Earthquakes are something that people fear. There are some places that have few or no earthquakes. Most places in the world, however, have them regularly. Countries that have a lot of earthquakes are usually quite mountainous.
The most talked about earthquake in the United States was in San Francisco in 1906. Over 700 people died in it. The strongest one in North America was in 1964. It happened in Alaska.
Strong earthquakes are not always the ones that kill the most people. In 1755, one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded was felt in Portugal. Around 2,000 people died.
In 1923, a very strong earthquake hit Tokyo, Yokohama area of Japan. A hundred and forty thousand people died. Most of them died in fires which followed the earthquake.
One of the worst earthquakes ever was in China in 2008. It killed a large number of people. The worst earthquake ever reported was also in China, in which 400,000 people were killed or injured. This earthquake happened in 1556.
Earthquakes worry people a lot. The reason is that we often do not know when they are coming. People cannot prepare for earthquakes.
1.Earthquakes happen ________.
A. in all the places in the world
B. only in the countries that have a lot of mountains
C. regularly in most places in the world
D. only in a few places along the coast
2.When and where was the worst earthquake ever reported?
A. In 1964 in Alaska. B. In 1556 in China.
C. In 1923 in Japan. D. In 2008 in China.
3.According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
A. The stronger the earthquake is, the more people are killed.
B. Earthquakes often come unexpectedly.
C. Earthquakes can cause fires.
D. People still don't know how to tell when an earthquake will come.
4.What may be talked about in the seventh paragraph?
A. How do earthquakes worry people?
B. What will people do to prepare for earthquakes?
C. How can we save people when earthquakes happen?
D. How do earthquakes happen?
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Whenever we see a button, we are eager to press it because we know something will happen. This is true in most cases, for example on a doorbell and on the “on/off” button on the TV. But some buttons are actually fake, like the “close” button on a lift.
Many people are in the habit of pressing the “close” button because they don’t have the patience to wait for the lift doors to shut. But lifts’ “close” buttons are a complete scam (骗局), at least in the US － the doors will not close any faster no matter how hard you press.
It started in the 1990s when the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in the US, making sure that all lifts stayed open long enough so that people with disabilities could enter. Only US firefighters and repairmen can use the buttons to speed up the door-closing process if they have a code or special keys.
But to normal lift riders, the buttons aren’t completely useless. According to psychologists, fake buttons can actually make you feel better by offering you a sense of control.
“Perceived (能够感知的) control is very important. It reduces stress and increases well-being,” Ellen J. Langer, a psychology professor, said, “ having a lack of control is associated with depression.”
Experts have revealed that a lot of buttons that don’t do anything exist in our lives for this same purpose. For example, many offices in the US have fake thermostats (温度调节器) because people tend to feel better when they think they can control the temperature in their workplace.
Pedestrian(行人) crosswalk buttons don’t live up to their names either. Pressing them used to help make the traffic signals change faster, but that was before computer-controlled traffic signals were introduced.
But psychologists found it interesting that even when people are aware of these little “white lies”, they still continue to push fake buttons because as long as the doors eventually close, it is considered to be worth the effort.
“That habit is here to stay,” John Kounios, a psychology professor, said. “Even though I have real doubts about the traffic light buttons, I always press them. After all, I’ve got nothing else to do while waiting. So why not press the button in the hope that this one will work?”
1.What was the author’s main purpose in writing the article?
A. To describe some different kinds of fake buttons.
B. To analyze the functions of fake buttons.
C. To explore people’s different habits when it comes to pushing buttons.
D. To explain the advantages and disadvantages of fake buttons.
2.In America, the “close” buttons on lifts _______.
A. work only when people press them hard for a while
B. cannot speed up the process of closing the door in any case
C. are fake for the convenience of disabled people
D. were specially designed to give people a sense of control
3.The underlined part “for this same purpose” in Paragraph 6 refers to _______.
A. helping people to build up confidence
B. making people more patient
C. giving people perceived control
D. making people with depression feel better
4.According to John Kounios, people who press fake buttons ______.
A. don’t know that what they press is fake
B. should give up this habit
C. consider what they do to be meaningless
D. probably do so to kill time
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
“I didn’t hear them call my name.” explained Shelley Hennig to Active Teens (AT) when she talked about that exciting moment on national television when she won the honor of Miss Teen USA 2004. “Are you ready?” is what she heard. Then she said, “I shook my head no, and then they said ‘yes’ and it was announced again.”
It was four days after that life changing moment for the seventeen-year-old high school student from Destrehan, Louisiana—she was still on cloud nine.
“I was so shocked! I never believed that it could actually really happen.” Present in the audience that day were: her mother and father, older brother, her friends, and her dance teacher.
AT asked why her dance teacher had traveled so far to see her compete. “She’s always been my role model. I’ve danced with her since I was six. She’s been through so many difficulties and came through them all. I’ve learned to get over bad life’s experiences and learned how to move on because of her.” One of those bad life’s experiences for Shelley happened three years ago when her brother Brad was killed in a drunk driving accident. He was 18.
As Miss Louisiana Teen, she traveled around the state speaking to teens about the dangers of drinking and driving. In her role as Miss Teen USA, Shelley will continue to speak to youth about safe driving, together with many other things to help the teenagers.
When AT asked Miss Teen USA if she had any advice for our readers, she said, “Don’t let anyone change you. Hang out with people that make you feel good about yourself. That way, it is easy to be yourself.”
1.The underlined words “on cloud nine” in Paragraph 2 probably mean “very______”?
A. Frightened
B. Happy
C. troubled
D. angry
2.Shelley takes her dance teacher as a role model mainly because she is _______.
A. determined
B. friendly
C. strict
D. experienced
3.What did Shelley often do after she become Miss Louisiana Teen?
A. She made speeches on safe driving.
B. She often gave dance performances.
C. She usually visited drunken drivers.
D. She helped teens with their students.
4.What suggestion does Shelley give to AT’s teen readers?
A. Have a good role model for themselves.
B. Meet their friends whenever it’s possible.
C. Always be nice to themselves and others.
D. Be themselves with the support of others.
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：在缺词处加一个漏子符号（∧）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。
Cherry, whom is about 5 or 6 years old, is my favorite pet. About three years before, Cherry showed up at our house. I have just lost my cat and was very sadly, so I didn’t plan to own another pet. At first, we ignored her. We were getting ready leave for a vacation. My two daughter kept wanting us to keep her and fed her behind my back. Finally I had to tell them if he was still here when we got back, we would keep her. I was sure a dog would move on. Guess what? When we got back from vacation, but the dog was still around. It seemed like an angel had send her to us.
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3个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
Tim: Jeff, do you prefer working in a group or working alone?
Jeff: I’m good at 1.(work) by myself because if I am doing something I like, I can get it 2.(do) quickly. 3., if I am working with a team where people all want to do a good job, I think 4. team is fun.
Tim: Do you prefer working wearing a uniform or putting whatever you want?
Jeff: I think 5. you wear a uniform, sometimes you get respect.
Tim: So, how about a working schedule? Would you prefer a set time job?
Jeff: No. I think 6. is difficult to do a set time job. Last year, I 7.(produce) furniture in a factory. Every morning, I had to get up at six. When I got home 8. work, it was almost eight.
Tim: You 9. be very tired. By the way, do you prefer being paid by the hour or do you prefer salary?
Jeff: I think salary may be a 10.(good) way to go than being paid by the hour.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
When I was shopping a few months ago , I saw a man trying to get people to donate(捐赠)to a very well-known charity(慈善团体)for children. I ________ to him that I can’t donate money any more ________ my bank account(账户)having some problems last year. It was a ________ time and took months to get back our money. ________, I noticed the man was hungry and cold, so I offered him a(n) ________ in the nearby restaurant.
Last week I ________ home on a really hot day. My husband Stewart was at the table with a person from a Charity having a ________. We talked for a while and then I said, “I ________ you!” and he looked at me in surprise and said, “Oh, you’re the lovely lady that ________ me a big lunch and drinks when I was at ________ trying to get people to donate.” We both laughed and we had a little ________.
He told me that he had let the organizers know about this lovely woman ________ him out on a cold day. He said ________was so unexpected. I was so ________ to see him again, sitting in my home. My act had really ________ him for the kindness of it and I loved the fact that Steward had ________ him in out of the heat for a cold drink.
In our daily life, maybe we ________ know how we ________ people when we do good things. But in fact, ________ we do does affect others, for it is a lovely ________. Kindness is so catching (感染力的).
1.A. suggested B. explained C. admitted D. reported
2.A. because of B. thanks to C. refers to D. in terms of
3.A. fantastic B. relaxing C. terrible D. fortunate
4.A. Frequently B. Therefore C. Actually D. However
5.A. meal B. occupation C. rest D. coat
6.A. left B. came C. stayed D. phoned
7.A. dinner B. game C. drink D. sleep
8.A. appreciate B. know C. thank D. respect
9.A. made B. prepared C. brought D. bought
10.A. streets B. shops C. banks D. restaurants
11.A. hug B. fight C. joke D. discussion
12.A. taking B. surviving C. helping D. training
13.A. it B. he C. she D. I
14.A. disappointed B. nervous C. embarrassed D. surprised
15.A. changed B. worried C. moved D. saved
16.A. pulled B. advised C. persuaded D. invited
17.A. ever B. never C. often D. always
18.A. care B. attract C. affect D. hurt
19.A. what B. why C. how D. when
20.A. reaction B. impression C. balance D. connection
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假定你是李华，你的英国笔友Peter对中国文化很感兴趣，来信询问重阳节（the Double Ninth Festival)的相关情况。请你给他写一封邮件，介绍重阳节，内容包括：
1.重阳节的时间；2.重阳节的活动；3.重阳节的意义。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Peter,
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Looking forward to your early reply.
Yours,
LiHua
难度: 中等查看答案及解析