When 15-year-old Louisa Ball takes a nap, she sleeps for days on end, and no amount of shaking can fully wake her up. The British girl has a rare condition called Sleeping Beauty Sickness. Doctors don’t know what causes it or how to cure it --only know that it strikes teenagers and goes away by itself after eight to 12 years.
Louisa’s mum, Lottie, told NBC News that the girl had flulike symptoms just over a year ago. Shortly afterward, she had her first period of long sleeping.
She was eventually diagnosed with Kleine-Levin Syndrome, whose victims worldwide may number no more than 1,000. The victims live normally for weeks or months at a time, with normal sleep patterns and normal energy levels. Then, with little warning, they’ll go to sleep for days or weeks at a time. So far, Louisa’s longest period in bed has been 13 days. Victims will wake briefly, but be disoriented and not fully awake. Louisa’s parents force her awake so she can use the bathroom and eat.
Now, Louisa’s friends can tell when a period is coming on. She stops talking and she may be annoyed easily. That’s when she knows she has to get home to her bed. Louisa has slept through family vacations, the dance recitals(表演会) she loves to perform in, and school tests. Now it becomes increasingly difficult to catch up on missed schoolwork.
But just as doctors don’t know the cause, they also don’t know why it ends as mysteriously as it began. The illness is unrelated to narcolepsy(嗜眠病), whose victims are constantly tired and drop off for brief periods of sleep at any time.
It’s so dramatic that some people have accused Louisa of making the false symptoms to get attention. Her father, Richard, thinks that’s absurd.
1.The underlined “disoriented ” in the 3rd paragraph probably means________.
A. embarrassed B. Disappointed
C. confused D. happy
2.We can learn from the passage that________.
A. doctors have found the cure for Sleeping Beauty Sickness.
B. some people don’t believe in the truth of Louisa’s symptoms.
C. Kleine-Levin Syndrome has no effect on Louisa’s study and life.
D. the narcolepsy victims sleep longer than those with Kleine-Levin Syndrome.
3.What can we learn about Louisa?
A. Louisa is fond of dancing.
B. Louisa can still manage finish her schoolwork without difficulty.
C. Louisa is a British girl who likes sleeping.
D. Louisa’s longest sleeping period is 8 years.
4.What is the best title of the passage?
A. What is Narcolepsy
B. How Louisa Overcame the Difficulty
C. Rare Illness Turns a Girl into a “Sleeping Beauty”
D. The Latest Research on Kleine-Levin Syndrome.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
When you go to St. Petersburg, the number of at-tractions can seem overwhelming. If you’re short on time, or just want to make sure to hit the highlights, these are the top must-see sights in St. Petersburg.
The Hermitage Museum
The Hermitage Museum is one of the most important sights to see for any visitor to St. Petersburg. There you can see lots of different paintings of old masters inside the Hermitage. Prepare to come face-to-face with classic Western artists.
The Russian Museum
The Russian Museum holds one of the largest collections of Russian art in the world. View Russian art creations through the ages, from Byzantine (拜占庭)-style icons to the Socialist Realism of Stalin’s times.
Kizhi Island
Kizhi Island is an open-air museum of wooden buildings from the Karelia Region of Russia. These impressive structures are made without any nails (钉子) — the wood fits together with joints and grooves (沟槽).
Peterhof
Peterhof is as beautiful as it is fun. You’ll be charged for admission (门票), but go to Peterhof when the fountains (喷泉) are working — during the day in the summer. They are shut off in winter as well as in the evenings.
The Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood
Love it or hate it, the Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood is an attractive must-see sight. The beautiful look may make your eyes brighten, and the paintings inside the church will make you say “Wow!”
The Bronze Horseman Statue
The Bronze Horseman is a part of Russian Culture and a symbol of St. Petersburg. Made famous by Alexander Pushkin (普希金), this statue of Peter the Great sitting on his horse can truly show Peter the Great’s influence on the Russian idea of greatness.
1.If you’re interested in paintings, you’d better go to _____.
A. the Hermitage Museum and Peterhof
B. the Hermitage Museum and the Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood
C. Kizhi Island and the Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood
D. the Russian Museum and Kizhi Island
2.The man on the Bronze Horse refers to _____.
A. Peter the Great B. Alexander Pushkin
C. Byzantine D. Stalin
3.What can we know from the passage?
A. The fountains in Peterhof can be seen all year round.
B. The largest collection of Russian art is in the Hermitage Museum.
C. The buildings on Kizhi Island are made of wood.
D. You can visit Peterhof free of charge.
4.The main purpose of this passage is to _____.
A. show the wonderful history of Russia
B. introduce the famous buildings in Russia
C. persuade artists to study St. Petersburg
D. attract tourists to visit St. Petersburg
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Three Yale University professors agreed in a discussion that the automobile was what one of them called “Public Health Enemy No. 1 in this century”. Besides polluting the air and overcrowding the cities, cars are involved in more than half the disastrous accidents, and they contribute to heart disease “because we won’t walk anywhere any more,” said Richard Weeinaman, professor of medicine and public health.
Speaking of many of those man-made dangers of the automobile, Arthur W. Galson, professor of biology, said it was possible to make a kerosene-burning turbine car that would “lessen smog by a very large factor”. But he expressed doubt whether Americans were willing to give up moving about the countryside at 90 miles per hour in a large vehicle. “America seems wedded to the motor car—every family has to have at least two, and one has to be a convertible (敞篷汽车) with 300 horsepower,” professor Galson continued. “Is this the way of life that we choose because we treasure these values?”
For professor Sears, part of the blame lies with “a society that regards profit as a supreme value, under the illusion that anything that’s technically possible is, therefore, morally justified”. Professor Sears also called the country’s dependence on its modern automobiles “terrible economics” because of the large horsepower used simply “moving one individual to work”. But he admitted that Americans have painted themselves into a corner by allowing the national economy to become so dependent on the automobile industry.
“The solution,” Dr Weeinerman said, “is not finding a less dangerous fuel but a different system of inner city transportation. Because of the increasing use of cars, public transportation has been allowed to wither (衰弱) and grow worse, so that if you can’t walk to where you want to go, you have to have a car in most cities,” he declared. This, in turn, Dr Weeinerman contended, is responsible for the “arteriosclerosis (动脉硬化)” of public roads, for the pollution of the inner city and for the middle-class movement to the suburbs.
1.The main idea of the passage is that .
A. Americans are used to travelling by cars
B. American public transportation is growing worse
C. American car industry caused disastrous road accidents
D. American people’s health is threatened by automobiles
2.It can be inferred from the passage that .
A. Americans prefer cars to anything else
B. Americans are interested in fast automobiles
C. kerosene-burning engines cause more problems
D. kerosene-burning engines are green transportation
3.In Paragraph 3, Professor Sears implies that .
A. technology is always good for people
B. technology is a sword with two sides
C. more attention should be paid to social effects
D. US doesn’t care about the environment at all
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Everyone gathered around and Paddy read out loud, slowly, his tone growing sadder and sadder. The little headline said: BOXER RECEIVES LIFE SENTENCE.
Frank Cleary, aged 26, professional boxer, was today found guilty of the murder of Albert Gumming, aged 32, laborer, last July. The jury(陪审团) reached its decision after only ten minutes, recommending the most severe punishment to the court. It was, said the Judge, a simple case. Cumming and Cleary had quarreled violently at the Harbour Hotel on July 23rd and police saw Cleary kicking at the head of the unconscious Gumming. When arrested, Cleary was drunk but clear-thinking.
Cleary was sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour. Asked if he had anything to say, Cleary answered, “Just don’t tell my mother.”
“It happened over three years ago,” Paddy said helplessly. No one answered him or moved, for no one knew what to do. “Just don’t tell my mother,” said Fee numbly(麻木地). “And no one did! Oh, God! My poor, poor Frank!”
Paddy wiped the tears from his face and said. “Fee, pack your things. We’ll go to see him.”
She half-rose before sinking back, her eyes in her small white face stared as if dead. “I can't go,” she said without a hint of pain, yet making everyone feel that the pain was there. “It would kill him to see me. I know him so well—his pride, his ambition. Let him bear the shame alone, it’s what he wants. We’ve got to help him keep his secret. What good will it do him to see us?”
Paddy was still weeping, not for Frank, but for the life which had gone from Fee’s face, for the dying in her eyes. Frank had always brought bitterness and misfortune, always stood between Fee and himself. He was the cause of her withdrawal from his heart. Every time it looked as if there might be happiness for Fee, Frank took it away. But Paddy’s love for her was as deep and impossible to wipe out as hers was for Frank.
So he said, “Well, Fee, we won’t go. But we must make sure he is taken care of. How about if I write to Jones and ask him to look out for Frank?”
There was no excitement in the eyes, but a faint pink stole into her cheeks. “Yes, Paddy, do that. Only make sure he knows not to tell Frank we found out. Perhaps it would ease Frank to think for certain that we don’t know.”
1.Paddy cried because he thought ___________.
A. Frank did kill someone and deserved the punishment
B. Frank should have told Fee what had happened
C. what had happened to Frank was killing Fee
D. Frank had always been a man of bad moral character
2.The underlined sentence “She half-rose before sinking back…” in Paragraph 6 shows that___________.
A. Fee was so heart-broken that she could hardly stand up
B. Fee didn’t want to upset Paddy by visiting Frank
C. Fee couldn’t leave her family to go to see Frank
D. Fee struggled between wanting to see Frank and respecting his wish
3.What can be inferred from Fee’s words?
A. The jury and the judge agreed on the Boxer’s Sentence of Life Imprisonment.
B. The police found Gumming unconscious, heavily struck by Frank.
C. The family didn’t find out what had happened to Frank until 3 years later.
D. Frank didn’t want his family to know the sentence to him, most probably out of his pride.
4.What is Frank and Paddy’s probable relationship with Fee?
A. Frank is Fee’s son and Paddy is Fee’s brother.
B. Frank is Fee’s son and Paddy is Fee’s husband.
C. Frank is Fee’s brother and Paddy is Fee’s lover.
D. Frank is Fee’s lover and Paddy is Fee’s husband.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
To be confident
Confidence of success is almost success. Here’s how to believe in yourself.
Remember that everyone struggles with confidence. Some people are good at hiding it, but nearly every person has struggled with his or her self-confidence at one point. 1.
Accept compliment(恭维;敬意) politely. When someone compliments you, make eye contact, smile, and say “thank you”. It shows that you’re polite and have a secure sense of self-worth. If you’re still uncomfortable taking compliments, try giving one back after you’ve accepted one. 2.
3. That’s a simple and an effective psychological technique to become confident. When you are talking louder you are sending the signal that you are confident, and as you make it as a habit you will feel more confident. But don’t be dominating(专横的).
Look the part. Or, as the saying goes, “Fake it till you make it.” 4. Devote a little time each day to make sure you’re presenting yourself well. Keep your shoulders back, walk with purpose instead of dragging your feet, and sit up straight. Smile and make eye contact. It’s a small change, but it can work wonders on what other people think of you.
Develop your interests. If there’s a sport or hobby you’ve always wanted to be good at, now’s the time! Improving your skills will show that you are talented, and make you confident. Learn a musical instrument or a foreign language; take up an art form like painting----whatever it is that catches your interest. 5. Remember that learning is a process, and you’re in it for the small victories and the relaxing time, not to be the best ever.
A. Make a list.
B. You’re not alone!
C. Talk a little louder.
D. Stop comparing yourself with everyone else.
E. Don’t get discouraged if you’re not immediately awesome.
F. This can help you feel like the score is “even” and you haven’t been too prideful.
G. If you know that you look like a confident person, eventually you’ll start to feel it, too.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
That morning, I stepped into the classroom, ready to share my knowledge and experience with seventy-five students who would be my English Literature class. Having taught in for seventeen years, I had no about my ability to hold their attention and to on them my admiration for the literature of my mother tongue.
I was shocked when the monitor shouted, " !" The entire class rose as I entered the room, and I was somewhat about how to get them to sit down again, but once that awkwardness was over, I quickly my calmness and began what I thought was a fact-packed lecture, sure to gain their respect—perhaps their admiration. I went back to my office with the rosy glow which came from a sense of achievement.
My students diaries. However, as I read them, the rosy glow was gradually by a strong sense of sadness. The first diary said, "Our literature teacher didn’t teach us anything today. her next lecture will be better." Greatly surprised, I read diary after diary, each expressing a theme. "Didn’t I teach them anything? I described the entire philosophical framework of Western thought and laid the historical for all the works we’ll study in class," I complained." How they say I didn’t teach them anything?"
It was a long term, and it became clear that my ideas about education were not the same as of my students. I thought a teacher’s job was to raise questions and provide enough background so that students could their own conclusions. My students thought a teacher’s job was to provide information as directly and clearly as possible. What a difference!
, I also learned a lot, and my experience with my Chinese students has made me a American teacher, knowing how to teach in a different culture.
1.A. the UK B. the US C. China D. Australia
2.A. wonder B. idea C. doubt D. experience
3.A. impress B. put C. leave D. fix
4.A. Attention B. Look out C. At ease D. Stand up
5.A. puzzled B. sure C. curious D. worried
6.A. found B. returned C. regained D. followed
7.A. more B. even C. yet D. still
8.A. passed B. borrowed C. read D. kept
9.A. replaced B. taken C. caught D. moved
10.A. Naturally B.Perhaps C. Fortunately D. Reasonably
11.A. different B. strong C. similar D. usual
12.A. happenings B. characters C. development D. background
13.A. should B. need C. will D. must
14.A. immediately B. certainly C. simply D. gradually
15.A. that B. what C. those D. ones
16.A. difficult B. interesting C. ordinary D. unusual
17.A. draw B. look C. search D. offer
18.A. strange B. standard C. exact D. serious
19.A. Therefore B. However C. Besides D. Though
20.A. normal B. happy C. good D. better
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
What lessons should be learned from the drought?
According to__1.___ report, the drought in the south-west China __2.____(last) for several months, ___3.____makes people face water and food shortage. In conclusion, the serious situation has made___4.____quite necessary for us to learn lessons from it.
The drought can be caused by several factors. Firstly, about 63 percent of the cities in China are faced __5.____ water shortage. The situation is worsened by pollution and industrialization. In addition, forests have been decreasing rapidly_6.____ too many trees have been cut down. What's __7._____(bad), some water conservation projects haven't been functioning properly, thus people there have had to rely more heavily on rainfall for their water supply. Most of China's irrigation systems are very old.
In order to prevent this case__8.___(occur) again, we are supposed to improve our__9.__(aware) of saving water, making proper use of water and recycling water. Meanwhile, we ought to plant more trees and protect the environment to prevent loss of water and soil erosion. Of course,____ 10.___the government should do is to increase investment and repair water conservation projects as timely as possible.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
短文改错(共10小题；每小题I分，满分10分)
下面文中共有10处语言错误，要求你在错误的地方增加、删除或修改某个单词。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏词符号（/\），并在该句下面写出该加的词。
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。
I am glad to hear of you again. You want to know that everything is going in our school. In Shortly, all has been improving since the school had began to carry on new policies. In the past, teachers always keep on explaining the points in class. Our students just listened and took note.
But now we often discuss and try to solve the problems raising by the teachers or ourselves. Before class, we enjoy different kinds of activities instead of doing endless homework. For example, we can read what we are interested in. We can go to the library or surf Internet for various kinds of information. We are now masters of study, and we are happy.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
在紧张的高三备考阶段，英语老师为了提高复习效率，广泛征求学生意见。假如你叫张华，请根据以下提示，给英语老师写封信，表达你们的需求和建议。
●适当放慢进度，留出思考时间
●反复训练重要、易错知识点
●指导方法
●减少作业量以保证质量
●给予鼓励
注意：1.根据以上内容写一篇短文，不要逐句翻译，可适当增加细节以使行文连贯。
2.要准确使用语法和词汇;使用一定的句型、词汇，清楚、连贯地表达自己的意思;
3. 词数：100个左右。开头已给出，不计词数。
Dear Mr. Wang,
We’re so pleased that you are willing to share our views.
In the course of the general revision, what we need is solid foundation.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
难度: 中等查看答案及解析