Since the first Earth Day in 1970, Americans have gotten a lot “greener” toward the environment. “We didn’t know at that time there even was an environment, let alone that there was a problem with it,” says Bruce Anderson, president of Earth Day USA.
But what began as nothing important in public affairs has grown into a social movement .Business people, political leaders, university professors, and especially millions of grass-roots Americans are taking part in the movement. “The understanding has increased many， many times,” says Gaylord Nelson, the former governor from Wisconsin, who thought up the first. According to US government reports, emissions (排放)from cars and trucks have dropped from 10.3 million tons a year to 5.5 tons .The number of cities producing CO beyond the standard has been reduced from 40 to 9. Although serious problems still remain and need to be dealt with, the world is a safer and healthier place. A kind of “Green thinking” has become part of practices.
Great improvement has been achieved. In 1988 there were only 600 recycling programs; today in 1995 there are about 6,600. Advanced lights, motors, and building designs have helped save a lot of energy and therefore prevented pollution.
Twenty –five years ago, there were hardly any education programs for environment. Today, it’s hard to find a public school, university, or law school that does not have such a kind of program. “Until we do that, nothing else will change!” say Bruce Anderson.
1.According to Anderson, before 1970, Americans had little idea about ___
A. the social movement B. recycling techniques
C. environmental problems D. the importance of Earth Day
2.Where does the support for environmental protection mainly come from?
A. The grass –roots level B. The business circle
C. Government officials D. University professors
3.What have Americans achieved in environmental protection?
A. They have cut car emissions to the lowest
B. They have settled their environmental problems
C. They have lowered their CO levels in forty cities.
D. They have reduced pollution through effective measures.
4.What is especially important for environmental protection according to the last paragraph?
A. Education B. Planning
C. Green living D. CO reduction
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Educational APP Store
Duolingo
Duolingo is regarded as one of the best English language apps today, which is strongly recommended for English amateurs. The system of the app helps you learn English quickly by spending twenty minutes a day. Duolingo structures your lessons that teach you about seven new words based on a topic and skill points being awarded for completing the lessons.
Busuu
Busuu helps you learn English language on the go and the lesson’s quality is guaranteed as it is based on CEFR language framework. Lessons range from beginners to advanced learners. Busuu is actually a great English app if you want to improve your spoken English by talking with native speakers.
Memrise
Memrise uses some creative and easy ways to memorize English words. The focus of this app is to help the users expand their vocabulary by learning English words in an effective way. Memrise also offers an offline mode to continue learning without Internet connection.
Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone is designed differently from average language apps on the marketplace today. It’s trying to teach us English the way we’d learn it, as if we were children starting to learn the language. Furthermore, it has exercises designed to help you learn basic words. A variety of lessons are offered that Rosetta Stone has been using for years.
1.Which app mentions the time for daily study?
A. Busuu.
B. Duolingo.
C. Memrise.
D. Rosetta Stone.
2.Why is Memrise distinct from the others?
A. It will give learners quick progress.
B. It has many vocabulary lessons.
C. It is designed for English beginners.
D. It can be applied offline as well.
3.The passage is written to ________.
A. inform readers of research results
B. encourage English beginners
C. recommend English-learning apps
D. introduce ways of learning
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
My First Marathon
Three weeks before my first marathon, one of my ankles was injured and this meant not running for two weeks, leaving me only one week to train. Yet, I was determined to go ahead.
I remember back to my 7th year in school. In my first P.E. class, the teacher required us to run laps and then hit a softball. My performance was really terrible. He later informed me that I was “not athletic”.
The idea that I was “not athletic” stuck with me for years. When I started running in my 30s, I realized running was a battle against myself, not about competition or whether or not I was athletic. It was all about the battle against my own body and mind. A test of wills!
The night before my marathon, I dreamt that I couldn't even find the finish line. I woke up sweating and nervous, but I was ready to prove something to myself.
Shortly after crossing the start line, my shoe laces became untied. So I stopped to readjust. Not the start I wanted!
At mile 3, I passed a sign: “GO FOR IT, RUNNERS! ”
By mile 17, I became out of breath and the once injured ankle hurt badly. Despite the pain, I stayed the course walking a bit and then running again.
By mile 21, I was starving!
As I approached mile 23, I could see my wife waving a sign. She is my biggest fan. She never minded the alarm clock sounding at 4 a.m. or questioned my expenses on running.
I was one of the final runners to finish. But I finished! And I got a medal. In fact, I got the same medal as the one that the guy who came in first place had.
Determined to be myself and move forward, free of shame and worldly labels(世俗标签), I can now call myself a “marathon winner”.
1.Three weeks before the marathon, the author ________.
A. was well trained
B. felt scared
C. made up his mind to run
D. lost hope
2.Why did the author mention the P.E. class in his 7th year?
A. To acknowledge the support of his teacher.
B. To show he was not talented in sports.
C. To amuse the readers with a funny story.
D. To share a precious memory.
3.How was the author's first marathon?
A. He made it.
B. He quit halfway
C. He got the first prize.
D. He walked to the end.
4.What does the story mainly tell us?
A. A man contributes his success to his family support.
B. A winner is one with a great effort of will.
C. Failure is the mother of success.
D. One is never too old to learn.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
After many considerations and years of heated argument, gray wolves were brought back to Yellowstone National Park. Fourteen wolves were caught in Canada and transported to the park. By last year, the Yellowstone wolf population had grown to more than 170 wolves.
Gray wolves once were seen here and there in the Yellowstone area and much of the continental United States, but they were gradually displaced by human development. By the 1920s, wolves had practically disappeared from the Yellowstone area. They went farther north into the deep forests of Canada, where there were fewer humans around.
The disappearance of the wolves had many unexpected results. Deer and elk populations — major food sources for the wolf — grew rapidly. These animals consumed large amounts of vegetation (植被), which reduced plant diversity in the park. In the absence of wolves, coyote populations also grew quickly. The coyotes killed a large percentage of the park’s red foxes, and completely drove away the park’s beavers.
As early as 1966, biologists asked the government to consider reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone Park. They hoped that wolves would be able to control the elk and coyote problems. Many farmers opposed the plan because they feared that wolves would kill their farm animals or pets.
The government spent nearly 30 years coming up with a plan to reintroduce the wolves. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service carefully monitors and manages the wolf packs in Yellowstone. Today, the debate continues over how well the gray wolf is fitting in at Yellowstone. Elk, deer, and coyote populations are down, while beavers and red foxes have made a comeback. The Yellowstone wolf project has been a valuable experiment to help biologists decide whether to reintroduce wolves to other parts of the country as well.
1.What is the text mainly about?
A. Wildlife research in the United States.
B. Plant diversity in the Yellowstone area.
C. The conflict between farmers and gray wolves.
D. The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone Park.
2.What does the underlined word “displaced” in paragraph 2 mean?
A. Tested.
B. Separated.
C. Forced out.
D. Released.
3.What did the disappearance of gray wolves bring about?
A. Damage to local ecology.
B. A decline in the park’s income.
C. Preservation of vegetation.
D. An increase in the variety of animals.
4.What is the author’s attitude towards the Yellowstone wolf project?
A. Doubtful.
B. Positive.
C. Disapproving
D. Uncaring.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Ready to take a gap year？ A "Gap Year" is a period of time when a student takes a break before going to university． It is often spent travelling or working．1.
Gap years are popular with European and Australian students， but remain less popular in America． However， in recent years， more and more American students are preparing for college by taking a gap year． The advantages of taking a gap year are as follows：
2.
Although you don't have to go abroad to experience gap years， most gap year students catch the chance to travel abroad． You are able to work out who you are and what you are for． The experiences of different cultures offer you interesting lessons． You can learn more about the world and get to know yourself better．
Face challenges and have fun
A gap year is not only a time to take a vacation， but also a time to face challenges． Gap year students usually work， volunteer or take service projects． You have to learn how to get along in the real world． This process isn't always easy， but it is an important part of growing up．3.
Save money and improve your college admission chances
There's a common thought that gap years are only for rich students， but it's not true． Actually， taking a gap year can save your money． Gap year students often take a part-time job． Besides， at the end of a gap year， students are much more likely to know what to study in college． 4.
5.Both of them are excellent and have high grades． However， one student has much practical experience or has volunteered in his vacation． Who do you think the admission officer will choose？
A． Learn about the world and yourself
B． Only in this way can you enjoy life and have fun．
C． Check out your gap year choices before making the right decision．
D． It can give young people useful learning experiences and new skills．
E． Imagine an admission officer trying to admit only one between two students．
F． More students than ever before are taking a gap year before going to university．
G． Clear learning goals can keep the students working hard instead of wasting time and money playing．
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
As a child, I was always told to “eat my greens”. These were the unappealing vegetables that sat on the edge of my plate. Peas, and green beans, all looked and tasted ___________. At that time, all I thought was that “when there were so many other delicious treats to_________, why should I eat boring vegetables?”
Since then my taste buds have___________and I'm also fully aware of the health benefits of eating fresh vegetables. But we still need___________ of the amazing goodness these green super foods give us. In the UK, a campaign has been___________for several years to encourage us to eat our “5A Day”—five portions of fruit and vegetables. That's___________evidence has shown there are significant health___________to getting at least five 80g portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day.
But I struggle trying to fit these five portions into my daily___________, partly because I have a sweet_________and vegetables are, well, tasteless. Researchers have been________________ how to make eating vegetables more____________. They analyzed the psychology behind our food ____________ and found that most of us are____________by taste. Brad Turnwald from Stanford University says that “studies show that people ____________ to think of healthier options as less tasty for some reason.”
In Europe, a project called Veggie EAT has also been trying to find ways to get people to ____________more vegetables. Project leader, Professor Heather Hartwell believes in ______________ encouraging people into eating the right things. One idea is to put a ____________of a tasty looking fruit on a supermarket trolley as a ____________ about buying something from the fruit section. She says, “Choice is a really____________thing. But making vegetables look attractive will increase their sales.”
Certainly, eating “twisted citrus-glazed carrots” does sound tempting, even if it just ______________like a carrot, but if it makes us eat more vegetables then that can only be a good thing for our health.
1.A. delicious B. disgusting C. ripen D. sweet
2.A. buy B. offer C. enjoy D. prepare
3.A. developed B. appeared C. existed D. shrank
4.A. talking B. informing C. reminding D. warning
5.A. planning B. running C. aiming D. intending
6.A. why B. how C. when D. because
7.A. benefits B. issues C. needs D. risks
8.A. diet B. education C. work D. exercise
9.A. ear B. tooth C. knee D. head
10.A. showing B. discovering C. reporting D. studying
11.A. attractive B. appropriate C. beneficial D. independent
12.A. wastes B. values C. choices D. judgments
13.A. confused B. challenged C. disturbed D. motivated
14.A. manage B. tend C. agree D. decide
15.A. grow B. harvest C. store D. eat
16.A. suddenly B. slowly C. firmly D. seriously
17.A. picture B. lot C. variety D. number
18.A. sign B. hint C. concern D. clue
19.A. complex B. easy C. quick D. casual
20.A. looks B. smells C. feels D. tastes
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
单词拼写
1.It is warmer now and the snow is beginning to m__________.
2.China’s development will not pose a t__________ to any other country.
3.The car wheels got s__________ in the mud.
4.I must c__________ sorrow into strength.
5.Severe damage witnessed the d__________ force of the storm.
6.Plants can absorb carbon dioxide and __________(释放) oxygen.
7.The brochure shows the products that are __________(目前) available.
8.He is g__________(悲痛) over his dead wife and son.
9.Drivers must be on the __________(警觉) for traffic signals.
10.This article aims to raise public __________(意识) about green technology.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
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。
A few years ago, famous writer and editor Tom became very ill. His body ached and he felt constantly tired. It was difficult for him to even move around. His doctor told him that he would lose the 1.(able) to move and eventually die from the disease. He 2.(tell) he had only a 1 in 500 chance of survival.
Despite the diagnosis(诊断), Tom was determined to overcome 3. disease and survive. He was always getting help from medicine books and some doctors 4. gave the ideas of curing his disease. The ideas made Tom 5.(think) about the possible benefit of several positive 6.(emotion).
He decided 7.(concentrate) on positive emotions as a way to treat some of the symptoms of his disease. “Laugh therapy” became part of his treatment. He arranged time each day 8. watching comedy films, reading humorous books, and9.(do) other activities that would draw out positive emotions. Within eight days of starting his ‘‘laugh therapy” program, his pain began to decrease and he was able to sleep more 10.(easy). He was able to return to work in a few months’ time and actually reached complete recovery after a few years.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
请改正下面短文中的错误。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多两处。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。
As tour guide, I’m glad to tell you that more and more tourists are paying attentions to environmental protection. Several years before, in one place of interest I saw rubbish throwing away everywhere, such as waste paper and plastic bags. However, some tourists climbed trees or picked out flowers. Some even scared or catch little animals. What’s more, some of them made a fire to cook, which might cause a forest fire. Recently great changes had taken place. Most tourists take rubbish away with them while they leave. They no longer hurt little animals. Trees and flowers are well taken care of. In the forest, smokers give up smoking so as not to start a fire. Now I sing high praise for so good deeds.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
地震是一种难以预测的自然灾难，懂得必要的避震措施，可以最大程度减少地震对我们的危害。学校正门公告栏正在征集宣传文章，请根据以下提示写出一篇文章：
1.沉着冷静，遇事不惊
2.室内要找到遮蔽物，如：桌子下面
3.室外应远离建筑物，去到开阔的地方
注意：1.词数100左右； 2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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难度: 中等查看答案及解析