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We use elevators all the time, but try and imagine life without them. Tall buildings wouldn't be possible without the invention of the elevator. It's convenient and safe. but did you know that long ago people were afraid of using elevators?
People had been using ropes to move things for thousands of years before the invention of the modern elevator. The ancient Romans moved heavy things attached (系) to ropes pulled by people or animals. Then in 1743, the French king had a “flying chair”. His men lifted the king up to the second floor by using ropes. Although elevators had been improving over time, people were afraid to use them. People liked the idea of an elevator, but they believed it might suddenly fall.
In 1853, Elisha Otis invented the modem elevator. He made safety brakes(刹车) to stop the elevator from falling. Otis had been thinking about peoples fear of elevators. He decided to do an elevator act at a show in 1854. Otis stood on his elevator and cut the rope that was holding it. The elevator fell, but the safety brakes suddenly stopped it. Otis amazed the audiences! Three years later, customers at a department store in New York could travel to the fifth floor by using an Otis elevator.
The next step was to improve the elevator ride. People had been feeling nervous about using elevators because they were small and noisy. In the 1920s, elevators started playing relaxing music to cover up other sounds. Then there was a great idea to put mirrors in elevators. The mirrors made the elevator seem bigger and quicker. People could check their hair instead of fearing the elevator!
These days, elevators aren’t scary. Elevators are getting faster, and office buildings, apartments and hotels are getting higher. You can find Otis elevators in most cities around the world. Remember to enjoy your ride in the elevator when you’re going up to the thirty-fifth floor!
1.What is the correct order in which these happened?
① An Otis elevator was first put into use in New York.
② People used to move heavy things by pulling ropes.
③ Otis elevators can be found in most parts of the world.
④ Flying chair was once used to lift a king to the second floor.
A.②④③① B.②④①③ C.③①②④ D.①②④③
2.Why did Otis do an elevator show in 1854?
A.To tell why it takes a lot of time to develop a new thing.
B.To show how safe his elevators are with the safety brakes.
C.To explain why safety brakes can be well used in any show.
D.To check how hard it is for people to accept something new.
3.What can we learn from Paragraph 4?
A.Relaxing music makes the ride in the elevator seem quicker.
B.The elevators are made small enough to let people feel safe.
C.Mirrors are fixed inside to make the elevators look brighter.
D.The noise in the elevator used to make people feel anxious.
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A.Elevators have been developing over time.
B.People used to be afraid of using elevators.
C.Modern elevators were invented by accident.
D.Elevators are very popular all over the world.
九年级英语阅读单选困难题查看答案及解析
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"The only constant (不变) in life is change. "Heraclitus said in about 500 B. C. That could be more true today.1. Technology is out of date almost by the time you buy it. We get plenty of information every day. Francis Bacon said. "Knowledge is power." In fact. There is more information in a newspaper than he would have experienced in his whole life.
Why are we afraid of change?2. After all, who knows what new dangers might appear? However, change is also the only way of development. Nobody can stop it in life. Luckily, our brains become stronger when meeting the unknown. 3. To be more imaginative and creative, you should look for and find environments you have no experience with.
4. For example, try a new restaurant, or go to a play or a concert you normally wouldn't attend. Small changes can help you gradually get used to uncertainty (不确定). So when bigger things happen. You'll be more fully prepared for them.
People who fear change often stick to a certain lifestyle. They believe they can control the future by doing so.5. If you can move from just accepting it to actively finding it out and dealing with it, you will be successful.
A.People are thirsty for knowledge.
B.That's because our brains want to protect us.
C.But change comes whether you ask for it or not.
D.We live in a world that is changing every minute.
E.You can learn how to face the changes in daily life.
F.Dealing with the unexpected needs imagination and creativity.
九年级英语补全短文6选5中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Both of my two sons were born in Toronto, but they moved with us to Ottawa when they were quite young. They went to school there, grew up there. Later, one of my sons went to Canada’s east coast near a city called Halifax and the other moved to the west coast to Vancouver. My wife and I were left in the middle.
As we nearly retired (退休), we started to think where we should spend our final years. For several reasons we decided to live on a small town on Vancouver Island, where was close to one of my sons. However, the son moved to Hollywood soon after he had got another job there. I helped him move.
We still lived a happy life in our little west coast town, but we have paid a price. We have not been there for some important events such as the births of our grandchildren. We have missed watching them grow up; we have missed backyard barbecues (烧烤) and basketball weekends with them. Our home, while very comfortable, was also very quiet.
Every fall we travel to see the children. We usually fly, first to California to see our son Scott and spend a week or more with him trying to catch up on everything we’ve missed. Then, usually in November, we make the even longer trip east across Canada to see Travis and our grandchildren, who were about their twenties.
Fortunately, both our sons are doing well and grandchildren are growing up straight and tall. We love all of them and they love us. We’re very happy but there are times I think about the things we didn’t see: the tears or the smile on the granddaughter’s face, their school graduations, my son’s joy at successes in business.
Life has been good for our family but we have all paid a price.
根据短文内容，选择最佳答案。
1.The writer’s sons grew up in ________.
A.Toronto B.Ottawa C.Halifax D.Vancouver
2.From the underlined sentence in paragraph 3, we can infer (推断) that the writer ________.
A.wanted to live a noisy life B.was satisfied with retired life
C.lived a comfortable life D.was sometimes lonely
3.Which of the following important events did the writer miss?
A.The births of his grandchildren.
B.School graduations of his grandchildren.
C.The successful times of his son’s business.
D.All of the above.
4.For his family life, the writer implies (暗示) ________.
A.they all regret not living together all the time although enjoying a happy life
B.they enjoy a happy life because they can see each other every year
C.they are proud of the sons and the grandchildren
D.they love the sons and the grandchildren
5.What’s the best title for the passage?
A.Living a happy life. B.A price to pay.
C.Moving from east to west. D.My sons and grandchildren.
九年级英语阅读单选中等难度题查看答案及解析
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When people discover that I work as a film and TV extra (临时演员), they always ask me the same questions: Emily, is it easy to get work? Isn't it boring? Do you get to meet famous actors? Does it pay well? My answers are pretty standard as well: Yes, sometimes, once in a while, and… kind of. The life of an extra is both more interesting and more boring than you might imagine.
Extras, who play the people in crowds, on streets, or in the background of indoors scenes, can come from all walks of life. Unlike many extras, I'm a trained actor. I do get real speaking roles, but work can be hard to come by if you're not a popular star. I'm registered (注册) with an agency that deals only with extras, so I get calls all the time. The agency explains who I'll be someone in a crowd, a member of a jury, a clerk and tells me where to go. Call time is usually bright and early, so I try to get to bed at a reasonable hour.
Sometimes being an extra is a "hurry up and wait" job. In my first extra role, I was one of a group of office workers who come out of a building just as a car explodes (爆炸) in the street. We waited for hours for the scene to be shot, and then went in and out of the building about fifty times, trying to act terrified by an explosion which was not real. Then we had lunch, changed clothes, and spent the afternoons as customers in a department store.
It may sound like I don’t enjoy the work, but I do. Being part of the background in a convincing (令人信服的) way is challenging, and being on a film or TV set is always fascinating. A lot of famous actors don't even notice the extras, but the ones who do make the job a lot of fun for everyone. As for the money, it's nothing compared to what the big actors make, but it pretty much pays the bills. And, as a bonus, I've beaten my high scores on all my phone games, thanks to all the time I spend sitting around, waiting for something to happen.
1.Emily gives standard answers because ______.
A.she is proud of her job B.she wants to hide her feelings
C.she thinks it's unnecessary to explain D.they are the exact answers to the questions
2.What does Emily think of her job?
A.Busy. B.Enjoyable. C.Fashionable. D.Easy.
3.In line 21, another way to say as a bonus would be ______.
A.above expectation B.as a result C.in general D.after all
4.According to the passage, _____.
A.the famous actors look down upon the extras
B.being an extra is always a "hurry up and wait" job
C.Emily tells the truth about being a film and TV extra
D.those who want to be film or TV extras must be trained
5.We can infer that Emily ______.
A.often pays the bills for others
B.sometimes has to get up very early
C.has beaten all the phone game players
D.was in face of danger in her first extra role
九年级英语阅读单选中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Everyone faces challenges in their life, but some are more difficult than others. Daniel Kish had serious problems with his eyes when he was born. And doctors took away both of his eyes before he was fourteen months old.
Soon later, however, he started to do an amazing thing. He started to make clicking （咔哒）sounds with his tongue （舌头） to help him move around. Much like a bat （蝙蝠）, he now moves about using sonar （声呐）. 1. He and his group, World Access for the Blind, teach others how to use sonar. In this interview with National Geographic, Kish explains how sonar works.
How does sonar work?
“When I make a clicking sound, it makes sound waves. These waves reflect （反射） off surfaces all around and return to my ears. My brain then processes the sounds into images （图像）.2.”
When you click, what do you see in your mind?
"Each click is like a camera flash. I make a 3D image of the things around me for hundreds of feet in every direction.
What is it like riding a bike using sonar?
“3. I click up to two times per second, much more than I usually do."
Is it dangerous to move around the world in this way?
“Much of the world lives in fear of things that we mostly imagine. I have a habit of climbing everything, but I never broke a bone（骨头）as a kid."
How challenging is it to teach people to use sonar?
“Many students are surprised how quickly results come. 4. It’s in the mind."
A.It’s exciting and enjoyable but requires a lot of focus.
B.He is so good at it that he can ride a bicycle in traffic.
C.Seeing isn’t in the eyes.
D.It’s like having a conversation with the environment.
九年级英语补全短文4选4中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Is modern life moving too fast? Do you feel as if you are running hard, but staying in the same place? Well, you are not alone. According to a recent study, 78% of the young people say the “sped-up” pace（节奏）of modern life is making them feel really tired.
Rapid changes in technology and society are the main causes of the problem.1.With everyone connected by smartphones, young people can easily learn about the newest, the latest and the coolest things happening around them. No one wants to miss a hot topic. And with all the videos, games and the messages they get from smartphones, they feel uncomfortable when it’s quiet— so boring!
Is there a way to help stop the “sped-up” life? Yes, there is.2.Staying away from your phone for a few hours each day, we will put you back in control of your life. Even Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were worried about the influences of the technologies they had created.3.
As human beings, we are not supposed to be stimulated（刺激）all the time. It can even be harmful to both our physical and mental health.4. These things can help you lead a peaceful life. It’s a little bit hard at first, and you have to make a great effort, but it’s you who can take control of your time and life, isn’t it?
根据短文内容，从下列选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项，选项中有一项为多余选项。
A.Turn off your smart phone.
B.However, the smart phone plays an important role in your life.
C.So, slow down to visit a park, read a book and take up a hobby.
D.And the continuous bombardment（轰炸）of information can be another cause.
E.They didn't allow their own kids to use the smart phone and the Internet for too long.
九年级英语补全短文5选4中等难度题查看答案及解析
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根据下面短文内容，在短文的空格处填上一个恰当的词，使短文完整、通顺。
We all want to live the life we dream of. However, at times, some negative (消极的) ideas may stop us. Hope the following suggestions can help to ignore those1. and go ahead.
Do What We Can Control
One thing we can control is doing what we can—eating healthily, exercising, reading and getting enough sleep. Doing the right things can help2. to achieve the most happiness. Also, it can make us move on in the3.direction. However, we should also accept that there are many things we can't control.
Take Calculated (预料到的) Risks
Success doesn't come4.risks. We all have to take risks in life, but try to make sure those risks are calculated. For example, you are working at a job that you hate, and you are dreaming of giving it up and 5. your own business. The thought is a start. But one day, you can't stand your job any more, so you leave it even though you haven't really had a plan. This is such a big risk that it will probably make you6.want to take a risk again. So just start with a small risk.
Don't Be Afraid of Failure
Thomas Edison is one of the greatest inventors in history. However, he7.many times. Did you know Edison created an electric pen? A ghost machine? Probably not. Well, that's because they were complete failures. But those failures put him one step8.to success. Think of failures as milestones (里程碑) towards success.
九年级英语单词填空困难题查看答案及解析
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(素材源自English in Mind Book 3)
充满美好回忆的老房子
A few years ago, we lived in a house by the sea. We had 1. there for a long time. But then my parents suggested moving to another house, in the town centre. So we moved.
It was OK living in the city. I enjoyed going to the shopping centre near my new home. 2. I couldn't stand crossing all those busy streets! Sometimes I felt 3. shouting at the drivers of all those cars!
I always loved living by the sea, and I missed hearing 4. sound of the waves outside our old house. The life in the old house was the most beautiful memory in my mind. Sometimes I imagined having a house of 5. own, not living in other people's house all the time, on the beach, where I could live alone and practice singing without annoying anyone!
九年级英语单词填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
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根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Most of us don’t think about food until we start feeling hungry, but eating is important in life. To talk about food and eating is to talk about one of the most common subjects we know. Eating is just like breathing or sleeping every day.1.
However, what, where, when, how, and with whom we eat say a great deal about who we are. Do you use chopsticks? Do you hold the knife backward? Do you chew with your mouth open?
2. They are messages even when we are not trying to say anything. Food and the ways we eat it, like clothes and the way we wear them, tell who and what we are.
3. We usually have strong feelings about our childhood foods. Foods we learn to like in our early years probably have a special meaning for us forever because they are connected to people and things we love. Mom’s cheese or the way Dad cuts the bread crusts just right bringing up feelings of love and comfort.
People use food and eating to mark the seasons and the important moments in life (such as growing up and getting married).4.Sometimes people even explain why they eat certain things on certain days. Americans do that sort of explaining at Thanksgiving. They eat Turkey, com, and Indian pudding because their ancestors ate them at the first Thanksgiving. Those foods mean something to Americans.
As you can see, food and eating mark people’s shared experiences, but they can also mark the differences.5.
A.In that sense, we truly are what we eat.
B.It’s so ordinary that it doesn’t receive much notice.
C.People will eat different foods for different holidays.
D.Your health will be decided by what you eat.
E.We learn our eating habits very early in life.
F.The food we eat helps us grow in different ways.
G.All these eating habits say something about you.
九年级英语补全短文7选5简单题查看答案及解析
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Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” These are certainly words that millions of volunteers around the world could agree with.
In the US, April is National Volunteer Month, to praise and thank volunteers who lend their time, talent, and support to what they care about.
1. People who volunteer spend their time doing things they feel strongly about. For example, animal lovers may volunteer at an animal centre to help improve the treatment of animals.
Volunteering allows volunteers to meet new people, try out new skills and explore career choices. 2.
Take Andrew Makhoul, a student at the University of Pennsylvania, as an example. Andrew didn’t spend his last spring break relaxing. Instead, the 19-year-old boy decided to do something for people who were less lucky than himself. He travelled to an orphanage(孤儿院) in Guatemala in Central America. 3. And it depends on volunteers to stay open.
Andrew doesn’t speak much Spanish, but he found communication wasn’t a problem, “You communicated with love,” according to an article on his university’s website. And what he gave out, he got back, “4.” Andrew’s first time as a volunteer only lasted a week, but by the end of that week, he knew he’d be back soon — because he saw love and hope.
US author Sherry Anderson once wrote, “5.” And this is perhaps why volunteers all around the world keep doing what they do — their work is “priceless”.
A.It is in one of the poorest parts of the country.
B.You could see love when you looked in their eyes.
C.Volunteering means choosing to work without being paid.
D.It’s a chance for poor children to get better care and support.
E.Life will be difficult, but I have the confidence to live a happy, full life.
F.For young adults, valuable lessons may also be learned through volunteering.
G.Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless.
九年级英语补全短文7选5困难题查看答案及解析