow up. There were lots of kids, great schools and we had a big yard. My father, Nicholas Denaro, believed that grass was not just to look at, but that children were meant to play on it. We played games and badminton there. A white fence separated our backyard from a small wood. My friends and I jumped the fence and entered the woods.
My father had the most amazing hand. He could fix anything. He gave those amazing hands to his son, my younger brother, Frank, who also became handy around the house. But my father saved his green fingers for me. He grew flowers, tomatoes, strawberries and figs（无花果） and he shared his love of gardening with me.
Fourteen years ago, I went to a local nursery and bought a fig tree for Dad for Father’s Day. My mother, Bridget Denaro, called it the best gift I could have given him. He planted it exactly in the middle of the front yard.
He loved that tree and enjoyed delicious figs every year, except just after Sandy hit in 2012. He was so disappointed when cold weather just after the super storm froze all the remaining figs.
In 2015, my father died of aspirating pneumonia(呼吸性肺炎) at 97. We sold our family home of 61 years last year. We left behind Dad’s tree, full of figs waiting to ripen. We considered taking it with us, but decided that his Father’s Day fig tree belonged to Elmont. The new owner generously allowed me to take some branches so that I could have a precious reminder of my much-loved father and the Elmont home.
1.What can we learn about the author from the first paragraph?
A. She grew up in a city. B. She liked climbing trees.
C. She had a happy childhood. D. She was naughty and stubborn.
2.What did Father teach the author?
A. How to garden well. B. How to play games.
C. How to color fingers. D. How to fix everything.
3.Why did Father fail to enjoy figs in 2012?
A. He was ill in hospital. B. The cold hit the fig tree.
C. The tree didn’t bear figs. D. He moved to another city.
4.What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?
A. To show her love of figs. B. To share her childhood.
C. To remember her father. D. To introduce her experience.
If you're travelling with kids in London, many London hotels have special services and features to help the family holiday, offering services for kids as well as games, bike hire and free ice cream!
Athenaeum
The five-star Athenaeum is a fantastic family hotel, particularly with the addition of its kids' services. Even before you arrive, they'll be in touch to make sure your kids have their favorite DVDs, treats and anything else to keep them happy. And they can arrange your perfect family activities, from bike hire to theatre tickets.
Chessington Safari Hotel
At Chessington Safari Hotel, kids will love staying in an African adventure-themed room, having breakfast overlooking the animals of the Wanyama Reserve, watching family-friendly movies and getting into the theme park before it opens.
Marlin Apartments
Marlin Apartments operate more than 700 serviced apartments in London. Apartments are all within five minutes walk of the Tube (good for tired little legs!) with flat screen TVs, fully equipped kitchen and free Wi-Fi. One or two bedroom family apartments have extra room for fold out beds in the living area too.
Novotel
Novotel's family rooms are designed to accommodate two adults and two children. Accommodation and breakfast are free for under-16s (up to two staying in their parents' room). You can also enjoy a late check-out at 5p.m. on a Sunday, and while you lie in, the kids can entertain themselves with the Cartoon Network.
The Ritz
Kids at The Ritz are treated just as well as their parents, if not better! Children can enjoy computer games and DVDs, free ice cream and their own bathrobes and slippers. Under-16s can stay for free in their parents' bedroom, depending on the room type.
1.Before you check in Athenaeum, .
A. you should ask about the kids' services
B. you can buy bikes and order theatre tickets
C. you will be asked about what your kids like
D. you must arrange your family activities
2.If your kids love to see animals, you will choose .
A. Athenaeum B. Chessington Safari Hotel
C. Novotel D. The Ritz
3.If you choose to stay at Marlin Apartments, .
A. you can enjoy the best service in London
B. you can enjoy free ice cream
C. you can have an extra room for free
D. you can surf the Internet free of charge
建议信
假定你是李华，你的外国笔友Ann最近因为父母工作的关系转到了新的班级，她在与朋友相处方面遇到了一些问题，因此向你寻求交到好朋友且维持友谊的方法。你的建议内容如下：
1.学会倾听
2.有分歧时让步
3.多陪伴
注意：1.词数100左右
2.开头及结尾为你写好，不计入总词数。
参考词汇：compromise 让步
Dear Ann,
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sincerely yours,
Lihua
假段定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号()，并在其下面写出该加的词。删除：把多余的词用(＼)划掉。
修改：在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
During my last winter holiday, I went to countryside with my father to visit my grandparents. I find a big change there. The first time I went there, they were living in a small house with dogs, ducks, and another animals. Last winter when I went here again, they had a big separate house to raise dozens of chicken. They also had a small pond which they raised fish. My grandpa said last summer they earned quite a lot by sell the fish. I felt happily that their life had improved. At the end of our trip, I told my father that I planned to return for every two years, but he agreed.
