Two European Summer Must “Seas”
When you think of summer, the beach, clear water, sunny skies, and relaxing days are a few things that come to mind, and two of the best places to experience these summer feels are two gorgeous European bodies of water: the Mediterranean Sea and the Adriatic Sea! These two incredible Seas hold some of my favorite travel memories, and I would revisit each one in a heartbeat!
The Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea can be accessed from various European countries as well as a few North African countries. And while many think of visiting Ibiza, Malta, or the Greek islands to experience the Mediterranean, my Mediterranean beach days came while visiting the seaside city of Marseille in the South of France! Marseille was a lovely city with easy access to the Sea, also with pretty sandy beaches. The gorgeous crystal clear blue water made it unlike any beach day in America! Not only were the beaches amazing, but the city of Marseille was adorable and filled with numerous cute shops and seaside restaurants. And the Mediterraneanstyle food was delicious!
The Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is equally as stunning and surely worth a visit! The Croatian coast has numerous beach clubs, some private and some public, that tourists are able to visit and you can experience the beauty of the Adriatic Sea there! Zrce Novalja, a Croatian seaside town I visited, was impressively featured by the rather rocky beach in place of sand. The rocks were small and smooth, making swimming in the sea and wading in the water just as easy as sandy beaches! Plus, the locals in Croatia are also extremely friendly, making the experience even more memorable.
1.The writer's trip to the two seas was full of ________.
A.unbearable hardships B.various adventures
C.wonderful experiences D.funny events
2.From which place did the writer get to the Mediterranean Sea?
A.Ibiza. B.Malta.
C.The Greek islands. D.Marseille.
3.What makes Zrce Novalja so special?
A.Its beach clubs. B.Its beautiful sea.
C.Its rocky beach. D.Its friendly locals.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
Born blind is tough in any case. But things were even harder for Srikanth Bolla who was born in a small village in India, where the common belief was that kids with disabilities were “of no use” and therefore, better off dead. Fortunately, Srikanth’s parents loved their son and refused to give him up. Instead, they encouraged the blind boy to dream big and reach for the star.
Srikanth did not disappoint his parents. The now twenty-four-year-old is the founder CEO of Bollant Industries.
Of course, getting here was not easy. Being both blind and poor meant that Srikanth had to face hard challenges. As a young boy, Srikanth attended a regular school near his home. Unfortunately, the students and teachers didn’t quite like him because of his disability. As a result, the young boy was largely ignored and often spent the entire day alone.
Concerned this would hold back Srikanth’ s development, his family decided to send him to a special school in Hyderabad. Sure enough, the young boy soon rose to the top of his class, earning awards in speech and debate competitions. But Srikanth was prevented from studying sciences when he reached 10th grade, because it was thought too “dangerous” for a blind student. Not wanting to give up, Srikanth took legal action and became the first blind student in the country allowed to study sciences.
Late, after graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Srikanth set up Bollant Industries in 2012.For just four years, it has become a powerhouse with over 450 employees,70% of whom are physically challenged.
Being disabled doesn’ t mean being unable. “If the world looks at me and says, ‘Srikanth, you can do nothing,’ I will look back at the world and say I can do anything.” the young man says.
1.Why was Srikanth sent to a special school?
A.His parents became richer than before.
B.He could be treated equally there.
C.This school was free for disabled students.
D.He was sent away by the regular school.
2.What can we know about Srikanth from the text?
A.He was born in a poor village.
B.He cared about disabled people.
C.His parents were strict with him in his study.
D.He was loved by the villagers when he was young.
3.What words can best describe Srikanth?
A.Intelligent and determined.
B.Active and honest.
C.Patient and careful.
D.Kind but stubborn.
4.What can be the best title for the text?
A.Chances Are Everywhere
B.No Challenges, No Success
C.Big Dream Makes a Difference
D.Disability Doesn’t Mean Being Unable
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
B
Aging brings wrinkles, sagging bodies and frustrating forgetfulness. But getting older is not all bad for many people. Mounting evidence suggests aging may be a key to happiness. There is conflicting research on the subject, however, and experts say it may all boil down to this: Attitude is everything.
Older adults tend to be more optimistic and have a more positive outlook on life than their younger and stressed opposites. The big question is why seniors are happier. A recent study suggests one reason: Older adults remember the past through happy memories. Aging can bring more cheer as people become more comfortable with themselves and their roles in society. The older adults said they were enjoying more time with their family, spending more time on hobbies and having greater financial security and did not have to work.
But others are doubtful about the link between happiness and growing older.
"The notion that those in old age are happiest is misleading," said Richard Easterlin, a professor of economics at the University of Southern California. "It is based on comparing people of different ages who are the same in terms of income, health, family life." Easterlin added, "When you take account of the fact that older people have lower income than younger, are less healthy, and more likely to be living alone, then you will find it hard to accept that they are happier.
In fact, scientists have found that as people age, their health declines and social networks disappear as their friends die, which can make the elderly less happy.
Even if one does give in to age's dark side, health and happiness don't always go hand-in-hand. It's all about attitude. Research by the University of Chicago’s Yang suggests that attitude about life and happiness, is partly shaped by the era in which a person was born. It turns out that individuals who adapt the best to changes also have the highest expected levels of happiness.
Despite the conflicting findings about aging and happiness, the good news is that there doesn’t appear to be a limit to how much happiness one can achieve in one’s life. “Most people desire happiness,” Easterlin said. “To my knowledge, no one has identified a limit to attainable happiness.”
1.What does the last paragraph mainly tell us?
A.The key factor to older adults’ happiness
B.There is a conflict between aging and happiness
C.No one can define the limit to happiness.
D.The relationship between health and happiness.
2.Why are some seniors happier according to some experts?
A.They focus on what makes them feel good.
B.They have their own circle of friends.
C.They have better income after retirement.
D.They can enjoy social welfare services.
3.What can we learn from the passage?
A.People of the same age have the same sense of happiness.
B.Attitude may play a very important role in happiness.
C.People who adapt the best to changes are more likely to be unhappy.
D.Older adults who have more valuable life experience are more optimistic.
4.What’s the topic discussed in the passage?
A.Whether aging or attitude brings happiness.
B.Why seniors adapt the best to changes in society.
C.What the limit to an elder person’s happiness is.
D.How older people feel compared with younger people.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
People have been wondering why elephants do not develop cancer even though they have lifespans (寿命) that are similar to humans, jiving for around 50 to 70 years.
Now scientists believe they know why. A team at the University of Chicago, US has found that elephants carry a large number of genes that stop tumors (肿瘤) developing. To be precise, they found 20 copies of an anti-tumor gene called TP53 in elephants. Most other species, including humans, only carry one copy.
According to the research, the extra copies of the gene improved the animal’s sensitivity to DNA damage, which lets the cells quickly kill themselves when damaged before they can go on to form deadly tumors.
“An increased risk of developing cancer has stood in the way of the evolution of large body sizes in many animals,” the study author Dr Vincent Lynch told The Guardian. If every living cell has the same chance of becoming cancerous (癌变的), large creatures with a long lifespan like whales and elephants should have a greater risk of developing cancer than humans and mice. But across species, the risk of cancer does not show a connection with body mass.
This phenomenon was found by Oxford University scientist Richard Peto in the 1970s and later named “Peto’s paradox (悖论)”. Biologists believe it results from larger animals using protection that many smaller animals do not. In the elephant’s case, the making of TP53 is nature’s way of keeping this species alive.
The study also found that when the same genes were brought to life in mice, they had the same cancer resistance as elephants. This means researchers could use the discovery to develop new treatments that can help stop cancers spreading or even developing in the first place.
“Nature has already figured out how to prevent cancer,” said Joshua Schiffman, a biologist at the School of Medicine, University of Utah, US. “It’s up to us to learn how different animals deal with the problem so that we can use those strategies to prevent cancer in people.”
1.Why are elephants unlikely to develop cancer?
A.They have a rather large body size.
B.Their genes suffer no DNA damage.
C.Certain genes in their body kill existing tumors.
D.They carry many genes to prevent tumors developing.
2.According to the passage, what has been a risk in the evolution of large animals?
A.Deadly tumors. B.The huge body mass.
C.Cells killing themselves. D.Sensitivity to DNA damage.
3.What does the underlined part “This phenomenon” in Paragraph 5 probably refer to?
A.Larger animals have protection from TP53.
B.The risk of cancer is not related to body size.
C.Larger animals suffer the same risk of cancer as smaller ones.
D.The larger animals are, the bigger risk of cancer they will have.
4.What can be concluded from the passage?
A.Depending on nature is surely enough to fight against cancer.
B.The TP53 genes have proved useful in stopping cancer in people.
C.Humans are expected to prevent cancer with the making of TP53.
D.The extra copies of elephants, genes are used to cure cancer patients.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Are you happy with your appearance? 1.
“Almost all the girls with single-fold eyelids in our class have had double-eyelid operations,” Zeng, a Senior 2 student from Chengdu, told Xinhua. Zeng had the same surgery done this summer. 2.
From popular photo-editing apps to plastic surgery, it seems that large eyes, pale skin and a skinny body are the only standard for beauty these days. But can following this standard really make us feel good about ourselves?
3. According to Huxiu News, over six in ten girls choose not to take part in certain daily activities, such as attending school, because they feel bad about their looks. As much as 31 percent of teenagers avoid speaking up in class because they worry that others will notice their looks.
Many teenagers are upset about their appearance because they believe in unrealistic standards of beauty, experts say. 4. Seeing all these things can make anyone believe that they’re too dark, too fat, too short, or too tall.
However, trying to live up to strict standards can make us feel anxious. What troubles us is not just our “imperfect” looks, but the fact that we criticize ourselves too much.
5. Plus-size models are being featured in some fashion shows. All of us should be just as confident as they are.
A. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes．
B. Body image anxiety is common among teenagers．
C. Guys care just as much as girls do about their body image．
D. Some teenagers might feel negatively about their appearance．
E. She and many of her classmates believe bigger eyes look more beautiful．
F. It’s not uncommon for teenagers to feel confident about their appearance．
G. Perfect faces and bodies are everywhere in advertising TV shows and social media．
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
When I was about 12, I had an enemy, a girl who liked to point out my shortcomings. Week by week her list ______: I was very thin; I wasn’t a ______ student; I talked too much; I was too _____, always feeling superior to（胜过）others, and so on. I tried to hear all this as long as I could. _____, I became very angry. I ran to my father with _____ in my eyes.
He listened to me ______, and then he asked. “Are the things she says true or not? Janet, didn’t you ever wonder _____ you’re really like? Well, you now have that girl’s ______. Go and ____ a list of everything she said and mark the points that are ______. Pay no attention to the other things she said.”
I did ______ he told me. To my great _____, I discovered that about half the things were true. Some of them I couldn’t ______ (like being very thin), but a good number I could – and suddenly I wanted to change. For the first time I went to a fairly ______ picture of myself.
I brought the list back to Daddy. He ______ to take it. “That’s just for you,” he said. “You know _____ than anyone else the truth about yourself. But you have to learn to ______, not just close your ears in anger, feeling _____ when something said about you is true, you’ll find it of help to you. Our world is full of people who think they know your affairs. Don’t shut your ______. Listen to them all, but hear the truth and do what you know is the right thing to do.”
Daddy’s advice has always ______ to me at many important moments. In my life, I’ve never had a better piece of advice.
1.A.collected B.added C.grew D.continued
2.A.good B.bad C.short D.greedy
3.A.silly B.friendly C.dull D.proud
4.A.In other words B.Above all C.As a result D.At last
5.A.tears B.happiness C.promises D.wishes
6.A.coldly B.quietly C.eagerly D.happily
7.A.who B.how C.what D.that
8.A.excuse B.opinion C.talk D.advice
9.A.take B.make C.create D.receive
10.A.wrong B.correct C.big D.true
11.A.as B.so C.before D.till
12.A.joy B.pleasure C.surprise D.anger
13.A.say B.like C.do D.change
14.A.wonderful B.clear C.interesting D.beautiful
15.A.promised B.refused C.expected D.agreed
16.A.wider B.higher C.better D.worse
17.A.listen B.stand C.speak D.share
18.A.hurt B.sad C.shy D.excited
19.A.words B.mouths C.eyes D.ears
20.A.returned B.gone C.appeared D.happened
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。
The snow is gone and green grass can be seen growing close to the sunny side of homes. The birds in the back yard are singing in the bush. Spring is here, and with_______come memories of the smell of_______, new sneakers, and longer days.
As a kid, I knew spring arrived when I walked into the house after school and_______paint. The first warm day would cause my mum to have the idea of_______She opened the windows, let the fresh air in, opened a can of paint, and put a fresh_______on the walls of a room.
Spring was also the time to change_______In Nova Scotia, we had snow on the ground almost_______from late December until late March. We spent all of our time outside wearing our_______winter boots. To run in them was like running with two weighty bags.
In late April or early May, mum would take us to the town to buy a new pair of light_______for each of us. I still remember the rubber________, with the trademark imprinted on it. After a month or two, small hands would tear it off, and leave a circle, darker than the________material around it.
Later, when we returned home, my brothers and I________our new sneakers. The door shut________behind us when we rushed out, causing a shout of________from our dad. Then we ran across the fields. The weight of the heavy winter boots was________It felt like we were________through the air or we could jump thirty feet like a kangaroo. The thoughts of summer’s approach and the________wind of spring rushing past our uncovered ears were________
When life gets me down; when everything seems________; I don’t let it________me. I would let my room put on a new coat of paint, pull on a new pair of sneakers, and just run like it was spring.
1.A.autumn B.spring C.winter D.summer
2.A.flowers B.food C.wine D.paint
3.A.smelled B.bought C.made D.matched
4.A.adventure B.communication C.decoration D.happiness
5.A.coat B.jacket C.sweater D.shirt
6.A.socks B.caps C.gloves D.shoes
7.A.especially B.normally C.continuously D.commonly
8.A.new B.heavy C.light D.soft
9.A.pants B.trousers C.sneakers D.glasses
10.A.circle B.rabbit C.line D.star
11.A.ugly B.colorful C.new D.faded
12.A.tore down B.put on C.made up D.turned down
13.A.heavily B.slightly C.gently D.slowly
14.A.excitement B.joy C.surprise D.anger
15.A.increasing B.coming C.gone D.measured
16.A.running B.flying C.walking D.riding
17.A.warm B.cold C.biting D.strong
18.A.terrible B.negative C.delightful D.fearful
19.A.successful B.hopeless C.satisfying D.hopeful
20.A.cheat B.change C.win D.affect
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
语法填空
Tea is one of the 1. (much) popular drinks in the world. You make it by pouring hot water over the dried leaves of a tea plant. For 2. (hundred) of years people believed that tea could cure illnesses, and they used 3. as medicine. Today scientists know that tea contains chemicals that prevent cells from dying. Most teas have caffeine in them, 4. makes you feel more active. Some people have problems 5. (drink) tea because it can cause sleeplessness.
The tea plant 6. (grow) best in tropical and temperate places where rain falls throughout the year. Teas can be grown from sea level 7. about 2,000 metres, but the best quality grows in higher regions.
Tea comes from the leaves and buds of tea plants. Wild plants can be up to 9 metres high, however, on tea plantations, 8. (pull) the leaves 9. (easy), people cut them back to a bush of about a metre in height. It takes a plant three to five years before it is ready for picking.
A picker can harvest about 20 kg of tea a day. On large tea plantations the leaves are harvested by machines, but the quality of tea is 10.(high) when the leaves are picked by hand.
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仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第1l处起）不计分。
Zhou Yan is the Senior Three student. Last week, he goes to see a doctor because of his arms and fingers hurt. The doctor told him the fact that had a “mobile phone disease”. Zhou sent messages for his friends with his mobile phone all the time, even in bed. Zhou started to do badly in all the exam because he spent so many time on his mobile phone. He didn’t stop use the mobile phone until his arms hurt. Yang Ling, which is an expert from a health center, said students should try to use their mobile phones less, especial at school.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假设你是李华，下周三美国Greendale高中的访问团将来你校参观交流。作为校学生会主席，请给对方联系人Elizabeth写一封邮件，询问对方相关事宜。内容包括:
1. 日程安排；
2. 饮食习惯；
3. 其他要求。
注意: 1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Elizabeth,
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
难度: 中等查看答案及解析