A handwritten letter by a little boy asking Santa for a “very good dad” has captured hearts worldwide.
The boy, known only as “Blake” in the letter, wrote, “Dear Santa, We had to leave our house. Dad was mad. We had to do all the chores. Dad got everything he wanted. Mom said it was time to leave and she would take us to a safer place where we don’t have to be scared.”
“Blake is a 7-year-old boy in one of our shelters, and his mom found this letter in his backpack...” Posted by SafeHaven of Tarrant County on Wednesday, December 18, 2019.
“I’m still nervous. I don’t want to talk to the other kids,” he continued. “Are you going to come this Christmas? Can you bring a dictionary, and a compass and a watch?”
The most heart-wrenching part of the letter was the last line that read, “I also want a very very very good dad. Can you do that too?”
Officials with SafeHaven of Tarrant County, a group seeking to help end domestic (家庭的) violence, posted Blake’s letter to its Facebook page. Now, some of the child’s wishes have come true. All of the gifts he asked for have been donated by people in the community. Though SafeHaven received more than 10,000 gifts this year, they want to shine a light on the bigger issue of domestic violence.
“To us, it was kind of a story that we’ve heard all the time,” Kathryn Jacob, the organization’s president and CEO, told Today. “Like tonight, we have 73 kids in the shelter. Blake is just one of many.”
1.The little boy asked Santa for a “very good dad” because ________.
A.his dad was too strict with him B.he was forced to do all the chores
C.he was ill-treated by his dad D.his dad didn’t buy him any gifts
2.What do we know about SafeHaven?
A.It has received a lot of concern so far. B.It provides services for homeless children.
C.It posted Blake’s letter without permission. D.Part of its goal is to earn money.
3.What is Kathryn Jacob’s purpose by saying the words in the last paragraph?
A.To advertise their shelter. B.To introduce their shelter.
C.To tell more information about Blake. D.To draw attention to domestic violence.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
Since September about 11m hectares of Australia have been in flames. This year’s fires are the worst on record, with at least 26 people dead, about half-billion animals burned alive, and over 2300 homes destroyed. Australians of all species are suffering the most. But the fires have serious consequences for the rest of the world, too.
New Zealand, one of Australia’s closest neighbors, is feeling the effects of the bushfires. The most important effect of the fires might be on the country’s glaciers, about which Helen Clark, New Zealand’s former prime minister, tweeted: “Australian bushfires have created haze in New Zealand with particular impact on the South Island yesterday and now spreading more widely. Impact of ash on glaciers is likely to speed melting.” Melting glaciers could open up a future none of us wants to suffer.
There’s no such thing as weather that happens in isolation. As a recent Forbes article reports, fires have the potential to not only block visibility for airplanes, grounding them, but to create pockets of hotter or colder air, or create situations where the weather is increasingly less stable — although no one is yet certain how far from the Australian continent those effects might wander, or how harmful they may prove to be.
In addition to coal, Australia also exports all kinds of agricultural products — like beef and wool—particularly to Asian countries including China and Japan. But what happens when the land it uses to grow all that food and fiber is destroyed by fire? Obviously, no more goods to export, which creates a huge problem in the international supply chain. Thanks to globalization, pretty much no country eats only the food it grows. What happens to the global food supply as agricultural land in Australia and other export nation’s burns to a crisp?
1.What can we learn about the Australian bushfires?
A.They’ve left most of Australian land in flames.
B.They’ve speeded the melting of glaciers.
C.They will certainly create hotter air.
D.No one is certain how harmful their effects will be on climate.
2.What’s the author’s attitude towards the future of the global food supply?
A.Doubtful. B.Objective.
C.Concerned. D.Indifferent.
3.What is the best title for the text?
A.The Effects of the Australian Bushfires on Climate Change
B.Australian Bushfires: a Big Disaster to the Country
C.What the Australian Bushfires Mean for the Rest of the World?
D.Why the Australian Bushfires Affect the Rest of the World?
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
For two centuries, the famous University of Cambridge debating society has hosted many prominent figures, from world leaders to scientists to comedians.
On Nov 21, the Cambridge Union hosted another extraordinary guest—a non-human debater called Project Debater. Designed by IBM, Project Debater is a machine that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to form a spoken argument. It can even listen and answer to opposite statements, much like a real person.
In the Cambridge test debate, it argued the topic: Al will ultimately (最终) do more harm than good. Before the debate, more than 1,100 arguments for the positives and negatives of AI were submitted (递交) to the IBM website. The machine then analyzed these sources and formed the basis of its arguments in minutes. Project Debater then showed off its AI by arguing for both sides of the debate.
Over a four-minute speech, it argued first that, “AI can only make decisions that it has been programmed to solve, while humans can be programmed for all situations.”
In support of AI, it then argued that AI would create new jobs and “bring a lot more efficiency” to the workplace.
This isn’t the first test for Project Debater. In June 2018, the machine went back-and-forth for 20 minutes against champion debater Harish Natarajan.
According to New Scientist, on both occasions, Project Debater repeated points and didn’t always sufficiently (充分地) support them.
Speaking to Cambridge Independent, Noam Slonim, the project’s lead engineer, said, “The AI is not perfect, but it’s going in the right direction.” The team hopes to improve the AI by researching why humans find certain arguments more persuasive than others. They also hope the test might provide well-informed viewpoints for society, governments and private companies.
1.What does the underlined word “prominent” mean in paragraph one?
A.Intelligent. B.Outstanding.
C.Well-educated. D.Creative.
2.According to the passage, Project Debater ________.
A.can make decisions for all situations
B.argued with itself in the Cambridge test debate
C.can always find enough evidence to support its idea
D.defeated champion debater Harish Natarajan in June 2018
3.What does Noam Slonim think of the AI?
A.It’s not so beneficial to humans. B.It will defeat humans in time.
C.It remains to be improved. D.It will ultimately do more harm than good.
4.This passage above can be most probably read in ________.
A.a newspaper B.a guidebook
C.a textbook D.a research paper
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Many people connect gratitude (感谢) with saying “thank you” to someone who helped us, making it a short act of appreciation. According to Robert Emmons, a leading researcher, gratitude is an emotion that can result in long-lasting positivity (积极性). 1.
Gratitude is good for your health.
Through his research, Emmons found that grateful people reported feeling healthier and happier, both mentally and physically. 2. In the workplace, employees who are shown that they are appreciated are healthier and more productive by 50 percent.
3.
Gratitude is a selfless act. We often take for granted the simple things in life. Those who recognize the goodness in life, no matter how simple, are more likely to be sensitive to the needs of others and to help whenever they can. Being considerate to others’ opinions, experiences and backgrounds will make you a better person.
Gratitude makes us more self-aware.
Working in an ever-developing, fast-paced society, we are surrounded by ambitious people who are always struggling for more and better. 4. It starts by paying attention to what’s now going on in your life, and that’s true self-awareness is the key to being successful.
Gratitude helps us build strong relationship.
Gratitude is a powerful tool for strengthening relationship, both at work and in your personal life. People who express their gratitude tend to be more willing to forgive others and therefore able to create long-lasting connections.
5. Taking the time to thank people for their work and kindness --- whether it was today, last month or many years ago-makes you happier and more self-aware.
A.Specially, those who were grateful were 25 percent happier than those who weren’t.
B.Gratitude builds understanding.
C.The old saying goes “It’s never too late to say you’re sorry”, but the same is true of gratitude.
D.All in all, we feel and express our gratitude in different ways.
E.Gratitude makes you reflect (反思) in the moment instead of always thinking about the future.
F.Gratitude helps us build up self-confidence.
G.Here are a few benefits of being grateful.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Alexandra Adams, 25, is a four-year medical student who was born both deaf and blind. However, she has _________ to let her condition prevent her from becoming a doctor.
Being completely deaf in both ears without hearing aids, and with 5 percent sight in only one eye, she relies on her other _________ such as touch to feel for veins (血管). “You can _________ a lot about patients just by listening to them.” she told The Daily Mail.
Miss Adams was _________ to take part in the 2012 Paralympics as a swimmer aged 16, but her previous serious stomach problems went very wrong, _________ her to be hospitalized for 18 months.
The experience _________ her switch her attention from swimming to medicine --- and she was finally _________ to Cardiff University.
Recalling her first placement (实习), she said: “When I arrived, a doctor asked why I was walking with the patient’s stick. I had to explain it was _________ mine. I was told not to touch any patients --- I felt really _________. That first day I had faced a level of discrimination (歧视) I was __________ for.
Recently the student is __________ the older patients in palliative care (姑息治疗), with her __________ proving to be a popular conversation topic. She described the patients’ __________ as ‘wonderful’, adding: “They don’t discriminate”
Miss Adams is __________ about disabled issues. Though having limited __________, she takes photos of other disabled workers around the UK, and __________ their stories in her blog Faces of the NHS to show different __________ of the workers in the health service.
NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said: “Alexandra is a(an) __________ woman who got over difficulties through hard work and __________. I hope her __________ will inspire thousands.”
1.A.managed B.tried C.decided D.refused
2.A.feeling B.senses C.skills D.spirit
3.A.give up B.go through C.pick up D.work out
4.A.commanded B.expected C.employed D.begged
5.A.forcing B.reminding C.allowing D.encouraging
6.A.heard B.saw C.felt D.noticed
7.A.taken B.connected C.attached D.admitted
8.A.surely B.actually C.usually D.possibly
9.A.nervous B.frightened C.hurt D.tired
10.A.unprepared B.fit C.responsible D.thirsty
11.A.dealing with B.consulting with C.looking for D.spying on
12.A.clothes B.health C.face D.stick
13.A.influence B.reaction C.guidance D.advice
14.A.concerned B.excited C.disappointed D.puzzled
15.A.patience B.hearing C.sight D.evidence
16.A.discovers B.reads C.covers D.includes
17.A.ages B.colors C.habits D.images
18.A.impressive B.attractive C.generous D.reliable
19.A.curiosity B.interest C.determination D.cooperation
20.A.work B.dream C.example D.lesson
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
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。
Beijing, the capital of the country for over 850 years, is a perfect combination of classic grace and modernity, which makes it the first 1. (choose) of international travelers. Among Chinese people there is an old saying 2. one who fails to reach the Great Wall is not a true hero.
Different from the long-lasting tradition that Beijing holds, Shanghai shows visitors an 3. (unbelievable) urban atmosphere. It 4. (recognize) as the centre of the country’s commerce and fortune and titled “the shoppers’ paradise” (天堂) with a unique scenery 5. (leave) by the colonial history. The high-rise Oriental Pearl Tower, World Financial Center, and Jin Mao Tower stretch (伸展) upwards, 6. (form) one of the world’s most splendid skylines. This sleepless city will impress you 7. flashing neon lights (霓虹灯), elegant streetlights and ever moving headlights.
If you want to research into the 5,000 years’ history of this ancient oriental land, no city is 8. (suitable) than Xi’an, one of the four major capitals of ancient civilization. 9. famous Silk Road starts from here, stretching through west China to the Mediterranean. Enjoying the scenery of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda (大雁塔) together with the splendid music fountains 10. (be) an amazing experience.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假定你是李华，校报根据最近网上的帖子“火神山，雷神山，钟南山三山齐聚克难关”，发起了主题为“真正值得追捧的明星”的英语演讲比赛，请撰写一份演讲稿，内容如下：
1. 作为青少年，深受许多无名英雄和科学家的事迹感动；
2. 他们的价值；
3. 力争做一个真正的“明星”。
参考词汇：新型冠状病毒COVID-19流行病epidemic
注意：1. 词数80左右；
2. 可适当增加情节，以使行文连贯。
3. 开头已给出，不计入总词数。
Good morning, everyone. During the tough battle against COVID-19,
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
That’s all. Thank you for listening.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。
School mornings were always busy. The first sentence I usually heard was, “It’s time to rise!” It was Mom’s loudest voice and there was no way I could pretend not to hear it or hide from it.
“Okay, Mum. I’m getting up and dressed!” I would manage to call back.
Mum spoke loudly again as she announced, “Breakfast is ready!”
By then, I couldn’t get to the kitchen fast enough. In fact, it was a race between my sister, my brother, and me. We usually seated ourselves at the same time, sometimes knocking each other out of our places. After breakfast, we all rushed out to the bus stop as we took our lunch bags that contained a sandwich, fruit and dessert.
Then, one day, much to my surprise, there was no dessert in my lunch! What could have happened to it? Did Mom forget to make or buy it? Oh, well, I thought. It’s only one time, so it’s no big deal. But, for the next few days, my lunch contained no dessert! So one day, after school, as soon as I got home, I asked, “Mum! Why haven’t you been putting a dessert in my school lunches?”
Mum answered, “Why, Eugene, I have been including a dessert in your lunch. If you ‘re not getting them, then who is?”
So then we thought of my activities and what I did with my lunch each day. As soon as I arrived at school, I always put my lunch in the classroom closet (储物间) along with all of the other lunches. And that brought us to Carl the bad boy of the third-grade classroom. The teacher didn’t like him in class and would send him to the closet, where he would spend most of each day.
Carl lived in a group of foster home (集体寄养之家). He was loud and somewhat of a thief, he would take just about anything that wasn’t fastened down, so he wasn’t welcome at school. Mom and I concluded that with nothing else to do Carl was probably going through the lunches and eating what he liked.
注意：1. 所续写短文的词数应为 150 左右；
2. 至少使用5个短文中标有下标线的关键词语；
3. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
4. 续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1:
My mother and I talked about ways to solve the problem.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
Another day, Carl asked me if he could come to my house and meet my mother.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
难度: 中等查看答案及解析