If you hear the word“Castle” or the word“palace”，you may picture the same kind of building for both：large，made of stones，probably with a tower. And，of course，you're not entirely wrong，as those are features of both palaces and castles.
So then hay bother to visit one royal building in the United Kingdom Buckingham Palace and another the same country Windsor Castle?It turns out there is a difference，and you
can find it pretty plainly in these two popular buildings.
The Case for Castles
Castles were residences for royalty.But they were also intend as defensive seats. Say you're a king who has taken a particular area over.Now you have to hold it. castle and staff it with soldiers to defend your conquered territory and ensure it remains part of your kingdom.
Castles were built throughout Europe and the Middle East primarily for protection of the king and his people.Some common features of castles include：
●thick walls and heavy gates to keep invaders out
●protective low walls for archers to shoot with cover
●high towers for keeping a lookout over the surrounding
●gate houses for admitting allies instead of allowing enemies into the castle
The Place for Palaces
Palaces， on the contrary， had no defensive purposes.They were first meant for showing off the great victory of the war.Palaces were where the spoils(战利品) of war might be displayed,along with grand architecture,massive banquet halls,golden table settings and maybe even hundreds of luxuriously decorated rooms.
While kings certainly took up residence in palaces as well as castles,nonmilitary royals might also have lived in (or still live in)palaces. Ministers could live in castles to show the power of their riches rather than their nonexistent military power. The term comes from Palatine Hill in Rome.
1.Which of the flowing is one feature of castles?
A.Low towers surrounding castles.
B.Defensive low walls for shooting.
C.Gatehouses allowing enemies into the castle.
D.Thick walls and heavy gates to lock invaders in.
2.Why were palaces first built?
A.To accommodate ordinary soldiers.
B.To defend the king's conquered territory.
C.To show off the art of royal painting,
D.To display huge success of the war.
3.What is the main purpose of the next?
A.To list the reasons for kings living in palaces.
B.To make a comparison between castles and palaces.
C.To talk about The value of castles in modern times.
D.To show palaces are more popular than castles.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Alice is a senior at Sunset High School (SHS) in America.The kids in her school are looking forward to senior graduation and summer vacation.And they still desire to live a significant life: doing something worthwhile and making a difference.
Alice, senior class president, decides to take action by organizing a food drive. She also decides to reach out to the community in the neighborhood for support.
She wrote,“Hi! My name is Alice and I'm a senior at Sunset! The SHS student government is hosting a drive and collecting the canned and boxed food for needy families. I know many students in the slum (贫民窟) are not able to access regular meals without school. One-hundred percent of everything donated will go to families in need. So it would be amazing if anybody could donate any extra food and lay it around the house. I would be so happy to come by and pick up any extra food that anyone has and just let me know!”
So far, the community has made some 400 donations, and Alice has picked up each one.They're left in brown paper bags around their houses, and she handles them with the latest gloves. It's all packaged food, and the packaging is cleaned with disinfected wipes. Along with the rest of the student union, which brainstormed the idea last week, Alice is setting up distribution centers to dispense the food in the city so families can get what they need.
“In the community, I've seen so many people offering their help ,and I've picked up so many donations from community residents,”Alice said. It's nice to see people supporting each other.I think it's really good hat we're belong more cautious, especially within the community,Alice says.Every individual is aware of how to take care of themselves, their family and others them.They join hands make a big difference indeed. With everyone's efforts,the donation work goes on easily and smoothly and many poor families has got help.
1.What do we know about the students at SHS in the text?
A.They're eager for a meaningful life. B.They've helped to build a community.
C.They've graduated from senior high school. D.They're forced to do something worthwhile.
2.Why did Alice organize the food drive?
A.To gain greater popularity. B.To get food for families in need.
C.To set up the SHS student union. D.To donate food to the students in her school.
3.What does the underlined word“dispense”in paragraph 4 probably mean?
A.Recycle. B.Hand out.
C.Gain. D.Chew up.
4.What can be concluded from the last paragraph?
A.East or west, home is best. B.it's good to learn此another man's cost.
C.Actions speak louder than words. D.Many hands make work light.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
On the last Monday in May, people in the United States celebrate Memorial Day. This federal holiday honors members of the American military who died at war. Schools and government offices close. Most people in the US have this day off from work. People celebrate Memorial Day with outdoor parades.
Most Americans consider it the start of summer though the season really begins in June. With so many people off work, Memorial Day has also become a popular shopping day. However, on most occasions Memorial Day is a serious and even sorrowful holiday. Those who have lost family members at war visit burial sites to decorate the graves. They place flowers, wreaths and US flags on the graves.
Memorial Day comes from a tradition that began after the US Civil War called Decoration Day. The Civil War was a very dark time in the US history. Historians have long thought that about 620,000 soldiers died in the fighting. However, new research suggests that the dead numbered about 750,000.
In 1868, about 5,000 people gathered at Arlington National Cemetery on the edge of Washington, D. C. They decorated more than 10,000 graves of Union and Confederate soldiers. They called it Decoration Day. bone
The tradition spread to other areas of the country. In 1873, New York State called it Memorial Day and was the first to make it a legal-holiday. Other States allowed, but not all. Some southern states had (and-still have) separate celebrations that honor only dead Confederate soldiers.
After World War I ended in 1918, Memorial Day became a day to honor all American soldiers killed at war. In 1971, Congress passed a law making it an official federal holiday all over America.
1.What's the purpose of Memorial Day in America?
A.To mark the start of summer. B.To let people enjoy themselves.
C.To show respect to dead soldiers. D.To set a holiday to encourage soldiers.
2.What's the atmosphere of American Memorial Day like on most occasions?
A.Sad. B.Casual.
C.Pleasant. D.Relaxing.
3.When did Memorial Casual, become a legal holiday throughout the US?
A.In 1971. B.In 1873.
C.In 1918. D.In 1868.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.Celebration Activities of Memorial Day in the US
B.The Prospect of American Memorial Day
C.Members Honored on American Memorial Day
D.The Evolution on Memorial Day in the US
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
The other day, I bought an expensive anti-aging cream that promised to make my face look several years younger that other women by fighting free radicals. It made me curious about what free radicals ares.Is the anti-aging cream the only way I need to protect myself?
“As a scientific term, free radicals are essentially unstable atoms, “says Arizona-based doctor, Natasha Bhuyan, M. D. “In medicine, they cause cells to break down over time and are linked to aging.”
A super simple chemistry review for you: Atoms from different elements are the building blocks that make up water, nitrogen and more. Electrons (电子) are the negatively charged atoms, and they like to be in pairs. When an electron loses its partner, it creates a free radical, which is usually unstable and highly reactive. Free radicals typically go through the body to seek out a replacement for their missing electron, and that can result in damage to cells,proteins and DNA.
So how do free radicals form and why do they happen? Bhuyan says, “Scientifically, free radicals are unpaired electrons that are seeking a mate to bond with. The theory behind free radicals is that they can lead to the imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants (抗氧化剂).” Another mini-science lesson for you: Antioxidants are natural or man made matters that can help delay or prevent some types of cell damage. They’re often found in fruits and vegetables.
A lot of the aspects of modern life — our diet, lifestyle and environmental factors like pollution, can cause oxidative stress. Over time, oxidative stress weakens cell and tissues and can leave you more easily to certain health issues including cancer. And, as beauty marketers are keenly aware,oxidative stress can also speed up the aging process. Now that your know free radicals can weak on your health, you’re probably wondering if there are any ways to prevent them from forming or at least to minimize their negative effects.
1.What does the author intend to do in paragraph 1?
A.Explain the process of aging. B.State the formation of free radicals.
C.Introduce the topic of free radicals. D.Describe the harm of anti aging cream.
2.Which of the following do free radicals refer to?
A.Unpaired electrons. B.Steady atoms.
C.Replacements of atoms. D.Functions of electrons.
3.What can we learn about antioxidants from the text?
A.They have never been found in nature.
B.They do harm to cells, proteins and DNA.
C.They can slow down the damage of some cells.
D.They always keep balance with free radical.
4.What will the author probably tell us next?
A.What exactly oxidative stress is. B.How beauty marketers promote sales.
C.Where a variety of diseases come from. D.Whether free radicals can be prevented.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
High school years are a large part in1.(shape) the person you are going to become. A school often2.(provide)education for you,and it can also be a place 3.you can develop relationships with many different people,join clubs,and participate in a variety of different sports.These years can make you become a high school student4.(fill)with many different emotions,including happiness, anger,sadness, envy, loneliness,stress,and a numerous amount more.This is also a time when peer(同龄人)pressure is most commonly put upon a vast majority of teens.
Peer pressure is the influence from members of one's peer group.This can include influencing another to drink,smoke,cheat on a test,lie,skip class,and etc.The list is 5.(end).Peer pressure at high school is both harmful6. effective because it can lead to teen depression,high stress levels,negative behavior7.(issue),and poor decision making and outcomes.
Despite the fact that peer pressure is most commonly seen as a very negative issue,it can 8.(see)positively in some situations.This can involve pressuring your peers to avoid drugs,be honest,avoid alcohol,respect others,work hard,exercise,be kind, be responsible,and more.Friends and peer9.(actual)affect the choices you make.Choosing to have good friends can have a very strong effect10. you.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
How to live a happy life? The following suggestions may be of great help to you.
Keep positive. 1. Optimists have a 35% less chance of having a heart attack or stroke, are more likely to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly, have stronger immune systems and even live longer. If you face a challenge or obstacle, you’re more likely to see it as a temporary or even optimistic thing, allowing you to learn and grow.
Start volunteering. 2. It can reduce the risk of cognitive (认知的) disorder. It can even help us live longer. Even if you have a little time to offer, just the act of giving has been shown to improve your health, possibly by temporarily reducing your sense of pain.
Be grateful. Counting our blessings protects us against anxiety and depression and boosts optimism. One of the best ways to make thankfulness a part of your life is to keep a journal. 3. Keeping gratitude and recording your good deeds may help you live happily.
4. People who are more socially connected to family, friends and community are happier. They’re physically healthier, and they live longer than people who are less connected. High-conflict marriages, without much affection, turn out to be very bad for health, perhaps worse than getting divorced. 5.
A.Eat healthily and happily.
B.Strengthen social connections.
C.Looking on the bright side of life is really good for you.
D.You can set down some positive experiences in your diary.
E.Instead, living in good relationships is beneficial to health.
F.Studies show volunteering can reduce stress and depression.
G.You’ll have no time to volunteer and give thanks in your life.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
We’re encouraged to be nice to other people. However, many people _________ to be nice to the environment. Nature has _________ the alarm and global warming is quite a big _________ today in the 21st century. Carbon dioxide is the largest pollutant. That _________ causes greenhouse gases to stay in the earth’s atmosphere, _________ the temperature of the globe, causing abnormal weather and melting glaciers in the north and south.
Simple things we can do every day can help _________ the earth, prevent the extinction of animals such as the polar bear, and make the earth a _________ place to live in for us and future generations to come.
I’ve found tons of carbon dioxide are sent out by cars every day, _________ to the climate crisis. So I decide to take _________ now to publicize the danger of carbon dioxide, or __________ do something worthwhile to help slow the rise of the weather.
There are many ways for me to help reduce global warming. I often choose public __________, buses, for example. This can __________ money and energy. I prefer to bike or walk whenever I can. Somehow, I’ve __________ my body and grown muscles __________ the preference. If I have to go to a place and I can’t walk, I’ll share a car with others. I feel very __________ that New York city has decided to popularize hybrid (混合的) buses.
I also try to __________ friends and family to do the same in order to reduce carbon dioxide release. If everyone does something to help, together we can make a __________.
People who are interested can visit the __________ www.environmentaldefense.org to work with me. I’m __________ for everyone’s support and let’s fight together to make the earth healthy, __________ and free from pollution.
1.A.resolve B.hurry C.swear D.forget
2.A.shut B.sounded C.preferred D.broken
3.A.threat B.opportunity C.mystery D.fantasy
4.A.population B.solid C.pollution D.surface
5.A.increasing B.recording C.reducing D.maintaining
6.A.destroy B.preserve C.decorate D.acknowledge
7.A.quieter B.hotter C.better D.larger
8.A.leading B.admitting C.adapting D.applying
9.A.breath B.action C.cover D.offer
10.A.never B.so C.ever D.even
11.A.transportation B.space C.justification D.entertainment
12.A.produce B.combine C.economize D.employ
13.A.enquired about B.pulled up C.cared about D.built up
14.A.as for B.thanks to C.except for D.regardless of
15.A.absurd B.annoyed C.delighted D.sensitive
16.A.forbid B.urge C.warn D.permit
17.A.profit B.promise C.bet D.difference
18.A.site B.item C.channel D.charity-
19.A.guilty B.qualified C.hungry D.noted
20.A.autonomous B.digital C.enormous D.clean
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
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 have learned a lot about Shanghai and I had been dying to go there. When I’m in Shang-hai, and I’ll walk along the Bund (上海外滩), on which I can see many western-style buildings. At noon, we want to eat some delicious snack in Yu Garden. After lunch, I plan to visiting the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, which is the seventh high tower in the world. Besides, I will also climb to the top of that tower to have a look on the whole city. Only in this way, can I have better understanding of that modernly city. Visiting Shanghai is my wish. I hope it will be realizing this year.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
假定你是你班英语科代表李华，得知许多同学长时间在网上学习英语。就此请你用英语给你班同学发一封电子邮件，内容包括：
1. 陈述长时间在网上学习造成的影响；
2. 你的建议（控制时间，多种形式相结合等）。
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