Cool inventions
Powerful snowmobile
With this turbocharged(涡轮増压的) snowmobile, getting over snow and ice will be snow problem. The snow Crawler snowmobile is designed with two skis under its front end. Below its back end is a pair of tracks, or rubber belts around a set of wheels. Inside it's heated, so jump inside, start up the engine, and listen as the wheels start to turn the tracks. Each track is designed to grip (抓住)slippery surfaces easily, allowing the snow-mobile to move over them without difficulty. Let it snow!
Floating furniture
It's easy to fall asleep in the special bed. This comfortable sleeping place features a plastic, water-filled mattress (气垫)that's designed to adapt to the shape of the person lying on it. Simply kick off your shoes and climb onto the bed. As you lie there, the mattress will hug your body. Meanwhile, the water in the mattress will gently rock you from side to side. It is a similar feeling to floating on your back in a pool. The mattress even heats up to make you extra comfortable. Now that is a dream bed.
Smart insoles(鞋垫)
This might take shoes in a new direction. The Lechal company has created shoes insoles that "tell" wearers how to get from one place to another. How do they work? Put the insoles into your shoes. The insoles are built to vibrate(振动). They are also connected wirelessly to your smartphone. Pull up the Lechal app on your phone and type your destination. The app uses GPS to map out the quickest path for you to walk. Every time you need to take a left or right, the app signals the correct insole to vibrate so you know which direction to turn. That's amazing.
1.What can we learn about the Snow Crawler snowmobile?
A.It uses little energy.
B.It can work in snowy areas.
C.It is designed to clear snow.
D.It loses control on icy surfaces.
2.What is special about the floating furniture?
A.It is air-powered. B.It is pool-shaped.
C.It is self-movable. D.It is body-adaptable.
3.How do the smart shoe insoles direct users?
A.By vibrating.
B.By working out the path.
C.By letting out voice signals.
D.By sending messages to their phone.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
Both of Omar's parents were poets. For as long as Omar could remember, his parents spent at least one evening each week at a poetry reading, which usually took place at a small coffee house.
Omar had very fond memories of the coffee house on Sixth Street where the people's personalities were as colorful as the coffee cups. He loved going to early evening poetry readings at Cody's Coffee Shop. He would sit in the audience next to his parents, the smell of coffee floating through the air and the gentle voices of the poets removing his childish worries with the rhythm of their poems.
There was one woman who came to Cody's every week just as his parents did. Her name was Mrs. Aboud. She never read, but she had a bright smile for everyone, and she would clap (手) loudly after each reading.
Eventually, Omar began writing his own poetry. Mrs. Francis, Omar's English teacher, advised him to enter a poetry contest ( 比赛). At first Omar was proud and excited. However, when he read the contest rules, he became concerned. The contest was an oral(口头的) reading. Omar had no doubt that he could write high-quality poetry, but he was a very shy young man. He doubted that he could stand in front of a large group to read his poems calmly.
“It would make me very proud”, his father said, and Omar knew that he had to go through with it somehow.
So on the day of the contest, he selected his favorite poem, put on his best clothes, and appeared at the auditorium (会堂).
When he stepped onto the stage, though, something wonderful happened! There in the audience, right beside his parents, was Mrs. Aboud. Omar could almost smell the coffee at Cody's Coffee Shop. He focused on his parents and Mrs. Aboud and tuned out everyone else. Now it was easy to read his poem in a clear, calm voice. When he finished, everyone in the auditorium applauded.
1.What is the second paragraph mainly about?
A.Poetry B.A coffee house
C.Omar's parents D.Omar's worries
2.Which word best describes Mrs. Aboud?
A.Clever. B.Patient
C.Creative D.Supportive.
3.Why did Omar feel that he had to enter the contest?
A.He wanted to win a prize.
B.He wanted to face his fears.
C.He wanted to please his teacher.
D.He wanted to surprise his father.
4.The underlined phrase “tuned out” in the last paragraph can be replaced by______.
A.ignored B.attracted
C.forgot D.impressed
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Imagine this scene: it’s blowing outside, and you snuggle (蜷伏) up on the sofa under a warm quilt, chatting and recalling with your closest friends.
That content, cosy feeling has a name in Danish —hygge. And, as Denmark recently won the title of “the happiest country in the world”, the concept of hygge is known to more and more people interested in finding ways to understand this concept.
Hygge —originally from a Norwegian word meaning well-being — doesn’t have an exact equivalent (等同物) in English. It’s often translated as coziness, or as blogger Anna West told the BBC, “coziness of the soul”. But, as professor Maren Spark explains, “Hygge was never meant to be translated. It was meant to be felt.”
Basically, hygge involves creating a warm, cosy atmosphere and enjoying it with your loved ones. Danish winters are long and dark and so achieving hygge is particularly relevant during this season. A typical Hygge activity during winter could be enjoying delicious homemade food and light-hearted conversation with friends —preferably in the warm glow of candlelight, or maybe sipping a glass of wine in the hot tub after a day spent skiing.
However, hygge isn’t only limited to the cold winter months —it can also describe that warm, fuzzy feeling you get after a walk through a forest with friends on summer’s day or a family barbecue in the park. Hygge is meant to be shared.
1.The author asks the readers to imagine the scene in the first paragraph to_________ .
A.help the readers to calm down
B.introduce the topic of the passage
C.present the main idea of the passage
D.remind the readers of their past memories
2.What do the underlined words by Maren Spark mean?
A.The translation of the word “hygge” is not good enough.
B.Only Danish speakers know what “hygge” means.
C.“Hygge” is easy to translate but hard to feel.
D.We can get the true meaning of “hygge” by feeling it.
3.Which of the following can be best described as a “hygge” activity?
A.Skiing in the cold winter months.
B.Living through long dark winters.
C.Taking afternoon tea with friends.
D.Walking alone in the forest.
4.The author writes this passage to_________.
A.explain
B.persuade
C.comment
D.advertise
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Parents usually teach their children how to cross the street safely, by looking both ways for cars. But do they also teach them to put away their cell phones?
The city of Honolulu, Hawaii wants everyone to learn that lesson. Texting while crossing the street will soon be banned in the city. Beginning on October 24, you could be fined from $15 to $99 if you step onto a Honolulu street while looking at your phone. Honolulu is the first major U. S. city to ban what is called "distracted walking". It recently passed a law in a seven-to-two vote. The law says: "No pedestrian shall cross a street or highway while viewing a mobile electronic device(装置).” In other words, do not look at a screen when you cross the street or you could be fined.
The law's creators hope it will lower the number of people hit and killed by cars in the city. Mayor Kirk Caldwell told Reuters news agency, "We hold the unfortunate distinction of being a major city with more pedestrians being hit in crosswalks, particularly our seniors, than that of almost any other cities in the country."
The law includes all electronic devices with screens:cell phones, tablets, gaming devices, digital cameras and laptop computers. The law does permit an exception. Pedestrians may use such devices in the street to call emergency services and rescue workers, such as firefighters and police officers.
Pedestrian deaths have been increasing as the use of cell phones rises. The Governors Highway Safety Association, or GHSA, says pedestrian deaths in the United States increased by 25 percent between 2010 and 2015. That trend continued in 2016 with the number of pedestrian deaths rising to almost 6,000, 11% higher than that in 2015. Other U. S. cities may follow Honolulu. The State of Washington was the first to outlaw distracted driving back in 2007. Now, 46 other states as well as D. C, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U. S. Virgin Islands, also have laws against texting while driving.
1.What's the passage mainly about?
A.Honolulu will ban distracted walking.
B.Texting while walking draws public attention
C.More cities in the U. S. will ban texting while driving.
D.The number of people killed by cars in Honolulu is increasing.
2.In what case can people use electric devices in Honolulu streets?
A.Walking with police officers.
B.Making urgent calls.
C.Helping rescue workers.
D.Texting to consult about emergency services.
3.What does the author convey in Paragraph 5?
A.Texting while walking should be banned quickly.
B.Distracted walking caused a severe problem in Honolulu.
C.Cell phones led to more and more pedestrian deaths in the U. S.
D.Pedestrian deaths were caused by texting while walking.
4.Which U. S. state was the first to ban texting while driving?
A.Hawaii B.Washington
C.Puerto Rico D.Guam
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
You don't really need much to start running. Once you have shoes, socks, something to listen to and something to clock your time, you're just about set. 1. Whether you choose a standard watch, a high-tech GPS watch or your iPhone doesn't matter.
1. Choose a shoe
Don't be influenced by brand names. Instead, try on four or five running shoes, jog around the store and let your feet decide. In a sweeping review of the science on running shoes and injuries, researchers found that the most important feature of a running shoe is — comfort. That's it. 2.
2. Choose a pair of socks
3. Blisters from unsuitable socks are painful and could affect you for days. You want a breathable, comfortable sock. Some running socks are made from a special material that draws moisture (湿气) away from your feet.
Look for a sock without thick (or any) seams (缝) and decide if you want a no-show sock or one that covers the back of your ankle. 4. Test them out to see how they perform when you run and sweat before buying more pairs.
3. Choose a playlist
Running should feel like a reward. If you're a runner who likes the quiet of running, then pick a quiet path and go run. But many people like a combination of upbeat music or books on tape to accompany them on the run. 5. They often read their own audio books and leave you laughing so much you forget the pains of running.
A. Choose a shoe that feels good.
B. Consider trying books by comedians.
C. Here's how to pick the right running equipment.
D. It can prevent bacteria from accumulating on your feet.
E. Try socks on in the store, and pick one or two that you like.
F. While most runners focus on shoes, socks can be important too.
G. When it comes to the timing tool, just pick the one that works for you.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
When I was a child, my mother didn't force me to eat everything in my dish. She said I had to______every food three times. Her ____ was the first time to try it, the second time to get over the fact that you had just tried it, and the third to ______that you don't like it. After that, if I still______the taste, she would ____make me eat it again. Her reasonable approach _______almost every time----except with bananas, which I still don't eat now.
As I grew older, I brought that simple _____ into my life. I had been _____the diving(跳水) board at the pool, but I had______ to make the first jump off the board. When I breathed in water, my mother jumped in to ____ me. Before she could even reach me, I was up and out of the pool, heading back to that diving board. I jumped off______．More coughing followed, but I was determined to get over the fear. When I ______the pool the second time, my mom tried to cover me with a towel._____, I threw off the towel and_______trying. The third time there was no _____ and no water in my nose. In fact, there were_____ from the others at the pool. At that point, I fell in love with the pool.
In my mid-thirties, I ____ a successful job that didn't satisfy me in order to achieve my dream of being a writer. Having been ____ twice, I tried for a third time. I have been happily living the life of a writer ever since. We are all afraid of something _____. But how can we be sure that something won't be ____ unless we give it a try.
1.A.smell B.cook C.try D.share
2.A.reason B.decision C.dream D.order
3.A.point out B.make sure C.agree D.imagine
4.A.remembered B.required C.missed D.hated
5.A.even B.never C.still D.ever
6.A.worked B.changed C.formed D.developed
7.A.answer B.plan C.game D.rule
8.A.excited about B.afraid of C.bored with D.proud of
9.A.hoped B.waited C.managed D.continued
10.A.help B.watch C.warn D.praise
11.A.as usual B.by chance C.just now D.once again
12.A.fell into B.looked at C.got out of D.ran away from
13.A.Instead B.Besides C.Therefore D.Moreover
14.A.began B.regretted C.avoided D.kept
15.A.fear B.sadness C.surprise D.anger
16.A.invitations B.cheers C.replies D.thanks
17.A.left B.needed C.took D.offered
18.A.forgotten B.punished C.refused D.caught
19.A.dangerous B.unknown C.difficult D.strange
20.A.important B.special C.enjoyable D.similar
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
There are various reasons 1. people write poetry. Some poems tell a story or describe something 2. a way that will give the reader a strong 3. (impress). 4. poems try to convey certain emotions. Poets use many different forms of poetry to express themselves.
Some of the first poetry 5. (write) in English is nursery rhymes. Children 6. (learn) these when they were very young. Nursery rhymes are still 7. common type of children's poetry. They delight small children 8. they have strong rhythm and a lot of repetition.
Tang poems stand out in Chinese poems. A lot of Tang poetry has been translated into English 9. is quite popular among English speakers.
Having read and recited so many forms of poems since our childhood, we can certainly write poems of our own. It's 10.(easy) than you might think and certainly worth a try!
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
根据句意或单词的首字母填写所给单词的正确形式。
1.Sam found his__________ outside his front door. (钱夹)
2.After he was arrested, the man_________(承认) hiding in the box before the plane left London.
3.They decided to a ____ an orphan from the earthquake-hit area.
4.What you eat every day can be_____________(转换) into energy.
5.You need to be more __________(灵活的) and imaginative in your approach.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
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。错误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11处起）不计分。
One day, little Tony went to a shopping center with his parent. It was very crowded. Tony saw a toy on a shop window. He liked it so very much that he quickly walked into the shop. After looks at the toy for some time, he turned around and found where his parents were missing. Tony was scared and begun to cry. A woman saw him crying and telling him to wait outside a shop. Five minutes later, Tony saw parents. Mom said, “How nice to see you again! Dad and I were terrible worried.” Tony promised her that this would never happen again.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假如你是李华，你校英语角准备举办一次文化艺术节(the Festival of Arts and Culture), 主办人Robert针对本次艺术节向学生们征求意见。请你用英语给他写一封信, 谈谈对此次活动的看法及建议。
注意: 词数120左右
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难度: 中等查看答案及解析