Usually, students are not encouraged to run or jump around in the corridor (走廊). However, students in a British grammar school really enjoy running on the corridor tiles (瓷砖) and their teachers even encourage them to do that.
Why? It is because the corridor was built with special kinetic (动能的) tiles. When students jump on the tiles, electricity will be produced. After one year, the electricity produced from the tiles can fully charge 853 mobile phones or power(供电) an electric car to drive seven miles. It’s amazing, isn’t it?
The corridor tiles are really a brilliant invention. Students can not only play on the corridor, but also help power the lights in their school corridors and other equipment in their classrooms. Besides, this is a good way to teach students to be creative. They will be inspired to be scientists, inventors and engineers in the future to find clean energy for all humans.
The inventor of the magic corridor tiles is Laurence Kemball-Cook. He was once a student in this school. Now, he is CEO of his own company. The corridor tiles are not Laurence’s only invention. He has also invented a special dance floor, which can be used at music festivals. It allows dancers to charge their mobile phones while they are dancing on the dance floor.Why do the students in the passage enjoy running on the corridor tiles?
A.Because the corridor tiles are expensive. |
B.Because the teachers ask them to do that. |
C.Because the corridor was built with special tiles. |
D.Because students like running and jumping. |
After one year, the electricity produced from the tiles can provide enough energy for _______.
A.over 800 mobile phones |
B.all the lights of the school |
C.an electric car to drive 70 miles |
D.the lights and other equipment in their classrooms. |
The underlined word “inspired” most probably means “ _________”.
A.encouraged | B.forced |
C.trained | D.allowed |
What else has Laurence invented besides the corridor tiles from the passage?
A.A mobile phone. | B.A music player. |
C.An electric car | D.A special dance floor. |
According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A.Students are not allowed to walk in the corridor. |
B.Laurence once studied in the British grammar school. |
C.Laurence has more than one company of his own. |
D.All the corridor in British schools was built with special kinetic tiles. |
When my son, Mark, was in the third grade, he saved all his pocket money for over three months to buy holiday presents. The third Saturday in December Mark said he had made his list and had twenty dollars in his pocket.
I drove him to a nearby supermarket. Mark picked up a hand basket and went in while I wailed and watched in the car. It took Mark over 45 minutes to choose his presents. Finally he came to the checkout counter (交款处) and reached into his pocket for his money. It was not there! There was a hole in his pocket, but no money. Mark stood there holding his basket, tears falling down his face.
Then a surprising thing happened. A woman came up to Mark and took him in her arms. "You would help me a lot if you let me pay for you," said the woman. "It would be the most wonderful gift you could give me. I only ask that one day you will pass it on. When you grow up, I would like you to find someone you can help. When you help others, I know you will feel as good about it as I do no."
Mark took the money, dried his tears and ran back to the checkout counter as fast as he could. That year we all enjoyed our gifts almost as much as Mm-k enjoyed giving them to us.
I would like to say "thank you" to that very kind woman, and tell her that four years later, Mark went house to house collecting blankets (毯子) and clothes for the homeless people in the fire. And I want to promise her that Mark will never forget to keep passing it on.When did the story probably happen?
A.On Christmas Day. | B.Before Christmas Day. |
C.On New Year’s Day. | D.After New Year’s Day. |
When they got to the supermarket, Mark went in.
A.with the writer | B.by himself |
C.with the woman | D.with his friends |
What happened to Mark in the supermarket?
A.His gifts were stolen. | B.He broke his basket. |
C.He lost his money. | D.He lost his way. |
Why did the writer want to say "thank you" to the woman?
A.Because she bought Mark a nice present. |
B.Because she always paid money for others. |
C.Because she collected clothes for the homeless. |
D.Because she taught Mark to help people in need. |
What’s the best title for this passage?
A.A big supermarket | B.A kind woman |
C.A happy family | D.A wonderful gift |
Charles Chaplin was born in London on April 16, 1889. His parents were music hall actors. The Chaplin family were very poor, and life was difficult in London. Charlie, as he was called, used to do his mother’s job in the theatre when she was ill.
When he was only 17 years old, Chaplin got his first real job as an actor. What he did was to do silly things to make people laugh in the theatre. Seven years later he went to the USA. And over the next four years, he formed his own way of art. He developed the character (~J ~, )of a homeless gentleman which became very popular.
From the 1920s to the 1950s, Chaplin made his most famous films. The film Modern Times (1936) shows his care about the modern industry workers. Many of his films describe the poor life and hard time of the working people during that period.
Although Charlie Chaplin was British, he lived in the USA until 1953. But he never got US nationality. Then Chaplin, his wife’ and his five children had to move to Switzerland where he lived until he died. When he was 83 years old, he won his only Oscar for the music he wrote for the film Limelight. He was named Sir Charles Chaplin at the age of 85. Charlie Chaplin died in Switzerland on December 25th, 1975. Chaplin used to __ when his mother was ill.
A.look after her | B.do the housework |
C.do his mother’s job | D.do his father’s job |
From Paragraph 2, we can know that __
A.Chaplin went to the USA when he was 24 years old ~ |
B.Chaplin became famous when he was 17 years old |
C.people liked Chaplin because he was a homeless gentleman |
D.Chaplin did many silly things to make people laugh in the street |
__ Chaplin made his most famous films.
A.From 1889 to 1936 | B.From the 1920s to th~ 1950s |
C.From 1953 to 1975 | D.From the 1950s to the 1980s |
We can infer.from the passage that Chaplin left the USA because of __
A.his family | B.his work |
C.the US government | D.the Swiss government |
Chaplin won the Oscar for __ when he was 83 years old.
A.the acting | B.the art | C.the film | D.the music |
What is Mary’s problem?
A.Sh.e is so worried and can’t sleep. | B.She can’t pass the exam. |
C.She can’t communicate with others. | D.She can’t study English well. |
Donna thinks Mary’s problem is __
A.great | B.common | C.wonderful | D.serious |
The word "reduce" in the passage probably means
A.减少 | B.排除 | C.加强 | D.增加 |
Donna thinks that can help Mary think more clearly.
A.eating a lot of sugar | B.studying six hours every day |
C.drinking a lot of coffee | D.eating foods high in Vitamin B |
Which of the following is TRUE according to Donna’s letter?
A.The best time to study is from 10 pm to 1 am. |
B.Walking outside can make you remember more. |
C.It’s good to tell a study partner about your feeling. |
D.It’s necessary to have a rest for 15 to 20 minutes an hour. |
If you want to eat some seafood, you can go to __
A.Willie Mae’s | B.Natasha’s Kitchen |
C.EIFFEL SOCIETY | D.HOSHUN RESTAURANT |
You can call if you want to have a taste of Southern home cooking.
A.540-302-9717 | B.504-525-2951 | C.504-410-9997 | D.504-822-9503 |
You can eat some food in EIFFEL SOCIETY.
A.Indian | B.Russian | C.Chinese | D.Japanese |
The latest business hour lasts until among the four restaurants.
A.2am | B.3 am | C.3 pm | D.lO:30pm |
You can have __ choices if you want to have dinner at 6 pm on Saturday Evening.
A.one | B.two | C.three | D.four |
What is your favorite color? Do you like yellow, orange, or red? If you do, you must be an active person who enjoys life. Do you like blue? Then you are probably quiet, shy, and would rather follow than lead.
Colors do influence our moods (情绪). A yellow room makes most people feel more cheerful and more relaxed than a dark green one; and a red dress brings warmth and cheer to the saddest winter day. On the other hand, black is depressing(令人压抑的). There was a black bridge over the Thames River, near London. The number of people who killed themselves on that bridge used to be larger than on any other bridge in the area -- until it was repainted green.[来
Light and bright colors make people not only happier but also more active. In the factory, the workers will work better, harder, and have fewer accidents when their machines are painted orange rather than black. An active person may like
A.yellow, orange, or red | B.yellow, black, or red |
C.orange, blue, or black | D.black, red, or orange |
Most people feel more __ in a yellow room than in a dark green one.
A.tired | B.bored | C.worried | D.relaxed |
More people killed themselves on the black bridge than on any other bridge probably because ____
A.the bridge was very tall | B.the bridge was too crowded |
C.people didn’t like the bridge | D.the color of the bridge was depressing |
In the factory, when the machines are painted orange, the workers will work __
A.worse | B.harder | C.more slowly | D.more angrily |
Which could be the best title for the passage?
A.Cheerful Colors | B.Your Favorite Color |
C.The Secret of Color | D.The Color of a Bridge |