How do we know the time? A clock,a watch or a cell phone can help us. However many years ago there were no clocks and knowing the time was not so easy. Over the centuries people have developed different w(1) of telling the time.
About 5,500years ago, the Egyptians i(2) the sun clock. This was a tall stone structure. Its shadow (影子)showed the movement of the s(3) they were able to determine(测定)midday.
About 3,500years ago,the Egyptians made a sundial. It was smaller than the sun clock and could measure (测量)the time for half a day. On c(4) days or at night it was impossible to tell the time with a sun clock or a sundial.
Water clocks were the f(5) clocks not to use the sun. The idea is simple. Water flows(流动) from one container(容器)to another. When the water reaches a certain l(6) it moves a lever (控制杆)and this shows the hours. The Egyptians used water clocks about 3,400years ago. These clocks were popular in the Middle East and China but they f (7) to keep accurate(精确的)time.
In the 13th century,the mechanical clock was invented. This was more accurate, b(8) was expensive to make. Over the next few centuries it was developed. For example, springs(发条)were added around 1500. This i(9) accuracy and allowed clocks to be smaller.
In 1927, the first quartz clock was developed. Clocks became cheaper to build and own. People began depending on them more and more to2 run businesses, markets and so on.
More recently, in1956, came the digital clock. And nowadays satellites(人造卫星)send our cell phones the time to the exact second. There has been a lot of progress in timekeeping but some things never c(10) . Man of us still have trouble getting out of bed on time and not missing appointments.
As Chinese students, we must know something about a great man (51)c Zheng He. He was a Ming Dynasty explorer. He led seven ocean journeys from 1405to 1433. At that time, the compass (52)p an important role in his sailing. He even succeeded in sailing to the east coast of Africa. His last ocean journey was over half a (53) (世纪)earlier than Columbus' first journey to America. We Chinese are (54) (骄傲的)of him. It's a pity that he died of illness on his way home from Africa in 1433. (55)H , his journeys were so meaningful in China's history.
Have you ever heard of e﹣waste(电子垃圾)?How do you deal with your Mp4players, mobile phones and your computers when they're broken or you want a new one?
Most people just throw them away. With the(21) of electronic industry, e﹣waste pollution has become a serious problem. According to the UN, in 2014, people around the world produced 41.8million tons of e﹣waste and only(22) less than 20% of it. The USA was(23) waster in the world, producing 7.1million tons. China came second,(24) 6million tons.
It's important to pay attention to e﹣waste. It can be(25) valuable or harmful, depending on what we do with it. E﹣waste is a valuable urban mine(城市矿藏). The value of the metals, like gold and silver is(26) . And the metals can be reused, but if people throw them away, the toxic(有毒的) chemicals can(27) the earth or air, they will affect the environment and people's health.
Now, Apple recycles people's used products in China when they're buying new(28) . The company will test and repair them and then sell them at lower prices.(29) e﹣waste, we can buy longer lasting electronic products. If you don't want your electronics, find a new home for them. You can also take them to see(30) companies can offer recycling programs.
21. A. developing |
B. developed |
C. development |
22. A. recycled |
B. rebuilt |
C. researched |
23. A. big |
B. bigger |
C. the biggest |
24. A. during |
B. with |
C. between |
25. A. both |
B. either |
C. neither |
26. A. amazing |
B. disappointing |
C. boring |
27. A. get up |
B. get into |
C. get on |
28. A. them |
B. those |
C. ones |
29. A. To increase |
B. To reduce |
C. To keep |
30. A. that |
B. where |
C. whether |
Life will be peaceful if you always do kind things.I teach my daughters to d(76) a habit of helping others.
We live in a rural(乡村) area.Most of what we see is beautiful nature.One of the exceptions (例外) to the beauty is the rubbish that some people throw out of their car windows.And there are no necessary public s(77) .Such as rubbish collection.
A helping behavior(行为) that I often p(78) with my daughters is picking up rubbish in our neighborhood.My daughters often have a m(79) to see who can collect the most rubbish.They will often say to me in an excited voice,"There's some rubbish,﹣Daddy,stop the car!"Without t(80) more,we will often get out of the our car and pick it up.Though it may seem s(81) ,we do it.In fact,we enjoy it.We pick it up rubbish in parks,on sidewalks,almost a(82) .
One day I saw a man I had never met before picking up rubbish on the road.I stopped.He r(83) his head and said to me with a smile,"I saw you doing this with your family.It's a good idea to protect our natural world."
There are many other ways to p(84) kindness for others.You may share a dinner with a beggar(乞丐),visit lonely old people in the nursing home,or help the blind cross the street.You can think of something that can be finished e(85) but helpful.It is fun,self﹣satisfying,and what's more,it can set a good example.Helping others is helping yourself.
Having a pen pal is fun and can be a great way to improve your writing skills.But most people have trouble knowing what to write to their pen pals.(1)
(2) Break the ice by telling your pen pal a little about yourself.Start with your name,age and job.Write about what you like to do or what's on your mind that day.What you pass on will encourage your pen pal to tell you something about his.(3)
Ask questions(4) This will help you get to know him and probably get you a faster answer.Make your questions into the e﹣mail by telling him something you like to do and then asking if he's ever tried it.
Ask for advice.You may have some difficulties in your life and want to ask for advice.Your pen pal may tell you what to do.(5) Also,discussing real﹣world questions will promote(增进) your friendship.
A.Share you information. B.What do you think of having a pen pal? C.And this will be helpful to start your friendship. D.Luckily,here are some ways to get to know a pen pal. E.Write questions for your pen pal to answer in his next e﹣mail. F.You don't have to take all his advice,but it will give your something about his opinions. |
I finished middle school in the 1970s.I still remember the teen years were the(1) time of my life.At that time,as a girl,I hated it when my parents asked me(2) about my problems that made me uncomfortable.I also remember many times when Mr.Templat,my teacher,would take me aside and talk to me.He had a special way of finding out what the problem was.Every time he(3) with me,I felt better.He was a teacher I will never(4) .
He had a way of making his classes enjoyable.We always got the highest(5) in math in our grade with his teaching.If there was a big world ball game on the radio,we would(6) everything and he would put the game on so we could all enjoy it.
Teens often learn things on TV or film adults about world(7) that can make them scared.Now it is terrorism(恐怖主义).Back in my teen years it was the Cold War.It worried me so much that I(8) each day would be my last.Mr.Templat knew how much it troubled his(9) .He opened the subject up to discussion.He gave us a way to express our fears and helped us understand war and politics(政治).
When I think back to those special days,I appreciate (感念) that he helped me go(10) such a difficult time in my life.
1.A.happiest |
B.hardest |
C.best |
D.busiest |
2.A.directly |
B.politely |
C.kindly |
D.softly |
3.A.played |
B.fought |
C.argued |
D.talked |
4.A.fear |
B.trust |
C.forget |
D.remember |
5.A.progress |
B results |
C.marks |
D.fever |
6.A.do |
B.drop |
C.learn |
D.repeat |
7.A.problems |
B.meetings |
C.weather |
D.pollution |
8.A.thought |
B.decided |
C.promised |
D.suggested |
9.A.relative |
B.family |
C.teachers |
D.students |
10.A.against |
B.across |
C.over |
D.through. |