The year of 2014 saw smart people always busy inventing useful things,which have helped to
make the world better,smarter and a little more fun. Now,let's take a look at some of the inventions.
Super banana
Australian biogeneticist(生物遗传学家)James Dale
visited Uganda,a poor African country,in the early 2000s,
where he found that 15%-30% of children under 5 were at
the risk of going blind because they didn't get enough vitamin
A. Dale also learned that people there love bananas. They
eat 3 to 11 bananas a day. So hecame up with an idea to
plant bananas containing added nutrition in order to improve
Ugandans' health .With the help of Bill Gates' foundation,Dale developed the“super banana,’·He added a gene to the fruit,making it rich in vitamin A.
Which of the following statements would James Dale agree with?
A.Children in Uganda should eat fewer bananas. |
B.Vitamin A is largely found in fruits like bananas. |
C.Super bananas are definitely a safe biological product. |
D.People's eating habits can be used to develop new food. |
What is the biggest advantage of the 94Fifty Basketball?
A.The sensors hidden inside can help players run faster in a game. |
B.It can help players to improve their shooting and ball-handling skills. |
C.It allows players to connect to their smartphones while playing basketball. |
D.The Bluetooth chip inside allows its users to listen to music while playing basketball. |
What can we learn about the hovercraft from the text?
A.It enables its users to float off the ground freely. |
B.It can work on many different kinds of surfaces. |
C.It still needs to improve its power and efficiency. |
D.It is an affordable means of transport for a family. |
What do the hovercraft and wireless electricity have in common according to the text?
A.They create magnetic fields to produce power. |
B.They apply technologies to many things in life. |
C.They are technologies which can produce electricity. |
D.They use wireless technology to improve their products. |
President Xi Jinping delivers a policy speech to Chinese and United States’ CEOs during a dinner reception in Seattle, Washington, September 22, 2015.
Beijing and Washington must read each other’s strategic intentions correctly, and have “less estrangement (隔阂,疏远) and suspicion in order to forestall (预先阻止) misunderstanding and miscalculation,” said Chinese President Xi Jinping Tuesday night in his first major policy speech on China-US ties since he arrived in the US early Tuesday.
Xi called for more understanding and trust between the US and China, prior to his formal talks with President Barack Obama at the White House on Friday.
“China is ready to set up a high-level joint-dialogue mechanism with the United States on fighting cybercrimes,” he said, adding that the Chinese government was a firm defender of cyber security while also being a victim of cybercrime. The world’s two largest economies “should strictly base our judgment on fact, for fear that we become victims to hearsay, paranoia, or self-imposed bias”.
Xi made his remarks in a 40-minute speech, the only public speech during his US visit, at a dinner attended by more than 750 business leaders and other dignitaries (显要人物), including former secretary of State Henry Kissinger. It was sponsored by the National Committee on United States-China Relations and the US-China Business Council.
In addition to cyber security, Xi raised other issues of concern to some in the US audience, including China’s stock market and investment.
Xi said that the government had taken necessary steps to stabilize the stock market after recent turbulence (动荡) triggered wide concern. China’s central bank adjusted its currency exchange rate according to market supply and demand in August, which the president said has achieved “initial success” in correcting the currency rate deviation (货币汇率偏差).
Xi also reiterated (重申) China’s opposition to cyber theft, in spite of high tensions between the two countries because the US has blamed several cyber attacks on China recently.
“China is a strong defender of cybersecurity. It is also a victim of hacking,” Xi said. “The Chinese government will not, in whatever form, engage in commercial thefts or encourage or support such attempts by anyone. Both commercial cyber theft and hacking against government networks are crimes that must be punished in accordance with the law and relevant international treaties.”
Xi also shared the story of his hard and starving youth in a remote village to illustrate what a Chinese dream means for ordinary Chinese people.
Xi arrived at Seattle early Tuesday morning with his wife Peng Liyuan, and was warmly welcomed by Washington state business leaders and officials.
US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker said that while this week many significant deals will be announced during Xi’s visit, it exemplifies (例证) US companies’ commitment to support China’s development both with capital and world-class technology.
Kissinger, who played a major role with opening relations between China and the United States in the 1970’s, said Xi’s state visit is an important step in lifting the two countries’ relationship from the day to day solving of problems to the creating of a new world order.
Xi will take part in a round-table discussion with Chinese and American executives, visit Boeing and Microsoft offices and a local high school before flying to Washington on Thursday morning.What can we know about Xi’s visit in US?
A.He met President Barack Obama at the White House on Tuesday. |
B.His major intention was to improve the China-US ties. |
C.He will make a formal policy speech on China-US ties on Friday. |
D.This was his first visit in US. |
What can we NOT know about the speech?
A.President Barack Obama was at the dinner, too. |
B.It was the only public speech during Xi’s visit there. |
C.It was sponsored by the National Committee on United States-China Relations and the US-China Business Council. |
D.It lasted 40 minutes and was made at a dinner. |
What did Xi talk about at the speech?
A.The stock market in US. |
B.China’s investment in Europe. |
C.The cybersecurity in China and US. |
D.His experience in New York when he was young. |
How will US companies support China’s development?
A.By investing money. |
B.By building factories in China. |
C.By exporting top-level talents to China. |
D.By providing China with high technology. |
Disneyland® Half Marathon presented by Cigna®
Sunday, September 4, 2016
Start time: 5:30 AM
Start/Finish: Disneyland® Resort
Catch all the Disney fun on the most magical course on earth!
It’s the moment you’ve been training for. Your 13.1 mile run on a magical course in the Happiest Race on Earth takes you through Disney California Adventure Park along legendary Main Street, U.S.A. In Disneyland Park, and then on to the streets of Anaheim. You’ll complete your Disneyland Half Marathon race with an exciting finish near the Disneyland Hotel. It all adds up to miles of smiles, unforgettable memories, and a perfect ending to a magical Disneyland.
The Disneyland Half Marathon Highlights
Timed Half Marathon race
13.1-mile course through Disneyland Resort and the City of Anaheim, California
Disney Characters and Entertainment on-course
Family Reunion Area with live entertainment and characters at the Finish Line
Race within walking distance when you stay at a Disneyland Resort Hotel
Event transportation included when you stay at select Anaheim Area Hotels
Disneyland Half Marathon Race Participants Receive
Champion Short-Sleeved Tech Shirt in Women’s or Men’s Cut*
Half Marathon Finisher Medal*
Official Digital Event Guide*
iGiftBag
Personalized bib (Must register before June 2, 2015 for name to appear on bib)*
On-course and post-race refreshments
ChronoTrack B-tag timed race with live runner tracking signup for friends and family
Personalized results website and finisher certificate
To receive the Dumbo Double Dare Finisher Medal, you must register for the Dumbo Double Dare. Registering for the 10K and Half Marathon individually will not make you eligible (合适的) to receive the Dumbo Double Dare Finisher Medal.
To compete, you must be 14 years of age or older and able to complete the Half Marathon in three and a half (3.5) hours or less (16-minute mile pace).
Dates, times, prices and inclusions subject to change. All races are subject to capacity limits and may close at any time before the percentage can be updated. Registrations are non-refundable and non-transferable. Disney reserves the right to refuse the entry into, and/or revoke any registration for, any race for any reason in its sole discretion with refund of any applicable registration fees being the sole remedy of any such refusal and/or revocation.
*Participants must attend Packet Pick-up at the run Disney Health & Fitness Expo to receive their race packet, bib, and tech shirt. Finisher medals will be distributed to finishers during the race. None of these items will be mailed to registrants.You can read all the following except ______in the article.
A.The course description of Half Marathon |
B.The distance of the Half Marathon |
C.The entry fee of the Half Marathon |
D.The time limits of the completion of the Half Marathon |
We can infer from the advertisement that whoever runs the Half Marathon can get ______.
A.the Dumbo Double Dare Finisher Medal |
B.Half Marathon Finisher Medal |
C.Personalized bib |
D.iGiftbag |
Considering Australia' s size and the fact that early settlements were far apart, Australian society is remarkably homogeneous ( 同种的). Its citizens are fundamentally prosperous and the way of life in the major cities and towns is much the same however many miles divide them. It takes a sharp ear to identify regional accents.
However, there is some difference in lifestyle between city settlers and the country people. Almost 90 percent of the population lives in the fast-paced cities along the coast andhas little more than a passing familiarity with the desert. The major cities preserve images of colonial heritage, but on the whole the impression is modern, with new buildings reflecting the country' s youth. In contrast, the rural communities tend to be slow-moving and conservative. For many years, Australia was said to have "ridden on the sheep' s back" , a reference to wool being the country' s main money earner. However, it is no longer dominant ( 主宰的) . Much of Australia' s relatively sound economy is now achieved from natural coal and wheat, and by being the largest diamond producer in the world. Newer industries such as tourism and wine making are also increasingly important. Australians are generally friendly and relaxed, with a modest sense of humor.
Yet, contrary to widespread belief, very few Australians have true prisoner origins. Within only one generation of the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, Australia had become a nation of immigrants. Originally coming almost entirely from the British Isles, today one in three Australians comes from elsewhere. Australia' s liberal postwar immigration policies led to a flowing of survivors from war-torn Europe. The emphasis has changed in recent years and today the majority of new immigrants are from Southeast Asia. Today Australia is a "mixture of nations" and although some racism exists, it has generally been a successful experiment and the country is reasonably proud to have one of the most harmonious multicultural communities in the world.What does the writer mean by saying "It takes a sharp ear to identify regional accents." in the first paragraph?
A.Australians speak Standard English with no local accents. |
B.You have to practice a lot to learn to understand the different accents. |
C.The Australian regional accents are very difficult to understand indeed. |
D.There is not much difference between the accents in different areas of Australia. |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Most Australians have ancestors who were prisoners. |
B.The Australian economy counts on sheep exports. |
C.The pace of life is different in the city and in the country. |
D.The majority of people living in Australia come from Europe. |
We can infer from the passage that ____.
A.nothing about Australia' s colonial part in modem cities can be seen by visitors |
B.tourism and wine making resulted in fast development in rural communities only |
C.immigrants from Europe have brought racial problems |
D.Australia' s recent immigration policy encourages immigrants from Southeast Asia |
This passage mainly focuses on Australia’s_______________.
A.society | B.economy |
C.racial problems | D.history |
A Korean wave is sweeping across China, with many Chinese women worshiping South Korean actors Kin Soo hyun and Lee Min ho as demigods(偶像).Chinese netizens(网民) always have different opinions.Over South Korean TV dramas, but there is no doubt that programs from the neighboring country are now enjoying a new round of popularity in China, And a big part of the credit for that goes to You Who Came From The Star, the South Korean TV series which is on the air now.
You Who Came From The Star and The Heirs (继承者们) have been subjects of hot online discussions throughout Asia.Besides, the book, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, read by the hero You Who Came From The Star was a hard to get item on Amazon for a while.
The two TV programs have several common elements (因素):a tall, handsome, and rich hero who loves the heroine blindly and always protects her, and an equally handsome man madly in love with the same woman.Both programs describe the purity of love, which is expressed through a kiss or a warm hug.Perhaps that’s the secret of their success; perhaps people still like Cinderella type stories.
The widening wealth gap is a matter of social concern both in South Korea and China, and the challenges that young people face in their hope for a better life might have caused many ordinary girls to dream of marrying rich, caring men.This is precisely what the popular South Korean TV drams describe.In fact, South Korean TV dramas are tailored to meet the market’s demands.
Many netizens even said at an earlier time that South Korean TV dramas had become popular because of their stereotyped (模式化的) themes: traffic accidents, cancer and other incurable diseases.But all that has changed with the success of You Who Came From The Star and The Heirs, which Chinese directors can use as examples, as well as inspiration, to improve their productions.What is the main reason for a new round of popularity in China?
A.The dramas are from the neighboring country North Korea. |
B.Most of the Chinese netizens have voted for them. |
C.The actors in the dramas are all gods. |
D.It is because of You Who Came From The Star. |
Which is NOT included in the elements for the success of South Korean dramas?
A.Charming pure love stories. |
B.A tender kiss and a warm hug. |
C.Handsome and rich heroes. |
D.The heroine’s blind love with the rich. |
The underlined sentence in Paragraph 4 means that they are designed to _______.
A.develop in a large scale |
B.be measured to a certain size |
C.meet popular taste purposely |
D.be shown in a big market |
The main purpose of stereotyped themes in South Korean dramas is to________.
A.present an idea | B.attract TV viewers |
C.make them colorful | D.arouse some challenges |
Erica McElrath calls herself “ The Happy Lady”. And by now, you may have caught her singing and dancing with her mp3 player on any of several city street corners. “ I don’t want money,” said McElrah, 40, of St. Louis. “ I come out here to make people smile.”
McElrah lost her full-time job in January. Since then, she has spent her days doing what she loves-dancing in the street. Her message to people in hard times: do something that you enjoy, no matter what your circumstances. “ Life isn’t that bad,” she said. “ If you’re working 40 hours a week, you shouldn’t be complaining.”
McElrah graduated from parkway Central High School and has spent the past 21 years working as a nursing assistant, She began singing and dancing publicly on her days off a few years ago to help her through the pain of her second divorce.
Her favorite spot is the northwest corner of Chouteau Avenue and South Grand Boulevard near St. Louis University. McElrah’s mp3 player is loaded with hundreds of classic rock hits and 80’s pop songs, including those by Joe Cocker, Tina Turner, Neil Diamond and Toto. But her favorite artist, by far, is Stevie Nicks.Videos of McElrah have appeared on YouTube, a video-sharing website on which users can upload, share, and view videos. “People think I’m crazy, but I don’t care,” She said. “ I can dance a little. I just go with the music.” Even a rude gesture from a passing motorist doesn’t bother her either. “ I just smile and wave,” she said.
McElrah’s show of bravery recently earned her a job opportunity with Liberty Tax Service, which temporarily offered her a job as a dancer Statute of Liberty to promote a new place near Grand Center starting in January.
“ Just be happy and do what you love,” she said. “The money will come.”At first McElrah began singing and dancing in public in order to _____.
A.make a living | B.entertain the public |
C.rise to fame | D.encourage herself |
Erica McElrah was offered a job because of _____.
A.her beautiful voice | B.her positive behavior |
C.her lively dancing | D.her competitive spirit |
Which of the following about Erica McElrah is TRUE?
A.She doesn’t care others’ comments on her. |
B.Her favorite artist is Joe Cocker. |
C.She once worked as a doctor. |
D.She has been divorced once. |
What would be the best title for the passage?
A.Ways To Be Happy |
B.Learn To Do What You Love |
C.Happy Lady’s Singing and Dancing Life |
D.What Made The Happy Lady Famous? |