Games and Hobbies
There are websites for nearly every game and hobby out there.
Teen Reads
Young book lovers will enjoy TeenReads. The website features reviews of new and popular books for teenagers, along with surveys, contests and places to discuss favorite books. Teens can also work their way through the “ultimate(最终的)” reading list on the site.
TeenNick
Fans of entertainment channel TeenNick will find information on the latest shows, as well as games, videos and quizzes. While the site offers updates(新信息)on TeenNick shows, it also features stories just for teens, offering suggestions on how to survive high school or giving back to school ideas.
The InSite
The InSite is designed for teens who have an interest in improving the world. Teens can learn about social justice, how to build a positive self-image(积极的自我形象)and how to help the planet. They can also submit artwork and writing or discuss how to make the world a better place.
ChallengeYou
ChallengeYou is a computer game design website. Teens can design games on the site or play games designed by other kids and teens. They can share their games with friends or take part in weekly game-building contests. There is also a chat room and a forum(论坛)where site users can discuss game building or arrange to play together.
1.Where might you find information on the latest teenager books?
A.On TeenReads B.On TeenNick
C.On The InSite D.On ChallengeYou
2.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the text?
A.You can publish your own writing on TeenReads
B.TeenNick is mainly a place to discuss school problems
C.The InSite helps to make a better you and a better world
D.You can find information about games on all these websites
3.If you have designed a computer game and want to share it with your friends, you should go to __________.
A.TeenReads B.TeenNick
C.The InSite D.ChallengeYou
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
NASA has a new job listing, and it’s no joke. The US space agency (机构) is looking for a “joker” to join their planned mission (任务) to Mars.
A mission to Mars is no laughing matter. On average, the red planet is 140 million miles (225 million kilometers) away from Earth. A trip there would take around eight months in a small spacecraft. And Mars has a communications delay (延迟) of 20 minutes. This means that astronauts will have to wait 20 minutes for a reply, when an emergency happens.
“When you’re living with others in a confined space for a long period of time, such as on a mission to Mars, problems are likely to occur,” Jeffrey Johnson, a scientist at the University of Florida, told The Guardian.
This is probably why NASA wants an astronaut with a sense of humor. “These are people that have the ability to pull everyone together,” Johnson said.
In stressful situations, perhaps humor is a way to know we aren’t alone. By laughing together, we share our stress. Then we can focus on our jobs instead of just worrying.
There are other examples of team “clowns”. One example is the journey to the South Pole (南极) led by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. It was a difficult journey, full of danger. Adolf Lindstrom, a cook at Amundsen’s team, was a “clown”. He made people laugh through the whole journey. Amundsen later wrote that Lindstrom was the most valuable member of the team.
But if you’re hoping that your favorite TV comedian (喜剧演员) will fly to Mars, that probably won’t happen.
“Being funny won’t be enough to land somebody the job,” Johnson said. “They also need to be an excellent scientist and engineer.”
Besides, they must be in top physical condition.
1.What is NASA’s new job listing?
A.A funny engineer. B.A talented clown.
C.A good cook. D.A popular comedian.
2.What does “a confined space” in Paragraph 3 refer to?
A.a crowded space B.an empty space
C.an open space D.a small space
3.How does the author think humor can help astronauts?
A.It can stop them from feeling worried.
B.It can encourage teamwork on a mission.
C.It can help them feel less homesick.
D.It can help them know themselves better.
4.What could be the best title of the passage?
A.A New Job Listing of NASA
B.Humorous Astronauts in NASA
C.Keeping the Spirits Up
D.A mission to Mars
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
Have you ever heard someone say, “you totally look like you’re a Jessica” or something similar? People seem to think that they know what kind of person a “Jessica” or a “Michael” looks like. Why is this?
According to a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, humans tend to associate people’s names with their appearance, and can even guess someone’s name based on how they look.
Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, collected thousands of photos of people’s faces. They labeled each photo with four names. Then, they asked volunteers to guess which of the four names was correct.
The volunteers were able to guess the right name 38 percent of the time. It seems that certain characteristics of faces give them clues about someone’s name, Reader’s Digest reported.
However, this only worked when the volunteers looked at names from their own culture. In addition, the volunteers were not as good at guessing the real names of people who used nicknames more often than their real names. This may show that a person’s appearance is affected by their name only if they use it often.
This kind of face-name matching happens “because of a process of self-fulfilling prophecy (自我实现预言), as we become what other people expect us to become.” Ruth Mayo from the university told science news website EurekAlert.
Earlier studies have shown that gender and race stereotypes (刻板印象) can affect a person’s appearance. The researchers believe there are also similar stereotypes about names. For example, people tend to think that men named Bob should have rounder faces because the word itself looks round. People may think that women named Rose are beautiful. They expect them to be “delicate” and “feminine(女性的)”, just like the flower they are named for.
1.What was the purpose of the study?
A.To find out today’s most popular English names.
B.To learn how names influence personality.
C.To find out whether names relate to their looks.
D.To show how men’s names are different from women’s.
2.What can we infer from the study?
A.Volunteers found it easier to guess nicknames correctly.
B.Names may have different associations in different cultures.
C.Volunteers could guess the characteristics of those people.
D.The people in the photos and volunteers were from the same country.
3.According to Ruth Mayo, why do some people look like their names?
A.They tend to become what others expect them to become.
B.They want to please everyone around them.
C.They don’t want to be different from others.
D.They like to copy famous people who share the same name.
4.What point does the last paragraph want to explain?
A.Earlier studies about stereotypes are limited.
B.Stereotypes about names can bring good results.
C.Stereotypes about names can affect people’s looks.
D.It’s not always bad to be influenced by the expectations of others.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
Heart disease is one of the major killers in the world today. Many who suffer from it must have heart transplants (移植). However, it’s difficult to get a suitable heart donation, and even if a patient survives the wait, his or her body often rejects (排斥) the heart.
But there is now new hope for sufferers of heart disease. According to a study published in the journal Advanced Science, researchers from Israel’s Tel Aviv University printed a 3D human heart on April 15.
“This is the first time anyone anywhere has successfully engineered and printed an entire heart,” professor Tal Dvir told CNN.
Unlike the previous 3D-printed heart structure, the new heart is complete with cells, blood vessels (血管), chambers (心室) and other structures a heart needs to function normally. But scientists still have more to figure out before the 3D-printed heart can be fitted into the body. For one thing, the experimental heart is only the size of a thumb (拇指). And, although it can contract (收缩) like a muscle, it cannot pump out blood like a real one. At present, the heart prototype (样品) is like a tiny airplane that has all of the right parts, but can’t fly.
However, the development is still regarded as a major breakthrough in medicine.
In the experiment, the researchers turned human fat tissue (脂肪组织) into human heart tissue with stem cell (干细胞) technology. The tissue was then turned into “bio-ink” for a 3D printer to ensure that tissue in the heart came from the patients themselves. So ideally, if it were to be placed in the body of someone in need of a transplant, there would be less risk of organ rejection.
“Patients will no longer have to wait for transplants or take medications to prevent their rejection,” researchers told USA Today. “Instead, the needed heart will be printed, fully personalized (个性化的) for every patient.”
But the scientists think that 3D printing can be used to create other human organs. They foresee a time when the 3D printing of organs will be an everyday medical practice.
“Maybe, in 10 years, there will be organ printers in the finest hospitals around the world and these procedures will be conducted routinely,” Dvir said.
1.Why is the 3D-printed heart important?
A.It will be used on a patient.
B.It is the first 3D-printed heart.
C.It will replace a heart donation.
D.It has a complete heart structure.
2.What problem do 3D-printed hearts have?
A.They cost too much. B.They are too small.
C.They can’t contract. D.They are hard to produce.
3.Why would there be less risk of organ rejection with the 3D-printed heart?
A.It would be made with stem cell technology.
B.It would be made from human fat tissue.
C.It would come from a patient’s body.
D.It would be printed according to the patient’s condition.
4.What attitude does Tal Dvir hold toward the future of 3D printing of organs?
A.Confident. B.Doubtful.
C.Worried. D.Confused.
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
If you need to prove who you are in China, you’ll usually need to use an ID (identity) card. It shows your name, date of birth, address, nationality, photo and ID number. 1.
On April 17, Alipay introduced its first electronic ID card. The card is an electronic version (版本) of a real ID card and is recognized by the Ministry of Public Security. 2. Users can simply select “Web ID” in the app and follow the instructions.
The electronic ID card can now be used in Hangzhou, Quzhou and Fuzhou. People in these cities can use the card to check into hotels, buy train tickets and do other tasks. 3.
About 4 million people will be able to use the service within the next year. “4. Even if they forget their ID cards, they can still get things done. Since the process is simplified, it also makes things easier for government offices and companies,” Tang Feifan, mayor of Quzhou, told Zhejiang Online.
It’s safe to use Alipay’s new service, in case you’re worried that someone might steal your identity. 5. Then, you have to pass both a fingerprint and facial recognition scan (扫描) before you can use the electronic ID card.
A. This gives people another choice.
B. But now, you can prove your identity using your smartphone.
C. First, you must unlock your phone, and enter your Alipay password.
D. It’s quite easy to get an electronic ID card by using the Alipay app.
E. But not all people have welcomed the electronic ID cards.
F. They don’t have to show their standard ID card anymore.
G. The safety of the electronic ID card is the main concern.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Jason, our son, was born with cerebral palsy（脑瘫）. My wife and I often comforted him as he faced many _______ in his early years.
It was _______ to see him regularly chosen last for baseball, but his most _______ time came when he began high school. One afternoon, Jason returned home in _______ and shouted: “I’m never going to school again!” He was _______ with food that other kids had _______ him on the school bus on the way home. Jason later told us what had _______. A few days earlier, Jason had _______ up for the school running team. That day, a few older students made _______ of his performance on the track. I called the headmaster about the ________, and it never happened again.
One day, as the other kids exercised in the gym, they ________ one lonely runner-Jason jogging around the snow-covered track. A few weeks later, Jason said to me, “Dad, I was ready for the ________. He added that each month, each student ________ an “athlete of the month” and voted for the ________. Jason’s name had never been ________. But that day, one student said: “Sir, I would like to propose Jason for athlete of the month. “The coach looked ________. “He works harder than any of us, Sir,” the student continued. Tears ________ in Jason’s eyes as everyone in the class put their hands up. We, also in tears, looked on as he ________ displayed his certificate.
Whenever I despair, I think of this story. I ________ myself that challenges are not overcome by ________, but by patience, determination, and faith.
1.A.choices B.challenges C.changes D.chances
2.A.hopeful B.considerate C.convenient D.heartbreaking
3.A.special B.comfortable C.separate D.difficult
4.A.ruins B.tears C.shock D.surprise
5.A.covered B.followed C.attached D.filled
6.A.rolled down B.pushed against C.thrown at D.dropped out
7.A.recorded B.deserved C.happened D.promised
8.A.stayed B.signed C.pulled D.hung
9.A.comments B.use C.mistakes D.fun
10.A.process B.operation C.movement D.situation
11.A.admired B.watched C.noticed D.realized
12.A.best B.worst C.most D.least
13.A.hoped B.agreed C.meant D.chose
14.A.winner B.ruler C.advisor D.fighter
15.A.accepted B.listed C.attended D.organized
16.A.surprised B.delighted C.moved D.frightened
17.A.divided B.exploded C.changed D.formed
18.A.warmly B.proudly C.kindly D.seriously
19.A.blame B.warn C.remind D.inform
20.A.force B.construction C.discussion D.appearance
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（不多于1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
While 1. (visit) Hangzhou’s West Lake and its surrounding beautiful hills, you'll understand why it's been a great source of inspiration for artists, poets and philosophers 2. Chinese history.
Though 3. rest of the country is moving from two wheels to four, cycling culture is thriving(繁荣的) in Hangzhou. The city 4. (develop) China's first bicycle-sharing system in 2008. Since then, it's grown into the world’s 5. (big) and one of the world’s best public bicycle systems.
Hangzhou grows some of China's finest green tea--- Longjing. Every spring, before the traditional Qingming Festival, tea 6. (love) from all over the country come to Longjing, a village 7. lies just south of West Lake, for the first cup of top-quality tea. During tea season-- 8. (usual) late March and April-- the air is filled with smell from the tea, when leaves 9. (pick) and roasted in the village. The village is open to the public and you can pick your own tea after getting 10. ( permit) from the local tea farmers.
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（∧），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限一词;
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Dear Lucy,
I was delighting to receive your letter. Thank you for the English dictionary you bought it for me. I received it this morning. There is no doubt that it is of great helpful to me. I’m deeply grateful for your advice what I should pay more attention to practice my spoken English. I’ve made up my mind to speak English both in and out of class. Next month I’ll take trip to Australia, which is organizing by my school. I hope I can practise my spoken English there as many as possible. By the way, I am sending you a set of stamp with this letter, and I’ll send you more if I got any. I do hope you will have a good holiday.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假定你是中学生李华。你的外教Peter昨天结束在中国的工作，回到了英国伦敦。你因故未能送行。请根据以下要点用英语给他写一封电子邮件：
1．表示歉意；
2．解释原因；
3．期待重逢。
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