The following picture books are a wonderful way to improve the summer experience with kids.
♦ Vampirina at the Beach by Anne Marie Pace
Vampirina and her best monster friend head to the beach during the full moon on a perfect summer night to enjoy all the fun and festivities the beach has to offer. Along the way, Vampirina’s beach adventures highlight the importance of beach safety to ensure a heroic adventure for all.
Available from Amazon, $11.50
♦ Summer by Alice Low
Summer brings so many things to a spirited boy, an eager girl, and an excited little dog. The season is filled with adventure. With clever rhyming words, clever phrasing, and playful images, children will love following along as this energetic trio (三重唱) takes in all the sunshine, big beach waves, fireworks, and sweet treats of this truly memorable time of year.
Available from Amazon, $6.23
♦ Waiting for Pumpsie by Barry Wittenstein
Summer is the season of baseball, and there’s no better way to celebrate summer than with the true story of Pumpsie Green’s rise from the minors to the Boston Red Sox in 1959. As the final major league team to include black athletes, young Bernard and his family travel to Fenway Park to witness Pumpsie Green take the field in this inspirational tale of equality and progress.
Available from Amazon, $9.61
♦ The Night Before Summer Camp by Natasha Wing
Sure, camp sounds fun, but when you don’t quite know what to expect, it’s only natural to feel a little nervous away from Mom and Dad. With rhyming prose (散文) and cheerful illustrations (插图), this cheering story of an unwilling boy who comes to enjoy all the fun summer camp will have children ready to take on their own camp adventure!
Available from Amazon, $3.52
1.What benefit can children get from Vampirina at the Beach?
A.Enjoying the excitement of sports.
B.Making friends with pets more easily.
C.Strengthening the sense of shore safety.
D.Gaining the courage to enjoy summer camp.
2.Which of the following book is related to human rights?
A.Summer. B.Waiting for Pumpsie.
C.Vampirina at the Beach. D.The Night Before Summer Camp.
3.What do the four books have in common?
A.They tell what happens in the hot season.
B.They introduce camp adventures.
C.They describe sweet music.
D.They have the same price.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Clara Barton, born on Christmas in 1821, is widely known as one of the most honored women in American history. She began teaching school when most teachers were men at that time. Later, she became one of the first women ever to be employed by the government.
Her career in helping the sick began when her brother David became her first patient. He fell down from the roof of a house when Clara was just 11 years old. She stayed by his side and looked after him for three years, learning how to give him all his medicines.
When the Civil War began in 1861, she immediately recognized that the poorly equipped soldiers needed help. Instead of waiting for others to step in, Clara collected necessary things on her own, asked the public for donations and learned how to store and distribute them to soldiers. She also read to the soldiers and wrote letters for them.
After the Battle of Cedar Mountain in northern Virginia in 1862, Clara arrived at a field hospital at midnight with a vehicle full of supplies. A doctor named Paul Smith at that hospital would later write, “I thought heaven had sent out an angel that night — her assistance arrived at exactly the right time.”
In 1869, Clara went to Europe and learned about the International Committee of the Red Cross. Upon her return to the United States, she successfully founded the American Red Cross. She led the organization for the next 23 years. Her last field mission (使命) as president of the American Red Cross was to help the victims of the 1900 Galveston hurricane. She did not retire (退休) from the American Red Cross until she was 83. True to her nature, Clara always went to where the need was the greatest.
Today, the American Red Cross continues the mission Clara started more than 100 years ago. With the help of thousands of volunteers, the American Red Cross provides relief to victims of disasters, as well as helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to all sorts of emergencies.
1.We can learn from Paragraph 2 that Clara Barton was .
A.honest B.caring
C.talented D.modest
2.After the Civil War broke out, Clara Barton .
A.joined the army and fought bravely B.went to Europe for further study
C.continued to work as a teacher D.did a lot to help soldiers
3.Seeing Clara Barton’s arrival, Dr. Smith must have felt .
A.excited and grateful B.proud and joyful
C.shy and nervous D.sad and sorry
4.What is mainly described in Paragraph 5?
A.The aim of the American Red Cross.
B.The importance of voluntary donations.
C.Clara Barton and the American Red Cross.
D.Clara Barton’s contribution to the Civil War.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
5G has the potential to disrupt a huge number of industries, including one of the world’s oldest: Farming. Next-generation 5G networks can be 100 times faster than 4G, making communication between devices and servers much quicker. 5G can also carry much more data than other networks. That makes the technology ideal for transmitting information from remote sensors and drones, key tools that are being tested by farmers. 5G is also helping to automate farming processes.
UK initiative 5G RuralFirst launched a smartphone app in March called Me+Moo, which lets farmers track a “connected” cow and receive daily updates on the animal’s health and behavior. The system, which is being tested on cows at the Agri-Epi Center in Somerset, England, is funded in part by UK government and supported by the tech company Cisco (CSCO). The cows wear 5G-connected collars that send data to the app on everything from what they’re eating to how they’re sleeping. Farmers can see the information instantly. “This provides peace of mind that the cows are happy, healthy and behaving normally, as well as early warning if they are getting sick, are pregnant or need to be checked,” said project manager Duncan Forbes.
Yet to make a difference, 5G will first need to be installed in rural areas. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) predicts that in order to provide for the world’s rapidly rising population, the planet will need to grow 70% more food in 2050 than it did in 2009. “To respond to those demands, farmers will need new technologies to produce more from less land, with fewer hands,” reads one report from the organization.
In 2017, another 5G RuralFirst project became the first in the world to successfully plant, tend and harvest a crop without a single human stepping foot in the field. Autonomous Automatic tractors sowed the seeds, drones with sensors monitored the crops, and smaller machines took samples from fields to assess what fertilizers and pesticides to apply.
1.Why can 5G help the farming?
A.Because it can carry more information.
B.Because it can be equipped with sensors.
C.Because it can disrupt a lot of industries.
D.Because it can be installed in rural areas.
2.What did farmers do firstly if they wanted to use Me+Moo?
A.They founded a tech company.
B.They let the cows wear 5G-connected collars.
C.They kept cows behaving normally.
D.They made sure the cows were checked often.
3.According to FAO, how will the world solve the food problem?
A.People should control the rising population.
B.People should find more and more land.
C.People should turn to the new technology.
D.People should learn to get more money.
4.How did RuralFirst decide what kind of fertilizer to apply?
A.It analyzed the soil.
B.It dug earth with tractors.
C.It employed experts.
D.It hired drones with sensors.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Few people can refuse a delicious ice cream, especially on a hot day. The only thing that stops the fun is that the treat is hard to enjoy slowly, ending up with a sticky, melted mess. Now, researchers from Colombia’s Pontifical Bolivarian University may have found an unlikely thing to help solve this age-old problem — a kind of fibre from banana plant waste.
Bananas, as you probably know, grow in groups on a tree-like plant. Each group is connected to a central rachis (叶轴), which is thrown once the fruit has been gathered. The team, which was led by Dr. Robin Zuluaga Gallego, began by abstracting /drawing out cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) from the powdered rachis. The tasteless fiber, thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair, was then added to 100 grams of ice cream mix.
With the right amount of CNFs mixed in, the dessert lasted longer in its frozen state than the traditional ice cream, extending the amount of time that the treat can be enjoyed. What was even more exciting was that the fibre increased the stickiness of the low-fat ice cream to levels higher than the full-fat one. Since this is what determines the frozen treat’s creaminess and taste, CNFs could help create the healthier ice cream without influencing the taste of it.
The researchers, who presented their findings at the American Chemical Society( ACS) meeting in New Orleans in March, 2018, next plan to study how different types of fat, such as coconut oil, influence the behaviour of CNFs in other frozen treats.
The Colombian researchers are not the only ones working on creating a slower-melting ice cream. In 2015, scientists at the University of Dundee in Scotland found that a natural protein called BsIA was very effective in keeping the treat frozen for longer periods of time. With both teams fighting to be the first to get to the market, the future of everyone’s favorite dessert certainly looks bright.
1.What prevents people enjoying an ice cream slowly?
A.A kind of fibre from bananas.
B.The ice cream’s quick melting.
C.The ice cream’s stickiness.
D.The fat in the ice cream.
2.Why were CNFs added to ice cream mix?
A.To improve its taste.
B.To increase its stickiness.
C.To reduce its fat content.
D.To make it melt more slowly.
3.What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 3 refer to?
A.The ice cream. B.The fiber.
C.The fat. D.The stickiness.
4.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A.BsIA is popular in the market.
B.CNFs are more useful and expensive than BsIA.
C.Ice creams with CNFs have been on sale at the market.
D.Slowly enjoying an ice cream will soon become a reality.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
There are frequent reports on the need of volunteers in so many different charitable organizations．1. There are actually many ways to find opportunities to help others．When a person is looking for volunteer opportunities and doesn’t care where he volunteers，a good place to look for jobs is through local volunteer centers．These centers may have lists，much like classified ads，requesting volunteers in a variety of fields．It can help to choose a volunteer position that will take advantage of work or life experience．2. Other employers and companies may not be that picky and are willing to take on anyone who has enthusiasm for the work．
Sometimes people want to become a volunteer in a specific type of work．3. The best route may be to contact these facilities and find out what available volunteer programs they have．Some programs may require job applications and training，and this training isn’t always free．Looking around at a few programs can help people find the ones that don’t charge for training．
4. Schools may additionally have volunteer job listings that can help people become a volunteer．Sometimes listings for jobs are exclusive(独有的) to the school and people may find work as tutors or administrative assistants．
It isn’t always necessary to look at non-profit companies to find volunteer opportunities．Plenty of individuals and for-profit companies may benefit from volunteers’help too．A volunteer babysitter or someone who helps a neighbor with the housework can make a big difference in a community．Volunteering doesn’t have to be a full-time commitment．5.
A.Different organizations have different ways to attract volunteers．
B.They may want to help at an animal shelter or work in a hospital．
C.Many schools now have community service requirements for students．
D.It may be an occasional thing that promotes good feelings between neighbors．
E.Many people will give more time if they see the benefit of their volunteer work．
F.But people don’t know how to start sometimes if they want to become a volunteer．
G.Some volunteer positions do require that applicants have certain experience before they are hired．
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
I had a student today who got his finger stuck inside a test tube in science class. It was really quite stuck. This young man’s finger ____ to get whiter and whiter right before my eyes.
Remaining ____, I suggested he carefully rotate(转动) the tube. It wouldn’t move a bit. He ____ soap and cold water. Still stuck. Meanwhile ____ was breaking out in the class. ___, I sent the young man to our secretary, who was a miracle worker raising three kids of her own. With her in charge, I was ____ all would be OK.
To get the students back in order, I ____ my own story of getting my knee stuck between the rails of a balcony. Same kind of curiosity, I remembered ____ then how far I could thrust(塞) my knee between the rails. Inch by inch, I kept ____ and before I knew it, my knee was stuck and ___ before my eyes and in front of lots of strangers at a popular Las Vegas hotel!
Hearing my story, many students followed with their own ____ of heads, arms, fingers stuck in places they shouldn’t be. A few minutes later, the young man came back, test tube unbroken and finger ____ to lovely shade of pink.
I just couldn’t get mad at this kid. He’s only twelve. I too got my knee unstuck, but not without great ___.The excuse for me, however, was not ___ but plain stupidity. I was ___fifty years old when this happened.
1.A.used B.needed C.happened D.continued
2.A.calm B.silent C.cheerful D.active
3.A.lost B.fetched C.tried D.accepted
4.A.fire B.chaos C.violence D.argument
5.A.Finally B.Gradually C.Frequently D.Apparently
6.A.happy B.doubtful C.surprised D.confident
7.A.shared B.wrote C.read D.heard
8.A.calculating B.explaining C.wondering D.reporting
9.A.pushing B.climbing C.walking D.kicking
10.A.shaking B.lifting C.resting D.swelling
11.A.findings B.conclusions C.stories D.news
12.A.pointing B.returning C.belonging D.growing
13.A.encouragement B.disappointment C.embarrassment D.achievement
14.A.ambition B.youth C.bravery D.experiment
15.A.above all B.in total C.after all D.at random
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
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。
Dachi was the name of my pet cockatiel. His name comes from the second half of the Japanese word tomodachi, 1.means friend.
I taught Dachi to whistle two songs, “For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow” and “Happy Birthday to You”. Though his whole range of skills was small, his 2. (confident) never lagged (滞后), and he would frequently wish me a happy birthday when it wasn’t — which could be 3. (embarrass).
When Dachi had been with us for three or four years, I think I may have become a bit too confident with him. One day, I didn’t realize that he was still sitting on my shoulder 4. until the door behind me shut loudly. He 5. (fly) away.
After I placed 6.an advertisement in the local paper, I received a phone call from a woman. I was so relieved to hear this news that I 7. (immediate) drove to her house. When I arrived, she asked me to see whether the bird was 8.(my).
I had a better idea 9. (identify) Dachi and began to whistle the “Happy Birthday” song. The lady stopped me, saying, “He is yours alright — he’s been whistling that all week.”
So Dachi came home in the car 10. (sit) on my shoulder, whistling.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假如你是李华，你的英国朋友Jim对中国饮食文化很感兴趣，并将在春节期间来中国游玩，请你写一封邮件给他。邮件内容如下：
1. 春节饮食习俗；
2. 推荐一道你家乡的特色菜。
注意：1. 词数80左右；
2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3. 开头和结尾已给岀，不计入总词数。cuisine
Dear Jim,
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Yours,
Li Hua
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。续写的词数应为150左右。
The little boy
A little boy selling magazines for school walked up to a house that people rarely visited. The house was very old and shabby and the owner hardly ever came out. When he did come out, he would not say hello to his neighbors or passers-by but simply just glare at them.
The boy knocked on the door and waited, sweating from fear of the old man. The boy’s parents told him to stay away from the house, and a lot of the other neighborhood children were told the same thing from their parents.
Dust found the boy lingering on and hesitating what to do. As he was ready to walk away, the door slowly opened. “What do you want?” the old man said impatiently. The little boy was very afraid but he had a quota(份额) to meet for school with selling the magazines. So he got up the courage and said, “Uh, sir, I am selling these magazines and uh, I was wondering if you would like to buy one from me.”
The old man just stared at the boy without a word. The boy could see inside the old man’s house and saw that he had dog figurines(小雕像) on the fireplace mantle. “Do you collect dogs?” The little boy asked. “Yes, I have many collections in my house. They are my family here and they are all I have.” The boy then felt sorry for the man, as it seemed that he was a very lonely soul.
“Well, I do have a magazine here for collectors. It is perfect for you. I also have one about dogs since you like dogs so much.” The old man was ready to close the door on the boy and said, “No, boy. I don’t need any magazines of any kind, now goodbye.”
The little boy was sad that he was not going to make his quota with the sale. He was also sad for the old man being so alone in the house that he owned. The boy went home and then had an idea. He had a little dog figurine that he got some years ago from an aunt. The figurine did not mean nearly as much to him since he had a real live dog and a large family.
Para 1:
The little boy headed back down to the old man’s house.
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Para 2:
From that day on something changed inside the old man.
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难度: 中等查看答案及解析