“YOUR password has expired (过期),” a message said on my screen, with instructions for changing it. Coming up with a new code (密码) doesn’t seem like a big deal, unless you work at my company, where we have to change it monthly, using at least one uppercase (大写的) character, one lowercase character, one symbol, and one number. Oh, the whole password can’t be fewer than eight characters. And I can’t use any of the same passwords I’ve used in the past three months.
Suddenly I was furious (很生气的). What didn’t make it any better was that I was deeply depressed after my recent divorce. Disbelief about what she had done to me was all I thought about every day.
I remembered a tip I’d heard from my former boss. He’d said: “I’m going to use a password to change my life.”
I couldn’t focus on getting things done in my current mood. There were clear signs of what I needed to do to get control of my life again.
My password became the sign. My password reminded me that I shouldn’t let myself be a victim of my recent breakup and that I was strong enough to do something about it.
I made my password Forgive@h3r.
I had to type this several times a day. The simple action changed the way I looked at my ex-wife. That constant reminder led me to accept the way things had happened and find a new way of dealing with my depression. As the month wore on, I felt a slow healing begin to happen. By the time my server asked me to reset my password the following month, I felt free.
One month later, my dear Exchange server asked me yet again to reset my password. I thought about the next thing that I had to get done.
My password became Quit@smoking4ever.
I quit smoking overnight.
This password was a painful one to type during that month, but doing it helped me to yell at myself in my mind as I typed that statement. It motivated me to follow my monthly goal.
One month later, my password became Save4trip@thailand.
Guess where I went three months later: Thailand.
Seeing how these reminders helped to achieve my goals kept me motivated and excited. While it’s sometimes difficult to come up with your next goal, keeping at it brings great results
1.Which of the following passwords fits the company’s requirements?
A. Seeme@2
B. Dream4future
C. Visit$me
D. Stay@4ever
2.Why couldn’t the author focus on doing things?
A. Because he couldn’t come up with a new password.
B. Because he always forgot his password.
C. Because he was in low spirits due to his divorce.
D. Because his wife stole his password before their breakup.
3.What happened to the author after he had used his password to change his life?
A. He finally overcame his depression and forgave his ex-wife.
B. He started smoking to heal his broken heart.
C. He quit his job and went traveling around the world.
D. He became furious about his passwords getting longer and longer.
4.What message does the author intend to convey through his story?
A. Never let yourself be a victim of others’ faults.
B. Be patient with the healing process for any pain.
C. Constant reminders can be positive as well as negative.
D. Setting yourself a goal and keeping at it can bring great results.
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
This time, it is to be worn on wrists. Having already changed the way we communicate with its smartphones, Apple Inc released its next big thing on March 9 in San Francisco, US.
The Apple Watch, according to CNN, is “a simple rectangular (矩形的) shape with a range of stylish and useful wristbands.” “The style is classic... in those respects (方面) it’s up there with the top quality Swiss watches,” commented the news outlet.
The watch will be available in nine places, including the US, the UK and China, from April 24. The starting price is $349 (2,186 yuan).
With six different designs and 30 or so wristbands, the gadget “sets the standard for smartwatches, in style,” agreed The Brisbane Times,“but more importantly, in functionality (功能性).” “With the built-in speaker and microphone, you can receive calls on your watch. I have been wanting to do this since I was 5 years old,” said Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook.
In fact, anything you can do on the iPhone is there on the watch – e-mails, text messages, airline boarding services, and directions from Apple Maps. Using a home security app, you can keep an eye on your home from afar, or even open a locked door.
There are some features that have made Cook sure the watch is “our most personal device yet; a new chapter in the way we relate to technology”. According to NPR, the watch taps you on the wrist to draw your attention to a message or a calendar reminder, and it can send a tap on the wrist to another Apple Watch wearer.
However, the watch can also do things that are just plain fun. You can send a real-time display of your heartbeat to another Apple Watch to “let someone know you are thinking about them.”
Patrick Moorhead, a leading technology analyst in the US, described the tech company as “a master in the art of persuasion”. “The secret weapon is the ability to message each other by tapping on the watch,” he told The Associated Press. “I think people, particularly kids, are going to go nuts (疯狂) over that.”
So far, though, the most impressive part of this new device is “the monitoring of the wearer’s health and fitness,” said AFP. It will even tap you on the wrist if you have been sitting down for longer than is good for your health.
1.Which of the following features of the Apple Watch are mentioned in the article?
a. its price
b. its functions
c. its shortcomings
d. its shape and weight
e. when and where people can buy it
A. abd
B. abe
C. bce
D. bde
2.Which of the following words best describes Tim Cook’s attitude toward the Apple Watch?
A. Proud.
B. Modest.
C. Serious.
D. Cautious.
3.How does the Apple Watch let wearers know there is a new message?
A. The watch beeps.
B. The watch sends out music.
C. The watch changes its screen color.
D. The watch taps the wearer on the wrist.
4.With an Apple Watch, you can ______.
A. monitor your health and diagnose yourself
B. send a real-time display of your heartbeat to an iPhone
C. be reminded to move around if you’ve been sitting down for too long
D. receive emails, text messages and calls, and open a locked door for your neighbor
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
• Membership
Hostelling International (HI) is a membership organization, and HI membership gives you much more than a comfy bed! It puts you at the heart of a huge international family, where you can share experiences, travel and friendship with people of all nations.
• Membership Savings Program
Your National Association or Hostelling International Membership card not only opens the door to the world’s largest network of safe, clean and welcoming hostels, but in many HI hostels, being a member now gives you at least a 10 percent saving on the cost of your accommodation – just one of the great reasons to become a member!
In some countries, membership is compulsory if you wish to stay in HI hostels listed on this site. To find out what is applicable in the country you wish to visit, please check the Membership Savings Program.
Apart from cheaper accommodation in many of our 4,000 hostels worldwide, membership also gives you access to thousands of travel-related savings at home and abroad. Please check locally with your HI hostel on arrival for details of these great benefits which can include: reduced-price admission to attractions and museums, discounts on meals, transportation and lots more.
Whatever your budget, membership helps you to explore and “Say HI to the world”, backpack across Europe, discover Down Under, dance to Latin rhythms, chill out on an idyllic Asian beach or simply “Discover the real hostel experience” in one of our unique hostels worldwide.
• How to become a member
Purchase a membership from your nearest HI Youth Hostel Association office or membership selling outlet before you start your journey.
Purchase an international membership when you arrive at an HI hostel outside your country of residence. To check the price and availability of membership on arrival, please contact the hostel directly.
Alternatively, you can purchase a 12-month e-Membership during the booking process with your hostel stay. The e-Membership entitles you to stay in any HI hostel and receive at least 10 percent discount on accommodation charges compared to a non-member.
Please note: when you select your country from the list below you will be given full contact details plus a link to the national HI Youth Hostel Association website. Please select the Membership section on the site.
1.Which of the following is NOT promised by Hostelling International?
A. A safe and clean place to stay.
B. Welcoming atmosphere.
C. Membership benefits.
D. Opportunities to meet local people.
2.Which of the following is TRUE about the HI hostels?
A. Accommodation discounts for members are not available at every HI hostel.
B. For some HI hostels, you have to be a member to find accommodation.
C. You will enjoy high quality services at the cheapest possible price.
D. Free public transportation to your destination is ensured.
3.If you want to be a member of HI, ______.
A. you can either call the HI Youth Hostel Association office or buy a membership online.
B. you should book a room at an HI Youth Hostel first.
C. you can buy a membership at an HI Youth Hostel Association office or outlet.
D. you can buy a membership when you check in at an HI Youth hostel.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Larry was on another of his underwater expeditions(探险)but this time, it was different. He decided to take his daughter along with him. She was only ten years old. This would be her first trip with her father on what he had always been famous for.
Larry first began diving when he was his daughter’s age. Similarly, his father had taken him along on one of his expeditions. Since then, he had never looked back. Larry started out by renting diving suits from the small diving shop just along the shore. He had hated them. They were either too big or too small. Then, there was the instructor. He gave him a short lesson before allowing him into the water with his father. He had made an exception. Larry would never have been able to go down without at least five hours of theory and another similar number of hours on practical lessons with a guide. Children at his age were not even allowed to dive.
After the first expedition, Larry’s later diving adventures only got better and better. There was never a dull moment. In his black and blue suit and with an oxygen tank fastened on his back, Larry dived from boats into the middle of the ocean. Dangerous areas did not prevent him from continuing his search. Sometimes, he was limited to a cage underwater but that did not bother him. At least, he was still able to take photographs of the underwater creatures.
Larry’s first expedition without his father was in the Cayman Islands. There were numerous diving spots in the area and Larry was determined to visit all of them .Fortuna for him, a man offered to take him around the different spots for free. Larry didn’t even know what the time was, how many spots he dived into or how many photographs he had taken. The diving spots afforded such a wide range of fish and sea creatures that Larry saw more than thirty varieties of creatures.
Larry looked at his daughter. She looked as excited as he had been when he was her age. He hoped she would be able to continue the family tradition. Already, she looked like she was much braver than had been then. This was the key to a successful underwater expedition.
1.In what way was this expedition different for Larry?
A.His daughter had grown up.
B.He had become a famous diver.
C.His father would dive with him.
D.His daughter would dive with him.
2.What can be inferred from Paragraph2?
A.Larry had some privileges.
B. Larry liked the rented diving suits.
C.Divers had to buy diving equipment.
D.Ten-year-old children were permitted to dive.
3.Why did Larry have to stay in a cage underwater sometimes?
A.To protect himself from danger.
B.To dive into the deep water.
C.To admire the underwater view.
D.To take photo more conveniently.
4.What can be learned from the underlined sentence?
A.Larry didn’t wear a watch.
B. Larry was not good at math.
C. Larry had a poor memory.
D. Larry enjoyed the adventure.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
When was the last time you had great fun with your family? 1. So stand up and plan to have fun with your family．
Going to the zoo is definitely a number-one pick for family activities. Other than visiting animals, most zoos nowadays have rides that you can enjoy with your family. Meals are served in the zoo. 2. To add some fun, ask to be the photographer for the day and you might be surprised by how creative you can be．
3. Even though you might not be really keen on outdoor activities, you can still enjoy your time by playing together after having your lunch．
Visiting the nation's capital would be your choice if you want to go on a trip with your family. Learn more about the history by visiting historical sites. 4.
A treasure hunt is a popular activity, so going hunting with your family is a nice choice. You can train yourself by asking to be the person in charge who can hold the treasure map and make decisions.
Create a video clip with your family. Make your family the characters in the clip. You may talk about your family life in the clip, about your interests or even create a drama.
5. Plant flowers and mow the lawn. After a day of hard work, you can all sit back and enjoy a barbecue at your beautifully cleaned backyard.
A．History creates topics for you and your family．
B．At bedtime read to your young kids and read with your elder kids．
C．Family is always the most valuable thing in life．
D．Bring your own snacks if you want to save some money．
E．Doing some yard work together can also be a fun quality time for your family．
F．Having a picnic at the park is also a good activity for your family．
G．Here are two examples．
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
A businesswoman got into a taxi in midtown. As it was the rush hour and she was in a to catch a train, she a quick way to reach it. “ I have been a taxi driver for 15 years ! ” the driver said . “ You don’t think I know the best way to go?”
The woman tried to explain that she hadn’t to annoy him, but the driver kept . She finally realized that he was too annoyed to be , so she changed her .“ You know, you are right,” she told him. “ It must seem for me not to think you know the best way the city.”
, the driver glanced at his in the rearview mirror, turned down the street she wanted and got her to the train on time. “ He didn’t say another word the rest of the ride,” she said, “ I got out and paid him. Then he thanked me.”
When you find yourself with people like the taxi driver, you will always try to your idea. It can lead to longer arguments, lose job chances or marriage. I have discovered one simple extremely unlikely method that can prevent the disagreement or other difficult situations from 57 in a disaster.
The is to put yourself in the other person’s shoes and look for the in what that person is saying. Find a way to , and the result may surprise you.
1.A. hurry B. rush C. moment D. way
2.A. chose B. made C. found D. suggested
3.A. jokingly B. angrily C. anxiously D. curiously
4.A. supposed B. expected C. meant D. decided
5.A. apologizing B. driving C. asking D.shouting
6.A. reasonable B. thoughtful C. normal D. practical
7.A. road B. mind C. direction D. manner
8.A. strange B. wrong C. terrible D. stupid
9.A. across B. in C. through D. along
10.A. Surprised B. Worried C. Annoyed D. Disappointed
11.A. rider B. speaker C. helper D. comer
12.A. until B. after C. because D. since
13.A. satisfied B. concerned C. crowded D. faced
14.A. give up B. turn down C. stick to D. point to
15.A. combine B. destroy C. suffer D. divide
16.A. and B. that C. but D. though
17.A. lying B. resulting C. setting D. leading
18.A. problem B. importance C. key D. reply
19.A. fact B. meaning C. expression D. truth
20.A. agree B. argue C. explain D. escape
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
根据句意或用所给单词的正确形式完成句子。
1. When are you going to get married and _______________(安定下来)?
2._____________ (dress) in a white uniform, he looks more like a cook than a doctor.
3.He is a responsible writer, and he ___________________(理应受人尊敬).
4.The picture ____________ (hang) on the wall was painted by my nephew.
5.It was a dictionary _____________(为…而设计的) non-native learners.
6.The job market has changed and _____________(我们找工作的方法) must change as well.
7.It is almost five years _______ we saw each other last time.
8.He commanded that the troops ________________(not, cross) the water without his order.
9.________(base) an important decision more on emotion than on reason, you will regret sooner or later
10.Generally speaking, _____ we have seen seems more believable than _____we have been told.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
The air we breathe is freely available, without 1. we could not survive more than a few minutes. For the most part, air is available to everyone, and everyone needs it. Some people use the air to sustain them while 2. (sit) around and feel sorry for themselves. 3. breathe in the air and use the energy it provides to make 4. magnificent life.
Opportunity is in the same way; it is everywhere. It is so freely available that we take it 5. granted. Yet opportunity alone is not enough to create success; it must 6. (seize) and acted upon in order to have value. So many people are so 7. (anxiety) to “get in” on a “ground floor opportunity”, as if the opportunity will do all the work. That’s 8. (possible).
Just as you need air to breathe, you need opportunity to succeed. 9. , it takes more than just breathing in the fresh air of opportunity. You must make use of it. That’s not up to the opportunity; that’s up to you. It doesn’t matter what “floor” the opportunity is on, but 10. matters is what you do with it.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间修改作文，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：把多余的词用斜线(\ )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。
Dear Li Hua,
I’m familiar to your situation. As computers become more and more popular, some students cannot help but playing online games and chat. It is not only a problem of wasting time, but serious problem for their future！What you should do at first is to find out what make her addicted to computer games. Lack of love from parents? Poor score? Then having a heart-to-heart talk with her. Secondly, you should help herself with her study to build up her confidence and make her interesting in it. Thirdly, find something else for her to do instead computer games. Your efforts will surely help change her life.
Yours,
Jack
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
近年来，随着私家车的增加，城市交通越来越拥挤。在中、小学生上学或放学时，校门口以及学校附近拥挤问题更加严重。这给学生、教师、家长和其他市民带来许多不便。尤其值得注意的是，学校附近的交通堵塞也存在不可忽略的隐患。为此，这引起了不少民众的担忧。你作为一名在校学生，署名张小明，根据以下要点写一封英语信，向本校英语报投稿。
1．为什么要写这封英语信。
2．你们学校门口及附近交通拥挤的原因。
3．提出二至三条建议。
注意：词数120字左右
Dear Editor,
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难度: 中等查看答案及解析