That cold January night,I was growing sick of my life in San Francisco.There I was,walking home at one in the morning after a tiring practice at the theatre.With the opening night only a week away,I was still learning my lines.I was having trouble dealing with my part-time job at the bank and my acting at night at the same time.As I walked,I thought seriously about giving up both acting and San Francisco.City life had become too much for me.
As I walked down empty streets under tall buildings,I felt very small and cold.I began running,both to keep warm and to keep away from any possible robbers.Very few people were still out except a few sad-looking homeless people under blankets.
About a block from my apartment,I heard a sound behind me.I turned quickly,half expecting to see someone with a knife or a gun.The street was empty.All I saw was a shining streetlight.Still,the noise had made me nervous,so I started to run faster.Not until I reached my apartment building and unlocked the door did I realize what the noise had been.It had been my wallet falling to the sidewalk.
Suddenly I wasn’t cold or tired anymore.I ran out of the door and back to where I’d heard the noise.Although I searched the sidewalk anxiously for fifteen minutes,my wallet was nowhere to be found.
Just as I was about to give up the search,I heard the garbage truck pull up to the sidewalk next to me.When a voice called from the inside,"Alisa Camacho"I thought I was dreaming.How could this man know my name?The door opened,and out jumped a small red-haired man with an amused look in his eye."Is this what you’re looking for" he asked,holding up a small square shape.
It was nearly 3 a.m. by the time I got into bed.I wouldn’t get much sleep that night,but I had gotten my wallet back.I also had gotten back some enjoyment of city life.I realized that the city couldn’t be a bad place as long as people were willing to help each other.
1.From the first paragraph,we learn that the writer was busy______.
A. solving her problem at the bank
B. taking part in various city activities
C. learning acting in an evening school
D. preparing for the first night show
2.In the fifth paragraph,why did the writer say she was dreaming?
A. Someone offered to take her back home.
B. A red-haired man came to see her.
C. She heard someone call her name.
D. Her wallet was found in a garbage truck.
3.From the text,we can infer that the writer ________.
A. would stop working at night
B. would stay on in San Francisco
C. would make friends with cleaners
D. would give up her job at the bank
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Have you ever noticed what happens to an idea once you express it?Just talking about it or writing it down causes you to make it clear in your own mind.How can you use this to increase your brain power?Start writing.
By putting thoughts into words,you are telling yourself the logic behind what you think,feel,or only partly understand.Often,explaining a thought is the process of understanding.In other words,you increase your brain power by exercising your “explain power”.
Another benefit of writing is that it helps you remember.Many,if not most,highly productive people are always taking notes.You can try keeping it all in your head,but if you keep a journal of your ideas,the next time you’re working on a big project,you’ll probably have more success.
Want to understand a topic?Write a book about it.That’s an extreme example,but if you are learning something new,write a letter to a friend about it,and you will understand it better.Want to invent something?Write an explanation of the problem—why you want to solve it,and why it is worth solving,and you’re halfway there.
Writers don’t always write because they clearly understand something beforehand.Often,they write about something because they want to understand it.You can do the same.Writing will help bring you to an understanding. Give it a try.
1.According to the passage,writing can help you a lot EXCEPT _______.
A. to increase your brain power
B. to improve the ability to remember
C. to develop your interest in study
D. to strengthen the understanding of a topic
2.The underlined sentence “you’re half-way there” in the para.4 means that_______.
A. you are already successful
B. there’s a long way for you to go to reach your goal
C. you are left wondering what to do
D. you have been on the way to success
3.What would be the best title for the passage?
A. A Way on How to Write.
B. Increase Your Brain Power Through Writing.
C. Brain Power Helps Improve Your Writing.
D. How to Start Your Writing.
4.Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Writing can cure people of their brain disease.
B. People who can keep all thoughts in mind are more likely to succeed.
C. Writing a book about one topic is the only way to understand it.
D. The more you write,the more logical you will be.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Don't you just love ice skating every winter?I am sure that since winter is approaching,your skates are set to come out,just waiting to be used.Impress your friends with your new trick on how to ice-skate backwards with the help of these tips.
Stand Straight
The first thing that you need to do is,stand straight.If you feel that you are falling backwards,just put your chin up and slightly bend your knees.
Confidence is What You Need
The most important step while learning how to skate backwards,is having enough confidence in what you are doing.How can you achieve this?By practice.Just practice rolling backwards down a gentle slope everyday or just by pushing off from a wall or something of that sort.But before you do that,make sure that the place where you are practicing is free from any kind of debris（碎片）because otherwise,you could land up in the hospital due to some accident.While going backwards,just get used to the feeling of moving backwards.One of the important ice skating tips and techniques is that if you feel that you are losing your balance,then scissor（做剪式运动）your skates.Keep practicing this till you are confident about it.
Maintain Speed
Confident now?Great!Now the next step is to maintain your speed.While rolling in a straight line with one skate, with the other try sculling（划桨）,that is,keep pushing yourself backwards with an outwards stroke（滑动）.Make sure that you put most of your weight on the skate which is moving straight and not the one with which you are sculling.Now,try the same thing using the other foot.Again keep doing this till you are confident enough.
Increase Your Speed Now
Once you are confident that you can scull with either foot,the next thing that you have to do is increase your speed.Try some of your own tricks now.Scull with either foot or with both at the same time.
Scull and Be Aware
While you keep one foot straight,keep sculling with the other.You can do that with both feet at the same time. Concentrate on what you are doing but don't get so absorbed,that you don't see where you are going.If you are not watching your back,you might bang（碰撞）against something or someone.
1.Which is the right order of ice-skating backwards?
a.Increasing your speed.
b.Being able to scull with one foot.
c.Being about to stand straight.
d.Trying some different tricks.
A. c→a→d→b B. c→b→a→d
C. a→c→b→d D. c→b→d→a
2.In the last paragraph the author mainly wants to express_______.
A. Keeping cautious is as important as skating
B. One must be brave to learn to ice-skate backwards
C. It’s difficult to concentrate when ice-skating backwards
D. It' s a common thing to hit someone when ice skating backwards
3.In order to keep balance when skating backwards you should_______.
A. use both your feet to scull
B. skate forward first and then backward
C. skate in the way that scissors move
D. put most of your weight on the skate with which you are sculling
4.The text is mainly to_______.
A. compare different ways of ice-skating backwards
B. offer some advice on ice-skating backwards
C. introduce the culture of ice-skating backwards
D. explain advantages of ice-skating backwards
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Students and Technology in the Classroom
I love my blackberry—it's my little connection to the larger world that can go anywhere with me.I also love my laptop computer,as it holds all of my writing and thoughts.Despite this love of technology,I know that there are times when I need to move away from these devices（设备）and truly communicate with others.
On occasion,I teach a course called History Matters for a group of higher education managers.My goals for the class include a full discussion of historical themes and ideas.Because I want students to thoroughly study the material and exchange their ideas with each other in the classroom,I have a rule—no laptop,iPads,phones,etc.When students were told my rule in advance of the class,some of them were not happy.
Most students assume that my reasons for this rule include unpleasant experiences in the past with students misusing technology.There's a bit of truth to that.Some students assume that I am anti-technology.There's no truth in that at all.I love technology and try to keep up with it so I can relate to my students.
The real reason why I ask students to leave technology at the door is that I think there are very few places in which we can have deep conversions（转变）and truly engage complex ideas.Interruptions by technology often break concentration and allow for too much dependence on outside information for ideas.I want students to dig deep within themselves for inspiration and ideas.I want them to push each other to think differently and make connections between the course,the material and the class discussion.
I've been teaching my history class in this way for many years and the evaluations reflect student satisfaction with the environment that I create.Students realize that with deep conversation and challenge,they learn at a level that helps them keep the course material beyond the classroom.
I'm not saying that I won't ever change my mind about technology use in my history class,but until I hear a really good reason for the change,I'm sticking to my plan.A few hours of technology-free dialogue is just too sweet to give up.
1.Some of the students in the history class were unhappy with _______.
A. the course material B. others' misuse of technology
C. discussion topics D. the author's class regulations
2.The underlined word "engage" in Para.4 probably means _______.
A. explore B. accept
C. change D. reject
3.According to the author,the use of technology in the classroom may_______.
A. keep students from doing independent thinking
B. encourage students to have in-depth conversations
C. help students to better understand complex themes
D. affect students' concentration on course evaluation
4.It can be inferred from the last paragraph that the author _______ .
A. is quite stubborn
B. will give up teaching history
C. will change his teaching plan soon
D. values technology-free dialogues in his class
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
"Smart" Idioms
Today we take a look at the word “smart”.If someone says you are smart,what do they mean?Is it a good thing or something bad?1.This is because the word smart has many meanings.
●That smarts!
For example,someone could say you look smart or are dressed smartly.That means they like what you are wearing and your physical appearance.To use a slang（俚语）expression,they could say,“You look really cool!”But if something smarts,it can be unkind or hurtful,either physically or mentally.If you accidentally trip over a chair and fall down,you might shout,“Ow!That smarts!”Or if a friend says something that hurts your feelings,you can say you are smarting from the hurtful comments.2.
●Smarting
If you are standing too close to a campfire,you could say your eyes are smarting from the smoke of the fire. Here the word “smarting” means a sharp pain.3.If someone is smart as whip,they are able to think very quickly.
●Street smart and book smart
4.Some people are considered street smart.They may not have a strong education.But they are good at dealing with people and problems in the real world.Other people might be book smart.This means they have spent many years in school.But they may not be so smart when dealing with people or real-world problems.
●Don’t get smart with me!
And then there is the definition of smart that means to talk or behave disrespectfully.If you say something disrespectful to your parents,they might say,“Don’t get smart with me!”Here,“smart”means to show a lack of respect by saying something unkind.In fact,a child who has a smart mouth makes rude comments,not smart ones.This definition of smart can also be used as a verb.5.
A.Do they really mean you are smart?
B.People have different attitude toward being smart.
C.However,different people have different ways of being smart.
D.In fact,maybe that person is no longer you friend.
E.The answer is not as easy as you might think.
F.But the most common meaning of smart is to be intelligent.
G.If you smart off to the wrong people,they could hit you in the face.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
That summer,Luke had been my closest companion for five years.We get lots of____in our area during the summer season.Many forests are badly____by fire each year.That hot summer,not far from our shelter,a forest____ fire.It was July,and there had been a heat wave going on for three days.Luke rushed toward the forest where the fire was sending out a____heat.There was no longer any hope at that moment to wait for Luke to come back to the____. In fact,I was waiting for firefighters to tell me that he had____in the forest.Suddenly,a fireman burst into my office and____me that my log Luke had succeeded in saving four kittens who had been____by the flames.According to the fireman,Luke seized the kittens,one by one moving them to a____place.
I immediately____the fireman to the forest to pick up the rescued kittens.____we got to the scene of the incident,we saw that Luke was not there.Then we heard the____of a dog barking in the forest.I____the barks as Luke's.The fireman followed the____of the dog until they found him barking loudly by the side of an injured fireman who was lying on the ground and____waiting for rescue.
Thanks to Luke,four kittens and a fireman were saved.That day,I was very proud of Luke for his two heroic ____.Luke showed much compassion（同情心）for both animals like him and for a human being who was trying to put out the fire with his colleagues.Truth to be told,my____was immeasurable.
I paid a visit to the fireman in his house accompanied by my lovely Luke.What a____scene it was when the fireman hugged Luke tightly to his chest!"One thousand thanks,Luke,for saving my life,"the fireman said.
This true story of love and compassion shows us that pets are loving,caring and compassionate.We should love and____them.Little animals can do____things for humans.
1.A. fires B. rain C. noise D. sun
2.A. changed B. damaged C. treated D. removed
3.A. set B. made C. burned D. caught
4.A. cruel B. warm C. fierce D. heavy
5.A. forest B. shelter C. area D. house
6.A. lost B. appeared C. remained D. died
7.A. warned B. informed C. promised D. reminded
8.A. trapped B. controlled C. swallowed D. buried
9.A. great B. special C. safe D. high
10.A. invited B. advised C. accompanied D. led
11.A. Unless B. Once C. Until D. Since
12.A. shout B. voice C. sound D. call
13.A. recognized B. understood C. treated D. realized
14.A. smells B. tracks C. steps D. directions
15.A. excitedly B. especially C. deeply D. desperately
16.A. actions B. qualities C. fights D. adventures
17.A. anxiety B. concern C. happiness D. excitement
18.A. thankful B. memorable C. significant D. terrible
19.A. protect B. raise C. save D. hate
20.A. risky B. fun C. enormous D. little
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
It was New Year's night.An aged man raised his mournful eyes towards the deep blue sky,1.the stars were floating like white flowers on the surface of a clear calm lake.He had already passed sixty of the stages2. (lead) to his certain goal—the tomb,and he had brought from his journey nothing but mistakes and regret.3.(fortune),now his health was poor,his mind empty,his heart sorrowful,and his old age short of comforts. The days of his youth appeared like dreams before him,and he recalled the serious moment when his father placed him at the entrance of the two roads—4.leading to a peaceful,sunny place,covered with beautiful flowers,fresh fruits;the other leading to a deep,dark cave,5. was endless,where poison flowed instead of water and where devils and poisonous snakes crawled.
On this New Year's night,he remembered his friends in his childhood,with6.he entered on life together with him.But they7.(make) their way to8.(succeed) and were now honored and happy.
The clock in the church tower9. (strike) and the sound made him remember his parents' early love for him. They had taught him and prayed to God for his good.But he chose the wrong way.His darkened eyes were full of tears,and with a desperate effort,he burst out a cry:"Come back,my early days,10.I will lead a new life!"
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
短文中有10处错误，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（∧），并在此符号下面写出该加的词。
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。
Mao Zedong once wrote a poem in which he dreams of "walls of stone of hold clouds and rains tills a smooth lake rises in the narrow gorges".Now his dreams have been come true.The power of the Yangtze River has been harnessed by the Three Gorges Dam.Most of China's energy is produced by burning coal,that causes serious air pollution and increases global warming.Therefore,the dam will generate electricity equals to about 40 millions tons of coal without causing so many pollution.The reservoir has flooded a lot of cities and towns.More than a million of people has moved form their homes.About 800 historical relics have been submerged.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
在我们城市的很多学校门口，每天上学和放学时，正赶上交通高峰期，很多家长用私家车接送学生，结果导致学校门口的交通严重拥堵，甚至发生恶性交通事故。请就此写一篇英语短文。
要求：1.分析家长接送孩子的原因；
2.对此简单发表自己的看法；
3.词数：100词左右。
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难度: 中等查看答案及解析