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If you've gone through all your jigsaw puzzles and are looking for a real challenge, Kodak just released what it calls ''the world's largest puzzle'' that you can buy.
Putting your patience and jigsaw solving skills to the test will cost you both real money and a lot of space. Featuring images of symbolic landmarks shot by professional photographers, Kodak's new product will set you back between $409.99 and $599.99, and will probably take up a decent-sized room when completed.
Matching over 51,000 jigsaw puzzle pieces is sure to be a time-consuming affair, but to make it less stressful for those willing to give it a go, Kodak split the puzzle into 27 images of different international landmarks, from the Great Wall of China to the Statue of Liberty and the Taj Mahal.
They've actually made it too easy, if you ask me, packaging the pieces for each of the 27 different images in different bags, allowing you to finish them one by one before putting them together. So you're basically getting 27 smaller puzzles that you can then fix into the world's largest puzzle. Kind of tricky, if you ask me… The only real challenge will be finding somewhere to display the completed puzzle, as at 28.5 feet by 6.25 feet, it's probably going to need its own room.
Despite its subjective faults, Kodak's gigantic jigsaw puzzle is in high demand. It's already sold out on Amazon, where it was priced at $410, leaving interested parties with the option of acquiring it for at least $500 from two other retailers (零售商) listed on the official Kodak website.
1.What makes the Kodak jigsaw puzzle special?
A.It is made up of the most pieces.
B.It has the most beautiful images.
C.It is giant and takes up much space.
D.It can be bought by various means.
2.What makes it easier to complete the Kdak jigsaw puzzle?
A.Various choices of getting it.
B.Skills of professional photographers.
C.Players' patience and jigsaw solving skills.
D.Separately packaged images of world famous landmarks.
3.How much will it cost you at least to buy one jigsaw puzzle from retailers?
A.$ 409.99. B.$410.
C.$500. D.$599.99.
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If you have ever gone through a toll booth(收费所), you know that your relationship to the person in the booth is not the most intimate you'll ever have. It is one of life's frequent affairs: You hand over some money; you might get change; you drive off.
Late one morning in 1984, headed for lunch in San Francisco, I drove toward a booth. I heard loud music. It sounded like a party. I looked around. No other cars with their windows open. No sound trucks. I looked at the toll booth. Inside it, the man was dancing.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"I'm having a party," he said.
"What about the rest of the people?" I looked at the other toll booths.
He said, "What do those look like to you?" He pointed down the row of toll booths.
"They look like……toll booths. What do they look like to you?"
He said, "Vertical coffins. At 8:30 every morning, live people get in. Then they die for eight hours. At 4:30, like Lazarus from the dead, they reemerge and go home. For eight hours, brain is on hold, dead on the job. Going through the motions."
I was amazed. This guy had developed a philosophy, a mythology about his job. Sixteen people dead on the job, and the seventeenth, in precisely the same situation, figures out a way to live. I could not help asking the next question: "Why is it different for you? You're having a good time."
He looked at me. "I knew you were going to ask that. I don't understand why anybody would think my job is boring. I have a corner office, glass on all sides. I can see the Golden Gate, San Francisco, and the Berkeley hills. Half the Western world vacations here……and I just stroll in every day and practice dancing."
1.According to the first paragraph, in most cases, how do you describe the relationship between drivers and toll booth?
A．most intimate B．very tense C．pretty ordinary D．extremely hostile
2.Why did the author go to San Francisco?
A. To attend a party
B. B. To have a meal
C. To dance with the worker in the toll booth
D. To hand in the repair fee of his car
3.The underlined name “Lazarus” mentioned in the eighth paragraph probably refers to a person___________.
A. who was very active in his life
B. B. who was dead and revived from death
C. who was going to San Francisco
D. who liked dancing at work
4.According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?
A．The author passed by the toll booth every day.
B．The worker enjoyed his work very much.
C．Only western people like to spend their holidays in the Berkeley hills.
D．The dancing worker was getting badly along with his colleagues.
5.After hearing what the worker said, the author would probably_________.
A．go to the worker’s senior to complain about his bad attitude towards job.
B．go climbing the Golden Gate and the Berkeley hills to have a vacation.
C．learn to take a positive attitude to job and appreciate valuable things in life.
D．go back home instead of wasting time traveling to San Francisco.
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If you've been to Europe a few times already,chances are that you've hit all the big destinations: London, Paris, Rome,Berlin.On your next trip you can either visit those same cities a second time,or instead you can take a chance and walk the streets of some cities that are a little bit smaller,a little bit less famous,but still full of European grace and charm.Here are four European cities to visit that you probably haven't been to yet.
Besancon,France
This hidden French city has had a long reputation for being a well-kept secret.It can be at once sleepy with few tourists but abundant galleries,restaurants,and a wonderful Beaux Arts museum whose collection is second only to the Louvre.The city is wound by the River Doubs and also touts (吹捧) its own UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Citadel,home to several small museums and a zoo.
Seville,Spain
For the tourist who is already tired of Barcelona and Madrid,Seville offers a different take (意见) on Spain. Located on the Southern coast,it keeps beautiful signs of the long period of Moorish rule,nowhere more than in the Alcázar palace building,just one of the city's UNESCO World Heritage Sites.Seville has over a dozen museums, tropical parkland,and probably the best tapas (餐前小吃) culture in all of Spain.
Ghent,Belgium
Ghent is a city that looks like it should be the setting for a fairy tale. All of the typical Belgium features abound here-waffles and beer.Every year from Saturday before July 21,Ghent hosts a ten-day festival.This music and theater festival draws almost 2 million visitors,as the city streets transform into performance spaces for performers,buskers (街头艺人) and musicians.
Palermo,Italy
Palermo is the capital city of Sicily,the southern island off the coast of mainland Italy.The city has an ancient history,and the various cultures that have controlled the island through the years have all left their marks on it. You can see winding street markets,antique (古玩) fairs,and open air nightclubs here.
1.Where can visitors enjoy art collections quietly?
A. Besancon. B. Barcelona.
C. Ghent. D. Palermo.
2.What can visitors do in Seville,Spain?
A. Visit antique fairs and clubs.
B. Enjoy a colorful nightlife.
C. Explore over 20 museums.
D. Hunt for Moorish influences.
3.Which country should a music and theater lover choose to visit?
A. France. B. Spain.
C. Belgium. D. Italy.
4.What do the four European cities have in common?
A. They were once ruled by various rulers.
B. They are less famous but worth a visit.
C. Visitors can enjoy seeing performances.
D. They're all UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
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If you've been feeling a lot sleepy in your daily life, here are some tips to picking up your energy levels. But first, you should make sure if you're experiencing some serious illnesses. 1., keep these tips in mind.
The first recommendation is to exercise. Although it may seem difficult to work out when you're tired, it turns out that physical activity can actually give you more energy. The second thing to work on is to go to sleep early enough to get a full night's sleep, preferably so that you wake up naturally without the need for your alarm. 2.. Thus, another useful tip is to take a nap during the afternoon. Naps can restore your mind and body without taking up too much time, regaining your energy and raising working efficiency. The best length of time for a nap is about 20 minutes. Shorter, and you won't get much out of it. 3. .
4.. Drinking plenty of water and fluids throughout the day is one important way to stay energized, since dehydration （脱水）leaves us in low sprits. Some experts say that eating smaller meals more often throughout the day can help maintain energy and balance blood sugar levels. Be aware also that people who are overweight are more likely to experience tiredness easily. 5. , reducing extra weight could help you gain more energy.
A. If you're overweight
B. If you feel uncomfortable
C. As you know, it is quite a good habit
D. However, this goal is hard to achieve in practice
E. longer, and you may find it harder to sleep at night
F. If you're otherwise healthy but just need some extra energy
G. Other ways to increase energy involve our diet and consumption
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If you've started thinking about your career(职业), you'll probably have noticed that there are certain jobs you're just not supposed to do if you're a girl. However, a lot is happening today to get women into male—dominated(男性主导的)areas of work. This International Women's Day, we look at three areas of work where things are tough for women right now-but where change is happening.
Science and research
The situation today
Have you heard of STEM? STEM means science, technology, engineering and maths. It covers a whole range of jobs, from scientists who research cures for diseases, to engineers who design things like buildings, roads and bridges. These jobs are highly skilled. But of every eight people in a STEM job, only one is a woman.
Why we need more women in science
The lack of women in STEM jobs is becoming a national problem. The government is worried there simply won't be enough scientists and engineers in the future. This could affect the whole economy because, as a country, we can sell our technology and skills to other countries. STEM jobs also create more work further down the line, such as for construction workers who build roads and bridge.
The police
The situation today
In March 2015, the percentage of female police officers stood at 28%. This compares with 22% nine years earlier in 2006. And the percentage has not always risen over this period. In fact, it peaked(顶峰)in 2010 before falling, before flatlining over the next three years.
Why we need more women in the police force
The police are there for the whole community and that includes women! Because crime is often to do with sex, or violence by men against women, a woman police officer might be more understanding or more approachable. Studies also suggest that women tend to trust other women more than men. Women can also be more understanding. Often, when a person comes forward to report an incident, such as a problem at home or with neighbours, women are often better at listening and at understanding other people's problems, while men are more likely to be dismissive.
1.What do we learn about women in Paragraph 1?
A.They are hard to find jobs. B.They have a wider choice of jobs.
C.They change jobs at times. D.They act better in doing man's jobs.
2.What could be the consequence of the lack of women in science?
A.It creates more jobs.
B.It leads to national chaos.
C.It influences the economic development.
D.It brings about the technological revolution.
3.What can be inferred from the studies on female police?
A.Male police are not so trustworthy as female police.
B.Female police hardly care about common incidents.
C.Female police officers are easier to communicate with.
D.The percentage of female police is always on the increase.
4.What is most likely to be discussed following the last paragraph?
A.Occupation guidance. B.Women's advantages.
C.Man-dominated careers. D.Another area of work.
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If you are planning to spend your money having fun this week, better ________it – you’ve got some big bills coming.
A．forget B．forgot C．forgetting D．to forget
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If you are planning to spend your money having fun this week, better ________it – you’ve got some big bills coming．
A．forget B．forgot C．forgetting D．to forget
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If you are planning to spend your money having fun this week, better ________it – you’ve got some big bills coming.
A．forget B．forgot C．forgetting D．to forget
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A daily multivitamin may give your well-being an extra benefit, but if you’ve ever swallowed one and felt sick right after, you know it’s hardly a pleasant experience. 1.
◆ You’re taking vitamins on an empty stomach.
Vitamins that are more acid in nature, like vitamin C, may cause nausea（恶心）if they’re consumed on an empty stomach. Vitamins A, D, E and K, unlike some others, may be better absorbed when not taken with food.
◆ 2.
Vitamins are like medicines in that they can act on each other and other medicines you’re taking. 3. Some research suggests that multivitamins could cause side effects when taken at the same time estrogen（雌激素）levels are raised.
◆ There’s a lot of iron in your pill.
Multivitamins that contain a lot of iron or iron supplements themselves can cause nausea. This is especially true if you’re taking them outside of a meal. Iron is interesting in that it’s best absorbed on an empty stomach, but it’s hardest to take on an empty stomach because of the nausea. 4. It might decrease the absorption a little bit but it’s better than nothing.
◆ Allergic Reaction Side Effects
Since multivitamins contain so many vitamins and minerals, allergic reactions are certainly possible. Mild allergic reactions can include itchiness（痒）and a few hives（荨麻疹）. 5. Should you experience more advanced signs of an allergic reaction, such as trouble breathing, chest pain, widespread hives or a swollen facial region, visit the closest emergency room immediately.
The label on your vitamins should provide directions for taking them check the information before taking it to see what else you should know.
A. You’re taking vitamins with other medicines.
B. Below are a few reasons why they may be making you ill.
C. It’s important to discuss with an expert the timing of these vitamins.
D. These stomach issues can be extremely disturbing.
E. It’s better to take it with food than trying to take it on an empty stomach.
F. If you experience these side effects, stop use and contact your doctor.
G. Please review the combinations to make sure there are no harmful interactions.
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A daily multivitamin may give your well-being an extra benefit, but if you’ve ever swallowed one and sick right after, you know it’s hardly a pleasant experience. 1. .
◆You’re taking vitamins on an empty stomach.
Vitamins that are more acid in nature, like vitamin C, may cause nausea(恶心) if they’re consumed on an empty stomach. Vitamins A, D, E and K, unlike some others, may be better absorbed when not taken with food.
◆2.
Vitamins are like medicines in that they can act on each other and other medicines you’re taking.3.Some research suggests that multivitamins could cause side effects when taken at the same time estrogen(雌激素)levels are raised.
◆There’s a lot of iron in your pill.
Multivitamins that contain a lot of iron or iron supplements themselves can cause nausea. This is especially true if you’re taking them outside of a meal. Iron is interesting in that it’s best absorbed on an empty stomach, but it’s hardest to take on an empty stomach because of the nausea. 4.It might decrease the absorption a little bit but it’s better than nothing.
◆Allergic Reaction Side Effects
Since multivitamins contain so many vitamins and minerals, allergic reactions are certainly possible. Mild allergic reactions can include itchiness(痒)and a few hives(荨麻疹).5.Should you experience more advanced signs of an allergic reaction, such as trouble breathing, chest pain, widespread hives or a swollen facial region, visit the closest emergency room immediately.
The label on your vitamins should provide directions for taking them Check the information before taking it to see what else you should know.
A. You’re taking vitamins with other medicines.
B. Below are a few reasons why they may be making you ill.
C. It’s important to discuss with an expert the timing of these vitamins.
D. These stomach issues can be extremely disturbing.
E. It’s better to take it with food than trying to take it on an empty stomach.
F. If you experience these side effects, stop use and contact your doctor.
G. Please review the combinations to make sure there are no harmful interactions.