My sister Jodie and I are always traveling for work．As jewelry designers, we need to go to a lot of shows．We can’t pack lightly and usually bring about four suitcases filled with our work．
Most of our stuff is made from heavy materials and metals．So part of the routine for us when we fly is getting stopped by security. Our jewelry sets off the alarms, and we’ve become accustomed to arriving early to go through private screenings. Most of the time, it’s not troublesome．
However, on our recent trip to a Paris trade show, we were stopped at security and asked to empty our bags．One of the agents walked over to another agent and they started whispering to each other．Both gentlemen came back, and one of them then told us that it seemed that we were carrying a very dangerous object．
My sister and I just said, “Huh?” Of course, we were a little concerned, thinking that maybe someone put something dangerous in one of our bags when we weren’t looking．
One of the agents then started to unpack our bags．I kept asking what he was looking for and then the object in question finally appeared．It was our Cosima necklace．It’s a piece of jewelry, with large, metal triangular spikes．
My sister and I looked at each other and breathed a huge sigh of relief．We started laughing and explained to the two male agents that it was just a necklace from our collection, not a weapon of mass destruction．They thought we were lying, and one agent kept repeating that he believed it was a weapon．
I tried to explain that we were jewelry designers going to a trade show, and this was simply a piece from our collection．But the agents didn’t buy it．Then a few women guards came over to assist．One of the women guards was holding an earring up to her ear and another was trying on a ring．Apparently, they liked our stuff．
It was only at this point that the male guards gave up．And I think they also got tired of listening to a bunch of women talk about jewelry．They let us through．
We took the names of the women agents and sent them a piece of jewelry when we got back to say thanks．
1.When the object in question finally appeared, the writer and her sister felt _______．
A. anxious B. relieved
C. excited D. frightened
2.The writer and her sister were stopped by the agents because ________．
A. their suitcases were too heavy
B. the agents wanted to play a joke on them
C. they were suspected to carry dangerous objects
D. the agents wanted to admire the jewelry inside the suitcases
3.The underlined word “buy” in Paragraph 7 probably means ________．
A. doubt B. believe
C. purchase D. understand
4.The writer sent the women agents a piece of jewelry in order to ________．
A. persuade them to buy her jewelry later
B. get help from them next time
C. show them her talent in designing jewelry
D. show them her appreciation for their assistance
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
In the countries of South and Southeast Asia, the elephant has been an important part of the culture, economy and religion for centuries．And nowhere more so than in Thailand．Unlike its African cousin, the Asian elephant is easily domesticated（驯化）．The rare so-called white elephants have actually lent the power of royalty to its rulers，and until the 1920s the national flag was a white elephant on a red background．To the early Western visitors, the country's romantic name was“ Land of the White Elephant"．
Today, however, the story is very different．Out of work and out of land, the Thai elephant struggles for survival in a nation that no longer needs it．The elephant has found itself more or less deserted by previous owners who have moved on to a different economic world and a society in the western part．And while the elephant's problems began many years ago, now it has a very low national advantage．
How does the national symbol turn into ignored animals? It is a story of worse environment and the changing lives of the Thais themselves．According to Richard Lair, Thailand's expert on the Asian elephant and author of the report Gone Astray, at the turn of the last century, there may well have been as many as 100,000 national elephants in the country．
In the north of Thailand alone, it was estimated（估计）that more than 20,000 elephants were employed in transport, 1,000 of them alone on the road between the cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Saen．
This was at a time when 90 percent of Thailand was still forest---a habitat that not only supported the animals but also made them necessary to carry goods and people．Nothing ploughs through thick forest better than lots of sure-footed elephants．
By 1950 the elephant population had dropped, but still to the number of 13, 397．However, today there are probably no more than 3,800, with another l,350 wandering free in the national parks．But now, Thailand's forest covers only 20 percent of the land．This deforestation（采伐森林）is the central point of the elephant's difficult situation, for it has effectively put the animals out of work．This century, as the road network grew, the elephant's role as a beast of burden decreased．
1.What can we know about African elephants from the passage?
A. It is of little value to domesticate them．
B. It is hard to domesticate them．
C. They are living a better life than Asian elephants
D. Their fate is quite similar to that of Asian elephants．
2.Thailand was once called "Land of the White Elephant" because ________．
A. white elephant was a national symbol until the 1920s
B. white elephant is rarely seen and thus very special
C. white elephant has helped kings to gain the ruling power
D. this name was so romantic that it was popular among visitors
3.Why is the Thai elephant "out of work", according to the author?
A. Because there are too many elephants but too few jobs．
B. Because the elephants can't do labor work any longer．
C. Because the government pays little attention to the problem．
D. Because the elephants are no longer useful to their owners．
4.The passage is most probably from ________．
A. a travel guide B. a history book
C. a popular science magazine D. an official announcement
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Dear David,
I’m glad you would like to share your feelings with me. It’s hardly surprising that your feelings of not being “grown up” have come on strongly at this point in your life, just before you’re about to become a father. You are asking: will I make a good father? How will I cope? Should I have brought another little person into the world? Can I provide for it? Heeelp! I think nearly every sensitive about-to-be-parent must have these occasional feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy (不适) before the birth and it would be most unusual if you didn’t share them.
It’s difficult, honestly, to feel grown-up unless you have something less grown-up to relate to. A hen-pecked (惧内的) boss may feel like a seven-year-old when he’s at home. But as he walks through the office door, and knows he’s going to be surrounded by staff looking to him for advice, he grows into a fully mature (成熟的) man. And I think it’s a mistake to imagine that we all feel, as we age, a kind of progression of states, from the baby to the adult. Most people feel, on Tuesday, about three years old, and on a Wednesday, around 80. I remember feeling very grown-up at eight, a time when I was weighed down with responsibility. These days, much older, I can, in the company of people I feel at ease with, feel like a young girl.
There’s a common remark that “all men are little boys”, but it’s not true. It’s more true that men often behave like little boys. But nearly all people, at some moments in their lives, are capable of great maturity.
Once your baby arrives, you’ll soon feel less childlike, or rather, less often. When your child tries to put its fingers into the electric plug, the adult in you will rise up to prevent it. You’ll see you have very little in common with a needy child, particularly if it’s looking to you for comfort and support.
Comfort yourself, David, with two truths. One is that your friends laugh when they talk about this subject because they, like you, feel frightened. And remember that people who haven’t grown up don’t go around talking about the fact that they don’t feel grown-up.
Hope my advice will be helpful and good luck to you and your little one.
Sincerely Yours,
Miss Advice
1.According to the passage, Miss Advice thinks David’s self-doubt ______.
A. valuable B. natural
C. unusual D. bearable
2.From Paragraph 2, we can learn that people’s sense of maturity ______.
A. will increase with age
B. is obviously seen at home
C. changes with different situations
D. becomes stronger with familiar people
3.Miss Advice holds that ______.
A. all men behave like little boys
B. people tend to laugh at the subject
C. men with a baby feel more grown-up
D. people enjoy talking about their immaturity
4.Miss Advice wrote the letter to ______.
A. teach people how to grow up
B. offer suggestions to a future father
C. encourage people to be responsible
D. solve problems of the less grown-up
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
The majority of Indian women wear a red dot (圆点) between their eyebrows. While it is generally taken as an indicator of their marital (婚姻的) status, the practice is primarily related to the Hindu religion. The dot goes by different names in different Hindi dialects, and “bindi” is the one that is most commonly known. Traditionally, the dot carries no gender restriction: Men as well as women wear it. However, the tradition of men wearing it has faded in recent times, so nowadays we see a lot more women than men wearing one.
The position of the bindi is standard: center of the forehead, close to the eyebrows. It represents a third, or inner eye. Hindu tradition holds that all people have three eyes: The two outer ones are used for seeing the outside world, and the third one is there to focus inward toward God. As such, the dot serves as a constant reminder to keep God in the front of a believer’s thoughts.
Red is the traditional color of the dot. It is said that in ancient times a man would place a drop of blood between his wife’s eyes to seal their marriage. According to Hindu beliefs, the color red is believed to bring good fortune to the married couple. Today, people go with different colors depending upon their preferences. Women often wear dots that match the color of their clothes. Decorative or sticker bindis come in all sizes, colors and variations, and can be worn by young and old, married and unmarried people alike. Wearing a bindi has become more of a fashion statement than a religious custom.
1.Why did people in India start wearing a red dot on their forehead?
A. To indicate their social rank.
B. To show their financial status.
C. To show their religious belief.
D. To highlight their family background.
2.What is the importance of the third eye in Hindu tradition?
A. To pay respect to God.
B. To stay in harmony with nature.
C. To see things with a subjective view.
D. To observe the outside world more clearly.
3.Why was red chosen as the original color of the bindi?
A. The red dot represented the blood of God.
B. Red stood for a wife’s love for her husband.
C. The word “bindi” means “red” in some Hindi dialects.
D. Red was supposed to bring good luck to a married couple.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
I was ten when I first sat with my grandmother behind the cashier (收银台) in her general store.1. I quickly learned the importance of treating customers politely and saying “thank you.”
At first I was paid in candy.2.I worked every day after school, and during the summer and on weekends and holidays from 8 a.m. to 7 a.m. My father helped me set up a bank account.3.
By the time I was 12, my grandmother thought I had done such a good job that she promoted me to selling cosmetics(化妆) ideas.4.
The job taught me a valuable lesson: To be a successful salesperson, you didn’t need to be a rocket scientist----you need to be a great listener.5.Except they are no longer woman purchasing cosmetics from me; instead, they are kids who tell me which toys they would like to see designed and developed.
A.Later I received 50 cents an hour.
B.Before long, she let me sit there by myself.
C.I ended up selling a record amount of cosmetics.
D.Today I still carry that lesson with me：I listen to customers.
E.My grandma’s trust taught me how to handle responsibility.
F.Soon I found myself looking more beautiful than ever before.
G.Watching my money grow was more rewarding than anything I could have bought.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
There was a woman, about 30 years old, married with two children. She had grown up in a home where she was_______criticized and treated unfairly by her________. As a result, she was _______and fearful.
One day, she was hit by a car. When she awoke, she found herself in a hospital. She could still speak, but had no recollection of any part of her_______life. Her husband and children visited her_______, but she did not know them.
Determined to______what had happened to her, she began reading______books and studying in the specialized area of memory_______. She met and discussed with specialists in this field. Eventually she wrote a paper______her condition. Not long afterward, she was invited to_______a medical conference to deliver her paper, answer questions and share her_______and ideas. During this period, something amazing happened. She became a positive, confident,________woman, well informed, and very much in demand as a speaker and expert in the medical profession. All memory of her negative childhood had been________. She changed her______and changed her life.
Each person comes into the world with________thoughts or ideas at all, and everything that a person thinks and feels is learned from_______. The adult becomes the sum total of everything he or she learns, feels, and experiences while_________.
Everyone is born with no_______at all. Every idea, opinion, feeling, attitude, or value you have as an adult is the result of an idea or impression you took in and accept as________. When you believe something to be true, it becomes true for you, whatever the______may be. You are not what you think you are, but what you think, you are.
1.A. slightly B. occasionally C. constantly D. sincerely
2.A. parents B. children C. husband D. teachers
3.A. negative B. optimistic C. disappointed D. homeless
4.A. future B. present C. afterlife D. past
5.A. seldom B. daily C. secretly D. unwillingly
6.A. remind B. report C. understand D. remove
7.A. traffic B. medical C. nutritional D. economic
8.A. tool B. repetition C. improvement D. loss
9.A. in B. out of C. with D. on
10.A. address B. hold C. host D. arrange
11.A. wealth B. anger C. happiness D. experiences
12.A. selfish B. casual C. outgoing D. crazy
13.A. reviewed B. restored C. wiped D. corrected
14.A. environment B. thinking C. approaches D. attitude
15.A. no B. rare C. rich D. disordered
16.A. boyhood B. motherhood C. neighborhood D. babyhood
17.A. growing up B. being blamed C. working out D. delivering speeches
18.A. self-appreciation B. self-concept C. self-control D. selfishness
19.A. such B. well C. usual D. true
20.A. job B. place C. fact D. time
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Job shadowing (工作见习) is the act of learning about the job from one or a few of the employees. They will teach the pre-employees, newcomers, and existing employees about the job without1.(interrupt) their own work. This is a great job assessment method for graduates and professionals2.wish to get a feel of the job before deciding to apply3.a job from a certain organization.
4.biggest advantage is that job shadowing allows individuals to test the job out. Therefore, you will get to sit and learn from an5.(experience) employee. They will explain the differences of their jobs to you. During the course of a day, you will get enough time to gain a deeper6.(understand) of the job, its requirements, and first-hand experience.
Job shadowing also helps increase familiarity towards the possible job. The more familiar you become7.your assigned work, the8.( anxious) you will feel. The more you learn while job shadowing, the less likely will be the chances of you making9.(mistake) while working live on a project. Everything you learn will need to10.(practice) and even be put through tests so that you can gain more practical knowledge about the new work with every passing day.
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交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下短文。短文中共有10处错误，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(∧), 并在此符号下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改： 在错的词下划一横线, 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
I feel it is pity that you didn't want to take part in the speech contest. In my view, the speech contest can benefit from you in different ways. Firstly, it makes you look for more informations about your favorite scientists on the Internet or in the library and learning more about them. Secondly, it is a challenge to prepare for a speech contest. You not only have to write a good article and also have to perform them properly．What's more, after the contest, you can find yourself with some newly good friends, or even a prize．I suggest you consider participating in the contest, that will really do good to you. If you change your mind, please let me know as sooner as possible·
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
假设你是李华, 某国际交流中心将在你市组织一个欧洲中学生夏令营活动,并在网上征集可提供住宿的中国家庭。你的家庭符合要求, 请你给活动负责人写一封申请信。
对提供住宿家庭的要求:
1. 有一间独立卧室; 2. 家庭成员具备良好的素质; 3. 能够用英语交流.
注意：1. 文章开头已经给出，但不计入总词数；
2. 词数：120左右；
3. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Sir/ Madam,
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
难度: 中等查看答案及解析