A new study suggests climate conditions in the Sahara Desert, one of hottest, driest and most deserted areas in the world, have changed from wet to dry a about every 20,000 years.
But previous evidence has suggested the Sahara did not always experience such extreme heat and dry conditions. At times, the Sahara Ranged to a very wet climate. This permitted plants and animals to develop and grow and led to the creation of human settlements. Now, they have discovered more evidence, which, the lead researcher David Mc Gee says, supports the idea that the Sahara's climate kept changing between wet and dry about every 20,000,years.
McGee reported these climate changes were mainly driven by changes in the Earth's(地轴)as the planet travels round the sun .This process affects the amount of sunlight between seasons. Every 20,000 years the Earth receives more strong summer sunlight. When the Earth's axis changes again, the amount of sunlight is reduced. This season change happened continuously every 20,000 years. The other part of the season produced rainy conditions, resulting in a wetter, greener, plant-rich environment. When the rainy activity weakens, the climate becomes hot and dry, like the Sahara remains today.
The scientists based their research on dust collected from ocean sediment(沉积物)in the Atlantic Ocean bottom off the coast of West Africa. The dust contained layers (层)of ancient sediment built up over millions of years. Each layer could contain traces of Saharan dust as well as the remains of life forms. This information was used to assess over what time period the dust had built up. This led to the overall finding that the Saharan changes from wet to dry climates happened every 20,000 years.
David McGee said that today we only see the Sahara Desert as an extremely deserted and “inhospitable” place. The new study suggests that the area's climate has changes between grasslands and a much wetter environment, and back to dry climates, even over the last quarter million years. McGee says he thinks the latest research can be valuable in studying the Sahara's history as it relates to human settlement.
1.What does the new study find about the Sahara Desert?
A. It is one of the hottest, driest and most deserted areas in Africa.
B. It always experiences extreme conditions because of its position.
C. Its climate changes between wet and dry about every 20,000 years.
D. Its environmental conditions stop plants and animals from surviving.
2.What is the direct reason for Sahara's climate changes?
A. Rainy activity. B. Solar radiation.
C. Human activity. D. Global environment.
3.How did the researchers acquire the evidence?
A. By analyzing ocean life.
B. By studying Sahara’s history.
C. By collecting dust on the coast.
D. By examining mean sediment.
4.What does the underlined word “inhospitable” probably mean?
A. Unsuitable to live. B. Insignificant lo study.
C. Unable to explore. D. Impossible to change.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
At 24, Tiffany Calver might worry she has already peaked (达到顶峰) as a DJ. She began DJing as a hobby, uploading mixes to her SoundCloud. Her high-energy selections soon caught the ears of the online station Radar Radio and then Drake’ s management, leading her to land many firsts.
“I just want to express myself,” she says. “I’m not interested in copying anyone else’s work; I have to be me. I love artists such as Kojey Radical whose lyrics (歌词) are so aware of human experiences. There are also great examples set by artists from the older generation like Ghetts. Ghetts actually cooperated with Kojey on Black Rose, which is all about colourism — prejudice against darker-skinned women — a huge problem in the black community (团体).”
“It’s really exciting to see the BBC taking notice of a new generation of tastemakers in our community. I remember a time when there was no place for younger voices. Snoochie Shy is taking on the 1Xtra rap (说唱) from Monday to Thursday and Charlie Sloth is being replaced by two women, which is huge for one of the biggest radio stations in the country. I think it’ll have a big effect and encourage more women to follow suit.”
“It was great to hear women such as Rico Nasty, who is aggressive, succeed last year because, even as a DJ, I hate it when people tell me I have to ‘play something for the ladies’. There’s such a rich history of unapologetic women in hip-hop, from Lil’ Kim to Cardi B and Nicki Minaj. Even rappers such as Noname, who might not have as much of an aggressive sound but can talk about politics in the same song, are not afraid to show all the layers there are to being a woman. It isn’t just soft and feminine.”
1.We learn from paragraph 2 that Kojey Radical and Ghetts ________.
A.are a new generation B.are in the same station
C.dare to express themselves D.live in the same community
2.What does Calver think of Charlie Sloth’s replacement?
A.She feels it is unbelievable. B.It is a heavy blow for many men.
C.It allows women to change jobs. D.She holds positive attitude towards it.
3.Which of the following words can describe the women mentioned in the last paragraph?
A.Brave. B.Creative.
C.Selfless. D.Considerate.
4.What is the text mainly about?
A.The success in music. B.The new voice of rap.
C.The different trend in DJ. D.The influence of a woman.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Camp Chinqueka
June 23—Aug. 17； $ 3,600—$ 10,000
The active participants at Camp Awosting’s all-girls sister camp are sure to give the boys a run for their money when it comes time to compete. With everything from swimming to sailing? dance? drama and gymnastics? the campers rarely stand still? and they are encouraged to do it all! Mornings and afternoons are packed with exciting happenings? and when the sun goes down, there are dances? movie nights and more to keep everyone entertained. Ages 6—16.
Curious Jane Summer Camps
July 8—Aug. 16 : Mon.—Fri. 9 am—3 :30 pm； per week $ 585
Curious Jane offers small artists in the third through sixth grades the chance to select a theme for a weeklong program. “Kitchen Chemistry “Stop Motion" “Sew Fun" and “Spy Science" are just a few of the offerings on the menu. Chances are, once the first session ends, your little camper will request a return ticket. Ages 7—12.
New Victory Theater Camp
July 15—19： Mon.—Fri. 9 am—4 pm； per week $ 525
Your actors will get an in-depth theater experience in which participants create an entire play all by themselves—from the script and music to the sets and props （道具）--under the direction of experienced artists. They'll also see professional productions of the “Victory Dance" show and experiment with different art forms. Ages 7——12.
Writopia Camp
Aug. 12—Aug. 23； $ 3,675
The WriCampia program in the Poconos is perfect for those desiring to pen the next great American novel. Published authors and playwrights help kids learn the secrets to writing? poetry and what makes a great novel? while campers also enjoy arts activities such as photography, theater and filmmaking. In the evening, everyone gathers around the campfire to exchange stories or test their team-building skills. Ages 7——18.
1.What is special about Camp Chinqueka?
A.Only girls are permitted to take part in.
B.Boys will be trained to run for money.
C.Campers will get performing experiences.
D.All are requested to see a film at night.
2.What is “Kitchen Chemistry"?
A.A subject at school. B.A dish on a menu.
C.The theme of a program. D.The topic of a discussion.
3.Which camp should those interested in writing novels go to?
A.Camp Chinqueka. B.Writopia Camp.
C.New Victory Theater Camp. D.Curious Jane Summer Camps.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Daniel Lamplugh remembers going shopping with his dad on Black Friday." Waking up at 6 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving is what I grew up doing," says the University of New Orleans film student.
A lot has changed since those childhood days. Online retailers(零售商)have forced many chains out of business. Consumers are increasingly shopping with their smart-phones. But a funny thing happened on the way to the future: Most shoppers are not going all-digital. Surveys show they're eager for good experiences at retail stores.
This November and December, for the first time ever retailer websites will get more traffic from mobile users than computer users, predicts Adobe Digital In sights." We live our lives with a combination of the physical and the digital." says Kit Yarrow, author of book Decoding the New Consumer Mind. Retailers have to understand it's not a question of either/or. It's a question of combining the two.
Heather Howe, an MBA student, said," Consumers like shopping on their phones and online because it's more convenient and because there are more options. I went to the Vans store to try on shoes and then I actually purchased them online while I was in the store.
While mobile sales are growing, the widest use smart-phones in stores is researching products or looking up product information(58 percent), closely followed checking or comparing prices(54 percent), according to a survey.
"My phone plays a huge role in online shopping, because I am on the email list for all of my favorite brand. so I get many emails daily informing me of sales, "s Rachel Lynch, who works at a Boston public-relation agency." Also, a store has an app that allows me to chat with other users about the products, and read reviews Online reviews are one of the first things I look at when I am about to buy a new product.”
“Electronics and kitchen equipment are definitely online purchases for me, since they're heavy to get home on the subway and often cheaper online," says Michael Miller-Ernest, a manager in Brooklyn,N.Y.
1.What do most shoppers tend to do now?
A.Do shopping all-digitally.
B.Use computers to do online shopping.
C.Do window shopping in shopping malls.
D.Go to physical stores with their smart-phones.
2.What's Kit Yarrow's suggestion for retailers?
A.Reaching both online and offline consumers.
B.Focusing on either the physical or the digital.
C.Encouraging consumers to use smart-phones.
D.Providing more convenience for computer users.
3.What does Heather Howe think of online stores?
A.They offer wider choices.
B.They sell high quality goods.
C.They will replace physical stores.
D.They are burning shoppers' patience.
4.What can be inferred about Rachel Lynch's habits?
A.She buys heavy goods online.
B.She often writes users' reviews.
C.She is fond of sending producers emails.
D.She tries to learn about other users' experience.
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。
Last month, our school organized a knowledge contest what called “Motherland in My Heart”. After our teacher announced the news, everyone was eager to participating. Then we spent the following days make preparations for it. We surfed the Internet about the changes in different aspect, including economy, technology, etc. We also invite an expert to deliver a lecture on the development of our country during the past 70 years. having learnt about these achievements, we felt so proud our country. Finally came a big day. My classmates and I tried my best and answered every question confident. After a few rounds, our team finally won the top prize. What happy we were!
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
The measure of a man’s real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.
----Thomas Macaulay About thirty years ago, I was studying in a public school in New York. One day, Mrs Nanette O’Neill gave a maths ______ to our class. When the papers were ______ she discovered that twelve boys had made exactly the ______ mistakes throughout the test.
There is nothing really new about _______ in exams. Perhaps that was ______Mrs O’Neill didn’t even say a word about it. She only asked the twelve boys to ______after class. I was one of the twelve.
Mrs O’Neill asked______questions, and she didn’t _____us either. Instead, she wrote on the blackboard the ______ words by Thomas Macaulay. She then ordered us to copy these words into our exercise-books one hundred times.
I don’t know about the other eleven boys. Speaking for ______ I can say it was the most important single ______ of my life. Thirty years after being introduced to Macaulay’s words, they ______ seem to me the best yardstick (准绳), because they give us a _______ to measure ourselves rather than others.
_____ of us are asked to make ______ decisions about nations going to war or armies going to battle. But all of us are called _____ daily to make a great many personal decisions. Should the wallet, ______ in the street, be put into a pocket or ______ to the policeman? Should the ______ change received at the store be forgotten or ______ ? Nobody will know except you. But you have to live with yourself, and it is always better to live with someone you respect.
1.A.paper B.question C.test D.problem
2.A.marked B.completed C.examined D.answered
3.A.easy B.same C.funny D.serious
4.A.lying B.discussing C.guessing D.cheating
5.A.because B.when C.why D.how
6.A.remain B.apologize C.come D.leave
7.A.many B.certain C.no D.more
8.A.excuse B.reject C.help D.scold
9.A.above B.common C.following D.unusual
10.A.herself B.ourselves C.themselves D.myself
11.A.chance B.incident C.lesson D.memory
12.A.still B.even C.always D.almost
13.A.reason B.sentence C.choice D.way
14.A.All B.Few C.Some D.None
15.A.quick B.wise C.great D.personal
16.A.upon B.out C.for D.up
17.A.finding B.found C.find D.founded
18.A.turned up B.turned on C.turned over D.turned back
19.A.small B.extra C.some D.necessary
20.A.paid B.remembered C.shared D.returned
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。
Researchers examined the benefits of singing among people with mental health conditions 1. (include) anxiety and depression.
They found people who took part in a community singing group improved their mental health and that the combination of singing and socialising was an important part of 2. (recover).
The grassroots action runs weekly singing workshops for the people 3. mental health conditions as well as the general public. It 4. (original) began at a hospital in 2005, 5. afterwards moved into the community. Around 120 people now attend four free workshops each week across Norfolk, two thirds of 6. have had contact with mental health services.
The research project followed the group for six months and 7. (undertake) interviews and focus groups with participants, organisers, and workshop 8. (leader).
The report shows how singing and socialising gave participants 9. feeling of belonging and wellbeing that often lasted a day or 10. (many), as well as improved social skills and confidence.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假定你是李华，China Daily正在征集一封英文感谢信，以致敬奋战在抗击新型冠状 病毒肺炎第一线的医护人员，请你代表学校写一封信投稿，要点如下：
1. 表达感激；
2. 个人感受；
3. 表达信心。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3.开头语和结束语己为你写好。
参考词汇：流行病epidemic 新型冠状病毒novel coronavirus
Dear Medical workers,
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Are people less or more happy when they get older? A study in 2018 found that people generally become happier and experience less worry after age 50. In fact, it found that by the age of 85, people are happier with their life than they were at 18.
Arthur Stone in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Stony Brook University in New York led the study. His team found that levels of stress were the highest among adults between the ages of 22 and 25. 1.
Happiness was the highest among the youngest adults and those in their early 70's. But the people least likely to report feeling negative emotions were those in their 70’s and 80’s. The survey also found that men and women have similar emotional patterns as they grow older. 2.The researchers also considered possible influences like, having young children being unemployed or being single. Bu, they found that influences like these did not affect the levels of happiness and well-being related to age.
3. One theory is that, as people get older, they become more than thankful for what they have and have better control of their emotions. They also spend less time thinking about bad experiences.
4.In another study, people in their 80’s reported the fewest problems with the quality of their sleep. The original goal was to confirm the popular belief that aging is connected with increased sleep problems. 5.But except for that, people reported that they felt their sleep quality improved as they got older.
A.So why will happiness increase with age?
B.Researchers surveyed more than 150, 000 American adults.
C.At that time, the people were between the ages of 18 and 85.
D.Stress levels dropped sharply after people reached their 50's.
E.Happiness is not the only thing that apparently improves with age.
F.The survey did find an increase during middle age, especially in women.
G. However, women at all ages reported more sadness, stress and worry than men.
难度: 困难查看答案及解析