Think about the different ways that people use the wind. You can use it to fly a kite or to sail a boat. Wind is one of our cleanest and richest power sources, as well as one of the oldest. Evidence shows that windmills began to be used in the ancient Iran back in the seventh century BC. They were first introduced to Europe during the 1100s, when armies returned from the Middle East with knowledge of using wind power.
For many centuries, people used windmills to grind(磨碎)wheat into flour or pump water from deep underground. When electricity was discovered in the late 1800s, people living in remote areas began to use them to produce electricity. This allowed them to have electric lights and radios. However, by the 1940s when electricity was available to people in almost all areas of the United States, windmills were rarely used.
During the 1970s, people started becoming concerned about the pollution that is created when coal and gas are burned to produce electricity. People realized that the supply of coal and gas would not last forever. Then, wind was rediscovered, though it means higher costs. Today, there is a global movement to supply more and more of our electricity through the use of wind.From the text we know that windmills _______.
A.were invented by European armies |
B.have a history of more than 2,800 years |
C.have rarely been used since electricity was discovered |
D.used to supply power to radio in remote area |
The underlined word in Paragraph 2 probably means________.
A.making something cleaner |
B.making something flow freely |
C.making something flow in a particular direction |
D.making something into small parts |
One of the reasons wind was discovered in the 1970s is that_______.
A.it is one of the oldest power sources |
B.wind power is cleaner |
C.it was cheaper to create energy from wind |
D.coal and gas failed to meet the needs |
What would the author probably discuss in the paragraph that follows?
A.The global trend towards producing power from wind. |
B.The design of wind power plants. |
C.The worldwide movement to save energy. |
D.The advantages of wind power. |
People in the United States love their dogs and treat them well. They take their dogs for walks, let them play outside and give them good food and medical care. However, dogs without owners to care for them lead a different kind of life. The expression, “to lead a dog’s life”, describes a person who lives an unhappy life.
Some people say we live in a dog-eat-dog world. That means many people are competing for the same things, like good jobs. They say that to be successful, a person has to work like a dog. This means they have to work very, very hard. Such hard work can make people dog-tired. And, the situation would be even worse if they became sick as a dog.
Still, people say every dog has its day. This means that every person enjoys a successful period during his or her life. To be successful, people often have to learn new skills. Yet, some people say that you can never teach an old dog new tricks. They believe that older people do not like to learn new things and will not change the way they do things.
Some people are compared to dogs in bad ways. People who are unkind or uncaring can be described as meaner than a junkyard dog. Junkyard dogs live in places where people throw away things they do not want. Mean dogs are often used to guard this property. They bark at or attack people who try to enter the property. However, sometimes a person who appears to be mean and threatening is really not so bad. We say his bark is worse than his bite.
Husbands and wives use this doghouse term when they are angry at each other. For example, a woman might get angry at her husband for coming home late or forgetting their wedding anniversary. She might tell him that he is in the doghouse. She may not treat him nicely until he apologizes. However, the husband may decide that it is best to leave things alone and not create more problems. He might decide to let sleeping dogs lie.
Dog expressions also are used to describe the weather. The dog days of summer are the hottest days of the year. A rainstorm may cool the weather. But we do not want it to rain too hard. We do not want it to rain cats and dogs.To achieve success, you must____________.
A.work like a dog |
B.feel dog-tired |
C.become sick as a dog |
D.be meaner than a junkyard dog |
To everyone’s surprise, Jack has been employed by a big company, about which we can say, “_________”.
A.Jack works like a dog |
B.Every dog has its day |
C.His bark is worse than his bite |
D.Jack really lives in a dog-eat-dog world |
If you are in the doghouse,_________.
A.you must be forgetful |
B.someone is annoyed with you |
C.you are living a hard life |
D.you can get along with your partner |
What kind of people live a difficult life?
A.Those who is in the doghouse. |
B.Those who have the dog’s. |
C.Those who lead a dog’s life. |
D.Those whose bark is worse than his bite. |
What does the article mainly talk about?
A.Dogs’ life in America. |
B.How to treat dogs well. |
C.Why Americans love dogs. |
D.Expressions with the word “dog”. |
Children form opinions about drugs and alcohol at a very early age. Even four and five year olds have definite opinions about alcohol. Preschoolers, because of the commercials they see on TV, often think that alcohol helps people have more fun and be better athletes! Images of alcohol are everywhere in out society—consumption of alcohol is represented twice per hour in daytime shows, and three times in an average evening program.
Despite the wide spread of alcohol in our society, and the problems that can be connected with it, many parents feel uncomfortable when talking about alcohol with their children, or are not sure when and how to start. Many parents believe that teenage drinking is something that their children would never be involved in.
Unfortunately, teenage drinking is very common in North Dakota. In a state wide survey of adolescents in junior and senior high school. Only 24% claimed to have never consumed alcohol. When asked about their drinking in the past 30 days:
·61% adolescents reported drinking
·42% drank five or more drinks in a row
·17% reported binge drinking
·4.2% reported driving and drinking
Other research on rural youth in North Dakota has found that about 10% of a sample of fifth and sixth graders were engaged in frequent drinking. Teenagers who reported alcohol use (especially those who began use in late elementary school and junior high school) were more likely to be depressed, feel less positive about both their family and friends, and have poorer grades.
Research has found that children and even teenagers look to their parents in making decisions about important things in their life. Decisions about using alcohol are undoubtedly something that parents will want to provide guidance about. Here are some suggestions about talking to children about alcohol.The author’s attitude towards images of alcohol is ___________.
A.negative | B.responsible |
C.shocking | D.positive |
We can infer from Paragraph 2 that _____________.
A.many parents don’t realize the seriousness of teenage drinking |
B.many parents feel uncomfortable with teenage drinking |
C.many children would never be involved in teenage drinking |
D.alcohol is a general topic between parents and children |
Which of the following is a misguided idea?
A.Teenagers involved in drinking tend to have poorer grades. |
B.Teenagers involved in drinking alcohol tend to be better athletes. |
C.Teenagers reporting alcohol use are more likely to be depressed. |
D.Teenagers reporting alcohol use feel less positive about their family. |
What will the article probably talk about next?
A.How to be supportive of your children. |
B.Means of teaching children to make important decisions. |
C.Advice about talking to children about alcohol. |
D.Why teenagers look to their parents in making decisions. |
Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?
A.Keeping Away from Alcohol |
B.Teenage Drinking Becoming Very Common |
C.Tips on How to Talk to Children about Alcohol |
D.Talking with Young Children about Alcohol |
Enjoy an unforgettable day in the French capital on this luxury day trip from London to Paris,with an included Champagne lunch at the Eiffel Tower! Travel on Eurostar from St Pancras International and enjoy a panoramic(全景的)sightseeing tour taking in Paris’top sights.
Highlights
/Romantic experience,perfect for couples
/Round—trip fares
/Travel by boat and see the sights from the water
/Lunch included
Make your own way to St Pancras International station and meet your professional guide.The departure time is 6 am.Board the Eurostar and relax as it takes you to Paris in Just over 2 hours.If you wish,upgrade to 1st Class and enjoy breakfast served on board and dinner on your return journey.
Once you arrive in Paris ,join your guide on an air-conditioned coach for a patioramic sightseeing tour.See top Paris attractions such as the Champs-Ėlysées,Arc de Triomphe and Opera House as you hear fascinating facts about the city.
Next,arrive at the Eiffel Tower for your Champagne lunch.Skip the possible long admission lines with your fast-aecess ticket and ride the elevator to the stylish 58 Tour Eiffel restaurant on the first floor.Take your seat and enjoy a glass of Champagne and delicious 2-course lunch with the full views of the city providing a truly magical baekdrop!
Afterward,enjoy a 1-hour sightseeing tour along the Seine River.Take photos and listen to the helpful commentary as you pass sights, such as soaring Notre Dame Cathedral and the island,Île de la Cité
Next,either choose to use some free time to shop or sightsee,or take a guided visit to the magnificent Louvre Museum(own expense)to see Leonardo da Vinci’s exquisite Mone Lisa and other masterpieces.
In the late afternoon,return to Gard du Nord,station and catch the Eurostar back to St.Pancras.Your tour ends when you arrive at around 8:30pm.Where will the tourists have their lunch?
A.At the Eiffel Tower. | B.At St Pancras International. |
C.At the Champs Ėlysées | D.On the Seine River. |
Who are most likely to show interest in the tour?
A.College students. | B.Champagne lovers. |
C.Loving couples. | D.Professional photographers. |
In order to enjoy the dinner on the Eurostar,you should______.
A.pay extra dinner fees |
B.place an order beforehand |
C.arrive earlier at Gard du Nord station |
D.upgrade to 1st Class of the Eurostar |
We can learn from the passage that________.
A.the back trip fares are not included in the total fees |
B.you should pay extra money for seeing Mona Lisa |
C.everyone should wait in line for the lunch |
D.the sightseeing along the Seine River will take the most time |
Gregory Kloehn digs through dustbins every day, but not for the reason that most people would think.He isn’t homeless.In fact he is trying to help the homeless.
Gregory began his life as a sculptor.But he often felt that his sculptures.Which just stood in rich people’s houses for years,lacked a meaningful purpose.So in 201l he decided to put his artistic energies into creating homes to sell—not ordinary homes but small structures built entirely from recycled materials.
The thought of creating homes for the homeless didn’t occur to him until the year 2013,when a homeless couple asked him for a tarp(防水布).Instead of a tarp,Gregory offered them something better:a small home with a water tank, a kitchen and a trap for waste.They were so grateful that Gregory decided to focus his efforts on helping house the homeless population in his city.And soon his“Homeless Homes Project”was started.
Before starting a new home,Gregory,goes hunting for materials by digging through dustbins.Everything he finds is usable—refrigerator doors become house doors;washing machine doors often serve as windows,and the tops of cars become strong roofs.He put wheels at the bottom for users to move their homes around easily.Each home takes two to three days to make.
So far Gregory has donated dozens of homes to the city's most needy.While his small low- cost mobile homes are not the final solution to the problem of homelessness,they are really practical and do provide a warm and safe place for the homeless to stay in.They are simply a way for one man to do something nice for those in need of some help.
Gregory has written a book titled Homeless Architecture,where he explains techniques to build those homes and he is now working on weekend workshops.“A lot of people who hear about what I’m doing want to get involved,”he said.“Maybe we can meet someplace and put a couple of homes together.”Why did Gregory turn from making sculptures to creating homes?
A.He had no home to live in. |
B.He had to make more money. |
C.He lost interest in sculpture. |
D.He wanted to help the homeless. |
The author mentions the story in paragraph 3 to tell us____________.
A.Gregory’s small homes were popular among the homeless |
B.how Gregory got the idea of“Homeless Homes Project” |
C.the homeless couple asked Gregory to produce more homes |
D.housing the homeless in acity was not an easy task |
What can we conclude from Paragraph 4?
A.Gregory has great trouble hunting for materials for his small houses. |
B.It takes Gregory a long time to produce a home. |
C.Gregory’s work requires imagination and creativity |
D.Everything in the dustbins will be used in Gregory’s work. |
What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A.Gregory’s project will help more homeless people. |
B.Gregory doesn’t need to make small homes now. |
C.Gregory’s work will completely solve the homelessness problem. |
D.A single person can make no difference to social problems. |
Laresce was born with a condition called hypermobility(运动过度)which meant her joints were“bend”.The condition can use severe joint pain and lead to dislocations(脱臼).
But rather than feel sorry for herself, she used her misfortune to inspire her to become Britain's strongest schoolgirl.
Just two years ago,the condition left Laresce in so much pain that she couldn’t even take part in sports.But now she has six British and World Champion power lifting records.It’s an incredible achievement.
Laresce’s trainer Tania George said her condition is the secret to her success.“She has more flexibility in her back than most people,which gives her the technique of bending her back strongly and safely.Most power lifters would kill to try to bend their backs like Laresce.She has perfected the technique to lift incredibly heavy weights,”Tania said.
“I used to suffer a lot of pain from my hypermobility.I remember coming home from school with pains in my knees,joints and hips.It would stop me doing normal things at schoo1.The pain would be so much that some nights I couldn't sleep at all and I just couldn’t face going to school like that.And after each dislocation,I had to do six months of physiotherapy(理疗)to recover,”said Laresce.
However, since taking up the sport of power lifting 18 months ago she is now effectively cured.“really enjoyed the feeling of power I got and the excitement of people encouraging me to do my very best,”she said.
“I’ve made lots of friends a It’s an incredible feeling when everyone's cheering me on.It’s the support of other people that makes the difference to winning.Becoming a champion was a big surprise—I just started off for fun and wasn’t expecting anything.So to win six titles over just a few months was amazing.”We can learn from the passage that________.
A.Laresce is suffering a lot from hypermobility |
B.hypermobility is helpful to increase one’s strength |
C.Laresce didn't go to school because of her illness |
D.the flexibility in Laresce's back helps her to lift heavy weight |
Laresce had to do long-time physiotherapy to________.
A.reduce the pains in knees and joints |
B.recover from joint dislocations |
C.fall asleep easily during nights |
D.do normal things freely at school |
From Laresce's words in the last paragraph we know that________.
A.Laresce was determined to become a champion
B.Laresce trained for a long time to win the titles
C.Laresce didn’t expect to gain such a great success
D:Laresce’s friends contributed a lot to her successWhat could be the best title for this passage ?
A.A schoolgirl who turns misfortune into an advantage |
B.Bendy-jointed teen becomes Britain’s strongest schoolgirl |
C.An inspiring girl who has made great achievements |
D.A British girl with great spirit and determination |