The term “graffiti” is an Italian word meaning scratching or scribbling(乱涂). It entered the English language in the 1850s, specifically to describe the casual wall writing that experts found in Pompeii and the Roman tombs. Originally a term used only in ancient scribbling, the word has undergone considerable expansion of meaning in the past 75 years so that it now refers to any written message on a wall. Graffiti are characterized by their casualness; if they were more formal, they would be known as inscriptions(铭文).
The first piece of graffiti was found on one of the walls of the city Pompeii, which was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. It was one of 1,600 pieces of graffiti uncovered in Pompeii during a dig in the 19th century. Not surprisingly, there is much evidence of graffiti writing on the pyramid and temples of ancient Egypt. It is likely that ever since people have had walls and materials to scratch or paint with, they have been engaged in this simplest form of communication.
The writing of graffiti gives people a unique opportunity to achieve some kind of public audience. Thus short poems, declarations of love, pieces of political and revolutionary polemic(论战), and criticisms of institutions and people form a significant part of graffiti.
Apart from its usefulness in terms of self-expression, graffiti is also a valuable source for historians. There is always the possibility that historical events may be recorded by the presence of graffiti. Perhaps the most interesting example of this is the graffiti relating to the gladiatorial(角斗士) contests held in Pompeii. Graffiti can also give us a unique view into the daily life and customs of a people, for its casual expression encourages the recording of details that more formal writing would tend to ignore.
In the late 1970s, graffiti became popular. A thought written on a toilet wall in Wolverhampton can now be read in Chicago or Adelaide. In its own way, this is probably the most fascinating example of McLuhan’s concept of “the global village”. We now have a worldwide toilet wall.
1.According to the first paragraph, graffiti________.
A.is another name for “inscription”
B.got its name from the English language
C.was born in the 1850s
D.Mainly refers to casual writing or pictures on walls
2.What can be inferred from the second paragraph?
A.Graffiti has a long history.
B.Graffiti is an attractive form of art.
C.Graffiti made the ancient city Pompeii famous.
D.Graffiti was ancient Egyptian’s main way of communication.
3.What does the third and fourth paragraphs mainly tell us?
A.Graffiti’s great value.
B.Graffiti’s features.
C.Graffiti’s way of expression.
D.Graffiti’s connection with people’s daily life.
4.The graffiti relating to the gladiatorial contests is mentioned in the passage to prove that ______.
A.graffiti can show people’s customs
B.graffiti can provide valuable historical evidence
C.graffiti was mainly used to record important events
D.graffiti can provide more detailed information than formal writing
5.The underlined sentence in the last paragraph implies that______.
A.the presence of graffiti makes the world closely connected
B.the concept of “the global village” is famous worldwide
C.graffiti has become very popular all over the world
D.people like using toilet walls to share their graffiti
In the kitchen of my mother’s houses there has always been a wooden stand（木架）with a small notepad（记事本）and a hole for a pencil.
I’m looking for paper on which to note down the name of a book I am recommending to my mother. Over forty years since my earliest memories of the kitchen pad and pencil, five houses later, the current paper and pencil look the same as they always did. Surely it can’t be the same pencil? The pad is more modern, but the wooden stand is definitely the original one.
“I’m just amazed you still have the same stand for holding the pad and pencil after all these year.” I say to her, walking bank into the living-room with a sheet of paper and the pencil. “You still use a pencil. Can’t you afford a pen?”
My mother replies a little sharply. “It works perfectly well. I’ve always kept the stand in the kitchen. I never knew when I might want to note down an idea, and I was always in the kitchen in these days.”
Immediately I can picture her, hair wild, blue housecoat covered in flour, a wooden spoon in one hand, the pencil in the other, her mouth moving silently. My mother smiles and says, “One day I was cooking and watching baby Pauline, and I had a brilliant thought, but the stand was empty. One of the children must have taken the paper. So I just picked up the breadboard and wrote it all down on the back. It turned out to be a real breakthrough for solving the mathematical problem I was working on.”
This story—which happened before I was born—reminds me how extraordinary my mother was, and is, as a gifted mathematician. I feel embarrassed that I complain about not having enough child-free time to work. Later, when my mother is in the bathroom, I go into her kitchen and turn over the breadboards. Sure enough, on the back of the smallest one, are some penciled marks I recognize as mathematics. Those symbols have traveled unaffected through fifty years, rooted in the soil of a cheap wooden breadboard, invisible（看不到的）exhibits at every meal.
1.Why has the author’s mother always kept the notepad and pencil in the kitchen?
A.To leave messages. B.To list her everyday tasks.
C.To note down maths problems. D.To write down a flash of inspiration.
2.What is the author’s original opinion about the wooden stand?
A.It has great value for the family.
B.It needs to be replaced by a better one.
C.It brings her back to her lonely childhood.D .It should be passed on to the next generation.
3.The author feels embarrassed for_______.
A.blaming her mother wrongly.
B.giving her mother a lot of trouble.
C.not making good use of time as her mother did.
D.not making any breakthrough in her field.
4.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A .The mother is successful in her career.
A.The family members like traveling.
B.The author had little time to play when young.
C.The marks on the breadboard have disappeared.
5.In thauthor’s mind ,her mother is_________.
A.strange in behavior. B.keen on her research.
C.fond of collecting old things. D.careless about her appearance.
Castel dell’ Ovo is one of Naples’ most famous monuments. It offers sweeping views over the city and Mount Vesuvius in the distance.
The Basics
The site on which Castel dell’ Ovo now stands has a long history, beginning as a settlement for Greek colonists(殖民地定居者). The current castle was built in the 15th century, and today, the 19th-century fishing village of Borgo Marinari, known for its excellent seafood restaurants and marina(游艇停靠区), sits at the base of the castle.
The Egg Castle
The origin of the castle’s name comes from a story about the Roman poet Virgil, who is said to have placed a magical egg in the foundations beneath where the castle now stands. As long as the egg stays well, Castel dell’ Ovo will remain standing.
Things to Know Before you Go
·Castel dell’ Ovo is a must-see for history and architecture enthusiasts.
·Admission to the castle and the museum is free.
·The inner halls of the castle are open to the public only during special events and exhibitions; the ramparts (城墙) and towers are always open.
·There is a lift from the ground floor to the ramparts, making the castle accessible to wheelchairs.
How to Get There
Castel dell’ Ovo is located in the Bay of Naples just off the coastal road. Bus 151 from the train station and 140 from the port stop at Castel dell’ Ovo.
When to Get there
The castle is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 am to 7 pm, and Sundays and holidays from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. The Prehistoric Museum is open only on weekends from 10 am to 1 pm. As Naples is one of Italy’s most visited cities, its sights can be very crowded in the high-season summer months. Visit in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the crowds and to take advantage of the best light for taking photos from the castle’s towers.
Book Online or Call +1(702)648-5873
1.Whose settlement did the site of Castel dell’ Ovo belong to ?
A.British colonists’.
B.French colonists’.
C.Greek colonists’.
D.German colonists’.
2.Which of the following correctly describes Castel dell’ Ovo?
A.It lies next to Mount Vesuvius.
B.It’s also named the Egg castle.
C.It was originally built in the 19th century.
D.It’s well-known for its seafood and marina.
3.Who are most probably interested in visiting Castel dell’ Ovo?
A.History lovers.
B.Sports lovers.
C.Literature lovers.
D.Astronomy lovers.
4.What should you know before you tour Castel dell’ Ovo?
A.The tickets have to be booked in advance.
B.Those with leg problems can not tour the ramparts.
C.It’s easily accessible by bus from the train station.
D.The towers can be visited only during special events.
5.When should you go to the Prehistoric Museum?
A.On Sundays from 8:30 to 13:30.
B.On holidays from9:00 to 13:30.
C.On weekdays from 8:30 to 19:00.
D.On weekends from 10:00 to 13:00.
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A, B, C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
My wife and I moved into our home two years ago. We had a yard with a lot of_______Very often when we have flowers, Denise or I would plant some between the rocks, just to add some_______to the area.
Last summer, I found a tiny little_______in the yard that I could not immediately identify. I knew I didn’t plant it and Denise said she didn’t either. We decided to let it_______growing until we could find out what it was.
Weeks passed and as I made my way back to the_______plant, it appeared to be a sunflower. I decided to_______the weeds around it. As I pulled rocks from the area to get to the weeds, I noticed something_______The sunflower had not_______where I saw it begin. It actually had begun under a big_______and grown under and around it to reach the________.
That’s when I________that if a tiny little sunflower didn’t let a big rock stand in its________of developing, we too have the ability of doing the same thing. If we________ourselves like that little sunflower, we can reach where we________to go and get what we need for growth.
We need to believe in ourselves knowing we have the________to achieve our goals. Like the________, it knew it had the ability to get over the rocks because it had________in itself that it would succeed. Stand tall like the sunflower and be________of who and what we are, then the environment will begin to________us. We will find a way to go under or________any “rocks” in order to reach our goals.
1.A.flowers B.rocks C.insects D.vegetables
2.A.shape B.water C.fertilizer D.colour
3.A.weed B.seed C.plant D.rock
4.A.continue B.stop C.improve D.escape
5.A.weak B.strange C.lonely D.pretty
6.A.collect B.tend C.watch D.remove
7.A.wonderful B.terrible C.unusual D.valuable
8.A.started B.passed C.left D.died
9.A.tree B.rock C.table D.wall
10.A.air B.sun C.top D.house
11.A.hoped B.doubted C.regretted D.realized
12.A.way B.place C.course D.process
13.A.fill in B.put in C.believe in D.worry about
14.A.forget B.aim C.hate D.wait
15.A.idea B.wish C.plan D.ability
16.A.sunflower B.yard C.home D.summer
17.A.energy B.virtue C.faith D.courage
18.A.aware B.proud C.afraid D.tired
19.A.forgive B.affect C.upset D.support
20.A.around B.into C.through D.From
Not until then________that nobody was happier than I was.
A.I had realized B.had I realized C.did I realize D.I realized
Peter searched all the places where he________have left her iPad but it was all in vain.
A.might B.would C.must D.should
