Researchers discovered a hidden continent on Earth, but it's not Atlantis. They found it while reconstructing the evolution of Mediterranean region's complex geology, which rises with mountain ranges and dips with seas from Spain to Iran.
The continent is called Greater Adria. It's the size of Greenland and it broke off from North Africa, only to be buried under Southern Europe about 140 million years ago. And chances are you've been there without even knowing it. “Forget Atlantis,” said Douwe, study author and professor at Utrecht University. “Without realizing it, vast numbers of tourists spend their holiday each year on the lost continent of Greater Adria.” This area is called Adria by geologists, so the researchers for this study refer to the previously undiscovered continent as Greater Adria.
Most of Greater Adria was underwater, covered by shallow seas, coral reefs and sediments (沉淀物). The sediments formed rocks and those rocks became mountain ranges in these areas： the Alps, the Apennines, the Balkans, Greece and Turkey. The researchers found that Greater Adria started to become its own continent about 240 million years ago.
This isn't the first time a lost continent has been found. In January 2017, researchers announced the discovery of a lost continent left over from the supercontinent Gondwana, which began breaking apart 200 million years ago. The leftover piece, which was covered in lava (岩 浆), is now under Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean. And in September 2017, a different research team found the lost continent of Zealandia through ocean drilling in the South Pacific. It’s two-thirds of a mile beneath the sea.
Greater Adria isn’t the first lost continent to be found. But if research in past years shows anything, it likely won’t be the last discovery.
1.How did the researchers find Greater Adria?
A.They found it accidentally.
B.They got inspired by the tales of Atlantis.
C.They discovered it after years of seaching.
D.They followed the steps of exploring mountain ranges.
2.What do we know about Greater Adria?
A.It is hidden under the sea level.
B.It is much smaller than Greenland.
C.It has existed for about 240 million years.
D.It has been known to many tourists before.
3.Why are the discoveries mentioned in Paragraph 4?
A.To describe how the researchers explored continents.
B.To show some other lost continents have been found.
C.To prove they are closely related to Greater Adria.
D.To explain the reason why Greater Adria got buried.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.Atlantis Discovered Finally
B.Undersea World Explored
C.A Hidden Mountain Undiscovered
D.A Lost Continent Found Under Europe
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
In the fall of 2017, when Paula Aldridge needed to get a job, she found herself at a crossroads. The 50-year-old wasn’t sure she would ever work again, due to health issues.
But Aldridge’s life and career journey started to turn around after she connected with Goodwill of Central Iowa’s skills training programs. These programs are tailored to help people develop the kind of specific, real-world skills they need to get and keep a job, through a combination of detailed instruction and hands-on experience.
When Aldridge first connected with Goodwill in September 2017, she was dealing with several barriers to immediate employment. Transportation was challenging, as she didn’t have a driver’s license or own a car. Aldridge also had a limited work history with long employment gaps (间断) , meaning she missed out on learning important skills, such as working a credit card machine. On top of that, her physical health issues were also a problem.
According to Kayleigh Duff, a career specialist at Goodwill of Central Iowa, the biggest barrier Aldridge had to overcome was from within. “She said outwardly that she had all of this confidence and that she knew how strong a worker she was, but I don’t think she truly believed it herself.”
Thankfully, Aldridge had plenty of people on her side to provide motivation and guidance. She originally started off in the food service training program but was eager to enter the retail (零售) skills program, since she had previously worked at the Salvation Army and Subway. When Aldridge mentioned her interest in retail, Duff recognized that her go-getting attitude would be a perfect match for the program.
The seven-week retail skills training is a systematic program combining classroom instruction with on- the-job experience at a Goodwill store. As Aldridge progressed and graduated from the program, she became more confident in her abilities.
Duff said it was great to see how Aldridge grew into the devoted, driven worker she is today. “She has this strong desire, this longing to succeed. And she knows that she’s able to do that, although she has fallen short in the past.”
1.What can be learned about Goodwill’s training programs?
A.They combine theory with practice.
B.They guarantee a good job for participants.
C.They are designed mainly for the unemployed.
D.They were established in the autumn of 2017.
2.What was the biggest problem Aldridge faced according to Duff?
A.Poor health. B.Poor working skills.
C.A lack of confidence. D.A lack of a driver’s license.
3.Why did Aldridge change her training program?
A.She wanted to attend a more systematic program.
B.She wanted to gain some hands-on experience.
C.She was more interested in retail.
D.She followed Duff’s advice.
4.What’s the main idea of the text?
A.A 50-year-old devotes herself to Goodwill.
B.Goodwill helps a 50-year-old turn her life around.
C.Goodwill training programs spring up around the world.
D.Success is closely linked to appropriate training programs.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Inventions That Will Make Your 2020 a Lot More Interesting
Each year there are countless new products and inventions on the market. Here are some of the most exciting products to come out over the year.
Xbox Adaptive Controller
The Xbox Adaptive Controller is here to make the gaming world more accessible. Microsoft developed the Xbox Adaptive Controller to help those with limited hand and arm mobility (移动的能力) play games. This device connects switches, buttons and joysticks (操纵杆) to create a unique custom controller experience. The product itself was inspired by previous efforts made by groups like the Cerebral Palsy Foundation.
Gravity Blanket
Gravity is in here to help you deal with your anxiety. Starting off as a Kickstarter campaign, the company Gravity has created a therapeutic (治疗的) weighted blanket engineered to be around 10% of your body weight. The super comfortable blanket helps those who have a sleeping problem, and those who may be stressed, or deal with anxiety.
Solar Charged Jacket
If you are a night runner, this one is for you. Created by UK-based sporting goods company Vollebak, the Solar Charged Jacket absorbs light during the day and gives off its “green energy” for those who need to be safe after dark.
LynQ
Getting separated from friends or family members at an event or a festival can be annoying. LynQ helps you find your loved ones when you get separated from the group. Unlike smartphones, this compass does not need any Wi-Fi to stay connected. It is a great tool for family vacations.
1.What do we know about the Xbox Adaptive Controller?
A.It gives users a shared game experience.
B.It makes it easier for users to play games.
C.It is a useful software developed by Microsoft.
D.It consists mainly of remote joysticks.
2.Which of the following is fit for those who find it hard to fall asleep?
A.The Xbox Adaptive Controller. B.The Solar Charged Jacket.
C.The Gravity Blanket. D.LynQ.
3.In what way is LynQ different from a smartphone?
A.It is powered by solar energy.
B.It requires no Internet connection.
C.It is used to improve family relationships.
D.It responds to family members more quickly.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Would you give your Social Security Number to the clerk at the grocery store? Of course not, right? Yet, if you’re like most people, you wouldn’t hesitate to give out a different, but equally important number to the same person.
Experts now say that your cellphone number may be more pivotal than any other personal information in the eyes of spammers (垃圾邮件发送者) and identity thieves. In other words, instead of handing it out, you should guard that cellphone number with your life.
Today, your cellphone number will likely be with you for a very long time. That means if spammers get your cellphone number, it will be much harder to get rid of them. It also means that over the years, your cellphone number will be linked to a lot of personal information—from contact lists to bank card numbers, all information that hackers (黑客) would love to get their hands on.
A few years ago, German security researcher Karsten Nohl showed in an experiment what he could obtain using only a person’s cellphone number. California Congressman Ted Lieu was given a new cellphone for a day and Nohl was given that cellphone number. Using just that number, Nohl was able to find Lieu’s location and movements throughout Los Angeles, read his emails and text messages, and record phone calls between Lieu and his staff. And Nohl did all of this from his office in Berlin using just a cellphone number.
Still think it’s a good idea to post your number on a noticeboard?
It’s safe to assume that Nohl is an expert when it comes to hacking, but even the ordinary thief can use your cellphone number to cause harm to you. When you sign up for an account online, you usually provide your email address and a password. But if you forget that password, many of these companies will send you a password retrieval code (检码) via your cellphone. Let’s say you post something for sale online and you include your name, email, and cellphone number. You’ve now given a potential thief everything he needs to hack into any of your online accounts. Therefore, it just makes sense to protect yourself by guarding that number as closely as you would guard any other personal information.
1.What does the underlined word “pivotal” in Paragraph 2 most probably mean?
A.Accessible. B.Familiar.
C.Vital. D.Manageable.
2.What does the third paragraph mainly talk about?
A.Why people need to take care of their cellphone numbers.
B.Why people seldom change their cellphone numbers.
C.How to protect our personal information.
D.How to get rid of spammers.
3.What did Karsten Nohl’s experiment intend to prove?
A.Nohl is a real expert in hacking.
B.It’s necessary to fight against hackers.
C.Lieu’s new cellphone has powerful functions.
D.Hacking information via cellphone numbers is not hard.
4.What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A.It’s a good idea to sell something online.
B.It’s risky to post your cellphone numbers online.
C.It’s necessary to register several accounts online.
D.It’s common for people to forget their passwords.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Remarkable Ways to Push Yourself Harder
Deep inside us, we know that hard work is the key to success. 1. Here are the rules that you can also apply to make yourself work really hard.
Practice working hard.
2. Therefore, if you want to be a hard worker, you must practice working hard. Practice waking up early, practice doing a lot of work, and practice working more hours. One day you will wake up and realize that you are a hard worker.
3.
Many hard workers always have a large purpose that forces them to work. Don’t just think of buying a car or a big house because this is not a purpose strong enough to push you forward. An example of a big purpose is deciding that you are working hard so that you bring change in the lives of your friends, family, and neighborhood. A strong purpose always involves bringing a large positive change in any particular setting.
Surround yourself with hard workers.
4. But if you surround yourself with hardworking people, you will find yourself working hard towards your goal. Avoid friends who just want to have fun all the time. This type of friends will always discourage you when you attempt to work hard. Therefore, always surround yourself with go-getters.
Read and watch inspirational materials.
You can also push yourself harder through reading and watching inspirational material.
5. These materials make you work hard because they remove discouragement and assure you that you will never fail if you push yourself to the limit.
A.Have a strong purpose.
B.Find a great goal to overcome your laziness.
C.Like other skills, one has to practice it to perfect it.
D.Inspirational material makes you believe in yourself.
E.However, we always find it difficult to push ourselves harder.
F.Motivational books and videos encourage you to work harder.
G.If you surround yourself with lazy people, you will also be lazy.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Happiness, above all else in the world, is what people seek. They want to have happiness, and want to know they have a lot of it. But happiness, like air or water, is a _______ thing to grasp in one’s hand. So how does one know if they have it? Is it just a _______? And if someone does not feel happy, how can they go about _______ that feeling?
Happiness is not _______ by material wealth. A new car or television, a waterskiing boat or a three-level house is not _______ to joyful feelings. They are status symbols, surely, but they don’t _______ a happy life. People who have wealth can be _______, just as the poor can be living joyfully. Possessions can be _______ and lost, and with that comes fear. And fear _______ leads to happiness.
So if it isn’t “stuff” that gains happiness, then what can? Well, ________ can. People need to have a sense of purpose. These people often have a feeling of satisfaction. They sense they were put on this planet for a ________. To each person, this purpose can be ________. Maybe they were meant to teach. Maybe they were meant to learn. And goals can be ________ things, like taking an extra moment each day to breathe. But having ________ in life, a feeling of moving forward, can make people feel happy.
But taking that forward motion too ________ can be a bad thing. Success at the expense of everything else leads to the ________ of happiness. Life requires ________. And people who understand there is a balance between work and ________ are more in tune with the universe and, therefore, better able to achieve happiness. Life with a bit of humor is more ________. So people can be happy if they have something to strive for and something to ________ about.
1.A.vital B.hard C.strange D.magic
2.A.feeling B.sign C.gift D.reward
3.A.ignoring B.replacing C.achieving D.checking
4.A.measured B.exchanged C.bought D.controlled
5.A.close B.similar C.harmful D.equal
6.A.change B.guarantee C.start D.influence
7.A.proud B.stressed C.rude D.unhappy
8.A.borrowed B.robbed C.gained D.returned
9.A.rarely B.always C.even D.still
10.A.money B.jobs C.love D.goals
11.A.moment B.trip C.reason D.position
12.A.rewarding B.different C.challenging D.impractical
13.A.meaningful B.small C.instructive D.significant
14.A.creativity B.power C.wealth D.progress
15.A.far B.high C.late D.slowly
16.A.result B.change C.opposite D.imagination
17.A.balance B.care C.emotion D.friendship
18.A.music B.play C.art D.study
19.A.different B.worthwhile C.beneficial D.pleasant
20.A.worry B.talk C.laugh D.think
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。
The 1.(popular) of Chinese-owned video sharing service TikTok continues to grow among young people in the United States. In 2019, experts say the service doubled 2.(it) American user base to 37 million. TikTok is 3.(particular) popular among teens and young adults.
The service lets users create and share short videos, many of 4. are under 15 seconds. The TikTok app offers a 5.(wide) choice of sounds, brief parts of songs and special effects tools than traditional video-sharing apps 6.(help) create better videos. Videos often include popular songs from well-known artists and TikTok has even helped launch the careers of new music stars.
Successful video-sharing apps Snapchat and Instagram also mainly interest young users with a wide mix of photos and videos 7.(center) largely on fashion, pop culture and humor. But TikTok is taking up a remarkable market share now. 8., it is considered a strong competitor to both of them.
Last year, TikTok was 9. second-most downloaded app from Apple and Google stores, only less than WhatsApp. Research company Sensor Tower estimates that people 10.(download) the TikTok app 1.65 billion times so far.
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，每句中最多有两处。每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’m writing to tell you something about the discussion on if it is necessary for senior one student to take the one-week military training. Students’ views on it varies from person to person.
Some held that it is necessary. On one hand, it can improve students’ teamwork spirit, who will play an important part in their life and study. On the other hand, it is no doubt that they become stronger physically and mentally through the training.
Besides, the others have opposite views. They think it is waste of time. Meanwhile, students get burnt easy without any protection in the sun.
As far as I’m concerned about, though we may feel tired during the training, it goes without saying that the one-week military training is meaningful.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假如你是李华。21世纪报正在举办以“我心中的英雄”为主题的英语演讲比赛初选。请你依照该主题，写一篇英文演讲稿。
要点：1. 你心中的英雄；
2. 选择“英雄”的理由；
3. “英雄”对于你的启发和激励。
要求：1. 词数100左右；
2. 适当增加细节，使行文连贯。
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难度: 困难查看答案及解析