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It feels like every time my mother and I start to have a conversation, it turns into an argument. We talk about something as simple as dinner plans and suddenly, my mother will push the conversation into World War 3. She’ll talk about my not very bright future because I don't plan to be a doctor, and much to her disappointment, I don't want to do any job related to science, either. In fact when I was pushed to say that I planned to major(主修) in English and communications, she nearly had a heart attack.
“Why can’t you be like my co-worker’s(同事) son?” she bemoans all the time. Her co-worker's son received a four-year scholarship(奖学金) and is now making 70,000 dollars a year as an engineer. I don't know what to answer except that I just can’t be like Mr. Perfect as I’ve called the unnamed co-worker's son. I can't be like him. I am the type of the person who loves to help out in the community, write until the sun goes down, and most of all, wants to achieve a career because I love it, not because of honor or money.
I understand why my mother is worried about my future major. I’ve seen my mother struggle to raise me on her little money and work long hours. She leaves the house around 6:30 am. And usually comes home around 5 pm. or even 6 pm. However, I want her to know that if I become a doctor, it doesn't mean I’ll be successful. I’d rather follow my dreams and create my own future.
1.Which of the following topics do the writer and his mother often talk about?
A. the writer's studies B. wars around the world
C. dinner plans D. the writer’s further job
2.We can infer from Paragraph 1 that the writer’s mother .
A. doesn’t think the writer should be a doctor
B. doesn’t want the writer to major in English
C. gets along very well with the writer
D. doesn't think working in the scientific field is a good idea
3.The underlined word “bemoans”, in Paragraph 2 most probably means“ ”.
A. 称赞 B. 大喊 C. 安慰 D. 抱怨
4.Which of the following statements is probably TRUE about the writer?
A. He wants to be like his mother’s co-worker’s son.
B. He wants to find a job in his community in the future.
C. He wants to do something he really likes in the future.
D. He doesn’t think his mother’s co-worker’s son is perfect.
5.We can know from the last paragraph that______.
A. the writer's mother works very hard for the family
B. the writer doesn’t know what his future will be like
C. the writer doesn’t think being a doctor is a good job
D. the writer sometimes thinks his mother's advice is very good
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Everybody knows that Earth spins from west to east. That is to say, it appears to be spinning counterclockwise(逆时针) when viewed from above the North Pole.
But what if Earth started spinning the other way?
Scientists from Germany have made a computer simulation(模拟) in which Earth spins in the opposite direction – clockwise when viewed from above the North Pole. This showed them some interesting things about the weather and topography (地形地貌) on Earth, Live Science reported.
As Earth spins in a counterclockwise direction, it shapes ocean currents(洋流). The direction of the spin, together with wind, produces different weather around the globe(全球).
But a backwards(逆向的) spin changes the ocean currents and winds. Therefore, the climate(气候) is different. Western areas of continents(大陆) on Earth cool down as the eastern parts warm up. Winters become even colder in northwestern Europe, while eastern Russia becomes warmer than before. Rain no longer falls on the planet’s wettest places.
Another result of a backward spin is that Earth becomes greener. Scientists found that global desert(沙漠) coverage(范围) shrank(缩小) from 42 million square kilometers to 31 million square kilometers. This may have something to do with the changing climate.
Therefore, you can see lush(郁郁葱葱的), green landscapes from Central Africa to the Middle East, which are mostly covered by deserts now. More surprisingly, the Sahara Desert becomes an oasis(绿洲).
___________. They just appear in some places that they never appeared in before. Deserts would cover North America, where countries like the United States and Canada lie. Sand dunes(沙丘) would replace the Amazon rainforest in South America.
A backward spin would keep the major characteristics of Earth’s topography, such as the size, shapes and positions of continents and oceans. But it would also change the interactions between circulating(环流) air, ocean and topography, lead scientist Florian Ziemen told Live Science.
1.What condition did the German scientists use for the simulation?
A. Earth spins from east to west. B. Earth spins from west to east.
C. The North Pole is turned upside down. D. Earth moves around the South Pole.
2.Why would the climate be different if Earth spins backwards?
A. Because there won’t be any more large oceans.
B. Because the ocean currents and winds will be changed.
C. Because it will change the amount of sunlight that Earth can receive.
D. Because Earth will become greener without deserts.
3.What will a backwards spin bring to the Earth?
A. Winters will become colder. B. No rain will fall in summer.
C. Eastern Russia will become warmer. D. The Sahara Desert will become smaller.
4.The story tells us that _____.
A. Earth used to spin in the opposite direction
B. a backwards spin would cause interesting changes on Earth
C. global desert coverage has been shrinking(缩小)
D. a backwards spin would change Earth’s topography completely
5.Which of the following sentences can be put at the beginning of the eighth paragraph?
A. Sadly, deserts would cover North America.
B. Luckily, deserts would disappear.
C. Anyway, deserts would replace the Amazon rainforest.
D. However, deserts don’t disappear.
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I have tried to write a ghost story that won’t make you unhappy with yourselves, with each other, with the seasons, or with me. I hope it haunts your houses pleasantly.
Charles Dickens
One Christmas Eve, old Scrooge and Bob were working busily in his office. It was a cold, foggy day. The fog was so thick that the houses opposite were like ghosts. It was only three o’clock in the afternoon, but it was already quite dark.
“Merry Christmas, Uncle! God bless you!” cried a happy voice. It was Scrooge’s nephew.
“Bah!” said Scrooge “Humbug(骗人的话)！”
“Christmas is a humbug! Surely you don’t mean that, Uncle.” Said his nephew.
“I do,” said Scrooge. “Merry Christmas! What reason have you got to be merry? You’re poor.”
“OK, then,” replied the nephew cheerfully. “What reason have you got to be sad? You are rich. Don’t be angry, Uncle!”said his nephew.
“What else can I be?” answered the uncle, “I live in a world of fools! Merry Christmas! What’s Christmas time to you? It’s a time for paying bills without money, It’s a time for finding yourself a year older, but not richer. Everyone who goes around saying “Merry Christmas” should have his tongue cut out. Yes, he should!”
“Uncle! Please don’t say that!”said the nephew. “I’ve always thought of Christmas time as a good time, a kind, and a charitable, happy time. And so, Uncle, Christmas has never put any gold or silver in my pocket, but I think it has done me good. And it will do me good. And I say, God bless it!”
Bob, standing in the corner of the room, applauded(鼓掌).He realized his mistake very soon, and went quickly bake to his work, but Scrooge had heard him.
“One more sound from you, Bob Cratchit,” said Scrooge, “and you’ll celebrate Christmas by losing your job!”
“Don’t be angry with him, Uncle. Come and have dinner with us tomorrow.”
“No.” said Scrooge.
“I’m sorry you don’t want to celebrate Christmas. But I do. So a Merry Christmas, Uncle!”
“Good afternoon!” said Scrooge.
“And a Happy New Year! ” said his nephew.
“Good afternoon!” said Scrooge again.
His nephew left the room. He stopped to wish Bob a Merry Christmas. And Bob replied, “A
Merry Christmas to you, too.”
1.In which season did the story take place?
A. Spring. B. Summer. C. Autumn. D. Winter.
2.What did Scrooge think of Christmas wish?
A. It was simple. B. It was important. C. It was stupid. D. It was necessary.
3.What did Scrooge’s nephew mean by saying “ Christmas time is a charitable time”?
A. Christmas was a time to be generous and kind.
B. Christmas was a time to do some challenging work.
C. His uncle should give some money to his family.
D. His uncle should give away his money to the poor.
4.Which of the following is TRUE about Scrooge and Bob?
A. Scrooge was Bob’s uncle. B. Bob worked for Scrooge.
C. Scrooge celebrated Christmas with Bob. D. Bob was Scrooge’s visitor.
5.What can we infer from the story?
A. Scrooge was working busily in his office before Christmas.
B. No rich people wanted to waste their time to celebrate Christmas.
C. Bob believed in Christmas wish as well as Scrooge’s nephew.
D. Scrooge accepted his nephew’s invitation to dinner on Christmas day.
