While many of us may have been away somewhere nice last summer, few would say that we’ve “summered.” “Summer” is clearly a noun, more precisely, a verbed noun.
Way back in our childhood, we all learned the difference between a noun and a verb. With such a tidy definition, it was easy to spot the difference. Not so in adulthood, where we are expected to “foot” bills, “chair” committees, and “dialogue” with political opponents. Chances are you didn’t feel uncomfortable about the sight of those verbed nouns.
“The verbing of nouns is as old as the English language,” says Patricia O’Conner, a former editor at The New York Times Book Review. Experts estimate that 20 percent of all English verbs were originally nouns. And the phenomenon seems to be snowballing. Since 1900, about 40 percent of all new verbs have come from nouns.
Even though conversion (转化) is quite universal, plenty of grammarians object to the practice. William Strunk Jr. and E.B.White, in The Elements of Style — the Bible for the use of American English — have this to say: “Many nouns lately have been pressed into service as verbs. Not all are bad, but all are suspect.” The Chicago Manual of Style takes a similar standpoint, advising writers to use verbs with great care.
“Sometimes people object to a new verb because they resist what is unfamiliar to them,” says O’Conner. That’s why we’re comfortable “hosting” a party, but we might feel upset by the thought of “medaling” in sports. So are there any rules for verbing? Benjamin Dreyer, copy chief at Random House, doesn’t offer a rule, but suggests that people think twice about “verbifying” a noun if it’s easily replaceable by an already existing popular verb. Make sure it’s descriptive but not silly-sounding, he says.
In the end, however, style is subjective. Easy conversion of nouns to verbs has been part of English grammar for centuries; it is one of the processes that make English “English.” Not every coinage (新创的词语) passes into general use, but as for trying to end verbing altogether, forget it.
1.What can we learn about the verbing of nouns?
A.It hasn’t recently been opposed by many grammarians.
B.It is more commonly accepted by children than adults.
C.It hasn’t been a rare phenomenon in the past century.
D.It is easily replaced by existing verbs in practice
2.What is most leading experts’ attitude towards the practice of the verbing of nouns?
A.Cautious. B.Satisfied.
C.Disappointed. D.Unconcerned.
3.What does the author think of ending the verbing of nouns?
A.Predictable. B.Practicable.
C.Approaching. D.Impossible.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.Are 40 Percent of all new verbs from nouns？
B.Are Summering and Medaling Annoying?
C.Are You Comfortable about a New Verb?
D.Are There Any Rules for Verbing?
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
Come to the AG Society's expedition (探险) program and you will surely get unique experiences! SWIM WITH THE HUMPBACKS(座头鲸) OF TONGA
Darren Jew and his team are your hosts for an unforgettable AG Society adventure, filled with in- water meetings with humpback whales in the Kingdom of Tonga's group of islands.
WHO: Darren Jew's underwater whales
DATES: 26 September-4 October 2018
COST: $ 5,450 per person
BOOKINGS: Call 0756679413, email reservations @ whalesunderwater.com or visit whalesunderwater.com
11-DAY KIMBERLEY COASTAL CRUISE(乘船浏览)
The AG Society is partnering with APT to present an exciting voyage along the Kimberley coastline. Expedition cruising offers the easiest way to explore the Kimberley. Guests on this 11-day voyage will go ashore, explore natural wonders, meet traditional owners, see rock art and spot wildlife.
WHO: APT
DATES: 6 - 16 September 2018
COST: $ 13,395 per person
BOOKINGS: Visit kimberleywild.com. au
LIGHTNING RIDGE FOSSIL(化石) DIG
The AG Society offers you a chance to hunt for fossils. Guided by experts, you'll go to special locations, seeking new fossils for the collections of the Australian Opal Centre. Your discoveries will further establish these museum collections as a world-class scientific and cultural resource. There are also a series of lectures on mining history, fossils, dinosaur hunting and new dinosaurs.
WHO: The Australian Opal Centre
DATES: 20 -25 August 2018
COST: $ 2,200 per person, including all activities and lunches and dinners
BOOKINGS: Call 0427904587, email dig @ stralianopalcentre.com or visit australianopalcentre.com
AG DEVIL ARK EXPEDITION
Come and join Tim Faulkner for a unique hands-on experience with this Tasmanian devil (袋獾) feeding program in the beautiful Barrington Tops of NSW. You'll get to see Tasmanian devils up close when you help with feeding individuals.
In addition to working with the animals, there'll be opportunities to explore the area's natural treasures and spot local wildlife. Don't miss your chance to get involved in this important conservation effort.
WHO: Devil Ark
DATES: 24 - 26 November 2018
COST: $ 1,750 per person
BOOKINGS: Call 0243408610, email info @ devilark.org. au or visit devilark.org. au
1.If you join in LIGHTNING RIDGE FOSSIL DIG, you can .
A.go to seek new fossils individually
B.learn something about mining history
C.collect the world-class scientific fossils
D.become an expert and go to special locations
2.What can you do if you take part in AG DEVIL ARK EXPEDITION?
A.Help protect wildlife. B.Learn about dinosaurs.
C.Watch humpback whales. D.Enjoy an exciting voyage.
3.Which program will you choose if you want to enjoy rock art?
A.AG DEVIL ARK EXPEDITION.
B.LIGHTNING RIDGE FOSSIL DIG.
C.11-DAY KIMBERLEY COASTAL CRUISE.
D.SWIM WITH THE HUMPBACKS OF TONGA.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Work Your Mind
Here’s something to think about the next time you ask your teacher for help: struggling with schoolwork on your own can help you learn. According to a recent study, the more you struggle while you are learning new information, the better you can remember it later.
This theory might surprise you. When teachers are presenting new information, they often give students lots of help. But a new study shows this may not be the best way to support learning. “Don't be too quick to get help when learning something new,” education expert Manu Kapur told TFK. “Try to work on it yourself even if it means trying different ways.”
Kapur came up with the idea that struggling can lead to better learning. Then he tested it out on students in Singapore. He separated students into two groups. In the first group, students were asked to solve math problems with the teacher’s help. In the second group, students were asked to solve the same problems by helping one another, instead of getting help from the teacher.
With the teacher’s help, students in the first group were able to find the correct answers. Students in the second group did not solve the problems correctly. But they did come up with a lot of good ideas. The students were then tested on what they had learned. The group without any help from a teacher scored much higher than the group who had help. Kapur said working to find the answers helped students understand the process, not just the solution.
Kapur’s advice for kids is to put a lot of effort into learning something new rather than going to your teacher for help. “Simply doing a little work or nothing at all won’t work,” says Kapur. “The struggle needs to be a genuine attempt to figure out or solve a problem in as many ways as possible.”
1.When you have doubt on schoolwork, you’d better ____________.
A.ask your teacher for help
B.make it clear by yourself
C.ask your classmates to help you
D.ask your parents for help
2.What’s Manu Kapur educational idea on learning new knowledge?
A.Give students much help as soon as possible.
B.Let students learn it on themselves in one way.
C.Let students learn it by themselves in the same way.
D.Let students learn it for themselves in different ways.
3.How did Kapur check his idea on better learning?
A.By asking questions.
B.By solving art problems.
C.By group comparations.
D.By solving science problems.
4.What is the most important in learning knowledge?
A.Getting the teacher’s help.
B.Getting the student’s help.
C.Grasping the learning course.
D.Receiving the final solution.
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
Genealogy, or researching your family tree, is a hobby that can rapidly develop into an obsession. Before you start looking for your own ancestors, read this advice from genealogist Maria McLeod.
The first question to ask yourself is why you want to research your family tree. Genealogy is not about discovering that you are the lost prince or princess of an unknown kingdom. It’s about finding more about yourself. For most people the important question is “Why am I like I am?” You might not look like other members of your immediate family and you want to know where your green eyes or curly hair come from. You may be curious about why you have such a quick temper. You may even be suffering from a medical condition and want to know if something in your genetic makeup has caused it.
Another common motivation for researching your family tree is that you plan to visit the place that your ancestors came from and you secretly hope that you will find some long lost cousins with whom you can share your memories. There can be few more exciting things than meeting a distant cousin who is living on the other side of the globe and finding that she looks just like your younger sister. But you should also bear in mind that they may not necessarily want to have anything to do with you. Sometimes there are skeletons in the cupboard that you and your branch of the family are unaware of, but which are still fresh in the minds of your more distant relatives.
Once you are clear about your motivations, you need to take a moment to think about just how many ancestors you might have and how far back you intend to go. You have, no doubt, thought about your parents’ parents and your parents’ parents’ parents. But go back ten generations and the picture becomes much more complicated. You can work it out for yourself. You may be descended(遗传) from no fewer than 1,024 people through ten generations. This can mean that you spend hours going through official records, either in person at the records office or on the Internet. Are you prepared for such a huge task?
1.What might be Maria Mcleod’s first piece of advice be?
A.Be prepared to accept your bad temper.
B.Don’t expect to find lovely relatives.
C.Be prepared to find out your hidden health problems.
D.Don’t expect to find out you are a member of a royal family.
2.Why are some relatives unwilling to meet you?
A.You may bring back bad memories.
B.They find it disturbing to entertain you.
C.They suspect you of having wrong motives.
D.You could remind them of their lost loved ones.
3.What does the underlined word “it” in the last paragraph refer to?
A.Who your great grandparents are.
B.When you can finish your huge task.
C.Why researching a family tree is complex.
D.How many people you are descended from.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.Uncovering family secrets: do you dare?
B.The science of genealogy: new developments
C.Expert opinions on researching your family past
D.A step-by-step guide to researching your family tree
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
At a young age, Darrius Simmons fell in love with the piano. As he watched others play, he was _________ by the joy the piano gave them. He wanted to experience that, too, but knew for him it would be a/an _________.
“I decided at age 10 that I wanted to learn how to play the piano, _________ it was going to take a little bit _________ work for me to learn,” Simmons says. “I knew most people had 10 fingers while I had four, yet I was pretty _________ I could make it work.”
The Warren, Ohio teenager was born with a genetic _________ called ectrodactyly (先天性缺指畸形). He has three fingers on his right hand and _________ finger on his left. But it didn’t _________ Simmons from following his _________. With no formal training, Simmons taught himself by ear how to play the piano. He practiced and practiced, finding a way to __________ the keys with four fingers while mastering the pedals with his prostheses(假肢).
Simmons knew he would have to __________ his own style of playing. “I couldn’t base it __________ the technique of somebody who has 10 fingers. It just wouldn’t __________.” He says. “That’s __________ it was hard for me to take piano lessons. It’s very __________ for somebody who has learned how to play with 10 fingers to adjust and teach me with only four.”
The now 18-year-old not only learned how to play and read music but also began composing.
His mother, Tamara Simmons, isn’t surprised by Darrius’ __________. She knows how focused and __________ he can be.
From mastering music to beating __________ challenges, Darrius Simmons sets out to __________ the world. “I like to be somebody’s __________,” he says. “If I play in front of a whole crowd and I see one person smile, that’s a job well done.”
1.A.frightened B.amazed C.interested D.disturbed
2.A.challenge B.opportunity C.fortune D.trouble
3.A.while B.but C.and D.therefore
4.A.more B.much C.fewer D.less
5.A.surprised B.worried C.sure D.glad
6.A.condition B.environment C.situation D.tendency
7.A.one B.two C.three D.five
8.A.encourage B.prevent C.remove D.change
9.A.actions B.roads C.instructions D.passions
10.A.reach B.repair C.remove D.clean
11.A.adopt B.abandon C.develop D.change
12.A.by B.in C.through D.on
13.A.support B.run C.operate D.work
14.A.why B.because C.when D.whether
15.A.easy B.tough C.funny D.stupid
16.A.ideas B.creations C.difficulties D.achievements
17.A.kind B.determined C.talented D.generous
18.A.spiritual B.mental C.physical D.emotional
19.A.please B.persuade C.inspire D.cheer
20.A.partner B.symbol C.aim D.motivation
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
英语课上，老师要求同桌之间相互修改作文。假设以下短文为你同桌所写，请你对其进行修改。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(A)，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。
You must have heard about Dolly and have been amazed by the first cloned animal. But here came a problem; should we clone humans? When being asked about this question, a large number of people which are interested in the topic hold the view that it’s beneficial to clone humans. Therefore, some other people, me including, are against this idea. Cloning humans can bring negative effects and wrong informations. In the first place, they may not be treated equal as normal people, which I believe will make him suffer a lot. In second place, human cloning may lead in some social disorder, and it is quite dangerous.
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
Experience-Based Education
Everyone is familiar with traditional education. You sit in a class and a teacher teaches. This is an important part of development. But at some point, every individual has to take charge of their own education. To do this, one must look at the root of learning . 1.
2. This is because unfamiliar experiences require much more of our attention. And we are in a better state to learn something new. Honestly, someone who never experiences the same thing twice will never have a chance to benefit from anything learned. However, new experiences are generally what make people interesting and push them to grow.
Highschool is a new experience. College is a new experience. However, at some point traditional education becomes repetitive. It is not that you won’t learn anything else, but that the environment is so familiar . 3.
To solve this, an individual needs to introduce new experiences into their life. You may spend a summer in a different part of the country or learn a new language through trial and error. You can also go to a drive-in movie or some other entertainment event that is new to you. 4.
These types of experiences often result in very little “book knowledge”. Instead, they will often provide you with a better understanding of yourself as you experience your reaction to different situations. 5. It can be invaluable for you to work effectively with others. Becoming a well-rounded human isn’t something that happens by accident. You can spend your entire lifetime developing your potential.
A.Has education changed so much in the last decade?
B.They will also provide you with a better understanding of others.
C.Those new experiences may not lead to great personal development.
D.These are all things that can stretch and expand your experience in life.
E.Basically, unfamiliar experiences usually add more value than experiences that are familiar.
F.As a result, you can easily become less aware of your experience and not learn as much.
G.What makes some experiences add great value to our lives while other experiences do not?
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
More than 1,000 elephants face 1. (starve) in Thailand because of the coronavirus crisis. An almost total absence of visitors 2. (mean) that many caretakers are struggling to afford food for Thailand’s 4,000 captive elephants. The animals can eat up 3. 200kg of food a day.
Lek Chailert, 4. (found) of the Save Elephant Foundation, told the BBC: “If there is no support 5. (keep) them safe, these elephants, some of whom are pregnant, will 6. starve to death or maybe put on to the streets to beg.” Some elephants maybe sold to zoos or they may 7. (return) to the illegal logging business, which 8. (official) banned the use of elephants in 1989.
“It’s very 9. (hope) until some financial help is received immediately,” Lek Chailert adds. It’s a challenge to keep the animals fed and healthy at 10. best of times but now it’s the dry season, which makes the situation even worse.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假定你是某某中学校学生会主席李华，针对目前同学们逐渐返校，但是新型冠状病毒仍然没有得到完全的控制，于是你受学生会委托，面向全校学生写一封倡议信，号召同学们在学校一定要做好自我保护。
内容包括：
1. 养成良好的个人卫生习惯；
2. 避免同学之间的密切接触，遵守学校公共秩序。
注意：1. 字数100字左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
参考词汇：新型冠状病毒novel coronavirus
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难度: 简单查看答案及解析