Auctions(拍卖行) are everywhere. Here are just a few standouts and some of the areas they specialize in. All have brick-and-mortar(实体的) sales rooms in addition to online buying.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers
Headquarters(总部): Chicago
Founded: 1982
Best bets: contemporary art, jewelry
The founder, Leslie Hindman, has been on an expansion kick from her Chicago base and now runs eight offices across the country. Ms. Hindman said that plenty of items sell at her house for around $500. As in the auction world generally, jewelry and contemporary art receive lots of attention from bidders(出价者)， and in2017 a diamond ring sold for $97,000.
Swann Auction Galleries
Headquarters: New York
Founded: 1941
Best bets: books, works on paper, African-American art
Founded as a rare-book auctioneer, Swann still holds dozens of such sales a year. The president, Nicholas D. Lowry, noted that Swann was the first auction house to sell old photographs, in 1952.The house has also had a department of African-American art for 12 years.
Stair Galleries
Headquarters: Hudson, N.Y.
Founded: 2001
Best bets: English and Continental furniture and paintings, modern and contemporary art
Colin Stair, the founder and president, comes from a long line of antiques dealers (商人). Stair is frequented by dealers and bargain hunters, and it's a place to find interesting things like a George I carved walnut wing armchair, coming up as part of a sale on April 28 and 29.
Heritage Auctions
Headquarters: Dallas
Founded: 1983
Best bets: coins, sports memorabilia, movie posters
With roots in coin auctions, Heritage has grown quite large. But their bread and butter are items that the company president, Greg Rohan, calls "the kinds of things that everyone has. " "People aren’t buying what were selling for decoration or for resale, " he added. "They’re buying things they absolutely love. "
1.At which place can you buy old photographs?
A.Stair Galleries. B.Heritage Auctions.
C.Swann Auction Galleries. D.Leslie Hindman Auctioneers.
2.Who once sold antiques?
A.Colin Stair. B.Greg Rohan. C.Leslie Hindman. D.Nicholas D. Lowry
3.What can be learned about these auctions?
A.They all have online shops.
B.They all sell valuable artworks.
C.They are all run by local people.
D.They are all located in New York.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Online programs to fight depression are already commercially available. While they sound efficient and cost-saving, a recent study reports that they're not effective, primarily because depressed patients are not likely to engage with them or stick with them.
The study looked at computer-assisted cognitive (认知的) behavioral therapy (CBT) and found that it was no more effective in treating depression than the usual care patients receive from a primary care doctor.
Traditional CBT is considered an effective form of talk therapy for depression, helping people challenge negative thoughts and change the way they think in order to change their mood and behaviors. However, online CBT programs have been gaining popularity, with the attraction of providing low-cost help wherever someone has access to a computer.
A team of researchers from the University of York conducted a randomized (随机的) control trial with 691 depressed patients from 83 physician practices across England. The patients were split into three groups: one group received only usual care from a physician while the other two groups received usual care from a physician plus one of two computerized CBT programs. Participants were balanced across the three groups for age, sex, educational background, severity and duration of depression, and use of antidepressants(抗抑郁药).
After four months, the patients using the computerized CBT programs had no improvement in depression levels over the patients who were only getting usual care from their doctors.
"It's an important, warning note that we shouldn't get too carried away with the idea that a computer system can replace doctors and therapists," says Christopher Dowrick, a professor of primary medical care at the University of Liverpool. "We do still need the human touch or the human interaction, particularly when people are depressed. "
"Being depressed can mean feeling lost in your own small, negative, dark world," Dowrick says. Having a person, instead of a computer, reach out to you is particularly important in fighting that sense of isolation. "When you're emotionally fragile, you're even more in need of a caring human being," he says.
1.What does the recent study say about online CBT programs?
A.Patients may not be able to carry them through for effective cure.
B.Patients cannot engage with them without the use of a computer.
C.They can save patients trouble visiting physicians.
D.They have been well received by a lot of patients'
2.What has made online CBT programs increasingly popular?
A.Their effectiveness in combating depression
B.The low efficiency of traditional talk therapy.
C.Their easy and inexpensive access by patients.
D.The recommendation by primary care doctors.
3.What is Professor Dowrick's advice concerning online CBT programs?
A.They should not be neglected in primary care.
B.Their effectiveness should not be overestimated.
C.They should be used by strictly following instructions.
D.Their use should be encouraged by doctors and therapists.
4.Which is more important to an emotionally vulnerable person?
A.A positive state of mind. B.Appropriate medication.
C.Timely encouragement. D.Human interaction.
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
Six Chinese survived the tragedy of the Royal Mail Ship Titanic, but disappeared soon after. Now a British documentarian, Arthur Jones, will uncover stories and histories of discrimination.
There were eight Chinese between the ages of 24 and 37 on the Titanic, sharing one 59-pound third-class ticket, but only six survived from its sinking. When they arrived in the United States, they were not helped like the other 705 survivors. Instead they were forced to leave the country within 24 hours because of the Chinese Exclusion Act signed in 1882.
Some westerners questioned the six Chinese survivors as stowaways and claimed that they survived because they secretly climbed on the lifeboat or dressed as women to board lifeboats.
But after visiting foreign documents, museums and cooperating with American and Chinese historians, Jones believes they did not do anything disgraceful in order to survive the disaster. ''This is not only a story about the survivors of Titanic, but also a story of a group of brave Chinese people exploring the outside world at that time, '' he said.
When the ship hit an iceberg, like other third-class passengers the eight Chinese were released from the locked gates at last, but not allowed to board the lifeboat. Luckily, four of them boarded a small broken boat, and one was rescued by another lifeboat. Another one, Fang Lang, floated on a piece of wooden board in the sea. The only returning lifeboat saved him from freezing.
To restore their real stories, Jones and his team found Fang Lang's son in Wisconsin, US. Also, Jones will visit Taishan city in south China's Guangdong province, recorded as the survivors' hometown. The filmmakers also established a website, whoarethesix.com, for more clues.
Ordinarily, people think of Titanic as a story of rich white people, but don't know there were people from all over the world, including Chinese. ''Their stories are never told, '' Jones said.
The documentary The Six is expected to be released in China late this year.
1.What can we learn about the Chinese Exclusion Act?
A.It put Chinese at disadvantage.
B.It was completed within 24 hours.
C.It aimed to help Chinese passengers.
D.It forbad Chinese to buy first-class tickets.
2.What might Jones think of the six Chinese survivors?
A.Adventurous but dishonest. B.Lucky but disgraceful.
C.Brave and innocent. D.Poor and questionable.
3.What does Paragraph 6 mainly talk about?
A.Some amazing findings about the survivors.
B.Jones and his team's visit to different people.
C.Jones’ efforts to restore the stories of the Chinese.
D.Some information about the survivors' hometown.
4.What is the purpose of the film The Six?
A.Tell the true story of the six Chinese survivors.
B.Research into the way the six Chinese survived.
C.Criticize American's discrimination against Chinese.
D.Describe the hardship of Chinese living in America.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Facebook lets friends connect. They can give each other updates, share photos and post comments. But that’s not all. Facebook might also stress users out.
In a new study, 88 volunteers how much time they spent on Facebook and the types of Facebook posts and comments that they made. In addition, they answered questions about their feelings and state of mind. They also offered saliva. Researchers tested it for cortisol. This chemical is a stress hormone. Levels of it vary throughout the day.
In this study, people with the most Facebook friends, more than 300, had somewhat higher cortisol levels. Additionally, the more Facebook friends that users had, the more likely they were to feel anxious. On the other hand, youths who gave lots of ''likes'' and supportive comments on Facebook had lower cortisol levels. ''The more social support you give to others, the lower your stress hormone levels will be, '' says Lupien.
''This research decidedly combines the social science approach and the medical science approach on an important question in our social-media age, '' says Wenhong Chen, a sociologist at the University of Texas at Austin. ''It's ready pleasantly new to see Lupien’s team study cortisol levels-along with questionnaire data. ''
One finding from Lupien's work surprised Chen. Teens who felt they got a lot of support from others also had higher cortisol levels. Usually, she says, those feelings should protect people from stress. ''There are many potential dangers of social media use among young people, '' Chen notes. So, she says, enjoy Facebook, but be aware of the risks.
Lupien suggests that teen Facebook users share information with and support their friends on the site. They shouldn’t just stay silent. ''if anyone is more stressed, it's the watchers, not the sharers, '' she says. Also, she recommends that people who use social media heavily should find time to take active walks, to run or to do other activities. Cortisol increases a person's energy. “The best way to reduce stress hormones is to use the energy, '' she says.
1.Paragraph 2 shows us the ________.
A.research proposes B.research methods
C.research contents D.research results
2.What should we do if we want to feel less stressed?
A.Share as many nine photos as possible.
B.Give more positive comments to others.
C.Listen to music frequently on social media.
D.Communicate less with others on Facebook.
3.What is Wenhong Chen's attitude towards Lupien's study?
A.Cautious. B.Critical.
C.Doubtful. D.Approving.
4.What can be learned from Lupien's suggestion?
A.There are many dangers on social media.
B.Getting support from e-friends makes us healthier.
C.Sharers on Facebook live a happier life than watchers.
D.Doing physical exercise helps reduce the levels of cortisol.
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
Reasons You Might Not Be Able to Donate Blood
Donating blood is a generous — not to mention necessary — act, but there are several restrictions on giving that protect you and future recipients of your gift
The medications you're taking
Most medications won’t disqualify you from being able to donate blood. 1.. If you're taking an antibiotic for an infection, you may be asked to wait until you're healthy again; if you're taking aspirin and donating platelets, you must wait two full days after taking aspirin or any medication containing aspirin before donating,
You’ve tested positive for hepatitis or HIV
2., you cannot donate if you’ve tested positive for either condition. Because some types of hepatitis may not be treatable and can lead to fatal health problems, such as liver failure and liver cancer, it is too risky to donate blood if you have these diseases.
3.
If you weigh less than 110 pounds, you're not eligible to donate blood. Underweight individuals tend to have low blood volumes and therefore may not tolerate the removal of the required volume of blood.
Your iron levels are too low or too high
Having low iron — less than 12.5g/dL for women and 13.0g/dL for men — will disqualify you from donating. For this reason, frequent donors, especially women, are encouraged to take iron supplements and eat iron-rich foods to keep their levels in the normal range. 4..
You recently got a piercing or electrolysis
5., if you've recently gotten an ear or body piercing or electrolysis with a reusable gun or reusable instrument. Before you get a piercing or electrolysis, he recommends doing your research on whether the place employs single-use equipment.
A.Having levels that are too high will also disqualify you from blood donation
B.High blood iron levels increase the risk of diseases
C.But some may require a waiting period after your final dose
D.Since HIV and hepatitis can be transmitted through blood
E.You're underweight
F.When you go donate, make sure you have an updated medication list with you
G.You'll have to wait three months before you can give blood
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
My childhood and adolescence were a joyous outpouring of energy, an endless pursuit for expression, skill, and experience. _______was only a background to the great delight of lessons in music, dance, and dramatics.
Then one night at a high school dance, a remark, not intended for my _______, injured my youthful happiness: ''That girl, what a pity she is blind. '' Blind! A(n) _______word that implied everything dark, blank and helpless. _______I turned and called out, ''Please don't feel sorry for me. I'm having lots of fun. '' _______the fun was not to last.
In college years, I began to struggle with the problem of earning a living. Part-time teaching of piano and occasional giving concerts proved only _______sources of economic support. In terms of time and effort involved, the financial return was _______.
Self-doubt and dark moods sparked within me. _______to my misery was the repeated experience of knowing my sisters and friends dating excitedly. How _______I was to my piano, ________I could dissolve my frustration, accompanied by Chopin, Brahms, and Beethoven.
Then one day, I met a girl, an army nurse, whose faith was to change my life. As our acquaintance ________into friendship, she sensed my ________. She said, “Stop knocking on closed doors. I know your opportunity will come. You're trying too hard. Why don’t you relax? And have you ever tried ________?” The idea was strange to me. I had always believed that if you wanted ________, you had to go and get it for yourself. Yet, my sincerity and hard work had yielded poor returns, so I was ________to try anything else. Self-consciously, I performed the daily practice of prayer. I said, ''God, show me the ________for which You sent me to this world. ''
In the years to follow, the answers began to arrive, satisfying ________my most optimistic expectation. One of the answers was Enchanted Hills, where my ________friend and I had the privilege of seeing blind children come alive in God’s out-of-doors. ________are the sources of pleasure and comfort I have found in friendship, and most important of all, I ________closer to God and, through Him, to immortality.
1.A.School B.Society C.Family D.College
2.A.mind B.direction C.eyes D.ears
3.A.rude B.ugly C.dirty D.strange
4.A.Quickly B.Slowly C.Gently D.Quietly
5.A.Thus B.And C.But D.Though
6.A.adequate B.partial C.full D.rich
7.A.discouraging B.uninspiring C.encouraging D.convincing
8.A.Referring B.Contributing C.Adapting D.Adding
9.A.grateful B.excited C.proud D.sensitive
10.A.who B.which C.what D.where
11.A.jumped B.ran C.grew D.became
12.A.joy B.depression C.pleasure D.pity
13.A.practicing B.nursing C.praying D.volunteering
14.A.anything B.everything C.nothing D.something
15.A.able B.willing C.eager D.devoted
16.A.destination B.purpose C.meaning D.answer
17.A.with B.off C.beyond D.from
18.A.doctor B.teacher C.nurse D.prayer
19.A.Other B.Others C.Another D.Either
20.A.draw B.arrive C.drag D.pull
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。
Shared bike companies discourage the use of removable child seats on their bikes and warn that users must take full responsibility for any accidents 1.(involve) a child seat.
The child seats, which can be attached 2.different brands of shared bikes, popped up in online marketplaces with advertisements claiming the products are safe, 3.(reliance) and easily attached and removed from the bikes. But several bike-sharing companies including Ofo, Mobike and Mingbikes released statements saying their user agreements 4.(express) forbid carrying extra passengers on the bikes because of safety risks, and warning that they assume no legal responsibility if a violation leads to 5.accident.
Ofo said its on-street personnel, 6.mostly shift bikes between locations depending on demand, will attempt to persuade bike users to remove child seats if they spot them. If 7.(persuasive) fails, employees are instructed to contact the police, it said.
A Mobike employee in the public relations department who asked not 8.(name) said the company has been contacting online shopping websites that sell the detachable child seats, including Taobao, and asking them to remove the product because of safety concerns.
“We 9.(negotiate) with Taobao and other shopping websites to remove the child seats from the 10.(shelf), but the initiative is in the hands of the websites,” the employee said.
Taobao said negotiations with Mobike are ongoing.
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作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加: 在此处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出修改的词。
删除: 把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改: 在错的词下划一横线，并在其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11处起）不计分。
Dear Mike,
I’m glad to have received your letter says that you are interested in China. Now I am writing to sincere invite you to visit China, where won’t let you down. As you know, China, with a long history and great culture, have a sea of famous cities and different types of place of interest for you to explore. Among them you can’t miss out the Great Wall! Besides, you can also enjoy its various delicious food and convenience transport like high-speed trains and sharing bikes. They are sure give you the brand new experience!
Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Yours,
Li Hua
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假如你是学生会主席李华，学生会将进行“唐诗宋词朗诵大赛(Tang and Song Poetry Recitation Contest)”，以此弘扬中国悠久文化，特邀请学校国外交换生参加，请你根据提示写一则通知。主要内容包括：
1. 大赛的目的和意义；
2. 时间：5月5日，地点：校礼堂；
3. 欢迎国外交换生报名参加。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯
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难度: 中等查看答案及解析