Think plants are just boring green things that you use for food and decoration? Think again! Plants are able to do some pretty awesome things that you’re probably totally unaware of.
Researchers have discovered that plants have the ability to communicate with an underground network made up of fungus (真菌) , which serves the plants in many ways. Tomato plants use the fungus web to warn each other of their own unhealthy conditions. Trees connected through the fungus network could move nutrients (养分) to and from each other. It is believed that larger trees move nutrients to smaller ones to help them to survive.
Not only that, but they can also damage unwelcome plants by spreading poisonous chemicals through the fungus. It sounds like the plant world had the Internet before we did.
Some plants have a rather impressive line of defense against being eaten. When sensing they are being swallowed, they give off a chemical into the air that attracts the insect’s natural enemy. The enemy attacks the bug, thus saving the plants. This is basically the plant kingdom version of getting your older brother to beat up that kid who steals your lunch money.
You might be aware that humans and animals have an internal clock. But did you know that plants also have this clock? This means they can prepare for certain times of day just like we do. Is it because they can react to light at sunrise? In a study, scientists found that plants use the sugars they produce to keep time, which help to regulate the genes responsible for the plant’s own internal clock. So, in a sense, ―wake up with petunias (矮牵牛) ‖ is just as valid as ―wake up with the chickens.‖
Nature is full of surprises. So for those of you who didn’t know the wonders of plants, now you do.
1.How many ways does the network of fungus serve the plants?
A. Two. B. Three.
C. Four. D. Five.
2.What does the underlined words ―your older brother‖ in Paragraph 4 refer to?
A. The chemical given off by plants. B. The insect’s natural enemy.
C. The bug attacked by the enemy. D. The plant to be eaten by the insect.
3.What helps the plant keep time?
A. The sugars produced by itself. B. Its own genes.
C. The time of sunrise. D. Its response to light.
4.What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?
A. To show his love of different plants.
B. To share his study on some awesome plants.
C. To introduce the unknown abilities of plants.
D. To make people aware of plant protection.
A while back I caught a news report on something called ―couch surfing‖ and the network of trusting souls who make this phenomenon possible. They offer to put up travelers free of charge and help them on their ways. At first, it sounded unbelievable. I mean, inviting strangers into one’s home for one or two nights? Give me a break.
However, I was intrigued. I decided to investigate. The only way to truly learn about this phenomenon was to dive in. So I planned a trip to Finland, a country I’ve always wanted to explore. I would couch surf at every stop there.
If ever any anxiety existed when stepping into the unknown, it disappeared when my first host met me at the train station. Ari looked like my idea of a typical Finn: tall and blue-eyed. Finns were also supposed to be famously reserved (寡言少语的). Ari was anything but. He was a live wire, giving me an enthusiastic welcome and hiking with me to his apartment, where he showed me the sleeper sofa, served me tea, and engaged me in warm conversations. He also handed me a key to come and go as I pleased.
If this was what couch surfing was all about － trust and friendship － then I had gotten off to a good start. As I boarded my next train to continue my journey, I began to think about this couch-surfing idea. What urged these people to open their homes to strangers? I concluded that there was a desire to lend a hand to like-minded folks who might enrich their own lives.
Seven cities in 14 days. Seven hosts. Seven new friends. If couch surfing taught me anything, it’s this: Most people are good and generous. Where will couch surfing take me next? Who knows? But I can’t wait to find out.
1.Which of the following best explains ―intrigued‖ underlined in the second paragraph?
A. Relaxed. B. Disgusted.
C. Interested. D. Embarrassed.
2.What can we know about Ari?
A. He was reserved like most Finns. B. He talked less but he was friendly.
C. He treated the author as a friend. D. He saw off the author at the train station.
3.Why did people offer couch surfing to strangers?
A. To take an adventure with strangers.
B. To exchange houses for a short time.
C. To learn more about others’ family lives.
D. To enrich their own lives by helping others.
4.What can be the suitable title for the text?
A. Travel on Trust and Couches B. A Free Travel in Finland
C. Experiences in Strangers’ Houses D. A Plan for Couch Surfing
People You’ve Never Heard of Who Changed the World
It is a fact that most people live their lives unremarked by history. Whether by design or by accident, there are some pioneers whose achievements changed the course of history but whose names are unknown to us.
James Harrison
James Harrison has saved the lives of over two million people by donating his blood 1,173 times, a Guinness world record. His blood produces a rare antibody (抗体) which cures the otherwise deadly Rhesus disease in unborn children. It has also been used in the development of a medicine anti-D, which will cure the Rhesus disease in children forever.
Lewis Latimer
After helping Alexander Graham Bell obtain his patent for the telephone, Lewis Latimer patented a carbon filament (碳灯丝), which allowed light bulbs to burn for hours before burning out, much more useful than that invented by Thomas Edison. Latimer went on to invent many other useful devices, including a device which cooled and cleaned patients’ rooms in hospitals.
Maurice Hilleman
Not all achievements require bravery and self-sacrifice. Take Maurice Hilleman for example. He found another way to change the world. He developed the mumps vaccine (疫苗) after his daughter got the illness. And he didn’t stop there. In total, he has single-handedly developed over 40 vaccines, including eight commonly given to children. His work has saved millions of lives and prevented serious consequences due to the diseases.
Nils Bohlin
In 1959 Nils Bohlin patented a revolutionary design that has saved millions of lives － the three-point safety belt. After the initial resistance from drivers who hated being told what to do, and even for their own good, the three-point belt has become a standard feature in new cars around the world.
1.Whose patent allowed light bulbs to burn for hours before burning out?
A. Alexander Graham Bell. B. Lewis Latimer.
C. Thomas Edison. D. Nils Bohlin.
2.What’s the similarity between James Harrison and Maurice Hilleman?
A. They both had spirits of bravery and self-sacrifice.
B. Their contributions saved the lives of many children.
C. They devoted themselves to work because of family members.
D. They both set a Guinness world record.
3.What was drivers’ initial attitude to the three-point seat belt?
A. They refused to use it. B. They were satisfied with it.
C. They were surprised at it. D. They got excited about it.
假定你是李华，你在网站上看到英国留学生 Terry 发帖，希望找人辅导他学汉语，并且愿意教英语作为回报。请你给他写封邮件，内容包括：
（1）表示愿意帮助他学汉语；
（2）说明你能胜任辅导的理由；
（3）提出你学习英语的具体需求。
注意：1. 词数100 左右；2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Terry,
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
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Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加: 在此处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出修改的词。
删除: 把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改: 在错的词下划一横线，并在其下面写出修改后的词。
Humour is not only considered as one of the most valuable quality, but necessary for a delightful life. You can clear sense humour when staying with Joe. He is kind but overweight, who brings him much trouble. Once after class one classmate asked about him, “Why are you so fat?” We both stopped to stare at him, wondering how Joe would answer the question. He just said at a calm voice, “Well, because my size must large enough to hold my large heart of love.” Heard his words, we burst into laughter. Not only did Joe took the joke, but he managed to deal with the embarrassed situation.
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
The first English version of the famous martial arts novel, "The Legend of the Condor Heroes”（《射雕英雄传》）1. (schedule) to come out in the UK next year. 2. almost every Chinese person knows, the novel was written by Louis Cha, better known by his pen name, Jin Yong. London-based Maclehouse Press has confirmed that the novel 3. (come) out in 12 volumes(册), with the first set to come out on Feb. 22.
In the publisher's promotional 4. (introduce) of the "The Legend of the Condor Heroes", the series was referred to as a Chinese version of "Game of Thrones”（《权利的游戏》）．The first volume has been translated by Anna Holmwood, an English publishing agent 5. (work) together with many famous Chinese writers, such as Yu Hua, Liu Zhenyun, and Yan Ge. Holmwood 6. (translate) " The Legend of the Condor Heroes" since 2012, and from the second volume onwards she invited GigiChang to help her 7. the translation.
Louis Cha is China's most influential martial arts author with 8. total of 15 novels. Since the 1950s, about 100 million 9. (copy) of his works have been sold around the world. But only three of them have been translated for the English-speaking world. They are "Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain'’，"The Deer and the Cauldron" and "The Book and the Sword". Louis Cha is widely recognized as one of the most 10. (success) authors in China.
