Most buildings are built to stand up straight, but these look as if they might fall over!
The church tower of Suurhusen
Built in 1450, the 27-metre-high church tower lies in Suurhusen, Germany. It was built in wet land on foundations of oak tree trunks (树干). When the land was drained (排水) later, the wood broke down, causing one side of the tower to be a little lower than the other. In 1975, the tower became a real hazard and people were not allowed to enter until the foundations were made strong again. The lean of the tower is now about five degrees.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
The work of building the tower began in 1173, and was finally completed in 1372. In fact, it began to lean after just a couple of floors were built. And this condition continued in the centuries after its completion. The tower was finally closed to the public in 1990 after people failed to stabilize (使稳固) its foundations. In 2001, it was reopened after engineers removed soil from underneath its raised side. Now it leans just an angle of 3.97 degrees.
Capital Gate of Abu Dhabi
Completed in 2011, the Capital Gate tower in Abu Dhabi was designed to lean eighteen degrees. The building stands next to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and contains, among other things, a fine hotel with wonderful views of the harbour. Also known as the leaning tower of Abu Dhabi, the tower is one of the tallest buildings in the city.
Big Ben of London
The building leans 0.26 degrees to the northwest. This was mainly caused by the engineering projects that have been carried out in the ground below it since the late 1800s. The tower, which has been continuously open since it was completed in 1858, has nowhere near the lean of the Tower of Pisa and is still completely safe to enter.
1.The underlined word “hazard” in Paragraph 2 probably means “_____”.
A. danger B. church
C. castle D. treasure
2.What can we learn about the Leaning Tower of Pisa?
A. It didn't lean until ten years after its completion.
B. It took almost two hundred years to complete.
C. It was built on foundations of oak tree trunks.
D. It has been open since it was completed.
3.Which of the following towers leans the most according to the text?
A. The church tower of Suurhusen.
B. The Leaning Tower of Pisa.
C. Capital Gate of Abu Dhabi.
D. Big Ben of London.
4.What would be the best title for the text?
A. The history of towers
B. The art of building a tower
C. The leaning towers of the world
D. Top four tallest towers in Europe
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
Sundays, I walk to the supermarket. Mother hands me the grocery list and puts money in my pocket, hoping it will be enough. She's had a hard day, and I've had a hard week. Nothing out of the ordinary happens when I get to the store. I grab the bread, some milk, and other things on the list. As I turn to head out, I see a beautiful dress in the window. I turn away, bitter that I could never own such a dress.
Outside, I cannot stop thinking about that pretty dress. It's not fair that I can never have what I want. I work so hard to help my family and yet I get nothing in return, just another list to do. In my anger, I fail to realize the apples are rolling across the road. Suddenly, I see a pair of hands, offering me an apple. Looking up, I see the tanned (晒黑的) face of this stranger. His clothes are mismatched, borrowed or stolen. But his eyes are soft and kind.
“Thanks,” I say. No other words are spoken as he continues to help me. I tell him “thank you” one more time and am on my way because I have many other things to finish. Suddenly, he says, “Have a good day, ma'am.” And then he gives me the biggest smile I have ever seen. Right then, he looks years younger — and I feel a fool.
Look at me, feeling sorry for myself because I don't get what I want! Do I not think others are in the same boat, or worse? There are worse things than not having a beautiful dress.
My mother will hand me the list today. I will make the same journey and probably see something I want but cannot have. But before I start to feel sorry for myself, I will remember the kind stranger with the big smile, and I will grab the last item, and check out.
1.What can we learn about the author from the first paragraph?
A. She is rushing to get home.
B. She comes from a poor family.
C. She never buys herself new clothes.
D. She enjoys doing the family shopping.
2.Why does the author feel angry as she walks home?
A. Her apples drop on the road.
B. She gets nothing for her effort.
C. She is expected to do too much.
D. Her family pay little attention to her.
3.The author speaks very few words to the man because _____.
A. she thinks he is a bad man
B. she has never met him before
C. she is in a hurry to do other work
D. she doesn't like the way he's dressed
4.What's the best title for the text?
A. A difficult daily job
B. Learn to understand
C. My greatest influence
D. Save money for the future
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
In Britain, many theatres put on shows for children at Christmas and many theatres have a theatre-in-education team working there. This team, made up of actors and teachers, writes plays for children, usually performing them in schools. They do different plays for different age groups and the children often take part in the play in some way.
Pantomime is a special kind of Christmas show for children. It is loved by people and also allows the audience to join in. “Pantomime” was the name of the Roman actor who performed shows without speaking — this is where the English word “mime” comes from.
A pantomime is always based on a well-known children's story. But there are always certain types of characters in the show and certain situations and events. For example, a pantomime must always include a hero, known as the “principal boy” and this principal boy is always played by a pretty girl wearing a short costume. Then there is the comic older woman, known as the “dame” who is played by a man. There is always a group of men and women who sing and dance and often there is a pantomime horse. The horse is played by two men who form the “front” and “back” ends inside a “horse” costume. It is funny and it usually kicks the dame when she isn't looking.
Members of the audience have to shout a warning to one of the characters and argue with the character (usually the dame) when she does not believe them. When she shouts, “Oh no, it isn't,” the audience always responds with “Oh yes, it is!” The audience also learns and sings a simple song and a few children are sometimes invited to help one of the characters during the show.
1.The theatre-in-education teams _____.
A. are made up of famous local actors
B. write plays for the same age group
C. often give plays in their own theatres
D. usually allow children to join in a play
2.According to the text, a pantomime _____.
A. is designed to make people laugh
B. is made up of three characters
C. is especially popular with grown-ups
D. can be watched all year round in Britain
3.When the dame says, “Yes, it is”, the audience should _____.
A. follow her and sing
B. stand up and dance
C. repeat what she says
D. disagree with her loudly
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
“Hello” is a relatively new greeting. It first appeared sometime in the mid-1800s, but many people would not have dreamed of using it. “Hello” was considered a very impolite way to greet someone. Instead, people used formal expressions like “How do you do?”
Back then, there were several words that sounded like “hello,” but they were used to get someone’s attention or to express surprise. For example, if you caught your little brother stealing your snack, you might have said, “Halloa there! Stop eating my cheese!” If you found a fly in your soup, you might have shouted, “Hullo! How did that get in there?”
Everything started to change in 1876, when Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. The first telephones didn’t have numbers you could dial, nor did they have bells or ringers. Instead, your telephone sent signals along telephone lines to a central office where an operator would answer by saying something like “Are you there, sir?” or “What is wanted?” The operator would then connect your phone to the phone of the person you wanted to reach. There was just one small problem: Since telephones didn’t ring, how would the person you were calling know that you were “on the line”? The answer is you would yell (大喊) into your phone and hope someone on the other end heard you. But what would you yell? And what would the person you were calling say when they were going to answer? Bell suggested “Ahoy! Ahoy!” but it didn’t catch on. Then the famous inventor Thomas Edison suggested the word hello. That caught on right away.
“Hello” became so popular that by 1878 telephone operators were required to use it. In fact, operators received the nickname (绰号) “Hello Girls.” Soon, “hello” became not just the standard way to answer the phone, but an accepted way to greet people in person.
1.Why was “hello” seldom used when it first appeared?
A. It was too informal.
B. It was hard to pronounce.
C. It was considered to be rude.
D. There were other words like “hello”.
2.“Hullo” was used to show something _____.
A. interesting B. exciting
C. boring D. unexpected
3.Paragraph 3 is mainly about _____.
A. how “hello” was used to answer the telephone
B. the friendship between Bell and Edison
C. the invention of the telephone
D. how the telephone improved
4.We can infer from the text that _____.
A. “hello” got popular as soon as the telephone was invented
B. the telephone has changed the way people speak
C. people liked simple expressions like “hello”
D. Bell advised girls to use “hello”
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Have you ever tried to write a poem? It’s easier than you might think. Poems are a lot like song lyrics. A good poem reveals an honest feeling about something. Follow these steps to write a poem.
First, pay attention to the world around you — little things, big things, people, animals, buildings, events, etc. 1. You can do just about anything in a poem. That’s why poetry writing is so wild and free: there are no rules.
2. What would you like your poem to be about? Your poem will be more powerful if you choose a topic you feel strongly about.
Now freely write for five minutes about your topic. Then go back and read it. 3. Circle these to use in your poem.
Write your poem. Remember, a poem doesn’t have to rhyme (押韵). It doesn’t have to use sentences. 4. And it should sound nice to you.
Have a friend read your poem aloud to you. Do you like the way it sounds? 5.
I believe that poetry is the most exquisite (优美的) form of writing. And anyone can write a poem if they want to.
A. Then, choose your topic.
B. Explore different types of poems.
C. Do any words or phrases stand out?
D. What do you see, hear, taste, smell, and feel?
E. But it should show your feelings about the topic.
F. If not, go back and rewrite the parts you don’t like.
G. Choose a paragraph from a favourite book and turn it into a poem.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
When I was 17 , I met a famous doctor named Paul Bragg . He gave me one of the most valuable ______ of my life : a statement that was filled with words of ______ . To this very day , I still ______ it : I am a genius（天才） , and I apply my wisdom .
______ , I was a high school dropout（辍学学生） and was living in a tent in Hawaii . I had a very limited vocabulary and had never ______ reading a single book . When Dr. Bragg taught me this statement , he told me to say it with feelings ______ it were true. To do so seemed so far away from ______ that it was funny . After saying it many times , ______ , I began to feel what those powerful words meant . ______ every day I continued to say it , and it became ______ to believe : I am a genius , and I apply my wisdom .
It was two and a half years later when I really saw the ______ of the statement . I was sitting in a college library ______ by fellow students whom I was helping with higher mathematics . I heard one of the students speak ______ to another . “John is really a ______ !” At the moment , I ______ what Dr. Bragg had taught me , and I ______ to say this statement for the rest of my life .
I can’t quite put into words what a(n) ______ this statement has made in my life . ______ it , I was able to change from a dropout to the top of my college class . I think that the key to ______ is putting your true feelings into a statement you ______ and saying it over and over every day .
1.A. enjoyments B. parts C. gifts D. knowledge
2.A. idea B. comfort C. praise D. power
3.A. like B. need C. say D. use
4.A. At the time B. For a while C. All at once D. For the moment
5.A. advised B. finished C. minded D. admitted
6.A. as if B. so that C. in case D. now that
7.A. history B. hope C. life D. reality
8.A. moreover B. however C. otherwise D. anyhow
9.A. Until B. Since C. So D. After
10.A. easier B. funnier C. more unusual D. more impossible
11.A. evidence B. purpose C. details D. results
12.A. followed B. surrounded C. assisted D. invited
13.A. loudly B. kindly C. softly D. directly
14.A. star B. spokesman C. kid D. genius
15.A. read B. remembered C. showed D. doubted
16.A. decided B. asked C. expected D. learned
17.A. difference B. problem C. improvement D. impression
18.A. Except for B. More than C. Instead of D. Because of
19.A. love B. success C. happiness D. understanding
20.A. think about B. look for C. believe in D. dream about
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。
Eating at restaurants hasn't always been known as the best choice for people 1. are trying to keep a healthy diet. It is 2. (extreme) hard for people to avoid food that isn't so good for them when dining out. However, you don't have to give 3. your love of restaurants. There are ways that you can eat healthier food when dining out while you can still enjoy the experience.
One method is to take time 4. (read) the nutrition information. Some restaurants post it on their menus or their website. If you know you're going to visit 5. certain restaurant, you should check the website first. If no nutrition information 6. (list), you should check the menu at the restaurant before you order.
Another way is to think about not eating cream or butter sauces. Instead, consider 7. (choose) a sauce that could add a rich flavor to your food without extra calories (卡路里).
All restaurants have water available. Whether it is free 8. you have to buy it, you should choose to drink water over other drinks like beer or soda, which contains a lot of calories.
Eating out doesn't have to be an unhealthy 9. (decide) as long as you make wise choices. You could still enjoy all of the benefits of dining out and be 10. (please) with your choices later on.
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。
Early on the morning, it was snowing heavily. After while, the roads were deeper in snow. Trees along the roads fell down, but many cars were trapped on the roads. The city government takes immediate measures to clean up the snow. In a moment, many people were organized to help cleaning up the snow on the roads. We moved the snow to the sides of the roads to make people and car go through. As a result, thank to everybody’s help, everything was returned to normal as soon as possible.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假设你是李华，你班同学打算本周日骑行去游览长城。请你写一封电子邮件邀请你们的外教布鲁斯(Bruce)一同前往。要点包括：
1. 出发时间及地点；
2. 出行方式及需要携带的物品；
3. 希望得到回复。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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难度: 中等查看答案及解析