These Children’s Books Written by Celebrities(名人) Are Perfect for Your Little Kids
Kelly Clarkson Wrote a Book Inspired by Her Daughter
When Kelly Clarkson wrote River Rose and the Magical Lullaby, she named the main character after her young daughter. The story follows Rose, who finds herself in a magical dream world, guided by the voice of her mother. Writing the book offered the American Idol winner a new challenge. She said, “It’s so helpful with learning.”
Jim Carrey Is on a Roll with This Book
Jim Carrey’s 2013 book, How Roland Rolls, however, is very much for the little ones. The winner of the 2013 Gelett Burgess Children’s Book Award, How Roland Rolls is about a wave who worries about what will happen when he finally hits the beach. His fear disappears when he realizes he’s more than just a wave, but he’s the entire ocean! Coming up, this horror film star isn’t trying to scare(使害怕) any kids with her book.
Jamie Lee Curtis Has Been Writing Since the 1990s
You might know her best from the Halloween series movie. This Is Me is a story about immigration(外来移民). Curtis says she has no political intentions with her book, saying, “Every person has an immigrant story about their ancestors, and we’re losing that. I thought it was important to connect that thread back to who we are.”
Steve Martin’s Books Prove He’s a Comedian for All Ages
You may have ever read one of his books, like Shopgirl. If you’re a fan of his and you have kids, you’ll be happy to know that now your kids can read his books, too. Since getting into children’ literature, Martin has written and published several books, including Late for School and The Alphabet From A to Y with Bonus Letter Z. Each letter of the alphabet is paired with a poem by Marin.
1.Which book describes a character that is not a human being?
A.This Is Me. B.Late for School.
C.How Roland Rolls. D.River Rose and the Magical Lullaby.
2.What can This Is Me remind readers of when they read it?
A.Their roots. B.Their dreams. C.Their children. D.Their school life.
3.Who wrote a book about the English alphabet?
A.Jim Carrey. B.Steve Martin. C.Kelly Clarkson. D.Jamie Lee Curtis.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Recently I invited a homeless man to have lunch with me at the Soup Plantation so that he could eat as much as he wanted to fill his stomach. I met him over the phone when I was calling Father Benno’s, a soup kitchen. Something within stirred me to invite him to lunch. Since he did not have a car, I offered to pick him up.
We had a wonderful four-hour lunch. I learned a lot about his struggles but more importantly, I finished lunch, feeling greater gratitude(感激) for a roof over my head, a warm shower, a comfortable bed , and food on the table—all of which we may not think twice about. He, too, enjoyed the connection, his lunch, and a rest from spending his afternoon on the streets.
I learned long ago that one person alone cannot solve the problem of the homeless people in California or the United States of America. However ,each person can make an effort to help the homeless in their own way. Do you know that 40% of the U.S. population live paycheck (薪水) to paycheck? Should a sudden financial(财务的) case appear, any one of those 40% can end up homeless in the streets.
For this holiday season, perhaps you may want to try something new. Buy a meal for the person asking for money instead of giving them spare change. If you can make the time and find courage, invite them to share a meal with you. Jesse Jackson once said, “Never look down on anybody unless you are helping them up,” and Rumi told us, “When we practice loving kindness and pity, we are the first one to benefit from it.”
1.What does the underlined word “stirred” in the first paragraph probably mean?
A.Limited. B.Allowed. C.Begged. D.Encouraged.
2.What was the author thankful for?
A.The homeless man. B.The length of the lunch.
C.The condition of his life. D.The connection with the man.
3.What does the author think of those who live on paycheck?
A.They live a comfortable life. B.They just make ends meet.
C.They are really homeless people. D.They look down upon the homeless.
4.Which of the following doesn’t the author advise us to do?
A.Try something new. B.Buy a meal for a person.
C.Give money to the homeless. D.Invite a person to share a meal.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Ford is showing its first all-electric sports utility vehicle, or SUV—the Mustang Mach E, marking a major change in the U. S. car industry. Auto industry reporters got their first look at the new electric vehicle Sunday. The new Mustang can travel from 370 to 480 kilometers before needing an electrical charge(充电). Experts say the Mustang Mach E marks the start of an increase in electric vehicles offered by top U. S. carmakers.
There are 18 electric vehicle models for sale in the U. S. The research group IHS Mark it expects that number to grow to 80 by 2022. New vehicles will include pickup trucks and SUVs that are popular with American buyers.
Last year, electric vehicles made up only 1.5 percent of new vehicle sales worldwide. Auto Industry research company LMC Automotive predicts(预言) that will rise to 2.2 percent this year. In the U. S., electric vehicles were only 1.2 percent of sales in 2019. It is expected to be the same in 2020.
Automakers,however, see room for growth. They note that electric vehicles are getting 250 miles or more on a single charge. That means a buyer no longer needs to worry about running out of power during a day’s usual drive. Because of the added models and increased power, LMC predicts that they will make up 17 percent of worldwide sales and 7 percent of U. S. sales in 2030.
The first-generation of electric vehicles were simply existing models that were changed to electricity to meet government fuel economy rules. They did not sell well largely because they could not travel more than 100 miles between charges. But now, many can go farther than the average one-day driving distance. The five-passenger Mach E looks like a traditional Mustang. Engineers say the least costly model will be able to travel about 370 kilometers on one charge. The most costly model will be able to travel 483 kilometers.
1.What can be known from the first two paragraphs?
A.Americans like pickup trucks and SUVs best.
B.There will be more vehicle models to meet customers’needs.
C.Ford is the first company to make all-electric sports utility vehicles.
D.The long travel distance between charges is the car’s greatest advantage.
2.What do we know about the growth of electric vehicles in America in 2030 according to LMC?
A.It’s the fastest in the world. B.It is much below the world average.
C.It’s the same as the world average. D.It hasn’t changed very much.
3.How did the author develop the last paragraph?
A.By giving examples. B.By introducing new ideas.
C.By making comparisons. D.By following time order.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.Ford Starts New Electric Vehicles B.Electric Vehicles Are Better for Environment
C.Old Electric Vehicles Will Be Knocked Out D.Electric Vehicles Will Take Over the Market
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
Not long ago, Egypt marked the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Suez Canal. The canal connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. It helped speed world trade between the East and the West. But the man-made waterway has also helped speed the rise of other things, such as invasive(入侵的)non-native species (物种). Scientists say the invasive creatures have damaged the Mediterranean’s environment and caused native species to disappear.
The number of non-native creatures has risen since the Suez Canal was widened in 2015. The “New Suez Canal” has raised concerns in Europe and brought disagreement from many Mediterranean countries. Bella Galil is an Israeli biologist who has studied the Mediterranean for over 30 years. She says much of the ecological(生态的)damage cannot be repaired. She said urgent action is needed to ease the effects of the invasive fish and other sea life.
Galil works at Tel Aviv University’s Steinhardt Museum of Natural History. She noted that the widening and deepening of the Suez Canal has created a “moving aquarium” of species. These creatures could make coastal waters almost unusable for human beings. Galil believes the number of invasive species has reached 400. That is twice the number 30 years ago. She said this is a “historic example of the dangers of unintended consequences.”
Israel is now dealing with huge numbers of poisonous(有毒的) jellyfish that affect coastal power centers and keep people from visiting the seashore. Other poisonous species, such as the lionfish and silver-cheeked toadfish, are also appearing.
Galil said the problems of invasive species can be compared to those of climate change, pollution and over-fishing. She argues that the new species have caused a major “restructuring” of the environment. This has endangered native species.
Some experts have suggested that increasing salt levels in the canal itself could create a barrier(障碍物) that would keep invasive species out.
1.What lesson can we learn from the effects of the Suez Canal?
A.Seeing is believing. B.Every coin has two sides.
C.Let nature take its course. D.Everyone makes mistakes.
2.What’s the attitude of many Mediterranean countries towards the“New Suez Canal"?
A.Uncaring. B.Unclear. C.Supportive. D.Against.
3.What is the ecological environment like after the Suez Canal reconstruction?
A.It is from bad to worse. B.It remains the same.
C.It improves a great deal. D.It has become a completely new one.
4.Why did Galil mention climate change,pollution and over-fishing in paragraph 5?
A.To add some background information. B.To stress the harm of invasive species.
C.To solve the problem of invasive species. D.To compare their similarities and differences.
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
Where Do Mosquitoes(蚊子)Go in Winter?
Why do mosquitoes ,everywhere in warmer months,disappear completely in winter?1.Mosquitoes are cold-blooded insects, meaning that they don’t like the cold and prefer temperatures that are 80 degrees .Fahrenheit or more. When the temperature drops, they actually lose their ability to fly and become motionless.
2.They would never be able to fly far enough. The actual answer to the question is different for male and female mosquitoes. Male mosquitoes? They die. But that’s not just because of the cold. Male mosquitoes have far shorter lifespans(寿命) than females, and they die in autumn.
Female mosquitoes, though, can live through the winter. They hibernate (冬眠). In autumn, the females will go into hollow logs or cracks in the ground and enter this still state.3.They put off their development, typically for months.
When it warms up again, the females will come out from hibernation. At this point, they’re getting ready to lay their eggs and they need as much blood as possible to help the eggs develop. The females must find a blood meal to provide the protein(蛋白质) needed by their eggs to develop, just in the time, when humans are outdoors in short sleeves enjoying the warming weather.4.
It actually doesn’t have to be what we humans would consider “cold” to put a mosquito in danger. While these pests live actively when it’s around 80 degrees F, most species can start heading into hibernation when it drops to around 50.5.This is when female mosquitoes start looking for a place for sleep.
A.The obvious answer is that it’s cold.
B.Now it’s time for male mosquitoes to wake up.
C.It’s only the female mosquitoes that are biting you.
D.Unlike birds,mosquitoes don’t fly south for the winter.
E.Anything below 50 degrees is already too cold for most mosquitoes.
F.They carry on with life only when there is enough water for their needs.
G.They can hibernate for up to six months in freezing or waterless conditions.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
A policeman moved along the street. Near the door of a dark shop a man was_______. “It’s all right, officer,” he said. “I’m Bryan and waiting for a friend. Twenty years ago we agreed to_________ here tonight.”
Bryan appeared wealthy with a large_________ jewel in his necktie(领结). “Jimmy Wells and I _________together here in New York, like two_________. The next morning I was to start for the West. I was going to find a _________ and make a great success. We agreed that night that we would see each other here again in twenty years.” “I hope your friend comes all right.” the policeman said to Bryan and then_________.
About twenty-minutes he_________, and then a tall man in a long coat came across the street .He went _________ to the waiting man. “Is that you, Bryan?” he asked, uncertainly. “Is that you, Jimmy Wells?” cried Bryan at the door. The new man took Bryan’s__________ in his. “It’s Bryan!”
The two men started walking along the street, arm in arm. Bryan stopped suddenly at a shop bright with lights and __________his arm away. “You’re not Jimmy Wells,” he said.
“You’ve been under arrest for ten minutes, Bryan. Are you__________ with me quietly? That is __________. But first here is something I was asked to__________ you. You may read it here at the window. It’s from a__________ named Wells.”
Bryan opened the little piece of paper. He began to__________ as he read.
“Bryan: I was at the place__________. I saw the face of the man wanted as a(n)__________ by Chicago policemen. I didn’t want to__________ you myself. So I went and got another policeman and__________ him to do the job. JIMMY.”
1.A.observing B.screaming C.standing D.escaping
2.A.argue B.meet C.debate D.shop
3.A.valuable B.horrible C.dull D.local
4.A.took off B.fed up C.watched out D.grew up
5.A.brothers B.hunters C.explorers D.actors
6.A.spirit B.job C.solution D.trick
7.A.reacted B.forgave C.defended D.left
8.A.waited B.behaved C.advanced D.considered
9.A.faithfully B.directly C.elegantly D.rudely
10.A.head B.shoulders C.hands D.fingers
11.A.threw B.put C.pulled D.hid
12.A.coming B.connecting C.joining D.dealing
13.A.convenient B.sensitive C.reliable D.wise
14.A.transport B.give C.award D.buy
15.A.journalist B.shopkeeper C.policeman D.businessman
16.A.shake B.laugh C.announce D.perform
17.A.in some ways B.in the flesh C.on purpose D.on time
18.A.employee B.thief C.educator D.partner
19.A.conduct B.evaluate C.arrange D.arrest
20.A.advised B.warned C.sent D.motivated
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.
I’ve been living with my grandparents since I am a child. I especially like spring, where there are quite a few flowers in the yard. One day this spring, I found the tree with beautiful flowers. Looked closer, I was surprised to find a nest among the leaf. I became curious about them and got a ladder to see what was inside. Just now, Grandma came running to stop me. She said the nest shouldn’t touched .Otherwise, the birds would give it up and the young birds would die quickly. Although my exploration had to be stopped, but fortunately I didn’t cause any seriously trouble.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假定你是李华,你的英国网友Bryant居住的城市交通堵塞很严重,为此他很烦恼,来信询问你所在地的交通状况.请你给他回复一封电子邮件,内容包括:1.之前拥堵,现在正在改善;2.措施(发展公共交通,共享自行车等).
注意:1.词数100左右;2.可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯.
参考词汇:共享自行车shared bike
Dear Bryant,
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
难度: 中等查看答案及解析