I was driving on the freeway when I noticed heavy clouds roll in. A storm was coming. Glancing at the boxes of _______in the back seat, 1 smiled to myself. The rain began beating _______against my car window, making driving impossible. I _______onto the shoulder of the road and stopped. The rain _______me of Hurricane (飓风) Katrina.
Hurricane Katrina struck when I was nine years old. I had _______it would strike us in Houston. It missed us, _______other cities were not so lucky. I remembered watching the _______. A reporter stood inside the Houston Astrodome (体育馆), _______people. Many wore dirty and _______ clothes, and some had no shoes on their feet. I noticed a little boy behind the reporter ________an old teddy bear. Watching him, I knew I had to do ________.
The next day, my friends ________me at our volunteer club and we came up with a plan. We wanted to ________toys and give them to the kids at the Astrodome, which would bring some ________into the lives of these families. We ________the word to our schools and other organizations. Three days later, the donation bins were overflowing with new toys! When we ________the Astrodome with our gifts, children ________toward us from all directions, smiles lighting up their faces.
BZZZZ. My cell phone brought me back to the present. To my joy, the storm had ________. “Hector. We have more ________of yesterday’s tornado.” “Well, I’ve brought clothes I’d like to donate to them. The ________ delayed me, but I’ll be there soon!” I eased my car into the suddenly busy traffic. It felt good to know that I was making a difference again.
1.A.toys B.clothes C.gifts D.shoes
2.A.gently B.lazily C.merrily D.heavily
3.A.looked out B.set out C.pulled off D.got off
4.A.warned B.informed C.reminded D.convinced
5.A.worried B.prayed C.confirmed D.doubted
6.A.and B.so C.or D.but
7.A.news B.show C.game D.performance
8.A.observing B.entertaining C.challenging D.interviewing
9.A.cheap B.worn C.athletic D.funny
10.A.hugging B.kicking C.selling D.throwing
11.A.nothing B.everything C.anything D.something
12.A.greeted B.joined C.bothered D.annoyed
13.A.invent B.select C.collect D.produce
14.A.freedom B.happiness C.motivation D.belief
15.A.recited B.exposed C.whispered D.spread
16.A.left B.decorated C.entered D.measured
17.A.flew B.stole C.marched D.wandered
18.A.struck B.passed C.strengthened D.approached
19.A.reports B.clues C.victims D.photos
20.A.storm B.traffic C.kid D.call
Are you sometimes stressed? Singing is a simple and effective way to reduce stress. It is beneficial mainly in the following three aspects.
Physical Benefits
1. This is especially recommended for the elders and those who have some form of disability in their voice. However, it is important to find a capable instructor to employ good singing techniques so as not to further damage vocal cords (声带) or lungs.
Singing also helps to improve your posture (姿势). Most people think that singing begins and ends with their mouth. 2. Singing practice will get you used to the proper body position of standing and help you form the good habit of standing straight.
Emotional Benefits
Singing helps in reducing your depression and lowering your stress level. When you sing, your body releases chemicals that make you feel happy, easing the tension and helping you to relax. 3.
Social Benefits
The social benefits of singing are huge. 4. So people who suffer from stage fright are advised to sing in front of family and friends before a live performance.
Singing is also very good for improving your communication skills. It is said that singing to babies helps to prepare their brains for language and may lessen the risk of language problems later in life. 5. The time spent in group singing, whether in a choir or at karaoke, creates a deep and lasting bond of friendship.
A. Try to regain your memory by singing.
B. First, it can help build up your confidence greatly.
C. When you sing, you can give your lungs a workout.
D Singing helps you to strengthen your immune system.
E. For adults, singing also enlarges your circle of friends.
F. In fact, the position of each body part affects your voice.
G. So, start to sing your favorite song next time you are feeling upset.
Regardless of how far we’d like to believe gender（性别）equality in the workplace has come, there’s still a yawning gap between male and female leaders in the professional world. A 2018 statistic shows that women nowadays hold just 5.8 percent of CEOs positions at S&P 500 companies, according to Catalyst.
While it’s not a huge shock that women are somewhat underrepresented in leadership positions, what is surprising though, is the fact that females may actually be better suited to lead in almost every area, at least according to new findings from the BI Norwegian Business School.
In their research, Professor Oyvind L. Martinsen and Professor Lars Glas surveyed (调查) 2,900 managers with a special focus on personality types. The results were clear: Women scored higher than men in four of the five major leadership-centric categories.
While some people believe that men inherently make better leaders — probably because they picture a leader with a commanding voice, which is more typical of men than women — this piece of research suggests that women are better at methodical management and goal-setting, openness, sociability and supportiveness, as well as ability to communicate clearly.
There was one area in which men scored higher than women, though, and that was on emotional stability and ability to face job-related pressure and stress. The results suggest that women are more sensitive to the effects of high-pressure or highly emotional situations.
Obviously, it’s important to consider individual (个人的) differences. Anyone, regardless of gender, may be an inspiring leader and a competent boss. But next time you’re hiring for a management position, you just might want to give the resumes (简历) from female candidates a harder look.
1.What makes us shocked much at leadership positions?
A.Women are worse than men.
B.Men take almost all high positions.
C.There is a huge gap between genders.
D.Women might behave better in nearly every field.
2.Which of the following can best replace the underlined word “inherently” in Paragraph 4?
A.properly B.potentially
C.naturally D.normally
3.Which of the following may be the best title of this text?
A.How We Can Figure Out The Boss
B.Why Women Are Better Than Men
C.Why Women Make The Best Bosses
D.How We Can Tell Gender Difference
4.Who might have special interest in this article?
A.Job hunters.
B.Employers.
C.Employees.
D.Male bosses.
In the near future, IoT (Internet of Things) will drive huge innovation (革新) in the way our food is grown. Plants will have a “voice”, not a human voice, but a voice based on data that can tell people, computers, and machines when, for example, they are thirsty, or need more sun, medicine, etc.
Take vertical (垂直的) farms, for example. Farming is moving indoors where the growth of plants can be monitored and controlled. The facilities are built vertically, so growing areas can be put in piles. This greatly reduces the amount of land needed for farming.
From an IoT point of view, vertical farms are connected in two ways. First, small sensors (传感器) in the soil or connected to plants tell a control system exactly how much light, water, and nutrients are needed to grow the healthiest crops. Sensors will also tell vertical farmers when crops are nearing their peak for harvesting at just the right time to make sure it’s still fresh when it reaches its final destination.
Second, vertical farms will be connected to other networks and information systems, including databases that track local demand. For example, local restaurants may input when they need fresh food supplies. And vertical farmers could get that information so they know which crops to grow in what quantities. This type of IoT system would have been unimaginable a generation ago.
Today, vertical farms are being experimented. Yet, the numbers point to a bright future for the industry, especially as the world’s population continues to grow. For example, Green Sense Farms in Chicago is able to harvest crops 26 times a year using 85 percent less energy, one-tenth the water, and no pesticides. A side benefit of lower energy use is lower CO2 output of two tons per month, with the added benefit of creating 46 pounds of oxygen every day.
1.What is the main idea of the text?
A.Voice machines help plants speak up.
B.Farmers are all turning to vertical farming.
C.IoT has brought great innovation to our future life.
D.Vertical farms driven by IoT are a future for agriculture.
2.How do sensors attached to plants work?
A.By recording farmers harvesting crops.
B.By monitoring farmers working their fields.
C.By analyzing information to preserve crops.
D.By passing information on to a control system.
3.According to Paragraph 4, the IoT system can help ________.
A.expand the output of crops B.match supply with demand
C.determine the needs of farmers D.move restaurants onto farms
4.What is the author’s attitude towards the future of vertical farming?
A.Negative. B.Indifferent. C.Optimistic. D.Doubtful.
I’ve come back to check on a baby. Just after dusk I’m in a car down a muddy road in the rain, past rows of shackled (戴镣的) elephants, their trunks swinging. I was here five hours before, when the sun was high and hot and tourists were on elephants’ backs.
Walking now, I can hardly see the path with my phone’s flashlight. When the wooden fence post stops me short, I point my light down and follow a current of rainwater across the floor until it washes up against three large, gray feet. A fourth foot twisted above the surface, tied tightly by a short chain and choked by ring of metal spikes (尖刺). When the elephant gets tired and puts her foot down, the spikes press deeper into her ankle.
Meena is four years and two months old, still a child as elephants go. Khammon Kongkhaw, her caretaker, told me earlier that Meena wears the spiked chain because she tends to kick. Kongkhaw has been responsible for Meena here at Maetaman Elephant Adventure, near Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand, since she was 11 months old. He said he keeps her on the spiked chain only during the day and takes it off at night. But it’ s night now.
I ask Jin Laoshen, the Maetaman worker, why her chain is still on. He says he doesn’t know.
Maetaman is one of many animal attractions in and around tourist-crowded Chiang Mai. Meena’s life is set to follow the same track as many of the roughly 3,800 captive (被捕获的) elephants in Thailand. When Meena is too old or sick to give rides—maybe at 55, maybe at 75, she’ll die. If she's lucky, she’ll get a few years of retirement. She'll spend most of her life on a chain.
1.Why does the author decide to come back?
A.To check the baby elephant Meena.
B.To feed those shackled elephants.
C.To release those shackled elephants.
D.To help an injured worker in Maetaman.
2.What can we conclude from the second paragraph?
A.The author is scared walking in the path.
B.Meena is treated badly and very painful
C.Meena only has three healthy legs.
D.One of Meena’s leg is badly broken.
3.What’s the author’s attitude towards those elephants?
A.Indifferent.
B.Critical.
C.Sympathetic.
D.Negative.
4.We can infer that the purpose of the author’s writing is______________.
A.to describe those elephants to attract tourists around the world
B.to draw people’s attention to caring about the fate of those elephants
C.to tell readers the story of a baby elephant in Chiang Mai, Thailand
D.to tell the reason why the number of elephants is decreasing
Philadelphia offers a ton of attractions that are suitable for people of every age and here are some family-friendly attractions.
Spruce Street Harbor Park
Spruce Street Harbor Park, one of the best urban beaches in America, is an outdoor heaven on the Delaware River waterfront. Visitors can relax in a hammock, play on the playgrounds, and play games like table tennis and giant chess. Don’t miss out on the park at night, when colorful LED lights hanging from treetops make the entire area bright.
Blue Cross River Rink
Offering ice skating in the winter and roller skating in the summer, Blue Cross River Rink creates a fun, outdoor experience for the whole family. Visitors can play on the nine-hole mini-golf course during the summer, and enjoy eats and drinks from the on-site(现场的)bar and restaurant all year round.
Sesame Place
Big Bird, Elmo and the other stars of Sesame Street come out and play at Sesame Place, the only theme park in the nation starring the popular TV show’s most lovable characters. A water park, interactive activities, parades, fireworks and shows add to the fun.
Once Upon a Nation Storytelling Benches
On summer days, uniformed and professional storytellers at 13 storytelling benches throughout Philadelphia’s Historic District entertain visitors with true, free, three-to-five minute tales about the colonial(殖民的)era as part of Once Upon a Nation. Children can pick up a Story Flag at any storytelling bench, and then collect a star from every storyteller on their journeys. Flags with all the stars can get free rides on the Parx Liberty Carousel at Franklin Square.
1.Who would most probably go to Spruce Street Harbor Park?
A.People who are fond of colorful lights.
B.People who have a preference for skating.
C.People who want to have a relaxing day.
D.People who are interested in water activities.
2.Which place would fans of Big Bird be interested in?
A.Sesame Place.
B.Blue Cross RiverRink.
C.The Parx Liberty Carousel.
D.Spruce Street Harbor Park.
3.What can we know about Philadelphia Storytelling Benches?
A.It can be visited all year round.
B.It is available at a small charge.
C.It is educational for children.
D.It is aimed at serving the public.
