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Many great basketball players had clever nicknames (绰号), usually describing the player’s overall style on the court (球场). Below are some of the colorful nicknames among popular NBA players.
“Tiny”
Nate Archibald, at six feet one inch tall, was small for a basketball player. Still, Archibald used speed and his brains to control the court in the 14 seasons that he played in the NBA. Interestingly, his nickname originated off the court: he was named after his father, “Big Tiny”.
“Magic”
Earvin Johnson was called “Magic” by a sportswriter who saw him playing basketball in one high school game. Johnson was a skillful player, often doing the unexpected, to the chagrin of his competitors and the delight of the audience. He also won a gold medal as part of the U.S. “Dream Team” in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
“The Mailman”
Karl Malone earned his nickname because on the court he delivered consistently. Malone spent most of his career with the Utah Jazz, gaining a reputation as one of the best power forwards of all time. He also won two Olympic gold medals, as part of the U.S. “Dream Team” in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain and in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.
“The Iceman”
George Gervin made the most difficult shots look easy. He was also famous for keeping his cool in every game, playing in a relaxed way under pressure. Gervin, who played most of his 14 years in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs, was unequalled in many ways as a shooting guard.
1.Whose nickname has nothing to do with basketball?
A. Nate Archibald’s. B. Earvin Johnson’s.
C. Karl Malone’s. D. George Gervin’s.
2.The underlined word “chagrin” in Paragraph 3 probably means “_____”.
A. amazement B. annoyance
C. enthusiasm D. impatience
3.Why was George Gervin called “The Iceman”?
A. He was always as cold as ice.
B. He had a glass of iced beer every day.
C. He didn’t get along well with his teammates.
D. He was always able to keep calm on the court.
4.The author’s purpose in writing the text is to _____.
A. uncover the secrets of NBA players’ success
B. talk about how to give others a lovely nickname
C. introduce some NBA players and their nicknames
D. show how to become an excellent basketball player
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
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There are a lot of products out there that make your life easier. Some, however, are a little sillier than others — so much that they seem like joke products. Here are a few products that sound crazy, but actually rule.
Sleep Phones
It’s hard to imagine something sillier than a music-playing headband you wear while you sleep, but they exist — and are quite popular. Sleep Phones won’t give you the highest quality sound in the world, but if you prefer to fall asleep to music, they’re far more comfortable than normal headphones. While they’re a bit expensive, they might be perfect for you. There’s also a wireless version (版本) if you prefer.
Onion Goggles
If cutting onion brings on the waterworks no matter what you try, it’s time for desperate measures. We tested a bunch of methods for avoiding onion tears, and found the best solutions came down to cutting the onion under a vent (通风孔), or wearing these stylish and awesome goggles.
Lock Laces
There’re some great ways to tie your shoes better, but if you long for the laceless shoes of your childhood days, Lock Laces are a pretty good choice. They’re basically elastic (有弹性的) laces that remove the need to tie your shoes. Sure, people will make fun of you, but you can make fun of them after they trip over their own untied laces. Or you can make your own slip-on shoes with elastic tubing.
2D-Glasses
Hate 3D-movies, but have to go to one? The difference between 2D-glasses and 3D-glasses lies in their lenses (镜片). Each lens of 2D-glasses blocks the same picture, so each eye gets the same picture, while each lens of 3D-glasses blocks a different picture, so each eye gets a different picture which the brain interprets as 3D. Now you have a pair of glasses that can save you from the headache caused by wearing 3D-glasses which are popular in our movie theaters. You can buy them or make a pair for yourself.
1.What do we know about Sleep Phones?
A. There are two versions.
B. They’re comfortable but unhealthy.
C. They give you the best quality sound.
D. They’re cheaper than other headphones.
2.The underlined part “brings on the waterworks” in the text probably means _____.
A. makes your eyes water
B. makes your fingers hurt
C. destroys your water pipes
D. adds to your washing work
3.What is the advantage of Lock Laces?
A. They are strong and lasting.
B. They help you walk comfortably.
C. They are stylish and eco-friendly.
D. They save you from tying your shoes.
4.Compared with 3D-glasses, 2D-glasses _____.
A. are cheaper and thinner
B. won’t give you a headache
C. let you see a different picture
D. are more popular in movie theaters
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
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In 1985, a lionfish was caught off the coast of Florida. Now they can be found not only in the Atlantic Ocean but also in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. And they are continuing to move south. Lionfish are native to the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. So how did they end up in the Atlantic? Scientists believe some pet owners abandoned their unwanted lionfish and poured them into the sea. Little did they know the trouble their actions would cause.
The Atlantic Ocean turned out to be a comfortable home for lionfish. Their venomous spines (毒刺) protect them from sharks and other fish. Female lionfish can spawn (产卵) every few days, producing as many as 2 million eggs per year. Other big fish would have competed with lionfish for food. But overfishing has removed many of these large fish. As a result, the fish have eaten so much that they have grown to be more than three times the size of their cousins in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. “They eat mostly fish,” says Stephanie Green, a scientist at Oregon State University.
All that eating has caused great changes. Scientists have found that when lionfish are present somewhere, many other fish, which are small enough for them to eat, disappear. Some of the fish they eat are greatly missed in their habitats. For example, parrotfish eat certain plants off corals (珊瑚), which allows corals to grow better. But they are now disappearing due to lionfish.
Scientists say lionfish are here to stay. But there are ways to deal with the problem. The key, says Green, is to keep lionfish numbers in check. In Florida, divers can now go through a special training program and get certified (授予合格证书) to catch lionfish in areas where fishing is not usually allowed. And a number of restaurants have added the fish to the menu. “It’s going to be a long-term battle, but the missing sea species will come back someday,” says Green.
1.What can we learn about lionfish?
A. Its population is growing very quickly.
B. All of them are almost the same size.
C. They eat other big fish and even sharks.
D. Most of them have gathered in the Atlantic.
2.Parrotfish were mentioned to show lionfish’s _____.
A. loneliness B. carelessness
C. weakness D. harmfulness
3.What is Stephanie Green’s attitude towards the battle against lionfish?
A. She doubts it.
B. She is hopeful of it.
C. She is worried about it.
D. She thinks it is against the law.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
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Who decided that blue jeans and T-shirts are “cool” for kids to wear today? Who designs the clothes you see for sale in stores? All of these questions concern the world of fashion.
Fashion refers to the styles of dress that are currently popular. Fashion goes beyond just clothes, though. It’s important for some people to wear only the latest fashions and styles. For others, though, keeping up with trends isn’t that important. The one thing that stays the same with fashion is this: it always changes!
In the 1960s and 1970s, hippies made bell-bottomed blue jeans popular. In the 1980s, Michael Jackson made parachute pants (降落伞裤) all the fashion. Now try to find these items in today’s clothing stores!
Why do fashions change? The answer is probably as simple as the fact that people change. Over time, the new replaces the old. People are influenced greatly by popular culture, including athletes, musicians, movie stars, as well as popular films, television shows, books and music. We are also influenced by the fashion industry’s advertising.
The stars of popular culture are always searching for a new angle to maintain (保持) their popularity. Often these new angles come in the form of new clothing or hairstyles. When people see these new styles, they often want to imitate their favorite stars. To do so, they seek out the latest fashions to make themselves look like the people they want to imitate. In this way, fashions evolve and change over time.
For years, clothes have been used to separate people into groups. Even today, brand-name clothing that is more expensive than other types of clothing can be used by some people to distinguish themselves from others.
Unfortunately, this can often have the effect of distancing certain groups from others. Don’t forget that it’s always OK to develop your own sense of style that is unique and separate from what the fashion world determines! Stay true to yourself and let your personality — not your clothes — speak for who you are!
1.The examples of bell-bottomed blue jeans and parachute pants in Paragraph 3 suggest that _____.
A. fashion always changes
B. stars are always influential
C. people have different dressing styles
D. hippies and Michael Jackson are good designers
2.Fashions change mainly because _____.
A. advertisements change rapidly
B. popular culture influences people
C. movie stars are changing over time
D. new films and shows replace the old
3.In the last paragraph, the author mainly wants to stress _____.
A. the advantages of staying unique
B. the bad effects of following fashion
C. the good influences of popular styles
D. the importance of having one’s own personality
4.We can learn from the text that _____.
A. fashion is all about clothes
B. the author has gone out of fashion
C. clothes may separate and distance people
D. people like imitating others’ dressing style
难度: 中等查看答案及解析