The Arizona desert is really dry. Anyone stuck in it without water would die from dehydration（脱水）within three days. Unless, that is, they had one of Omar Yaghi’s next-generation water harvesters. Although daytime humidity（湿度）is only about 10 per cent, this rises to 40 per cent at night, which means there’s enough water in the atmosphere to support life — if it can be changed into liquid form.
That’s exactly what Yaghi’s device does. It’s a box about the size of a small microwave oven designed to suck the humidity from the air at night and turn it into drinking water the next day using only the heat of the sun as its power source. What makes it work is a powder called a metal-organic framework (MOF), which at normal temperatures attracts water molecules (分子) onto its surface. Warm it up and the water is released, each harvest producing one-third of a cup of pure drinking water. “With further improvements, a device, the size of a washing machine, could produce enough water for the basic needs of a household,” says Yaghi, a chemist at the University of California.
One-third of the world’s population lacks safe drinking water; for them such a device could be a lifesaver. But that’s not the limit of the MOF technology.
Just as MOFs can help solve the problem of water shortage, they offer a way of reducing a lot of greenhouse gases. In April this year, the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere hit an 800,000-year high, contributing to climate change. Recent research suggests ways that MOFs might be able to help mitigate（缓解）this danger to the Earth’s ecosystem.
An international team led by chemists from the University of Manchester, UK, reported in 2018 that they had developed an aluminum (Al)-based MOF that can selectively and repeatedly remove another gaseous pollutant, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), from the surrounding atmosphere. This discovery could lead to air-related technologies that seize and change large quantities of other gases, such as carbon dioxide, to reduce air pollution.
In 2017, a MOF startup pioneer NuMat Technologies employed MOFs to safely store and deliver dangerous gases. For a given pressure, a tank containing a MOF holds more gas than one without. Or, to put it another way, if a gas tank has a MOF in it, then it does not need to be as highly pressurized in order to hold the same amount of gas, making it safer and less likely to explode, and possible less expensive.
Now, about two dozen companies in the past five years are known to be pursuing MOFs, from small startups to larger chemical and automobile companies. And QYResearch forecasts that the MOF market will grow from $70 million in 2017 to $750 million in 2025. “The potential here is just endless,” says Yaghi. “As cheaper materials come into focus, there will continue to be even more opportunities for commercialization.”
1.MOF changes the sucked humidity into water by ________.
A. lowering the temperature
B. collecting carbon dioxide
C. recycling dangerous gases
D. absorbing the heat of the sun
2.Aluminum-based MOF can be used to _______.
A. reduce greenhouse gases
B. produce household water
C. deliver dangerous gases
D. release water molecules
3.It can be learned that under the same pressure, a tank with a MOF will _______.
A. cost more money B. cause more explosions
C. hold more gases D. afford more crashes
4.The main purpose of this passage is to ______.
A. explain how to use MOF
B. describe the future of MOF
C. persuade people to buy MOF
D. introduce the functions of MOF
For my grandpa Tatay's 90th birthday, our family threw him a surprise — we decorated the backyard with Philippines style and asked guests to wear traditional Filipino costume.
While I was jazzed to put on a sarong-like skirt and wrap, my white husband Darren, felt nervous in his barong, a traditional shirt for Filipino man. “I feel like this is cultural appropriation（文化挪用）,” he said, “I honestly feel uncomfortable.”
I could understand Darren. Just over this past year, a number of well-known people have gotten into hot water for wearing the dress of other cultures. They had been blamed by the media and the public. But I felt wearing a barong to Tatay’s birthday party was not appropriation. I reassured him that it was just a way to express support and a sense of unity with my Filipino family. And we were wearing these outfits as an act of kindness to Tatay. He is losing his memory, but barong is something that remains in his mind.
Still, I wasn't sure whether Darren was appropriating. I turned to an expert for advice.
Erich Matthes, a professor of philosophy, told me that there's no clear definition of cultural appropriation, “It's a really messy thing.”
“It was OK that Darren wore a barong to your family party, for he's been invited to do so. And it's an act of cultural union,” he says. “But it's not OK if you're wearing the clothing of another culture as part of a cultural exploration or education or to intentionally offend or make fun of the group. If you want to wear a qipao to a party hosted by Chinese friends, but you are not a member of this group, you should ask the most relevant representatives of the culture. Last, be aware that wearing a culture's dress comes with great responsibility.”
What the expert suggested hit a big point home for me: What we choose to wear has real power.
Seeing Darren in that barong, I knew that he was making an effort to understand and connect with my family. And that, for me, was a beautiful thing.
1.The author asked her husband to wear a barong mainly because it ________.
A. makes him look great
B. helps show family unity
C. keeps a family tradition
D. gives her family a surprise
2.The underlined phrase “have gotten into hot water” in Paragraph 3 probably means “________”.
A. have gotten into trouble
B. have lost their tempers
C. have bathed in hot water
D. have become more popular
3.According to the article, wearing a culture’s dress probably indicates _____.
A. accepting cultural education
B. expressing cultural exploration
C. supporting cultural appropriation
D. shouldering cultural responsibility
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
A. How to Prepare a Birthday Party?
B. What to Dress in Different Cultures?
C. Wear Clothing of Another Culture?
D. Wear Traditional Shirts on Birthday?
Disney Lover’s Gift Guide
Want to win the holidays? These unbelievable Disney experiences will become magical gifts sure to impress every Disney fan in your life.
Meet Mickey and Minnie
Not only are Disney ocean trips filled with on-board fun and excellent ports, making them a perfect present, but as soon as you book a Disney ocean trip as a gift, you can schedule a special holiday phone call from Mickey and Minnie to surprise your gift receiver with the news about their special vacation present. Add even more holiday spirit with seasonally themed Very Merry time Ocean Trips and special New Year’s sailings, too.
Long Weekend City Escape
Want to let them relax closer to home? Surprise them with a long weekend getaway to Boston, New York City, or San Francisco with Adventures by Disney. These urban adventures are packed with VIP experiences, awesome accommodations, and best dining. Book before Thanksgiving and they’ll throw in an extra night for free, too.
Holiday Dinner in Paradise
Picture this: A classic Christmas dinner on a beach in Hawaii. Sounds pretty good. Now add live music, local entertainment, and Mickey, Moana and friends in their finest beachwear. You can have the greatest holiday meal your gift receivers will ever eat. It isn’t just about holiday meals, of course. Your gift also comes with soft sand beaches, pools with water slides and lazy rivers, cultural activities, and free kids’ clubs, too.
Safari Style
If you’re looking for the perfect gift for animal lovers, the Wild Africa Trek at Animal Kingdom will make them scream with excitement! A private guided tour of the Safi River Valley provides VIP access to the wild animals as guests ride or walk on a rope bridge on their adventure. They’ll also be treated to safari snacks, a surprise gift, and free photos!
1.According to the passage, a visitor can get a free night’s stay in ______.
A. Meet Mickey and Minnie
B. Long Weekend City Escape
C. Holiday Dinner in Paradise
D. Safari Style
2.Besides great dinner, a visitor can enjoy ______ on Hawaii beach.
A. photos taken for free B. traditional local snacks
C. phone calls from Mickey D. different cultural activities
3.This passage is written to _______.
A. Disney fans B. gift givers
C. foreign visitors D. animal lovers
One day a woman was walking down the street when she saw a beggar sitting on the corner. As he sat there, passers-by walked by him giving him dirty looks. But when she saw him, the woman was willing to help him.
She stopped and looked down, asking him whether he was all right. The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly used to the finer things of life. She looked like that she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before. “Leave me alone,” he said angrily.
To his surprise, the woman continued standing and smiled. “Are you hungry?” she asked.
"No," he answered. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away."
The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm. "What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone." However, the woman insisted on getting him something to eat in the restaurant across the street. She even asked a passer-by to help grab his other arm and lift him up. Finally, Jack was taken into the restaurant. The woman explained to the manager that she would buy him something to eat.
"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business."
Old Jack smiled. "See, lady. I told you so. Can I leave now?"
The woman turned to the manager and smiled. "Sir, are you familiar with E&A, the banking firm down the street?"
"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."
"And do you make a good profit from that?"
"It’s none of your business."
"I am Penelope Eddy, CEO of the company."
1.When the beggar first saw the woman, he thought _______.
A. she would laugh at him
B. she would have meals with him
C. she might be fond of him
D. she wanted to give him a hand
2.The beggar mentioned his dining with the president to _______.
A. show his pride
B. prove he was full
C. refuse the woman
D. pretend to be rich
3.What did the manager probably feel after hearing what the woman said?
A. Satisfied. B. Embarrassed.
C. Excited. D. Disappointed.
4.From the article we can know the woman was _______.
A. kind and honest
B. helpful and generous
C. funny and warm-hearted
D. modest and hard-working
It was a cold day, and I had no desire to drive up the winding mountain road to my daughter Carolyn’s house. But she had insisted that I come to see something at the ________ of the mountain.
So here I was ________ to make the two-hour journey through ________. By the time I saw how thick it was near the top, I’d gone too far to turn back.
“I’ll stay for lunch, but I’m heading back down as soon as the fog lifts,” I ________ when I arrived.
“But I need you to drive me to the garage to pick up my car,” Carolyn said. “Could we at least do that?”
“How ________?” I asked.
“About three minutes,” she said. “I’ll drive—I’m used to it.”
After ten minutes on the mountain road, I looked at her ________. “I thought you said three minutes.”
She smiled. “This is a different route.”
Turning down a narrow track, we parked the car and ________ out. We walked along a path that was thick with old pine needles. Huge black-green pines ________over us. Gradually, the peace and silence of the place began to ________ my mind.
When we stopped, I took a deep breath in _______.
From the top of the mountain were rivers of flowers in bloom. A mix of _____from white to lemon to red — unfolded like a carpet before us. At the center was a waterfall of purple flowers and here and there were coral-colored ones. And western bluebirds flew ________ the heads of the flowers happily.
A series of ________ came to my mind. Who created such beauty? How? When?
As we approached home, we saw a sign that read: “I ________ Answers to Your Questions.”
The first answer was: “One Woman—Two Hands, Two Feet, and Very Little Brain.” The second was: “One at a Time.” The third: “________ in 1958.”
As we drove home, I was so ________ by what we had seen, I could hardly speak. “She changed the world,” I ________ said, “one flower at a time. She took her first step almost 60 years ago, probably just the beginning of an idea, but she kept at it.”
“Imagine,” I said, “if I’d had a(n) ________ like her and worked at it, just a little bit every day, what might I have ________?”
Carolyn looked at me, smiling. “Start tomorrow,” she said. “ ________ yet, start today.”
1.A. back B. bottom C. top D. corner
2.A. unwilling B. unable C. unlucky D. unfit
3.A. rain B. snow C. storm D. fog
4.A. announced B. criticized C. suggested D. complained
5.A. much B. many C. fast D. far
6.A. excitedly B. calmly C. nervously D. anxiously
7.A. checked B. looked C. got D. dropped
8.A. floated B. streamed C. towered D. skipped
9.A. empty B. fill C. disturb D. control
10.A. embarrassment B. amazement C. disappointment D. amusement
11.A. materials B. patterns C. colors D. shapes
12.A. over B. through C. within D. along
13.A. predictions B. decisions C. imaginations D. questions
14.A. Understand B. Know C. Doubt D. Forget
15.A. Started B. Continued C. Finished D. Quitted
16.A. troubled B. moved C. encouraged D. confused
17.A. frankly B. seriously C. frequently D. finally
18.A. promise B. story C. idea D. challenge
19.A. gained B. required C. regretted D. remembered
20.A. more B. better C. harder D. later
More Chinese senior citizens 1. (become) active users of WeChat in recent years, according to a recent study. The study aims to learn about the digital life of people above the age of 55. The report showed that elderly users spend around 1.37 hours 2.WeChat every day and have 104 WeChat friends on average. The report said 50.3 percent of elderly users learned how to use WeChat from their children or grandchildren, 3. (suggest) that family members should be more 4. (patience) when they introduce new technology to elderly people.
