I was 16 years old the day I skipped school for the first time. It was easily done: Both my parents left for work before my school bus arrived on weekdays, so when it showed up at my house on that cold winter morning, I simply did not get on. The perfect crime!
And what did I do with myself on that glorious stolen day, with no adult in charge and no limits on my activities? Did I get high? Hit the mall for a shoplifting extravaganza (狂欢)?
Nope. I built a warm fire in the wood stove, prepared a bowl of popcorn, grabbed a blanket, and read. I was thrilled and transported by a book—it was Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises—and I just needed to be alone with it for a little while. I ached to know what would happen to Jake Barnes and Lady Brett Ashley and Robert Cohn. I couldn’t bear the thought of sitting in a classroom taking another biology exam when I could be traveling through Spain in the 1920s with a bunch of expatriates (异乡客).
I spent that day lost in words. Time fell away, as the room around me turned to mist, and my role—as a daughter, sister, teenager, and student—in the world no longer had any meaning. I had accidentally come across the key to perfect happiness: I had become completely absorbed by something I loved.
Looking back on it now, I can see that some subtle things were happening to my mind and to my life while I was in that state of absorption. Hemingway’s language was quietly braiding itself into my imagination. I was downloading information about how to create simple and elegant sentences, a good and solid plot. In other words, I was learning how to write. Without realizing it, I was hot on the trail of my own fate. Writing now absorbs me the way reading once did and happiness is their generous side effect.
1.Why did the author skip school on that day?
A.Because her parents left home early. B.Because it was a cold winter morning.
C.Because she was fascinated by a novel. D.Because she hated to take the biology exam.
2.What did the author think is the source of true joy?
A.Reading by the fire. B.Travelling in Spain.
C.Breaking the regulations. D.Being occupied by one’s passion.
3.Which can best replace the underlined phrase “braiding itself into” in the last paragraph?
A.Entering. B.Destroying.
C.Mending. D.Blocking.
4.What can we infer from the passage?
A.I was tired of my real-life roles.
B.I learnt how to write on the internet.
C.Hemingway skipped school when he was young.
D.Becoming a writer was my childhood dream.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
THE SESSIONS
TRAVEL WRITING
Whether you're trying to impress an editor, get yourself noticed or start a career as a writer, our sessions will give you all the help and advice you need to make your words count.
We'll also be discussing the future of travel writing in this ever-changing digital world.
One-on-one sessions
Are you looking for tailored feedback on your work? If so, we have a limited number of one-on-one sessions with leading travel writers that will focus on your style, tone and narrative direction. Our partner, Olympus, will also be on hand to give you expert advice on getting the most use of their cameras. For more details on how to book, go online.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Don,t miss your chance to get tips straight from the top as our team of photographers and designers share their expertise. We'll cover everything from wildlife and landscapes to planning the perfect shoot and adapting to your environment when talking photos.
WHEN
6, October 10:00-18:00
WHERE
University of Westminster
Marylebone Road, London
NW15LS
TICKETS
£50 or two for £90
1.What should you do if you want to turn to Olympus for help?
A.Attend photography sessions. B.Book one-on-one service.
C.Land a job as a writer or an editor. D.Go to University of Westminster.
2.How much should you pay for two tickets?
A.£90. B.£110. C.£140. D.£180.
3.What's the purpose of the text?
A.To advertise a magazine. B.To provide part-time jobs.
C.To promote some classes. D.To exchange experience.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
In a world where nearly 6 million fingerprint records of government employees are stolen in one computer hack, and here millions of people are victims of identity theft every year, the next step in cybersecurity may well be mapping your brain.
Researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York are working on a biometric system that records how your brain reacts to certain images. With a little more polishing, the scientists’ brainchild could become the way you get into a safe deposit box, your office or past scanners at the airport. It could replace the password for your online banking, your email or your social media accounts.
The started their project by measuring the brain waves of 30 subjects, The subjects were fitted with a cap that had 30 electrodes attached to it, and then shown various images and symbols—celebrity faces, words, pictures of food—on a computer screen in 200- millisecond bursts. The brain's reaction was recorded.
The idea is that every time a person needs to use a “password”, he or she goes through the same procedure, and the results are matched with their first-time reaction. If the “brainprint”' is compromised—like what happened with the fingerprint records—then the system is merely reset by running another set of images and collecting a different set of brain waves. “Even if that was stolen, you could just cancel it and record one to something else”, says professor Laszlo.
Laszlo and her team have shown that their system can be 100 percent accurate. So one of the more difficult parts of making the system practical already has been overcome. Now they're spending much time recording accurate brainprints with as few as three electrodes, which could make recording in the future as easy as wearing a pair of special glasses. They're also working with cheaper material and methods to see if they can bring the cost down.
1.What does the underlined word “brainchild” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A.The brain function. B.The fingerprint record.
C.The biometric system. D.The online password.
2.Why were the images and symbols shown to the subjects?
A.To create their brainprints. B.To check the brain's reaction.
C.To match brainprints with pictures. D.To connect brain waves to electrodes.
3.What are the researchers doing with the program now?
A.Making it user-friendly. B.Improving its accuracy.
C.Recording more brainprints. D.Increasing the number of electrodes.
4.Which's the best the title of this passage?
A.Brain waves—the necessity of passwords B.Biometric systerm—the hope of cybersecurity
C.Brainprint—the future of passwords D.Fingerpint—the challenge of cybersecurity
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
The popular streaming service Netflix announced plans to exclude (排除) tobacco use from any of its new shows and movies that target younger audiences, specifically those below the age of 15. According to media reports, the decision comes from pressure from Truth Initiative, a large non-profit organization aiming to get rid of tobacco and make its use “a thing of the past”.
Smoking is a bad habit and no parents want their kids to start smoking. As such, excluding the vice (坏习惯) from television shows and movies young people watch makes good sense. I’ll acknowledge that Netflix’s decision to exclude smoking is a good one — but it’s a wildly inconsistent standard. What about other vices? For example, the use of bad language?
As parents of three young boys, my wife and I are trying to expose our children to good things. We want to encourage them to grow up to become responsible men who see the value and potential in every person. We want to see them avoid the landmines that so often entrap young people today.
Sadly, typical television shows and movies contain material that’s the exact opposite of that. It’s often said that companies only produce what people will consume — and there’s some truth in such a claim. But the organization I work for has long had an online site that helps parents know about what's in a movie, show or music album. We don’t tell you whether you should watch or listen — we simply let you know what it’s about — and let you decide. It’s our most popular site, attracting millions of visits each month.
Netflix might be surprised how many new customers they would win if they started producing content that parents actually want instead of themes that regularly stand in opposition to the values of the millions of moms and dads like me who want to see our kids accomplish more in life rather than simply avoiding the smoking habit.
1.Why did Netflix plan to cut smoking from youth-targeted content?
A.Because of appeals from parents.
B.Because of the influence of media reports.
C.Because of requests from young audiences.
D.Because of pressure from a tobacco control organization.
2.What are “the landmines” in Paragraph 3?
A.Bad habits. B.Comfort zones.
C.Unrealistic dreams D.Improper friendships.
3.What does the online site mentioned in Paragraph 4 do?
A.It teaches parenting skills.
B.It promotes youth programs.
C.It advertises movies and shows.
D.It serves as an entertainment guide.
4.What does the author think of Netflix’s decision to exclude tobacco use?
A.It is helpless.
B.It is far from enough.
C.It is against popular values.
D.It is a warning to tobacco makers.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
Summer is fast approaching and warmer temperatures bring pests like mosquitoes.
1. An easy way to protect yourself from mosquitoes is to use a repellent（驱虫剂）.Joseph Conlon, technical advisor of the American Mosquito Control Association, recommends using a repellent that is registered with the EPA （Environmental Protection Agency） , which promises that it causes no harm to humans. 2. Repellents with 25 — 30% concentration of DEET （避蚊胺）will provide 4一6 hours of protection and it is the “gold standard by which all repellents are judged," according to Conlon.
3. Conlon explained that mosquitoes can bred （繁殖）in water collected in areas as small as bottle caps but they have a limited flight range, meaning they can’t travel far. "The best way to avoid them is to not have them around in the first place, he explained. "If you've got them in yor backyard, it's because you're breeding them in your backyard."
Is there anything better than “the gold standard"? Repellents made from coconut（椰子） oil work better than DEET, a government study says. 4. A slight wind from a fan can help keep them at Bay.
If you have water around your house. Beth Ranson, public relations officer for Florida Keys Mosquito Control District, suggests acquiring fish that will eat mosquito larvae（幼虫）.
5.She and her team experimented with male mosquitoes infected with bacteria that stop females from producing larvae when they mate. "There's not a lot of companies producing new chemicals or treatments that we can use, she explained. " We need new technologies and products as these mosquitoes develop this resistance.
A.They can bring deadly diseases.
B.Mosquitoes are also weak fliers.
C.It is not suitable from children under three.
D.You can wear protective clothing and keep your windows closed.
E.Another key is to get rid of all the standing water every five days.
F.The repellent is also guaranteed to provide at least two hours of protection.
G.Ranson also started to find high-tech solutions to growing mosquito populations.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Now at some level, all moms and dads know they shouldn't yell at kids. But if you don't _______or talk angrily, how do you discipline（管教）？
For thousands of years, the Inuit have _______ an ancient tool： storytelling. Designed to improve kids’ behaviors and sometimes _______ save their lives, oral stories are passed down from one _______ to the next. For example, how do you teach kids to _______ the ocean? Instead of _______, “Don't go near the water!” Inuit parents take a unique _______ and tell kids a special story about what's inside the water. _______, those stories seemed to me too scary for little children. And my initial reaction was to _______ them. But my opinion changed after I watched my own daughter's response to ________ tales——and after I learned more about humanity’s complex relationship with storytelling.
Oral storytelling is what's known as a human ________. For tens of thousands of years, it has been a key way that parents teach children about values and how to ________. Modern hunter-gatherer groups use ________ to teach sharing, respect for others and conflict avoidance. With the Agta, a hunter-gatherer population of the Philippines’ good storytelling skills are ________ more than hunting skills or medicinal knowledge.
Today many parents outsource their oral storytelling to screens, which also ________ . We learn best through things that are ________ to us. And stories, by their ________ , can have lots of things in them that are much more interesting in a way that bare ________ don't. Stories with a dash of danger ________ kids like magnets （磁石）. And they turn a tension-ridden activity like disciplining into a ________ interaction. So don't discount the playfulness of storytelling.
1.A.answer B.defend C.scold D.stare
2.A.run into B.relied on C.dealt with D.applied for
3.A.still B.only C.never D.even
4.A.generation B.season C.destination D.point
5.A.stay away from B.look forward to C.face up to D.put up with
6.A.recommending B.begging C.yelling D.questioning
7.A.contribution B.introduction C.opportunity D.approach
8.A.At least B.At first C.In addition D.For example
9.A.dismiss B.subscribe C.remember D.prove
10.A.familiar B.personal C.similar D.humorous
11.A.universal B.right C.form D.feeling
12.A.differ B.calculate C.change D.behave
13.A.toys B.stories C.videos D.experiments
14.A.affected B.blamed C.distributed D.prized
15.A.declines B.works C.exists D.ends
16.A.important B.available C.interesting D.obvious
17.A.purpose B.size C.nature D.side
18.A.prediction B.imagination C.performances D.statements
19.A.consist of B.pull in C.pay off D.turn down
20.A.playful B.careful C.doubtful D.painful
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(A )，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 was punished once while I was at school. That was only because I forced to do something I didn't want to do it. I got punished because of the boy, who I was really frightened for. One day, he told me he will be sitting behind me. I was asked to move my paper so that he could read that I'd written. I did as he said, but we were all caught cheating. I had to write a composition about honest. Learning what had happened, my head teacher criticized me or encouraged me to be trustworthy. I can hard forget the experience.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假定你是李华，你校将举行主题为“做文化使者”的英语演讲比赛。请你写一篇参赛演讲稿，内容包括：
1. 做文化使者的原因；
2. 如何去做文化使者。
注意：
1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3. 开头和结尾已给出。
Respected teachers, my fellow students.
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Li Hua
难度: 中等查看答案及解析