Have you ever wondered why people drive on a different side of the road? It might seem strange that U. K. drivers stay on the left, but they’re not the only ones. 1.
Originally, almost everybody traveled on the left side of the road. However their way of transport was quite different from today: 2. For Medieval swordsmen on horseback, it made sense to keep to the left to have their right arms closer to their enemies. Getting on or off was also easier from the left side of the horse, and safer done by the side of the road than in the center.
3. Things changed in the late 1700s when large wagons pulled by several pairs of horses were used to transport farm products in France and the United States. In the absence of a driver’s seat inside the wagon, the driver sat behind the left horse, with his right arm free to use his whip to keep the horses moving. Since he was sitting on the left, he wanted other wagons to pass on his left. 4.
The British Government refused to give up their left-hand driving ways, and in 1773 introduced the General Highways Act, which encouraged driving on the left.
When Henry Ford unveiled his Model T in 1908，the driver’s seat was on the left, meaning that cars would have to drive on the right hand side of the road to allow front and back passengers to exit the car onto the roadside.5. And this is highly unlikely to change.
A.Think four legs instead of four wheels.
B.Do people get used to driving on the right?
C.However, British drivers remain on the left.
D.So why did people stop traveling on the left?
E.Therefore, he kept to the right side of the road.
F.Around 35 percent of the world population does the same.
G.This was later made law thanks to The Highway Act of 1835.
Spider webs have something in common with guitar strings. The long, thin strings on a guitar can vibrate(振动). They move back and forth, or from side to side. So do webs made by spiders. The lines of silk they produce can carry vibrations. This movement gives the small creature information about what landed on the web.
Spiders have eight legs and usually eight eyes. The animals build webs with their own soft, naturally-made silk. Spiders catch their food, usually insects, in their web. They make small movements, which spread across their web. The vibrations can tell the spider what is there—maybe something tasty to eat.
Vibrations give the spider details about what is caught in the web. They can tell the spider where that next meal is, and what it might be. But vibrations are not just used to identify what is for dinner. A spider makes its own vibrations to find out the condition of the web.
How do the researchers know that? They used special equipment to send out laser pulses into the web of a garden cross spider. Then they used a laser to measure the very small vibrations, which spread through the web.
Using computer models, the scientist could show how a spider can change the size of a wave vibration. The spider does this by changing the tightness of the silk lines. The spiders then can control how information is getting to them where they hang out in the middle of the web. In a way, spiders can move their silk threads, much like a musician plays the strings of a guitar.
Engineers might be able to learn a thing or two from spiders. This information could help engineers better understand how structures react to energy, and how vibrations affect a building.
1.What do spider webs and guitar strings have in common?
A.They both shake. B.They are both strong.
C.They both convey information. D.They both have the same shape.
2.What does the underlined word “they” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A.Webs. B.Spiders.
C.Insects. D.Vibrations.
3.Why do spiders shake their own webs?
A.To repair them. B.To check them.
C.To find out insects. D.To connect with other spiders.
4.What does the author think of the finding of spiders?
A.It might benefit engineers. B.Spiders are clever creatures.
C.It helps improve playing guitar. D.Humans should learn from animals.
Some of my favorite childhood memories come from Halloween. I love it all! Pumpkins, costumes and the thrill of trick-or-treating. But I think it would be funny to give me a child who was deathly afraid of my favorite holiday. If you have kids who are scared of Halloween, these tips should help!
Don’t minimize your child’s fears
It is helpful to let your kids know that you understand their fears. Halloween can be a scary holiday. Kids are just making sense of their world. We might think terrible monsters and bloody eye balls are cheerful—but to some kids they are pure terror. Young kids have a harder time telling reality from fantasy-making Halloween—a real-life horror movie.
Start preparing your child for Halloween early
It is impossible to keep your kids in a bubble for the entire month of October. Instead of avoiding Halloween, help prepare your kids for the holiday.
Tell your kids that during Halloween people find it fun to dress up like scary things. Let them know that the monsters and scary creatures they will see are not real.
Save the bloody zombies for another year
I love decorating for Halloween. I have two huge cabinets full of Halloween decorations! So there is no way I would tell anyone not to decorate for Halloween! However, to help your kids get used to Halloween—keep your decorations festival and pleasant. Pumpkins, friendly witches and cute ghosts are all kid-friendly decorations.
Don’t get too attached to those cute little costumes
The stores are packed with cutest costumes. Your little one might beg you to buy that $ 40 Frozen costume—only to refuse to wear it on Halloween. Kids are moody. What is exciting one week is boring the next. There is nothing more frustrating than spending lots of money on a costume your child refuses to wear.
Halloween is a fun, exciting holiday. Once your kids moves through their fears—they will see this holiday for what it really is—free candy. And who can be scared of that!
1.What’s the problem with young kids during Halloween?
A.They can’t understand the meaning of the holiday.
B.They can’t find out beauty from terrible monsters.
C.They are frightened by the terrible characters.
D.They are afraid to see horror films.
2.What should parents tell their kids about Halloween early?
A.People wear scary things for pleasure.
B.People scare them with scary things.
C.The scary things are not harmful.
D.They should enjoy themselves.
3.What might disappoint parents most on Halloween day?
A.Their terrible decorations scare their kids.
B.There are too many costumes to choose from.
C.They have to spend lots of money on the holiday.
D.A child denies putting on an expensive costume.
4.Which can be a suitable title for the text?
A.Why Halloween Gives My Favorite Childhood Memories.
B.How to Help a Child Who is Scared of Halloween.
C.Halloween, A Frightening Holiday for Children.
D.Every Coin Has Two Sides.
Have you ever happened to have a stranger looking at you with eyes full of anger unexpectedly? It was painful and confusing, but sure a great lesson. The first thing that passed through my mind was that it must be a misunderstanding. Such a look was not meant for me, but later I saw the old lady’s face changing every time she saw me, at least seven times, no more doubt that she was very angry with me.
I was confused, shocked, and near anger. My brains were spinning (快速旋转), trying to figure out how’s and why’s but somehow managed not to show it on my face. I went home, slept a night over it and decided that I had to find a way to make peace with this lady.
The very next day I bought some nice chocolates going to see her again and when I caught sight of her, I went straight to her and apologized telling her “I am so very sorry, but if I angered you, I had no such intention; please accept my apologizes”, and handled her the chocolates. Surprised, she told me not to mind her, and apologized too. It was an awkward moment, but we made peace and the grimaces (苦相) are replaced by smiles now.
I am very grateful for this experience. It shows me I still have plenty of work to do with my mind. I learned how it is not easy to take knowledge of, accept and forgive acts that we may feel as unfair, and it taught me of possibilities about fixing a conflict. Best advice to keep for myself.
Do not react, do not be quick to judge, sleep it over, and throw in a little of empathy for self as well as others.
1.What was the matter with the old woman?
A.She was misunderstood by the author. B.She was wronged by the author.
C.She taught the author a lesson. D.She was mad with the author.
2.How did the author react before the angry woman?
A.She tried to ignore it. B.She managed to keep calm.
C.She pretended to be kind to her. D.She turned away and went home.
3.How did the author make peace with the woman?
A.By explaining. B.By begging.
C.By persuading. D.By apologizing.
4.What did the author think of this experience?
A.Sad. B.Disappointing.
C.Valuable. D.Exciting.
Best Toys for Kids
From wooden blocks to electronic games, the best toys for kids make their young users think and dream while building useful skills. Of course，they’re also tons of fun!
1. Educational Toys
Many of the best toys for kids combine learning and fun. The GeoSafari Talking Globe provides interactive geography games in a fun electronic format(格式). It was named to Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys List in 2006. Professor Noggin’s History of the United States is a fun and informative card game that made FamilyFun. com’s Toy of the Year list.
2. Pretend Play
Kids love to pretend, and the best toys for kids can spark their imaginations and lead to hours of fun. The Real Projects Workshop was a grand prize winner in the 2006 FamilyFun. com Toy of the Year Awards. With this pretend workshop kids can play with realistic tools while building projects out of foam “wood”. Dora’s Talking Kitchen won “Girl Toy of the Year” in the 2006 Toy Industry Association Toy of the Year Awards.
3. Stuffed Animals
Every kid needs a cuddly (可抱的) friend. Kids may ask for stuffed animals based on popular television and movie characters, but teddy bears, stuffed dogs, and other plush figures that haven’t appeared on-screen will have long-lasting appeal. For a unique twist on stuffed animals, the Lil’ Luvables Fluffy Factory lets kids stuff their own teddy bears. It was a Toy of the Year grand prize winner at FamilyFun. com.
4. Games
Games promote cooperation while encouraging everything from memory skills to exercise. Hullabaloo, from the makers of Cranium, won “Best Game” honors in the 2006 Toy Industry Association Toy of the Year Awards. The game gets kids moving and laughing as they follow instructions from the game’s audio console.
1.How can kids benefit from educational toys?
A.They can improve their studies.
B.They can enjoy geography games.
C.They can be active in doing homework.
D.They can gain knowledge while playing.
2.What prize did Dora’s Talking Kitchen win?
A.Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys List in 2006. B.Girl Toy of the Year.
C.Toy of the Year. D.Best Game.
3.Which toys can develop kids’ team spirit?
A.Educational Toys. B.Pretend Play.
C.Games. D.Stuffed Animals.
假如你是李华，应邀参加中美高中生论坛，将作以“China-Five years of Accomplishments”为主题的发言，请用英语写一篇发言稿。内容包括以下要点：
1. 五年来身边的变化；
2. 自己的感受；
3. 对中美友谊的美好祝福。
注意：1. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
2. 词数：100词左右；
3. 开头已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear friends from home and abroad,
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That’s all. Thank you for listening!
