Ian Mercer doesn’t set an alarm clock. The former Microsoft senior manager doesn’t check the weather, either. He doesn’t turn on lights, water the yard, or adjust the thermostat(恒温器). He doesn’t open the curtains, answer the phone, or call his children for dinner. There’s something unique about Ian’s home. He has programmed it to do all these things for him.
Ian doesn’t live in a typical home or have a typical lifestyle. He spent over a decade designing the systems that feature in his unique home. He bought a home automation software package and then improved it.
Now there are 79 sensors and monitors, and 48 light switches in his home. Lights turn on automatically in rooms with people in them. Even being out, Ian can also control his home remotely using voice commands or his phone in any location. That is only the beginning of what this home has been programmed to do.
It connects with online calendars, caller ID, online weather services, online address boos, and email, among other things, to get Ian through his day. For example, if there is a meeting in Ian’s calendar, it will wake him up, open his bedroom curtains, start and set his shower to his desired temperature. It also informs Ian about traffic conditions.
There is plenty more this home has been programmed to do. It keeps him updated on his favorite sports teams and scores. It even monitors online activity to check that Ian’s children are doing their homework. The “dinner’s ready” command stops operation of their computers and TVs. This is easier than asking his children o shut them down.
Ian’s home is unique. Most homes are not this smart, but soon more homes will be technologically advanced.
1.What makes Ian’s home unique?
A. Having more furniture than usual
B. Being programmed with smart software
C. Creating a traditional atmosphere for Ian
D. Working automatically without Ian’s order
2.What can we learn about Ian?
A. He invented the home automation software
B. He devoted years to improving the systems
C. He is seeking to control his home remotely
D. He failed to monitor his children’s homework
3.What does the underlined sentence imply?
A. Smart homes are future trends
B. Ian’s home is far from satisfaction
C. Technology of smart home is too expensive
D. Homes smarter than Ian’s can be found everywhere
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
A tailgate party is a social event held on and around the open tailgate of a vehicle. Tailgating, which originated in the United States, often involves consuming alcoholic drinks and frilling food. Tailgate parties usually occur in the parking lots at stadiums, before and occasionally after games and concerts. People attending such a party are said to be tailgating. Many people participate even if their vehicles do not have tailgates.
The idea for eating out of the back of a car may have started in 1866 with Charles Goodnight, a Texas farmer. He noticed that the cowboys he employed needed a way to eat on the road, so he transformed a U. S. Army wagon(马车) into a mobile kitchen. There, hungry workers could eat, relax, and socialize after a long day of working.
Nowadays, people tailgate for lots of reasons, everything from college football games to Jimmy Buffet concerts. In schools and communities, some athletic departments, coaches and parents of student athletes rely on post-game tailgating parties to build community and support for their program and team.
What people consider essentials(必备)for tailgating spreads isn’t the same across the country. Different areas of the country have their own favorite foods for tailgating. While foods like burgers and chips may be common everywhere, some areas have specialties. For instance, those in Louisiana may consider jambalaya a tailgating must, while those in the Midwest simply can’t go without brats. And the West Coast? Don’t be surprised to see grilled fish or pasta. While dishes may differ from area to area, one thing is the same across the country: beer.
1.Why did Charles Goodnight invent a mobile kitchen?
A. To show off his cooking skills
B. To build a canteen
C. To celebrate the army’s victory
D. To attract more cowboys
2.What can we learn about tailgate parties?
A. They are usually held before concerts
B. They are mainly held for cowboys
C. They are also occasions to make friends
D. They are meant for football teams
3.What do people think a must for all tailgate parties?
A. Beer B. Sports
C. Music D. Vehicles with tailgates
4.What is the last paragraph mainly about?
A. The spread of tailgating
B. The popularity of jambalaya
C. Favorite foods on tailgate parties
D. Necessary equipment for tailgating
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
In this influential work about the surprising divide between children and the outdoors, child supporter expert Richard Louv directly links the lack of nature in the lives of today’s wired generation---he calls it nature-deficit(赤字)----to some of the most disturbing childhood trends, such as the rises in obesity, attention disorders, and depression.
Last Child in the Woods is the first book to bring together a new and growing body of research indicating that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development and for the physical and emotional health of children and adults. More than just raising an alarm, Louv offers practical solutions and simple ways to heal the broken bond---and many are right in our own backyard.
This new edition reflects the great changes that have taken place since the book was originally published. It includes:
·100 actions you can take to create change in your community, school, and family.
·35 discussion points to inspire people of all ages to talk about the importance of nature in their lives.
·A new progress report by the author about the growing Leave No Child Inside movement.
·New and updated research confirming that direct exposure to nature is essential for the physical and emotional health of children and adults
Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder has promoted a national dialogue among educators, health professional, parents, developers and conservationists. This is a book that will change the way you think about the future of your children.
1.What does the word “bond” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A. Exposure to nature
B. Childhood development
C. Parent-child relationship
D. Connection between children and nature
2.What does the book focus on in children’s growth?
A. Outside activities
B. Physical labor
C. Overweight problems
D. School performances
3.What is added to the new edition?
A. Website links and related videos
B. Vivid pictures and personal examples
C. Training courses and expert supports
D. Latest research and practical instructions
4.Where is the passage from?
A. A science report B. A book review
C. A fairy tale D. A guide book
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
To have a second child or not, this is a question.
A concern about only one child is whether one child necessarily means a lonely child. Many parents of only child feel guilty of their decision to have only one child. There are no other children in the family for the child to associate with, which may lead to the child feeling lonely at times.
Another common argument against having just one child may be more spoiled than one with siblings. Many people believe that a single child will not have learned to negotiate with others, and respect the give-and-take involved in many relationships. Some think this may leave the child less capable of interacting well with people his or her own age.
Despite these arguments, the number of parents choosing to have only one child is increasing in the world. For some single-child parents, the pressures of devoting time and energy to a second child can result in them selecting have no more children. For other parents, the financial burden of having a second child may be the major consideration. Another important consideration is the increasing age at which women give birth to children.
Advocates of single-child families argue that there are advantages for the child as well as the parents. With just one child, the parents can give, and the child can receive, more quality time and attention.
However, there is no simple answer to the question of whether or not to have a second child. The circumstances affecting each set of parents are unique. The important thing, in the end, is to make a decision that both the wife and the husband feel confident.
1.What are the advantages of children with brothers or sisters?
A. Less pressure and better energy
B. More respect and greater family wealth
C. Higher intelligence and more attention
D. Less loneliness and better social competence
2.What prevent some parents from having a second child according to the passage?
A. Work pressures
B. Limited time, energy and money
C. The health and wealth of the first child
D. The negotiations between parents and children
3.What can we learn from the passage?
A. The birth of a second child makes many parents guilty
B. The number of single-child parents is decreasing
C. Nowadays women delay giving birth to children
D. Family circumstances have little effect on parents’ decision
4.How is the passage developed?
A. By providing examples B. By listing suggestions
C. By offering descriptions D. By analyzing reasons
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
根据短文内容，从短文后的七个选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Do you have any problem with time? Start doing these and you will see the difference.
● Write it down
Don’t rely on your memory to keep track of every little detail. 1. Write down the things you need to do in a small notebook, or use online tool to create and update your “to-do” list.
● 2.
Working for long periods without a break can waste your time. It is more efficient to work or study for a shorter period of time, take a break, and then go back to work. You may get more done in tow focused 45-minute sessions.
● One thing at a time
3. Do one thing at a time, and do it well. As the Chinese proverb says, “One cannot manage too many affairs. Like pumpkins in the water, one pops up while you try to hold down the other.”
● Schedule email time
On your cell phone you get a notification every time someone sends you can email. If so, you have to check your email many, many times a day. 4. Schedule time to check your email. It doesn’t matter when.
● Choose to say “No”.
It’s easy to become overwhelmed if we say “yes” to everything. Think about the task before you commit to it. Do you need to do it? Can someone else do it? Avoid saying “yes” to every request. 5.
● Keep a goal journal
Write down your goals in a journal and evaluate them regularly. Mark your progress for each goal. Be sure you take the necessary step to achieve your goals.
A. Make a list first
B. Don’t skip the breaks
C. Turn that notification off
D. Memory is not always accurate
E. Don’t forget to focus on your task
F. This takes time away from more important tasks
G. Every time we switch from one task to another, we lose focus
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
That day, I followed my Beijing daily routine of coming home from Tsinghua University. I was_________enough to experience a friendly casual meeting. When entering the , I heard “Wait! Wait!”. As I held the lift doors open, a woman rushed in and thanked me. When I _________ in Chinese, she was surprised. After chatting, she to help me with my Chinese, and then we _________ names and numbers.
As I told my flatmates about the experience, they didn’t hesitate to express their _________ . From the western point of view, experiences like these are dangerous. _________ , to be “more Chinese”, I stayed in touch with my lift friend.
The following week she _________ me to go for milk tea with her and her_________ . I though that the girl would_________the opportunity to practice English. However, most of our _________ was in Chinese! They even went to great length to help me practice_________ my Chinese is only middle level. Our next _________ was when we gathered together to make dumplings. They made me 55 completely at ease in their home.
After these _________ meet-ups I have spent lots of time with the family, and I feel that they have become my own _________abroad. Fortunately, I didn’t let our western point of view act as a_________ . This experience has made my stay in China _________ I feel like this simple difference in _________ is something we in the west can learn from Chinese culture.
1.A. lucky B. satisfied C. eager D. brave
2.A. dormitory B. lift C. apartment D. office
3.A. madly B. swiftly C. blindly D. elegantly
4.A. apologized B. clarified C. opposed D. replied
5.A. refused B. compromised C. offered D. struggled
6.A. gave B. mentioned C. exchanged D. remembered
7.A. admiration B. desire C. interest D. concern
8.A. Yet B. Therefore C. Also D. Thus
9.A. invited B. forced C. expected D. allowed
10.A. flatmate B. daughter C. colleague D. relative
11.A. seize B. abandon C. own D. get
12.A. speech B. description C. conversation D. argument
13.A. so B. unless C. if D. as
14.A. performance B. vacation C. meeting D. trip
15.A. feel B. behave C. pretend D. look
16.A. recent B. initial C. familiar D. difficult
17.A. parent B. community C. group D. family
18.A. message B. barrier C. challenge D. signal
19.A. embarrassing B. changeable C. disturbing D. unforgettable
20.A. restriction B. competence C. attitude D. Privilege
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。
While I went sightseeing in London, I visited the London Underground. Like most tourists, I was very interested in it as it is the 1. (old)system in the world. It is also very complex. I was told that the first part of the underground system opened in 1863 and 2. took people from the boundary of London to the city center. The underground passages were very narrow 3. (compare) to the last line that was constructed in 1977. when 4. (carriage) first ran in these passages, there was lots 5. smoke and noise. I think it must have been horrible and damp down there! Another problem was that there were a dozen different lines, 6. were not linked. This 7.(make) the system not user-friendly, but now the different lines have been joined. The union of the different lines makes traveling on the London Underground much more 8. (convenience). I bought a ticket at a discount and rode the underground three times. It was good for me 9. (have)the experience. Another interesting thing was that the passage were used for all sorts of things during World War II such as bomb shelters and an anti-aircraft centre. It’s 10. (true) amazing!
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
短文改错
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：在错的词下画一横线，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。
Hi, Lee,
How are you? When I visited you at last time, I read part of a history book in your school library. Now I wanted to order a copy so that I can finish read it. Unfortunately, I can’t remember the title, I remember that it had the word “Tang Dynasty” in it. I remember very much that the price was on the back cover but I could only read a 8. I think it is a very recent book---write after 2000. Its author is a famous professor, but I have complete forgotten the name. Could you please find the book and let him know its ISBN?
Joe
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
书面表达
假设你是李华，拟邀请美国朋友Mike七月份到你的家乡福建泉州参观游览。请你写一封邀请函，要点如下：
1．享受免费住宿；
2．游览名胜古迹；
3．品尝特色小吃（snack）
4．感受当地历史文化和风土人情。
注意：
1．词数100左右；
2．可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3．开头语已为你写好。
Dear Mike,
How is everything going? ____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
难度: 中等查看答案及解析