For centuries, people wondered how big the Earth was. Unfortunately, although the Earth was flat, no one was able to figure out its size. Gradually, however, people began to realize that the Earth was really round.
Then, in the third century BC(2,300 years ago), a Greek man named Eratosthenes had an idea. Eratosthenes was sure that the Earth was a sphere. He used the sun and geometry(几何学) to figure out the size of the Earth. He calculated that the circumference(圆周) of the Earth was 28,600 miles(46,000 kilometers). The true size of the Earth is 25,000 miles(40,000 kilometers).
Eratosthenes’ measurement was wrong, but it was very close to the truth.
For many centuries after Eratoshenes lived, people made maps of the Earth. However, they did not know very much about the world outside of Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Mapmakers could not draw accurate maps of the Earth until people began traveling around the world in the fifteenth century, mapping small areas each time. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, people began making correct maps of countries, but the first accurate maps of the world were not made until the 1890s.
Maps today are reliable(可依靠的), inexpensive, and easy to understand. People depend on maps every day. What would our lives be like without them?
1.A sphere is a ______.
A. large shape B. planet
C. ball shape D. member of the sun family
2.What’s a synonym(同义词) for “figure out”?
A. geometry B. calculate
C. make out D. understand
3.The first correct maps of the world were made_____________.
A. in the 15gth century B. in the 18th century
C. in the 19th century D. in the 20th century
4.When did map makers begin to draw correct maps of the Earth?
A. When people began to travel around the world
B. When people knew the size of the Earth
C. When people knew the shape of the Earth
D. Before people traveled around the world
A strange object was found in a small city called Carlos Spegazzini, just a short drive from the capital city of Buenos Aires.
When farmer Jose first found an odd scene in his farmland, he began to dig at the object. However, he quickly found himself running to tell his wife. Jose needed more support if he was going to investigate this strange thing.
Even the dog was hesitant to investigate. Unfamiliar with the object, man’s best friend was not about to jump at it with little concern. Therefore, they chose to call in somebody who has a better idea of what to do.
When the police first showed up, they were just as stumped as Jose. They knew this object was something out of the ordinary. It might even be something extraordinary, so more questions appeared.
It quickly became apparent, it was time to call in the big guys. That’s right; when you find something that appears to be out-of-this-world, it’s time to call in those who study the mysteries of the old world.
Authorities called in archaeologists who jumped at the chance to study the object. They quickly determined one thing was for certain: the ancient big one that left this behind was absolutely massive! The group was unable to move the shell, as it weighed nearly two tons!
Clearly, this massive beast was not the only of its kind existing in the modem-day world. Similar fossils had been found in the surrounding areas and had even made their way to museums. But what was the ancient beast?
1.What is the right order of the events?
a. Jose found a strange object and began to dig
b. Jose and his wife called the police
c. Jose ran to tell his wife
d. Archaeologists came to study the object and found similar fossils.
e. They called in some experts.
A. abode B. acbed
C. acbde D. abced
2.What does the underlined word “stumped” in Paragraph 4 refer to?
A. Both the police and Jose were unfamiliar with the object and did not know what to do.
B. The police knew this object was something out-of-this-world as Jose did.
C. The police and Jose all liked to collect stamps.
D. The police were just as stupid as Jose.
3.According to the passage, when we find something that appears to be out-of-this-world, we should ________.
A. run to our family and friends.
B. call the police
C. call in those who study the mysteries of the world.
D. ignore and leave it behind.
4.What do you think the ancient beast is mostly likely to be?
A. A dinosaur. B. An insect
C. A tree. D. A dog.
Netgear Wi-Fi Range Extender
Est. Price: $30 | Buy it on Amazon
Why We Love It: This is a great device to increase your wi-fi signal and get the fastest streaming power. It’s also useful to set up separate wi-fi networks for guests.
External Phone Charger
Est. Price: $30 | Buy it on B&H Photo
Why We Love It: Charge your phone anywhere while also extending its battery life. This particular model can also be used with the iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and iPad. It has a standard USB drive so users can charge e-readers as well.
Pop Sockets Smartphone Stand
Est. Price: $10 | Buy it on Amazon
Why We Love It: It may look silly, but this gripper is actually really useful for taking pictures or watching videos. It also folds down flat when not in use for a more separate look.
Fitbit
Est. Price: $401 Buy it on Bed Bath & Beyond
Why We Love It: Track steps and monitor sleep cycles to improve your health. It also records workouts, and receives call, text, or calendar notifications.
1.Which one can be used to connect your smartphone with the network?
A. Pop Sockets Smartphone Stand B. External Phone Charger
C. Netgear Wi-Fi Range Extender D. Fitbit
2.According to the passage, which statement is NOT true?
A. Netgear Wi-Fi Range Extender can build different wi-fi networks for each person-
B. External Phone Charger can be used anywhere in iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, iPad.
C. Pop Sockets Smartphone Stand is beautiful and useful for photography.
D. Fitbit can keep company with us when doing exercise.
3.What do they have in common with each other?
A. Their prices are all under $40.
B. They all can be bought online.
C. They all help to make smartphones more available.
D. They are not loved by people because of their usage.
2018年10月28日，重庆万州一辆公交车因车上乘客和司机发生肢体冲突，造成公交车失控与一辆小轿车相撞后坠入江中，造成重大人员伤亡。该事件很快成为全社会关注的焦点。Youth 杂志Safety专栏正在开展征文活动:希望青少年学生不仅要遵纪守法，维护公共安全，也要特别注意自身安全(生命安全，财产安全，网络信息安全等)，假设你叫李华，对此话题很感兴趣，你将以信件的方式从某个方面或者多个方面谈谈安全问题，以提醒更多年轻人重视。
注意:1.词数100左右， 开头与结尾已经给出，不计入总词数；
2.可适当增加细节， 以使行文连贯；
3.可能用到的词汇:网络network/cyber， 账户account，财产property，密码password
Dear Editor,
As teenagers, we all should obey laws and care about public safety and I also hope that
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Best wishes.
Yours，
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，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加:在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除:把多余的词用斜线(＼)划掉。
修改:在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意:1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。
It is true that men are increasing likely to take on the role of househusband, while more women than ever is the breadwinners in their families. There could have several reasons for this. In recent years, parents have had various changes in our society. Equal rights movements have made a great progress. It has become socially acceptable for men stay at home and look after his children. At the same time, the rising cost of living has meant that both marriage partner usually need to work or save money before starting a family. Therefore, when couples have children, they may decide who works and who stays at home, depend on the personal preference of each partner, or based on what partner earns more money.
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。
As we all know, Columbus was a great explorer. He left Spain in September 1492,1. (look) for gold. Native Americans greeted him, offering gifts of corn. Columbus found little gold on that trip, but he collected many 2. (plant), including corn, to bring back to Spain.
Columbus didn’t know it, but the corn was much 3. (valuable) than gold. Farmers from Europe to Asia accepted it 4. (immediate). They grew it on cold mountainsides and in rainforests. So it 5. (feed) millions of people all over the world today.
On his second trip, Columbus brought back a few chocolate beans to make chocolate. Europeans and Asians loved this new drink, and soon they were paying a great deal of money for the beans. Chocolate beans became so valuable in Central America 6. they 7. (use)as cash for 200 years.
Tomatoes and potatoes took some time to become popular. Eventually, 8., they became the basis of a lot of popular foods. 9. is hard to imagine life without fried potatoes or chocolate. Thanks10. native American culture, many people are able to enjoy lots of tasty food.
