Growing up in rural Malawi, Africa, William Kamkwamba’s life was filled with ancient way and mystery. His family was _________ and they lived in a small house without electricity. At night, they went to bed early because the kerosene（煤油）to light the lamps was _________.
A terrible drought in 2000 left many Malawians _________. Security was having sacks of corn and not having them was _________. He still wanted to learn and when he was _________ from school by his inability to pay the _________, he found the free library. There he read a book called Using Energy, which _________ him in science and gave him an idea that _________changed his future. In the book, William found a picture of a windmill, and a brief _________ of how it could be used to generate __________ from wind. He realized that if he could __________ a windmill, his village people could live a far better ________.
The next year witnessed William’s __________ and determination. He began to collect any material __________ --pieces of wood, broken bicycles--and started to build a windmill. He __________ many challenges and failures. Finally, at the age of 14, William __________ his first one. Seeing electric __________ coming from William’s house, the village people came running. He had found a way to __________ the wind.
William Kamkwamba has made the world realize that even the starving kids in Malawi have much to __________. He struggle with his dreams and __________ hardships in his life, yet he always worked hard, and never gave up.
1.A.poor B.unique C.extended D.supportive
2.A.available B.costly C.adequate D.free
3.A.homeless B.clumsy C.unconscious D.hungry
4.A.dignity B.liberty C.death D.shame
5.A.dismissed B.blocked C.discouraged D.suspended
6.A.insurance B.treatment C.wages D.fees
7.A.involved B.established C.proved D.trained
8.A.deliberately B.consistently C.significantly D.temporarily
9.A.application B.description C.assumption D.decoration
10.A.wave B.energy C.electricity D.heat
11.A.design B.replace C.upgrade D.construct
12.A.life B.survival C.scene D.dream
13.A.consideration B.qualification C.reputation D.ambition
14.A.useful B.wonderful C.valuable D.portable
15.A.refused B.braved C.detected D.indicated
16.A.donated B.restored C.completed D.imported
17.A.current B.light C.shock D.charge
18.A.blow B.measure C.estimate D.capture
19.A.offer B.recommend C.protest D.advocate
20.A.ran into B.figured out C.went through D.brought in
What does it take to be successful?
Many books have been written about the secrets of success. 1. Four key qualities stand out.
1. Vision.
Successful people visualize what they want. They have a picture in their mind of what their business will be like when they achieve their goals. This allows them to make decisions that support their vision. Most people couldn’t see what Bill Gates saw:that computers could have a value for personal uses. 2.
2. Determination.
Successful people are determined. You won’t find one successful person who hasn’t experienced any setbacks. Michael Jordan says,” I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. 3.…I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
3. 4.
Where other people see problems and limitations, successful people see possibilities and opportunities. When the web took off in the mid-1990s, computer programmer Pierre Omidyar saw the potential of the internet to connect people around the world instantly. So he created eBay, a hugely successful online market where individuals compete with big companies.
4. Enthusiasm.
5. Jecan-paul Gaultier had no formal training in design, but loved creating clothing and at a young age began sending his drawings to famous French designers. One of these designers recognized his talent and hired him as an assistant. Later, he set up his own line of clothing. And it quickly became a global success.
A. Creativity,
B. Responsibility.
C. I have lost almost 300 games.
D. Successful people love what they do.
E. However, who on earth have those secrets?
F. Today, most of us can't imagine life without a computer.
G. But what special qualities do successful people have in common?
In a university library, a student is writing an essay on his laptop. But that’s not all. He’s also reading instant messages online, listening to his music with headphones, and checking text messages on his cell phone. In today’s world, people use a wide variety of electronic media to multitask, doing several things at the same time. Neuroscientists are studying the brain to see what happens during multitasking and to see if multitasking affects the quality of what we do.
In a multitasking study conducted by French scientists Eienne Koechlin and Sylvain Charron, people were given one task requiring concentration. Brain images showed that both the left and right prefrontal cortex (前额叶皮质) were active as people worked. However, when the person is given a second task to do at the same time, the left prefrontal cortex look on task, and the right look the other. When doing two tasks, MRI (磁共振成像) images showed that the brain was rapidly switching between the first and the second task. The brain was not working on both tasks at the same time. It is concentrating on one task and then switching to the other.
In order to switch attention from one task to another, the brain must use its working memory. This is the brain’s ability to temporarily hold information while it does something else. When you multitask, the first task is stored in your working memory. Then your brain goes to the second task but when it returns to the first task, it must restart it, using working memory.
Although we think we are getting more done by multitasking, evidence shows that we do not. Researchers have found that people take longer to complete tasks and make more mistakes. When the French researchers expanded their experiment to include three tasks, surprisingly, the brain seemed to completely drop on task and only focus on two tasks. The French team concluded that the brain could not focus on more than two tasks at a time. Therefore, for a task that requires your concentration, it’s better to just focus on that one task until you are done.
1.Why does the author mention a student in paragraph 1?
A.To explain what happens during multitasking.
B.To serve an example of high-tech multitasking.
C.To show how to be skillful at high-tech multitasking.
D.To-present the applications of high-tech media.
2.What does the underlined “it”in paragraph 3 refer to?
A.The brain. B.The MRI image.
C.The first task. D.The second task .
3.What can we learn about multitasking?
A.Electronic media improve its quality.
B.Three tasks can be well managed at a time.
C.It can damage the brain’s working memory.
D.It may result in the loss of speed and accuracy.
4.What can be the best title for the passage?
A.How does the brain multitask?
B.Why do we need to multitask?
C.Multitasking: a hew discovery of neuroscience
D.Multitasking: a way to expand the brain' s function
Pangolins (穿山甲) are the most trafficked (非法交易) mammals in the world and are facing extinction. To draw attention to these scaly (有鳞片的), anteater-like animals, a new wildlife documentary, Eye of the Pangolin, is attempting a unique way to inspire action and conservation. Partnering with the non-profit organization Pangolin. Africa, the documentary was made available on YouTube in May 2019. The intention is to reach communities wherever the Internet is available, especially African communities, who live near the animal’s habitats.
Over two years, the documentary crew traveled to South Africa, Ghana, Central African Republic and Gabon in search of the four unique species of pangolin, which has never been achieved before. Filmmakers Bruce Young and Johan Vermeulen say that they went into the shoot knowing relatively little about pangolins, but grew to respect and appreciate the animals. Getting close to the creatures over two years was a crash course in these secretive creatures. Johan Vermeulen said, "One thing however that might seem unimportant is that they are actually quite fussy eaters. You would think they would eat any type of ant, but they all prefer a specific type ant."
Pangolins are hunted illegally across Africa for their scales, which are used for traditional medicine, and their meat. In April 2019, Singaporean customs officials conducted two separate seizures of 24 tons of pangolin scales, which equals to the death of 69,000 pangolins.
Though the documentary focuses less on the trafficking of pangolins, and more on the animals in their natural habitat, the aim of the documentary is to inspire viewers around the world to call for action to end trafficking and protecting these unique creatures.
Filmed on location in South Africa, Ghana, Central African Republic, and Gabon, this powerful documentary is the story of two men on a mission to get all four species of African pangolin on camera for the very first time.
1.What is the purpose of the documentary?
A.To study the situation of pangolins.
B.To collect fund to protect pangolins.
C.To raise awareness of pangolin protection.
D.To propose setting up pangolin reserves.
2.What is the meaning of the underlined word “fussy” in paragraph 2?
A.Picky. B.Messy.
C.Showy. D.Heavy.
3.What’s the documentary mainly about?
A.The illegal trade of pangolins.
B.The medical function of pangolin's scales.
C.The life of pangolins in their natural habitats.
D.The efforts of Pangolin, Africa to save pangolins.
4.Where is the text most likely from?
A.A brochure. B.A diary.
C.A novel. D.A magazine.
My dad works with green technology. Last summer, he was sent to a small town called Gaviotas in Colombia. He decided to take me with him. At first I wasn’t too keen. What was I going to do in the middle of nowhere, in a country where I couldn’t even speak the language? And anyway, what was so special about Gaviotas?
My dad told me that Gaviotas was an example of how people could live without destroying the environment. This got me a bit more interested, so I did some research. I found out that Gaviotas was founded in 1971 by a group of scientists and artists. They had decided to build a completely new town in the remote, war-worn eastern Colombia where there was nothing.
When we eventually arrived, I was amazed by how green it was and my dad explained that they had replanted millions of trees. There were many different species of birds flying about and flowers everywhere. I was beginning to like it. My dad’s contact in Gaviotas has a son exactly my age Ricardo. He speaks really good English and so for the next week he was my guide to this amazing place. The first thing he pointed out to me was all the fantastic technology that had been invented there. Ricardo told me that they produce 70% of all their own energy and food with very little waste. The trees they planted more than compensate for any greenhouse gases they emit（排放）.
But Gaviotas is not a success just because of its green technology, it’s also a model for how people can live more peacefully together. Every family gets a free home, free meals and free schooling for the children. So there is no poverty. People get on well with each other. It’ s fantastic.
I was really sad to leave Gaviotas, but now I have a new dream: I hope that 20 years from now, we’ll all be living in towns like Gaviotas.
1.What can best describe the author's feeling at the very beginning?
A.Annoyed. B.Uninterested.
C.Guilty. D.Worried.
2.What kind of town did Gaviotas use to be?
A.Bare and war- stricken. B.Green and efficient.
C.Modern but polluted. D.Small but advanced.
3.Where can you find the evidence to show that Gaviotas is a green town?
A.Paragraph 2. B.Paragraph 3.
C.Paragraph 4. D.Paragraph 5.
4.What does paragraph 4 focus on?
A.How scientists and artists founded Gaviotas.
B.How people in Gaviotas avoid waste.
C.Gaviotas is famous for its green technology.
D.Gaviotas is an ideal model of community.
Reasons Every Teen Should Go To Summer Camp
＃1 Improve Interpersonal Skills & Form Close Friendships
In a world where anyone can look up a fact and where machines are replacing even complex workplace tasks, employers need employees who can interact effectively with other people. This is one of the most important skills teens learn at camp. In the non-competitive camp culture, teens build up their “emotional intelligence” (EQ), their face-to-face communication and relationship skills.
＃2 Experience Character Development and Develop Life Skills
Teens develop other important life skills at camp, including independence, responsibility, and decision-making. Teens grow considerably in environment away from their parents where they are forced to live on their own and find their own resources.
＃3 Meet Positive Role Models
Walk into any well-run summer camp and you’ll be surrounded by wholesome, outdoorsy young people. Camp offers teens the opportunity to be among young adults who are positive role models and to form close relationships with them. Most camp counselors are hard-working college students who want to serve others. Aren’t they just the kind of young adults you want your teen to become?
＃4 Discover Their Best Self
Camp experiences offer teens the chance to step back from the tiring task of academic and competitive sports and instead think about what’s important to them. Many campers become less self-absorbed after spending a few weeks at camp, learning to train their focus on others. They discover new hobbies and avenues to pursue in education and their future careers.
1.What can teens acquire in the camp to meet their future career?
A.Computer competence. B.Communication skills.
C.Adventurous spirit. D.Academic quality.
2.Which of the following best describes camp counselors?
A.Committed. B.Ambitious.
C.Humorous. D.Demanding.
3.What change can camp experiences bring to many campers?
A.Preferring non-competitive culture.
B.Becoming positive role models.
C.Focusing more on academics competition.
D.Finding more suitable future career choices.
