At first there was only darkness and silence underground, as a group of 13 coal miners found themselves ____from the outside world because of an accidental _____ .They managed to move together to a spot of relative safety _____ the waterline. Then they waited and waited, which lasted for more than 80 ________ .
Fears alternately (交替)____and fell. The miners followed their training and ____ to survive, hoping that someone would discover ____ whereabouts (下落)in the tunnel and get them out.
The 13 men gathered closely in the flooded Shanmushu mine, which belongs to Sichuan Coal Industry Group, and _____ the possibility that the tunnel might become their __
Then came the faint sounds, which __ a ray of hope. A metallic noise reverberated (回响) faintly from a pipe in the blackness. It's a sound bound to bring instant _____ to men trapped underground. _____ pipes is an old technique in mine rescues to connect rescuers and those _____ rescue.
For the miners waiting ____ in the Shanmushu mine, the sound meant help was __
The searchers had ____ failed to find the miners, but sound of hammering on pipes with metal bars _____ their presence. After a rescue operation of more than 80 hours, the 13 miners returned to the outside world on Wednesday.
People in charge of the rescue _____ several reasons for the 13 miners' survival. First, they were experienced and took turns turning on their head lamps. ____ helped to ease panic. Also, they stayed together in a relatively _____ place that was unlikely to flood and that had plenty of air.
1.A.taken up B.cut down C.cut off D.broken down
2.A.flood B.storm C.typhoon D.earthquake
3.A.above B.under C.across D.through
4.A.minutes B.hours C.days D.weeks
5.A.disturbed B.raised C.appeared D.rose
6.A.education B.experience C.courage D.feeling
7.A.its B.the miners C.his D.their
8.A.refused B.grasped C.faced D.foresaw
9.A.secret B.home C.destination D.tomb
10.A.represented B.released C.opened D.saved
11.A.fear B.joy C.horror D.gratitude
12.A.Striking B.Holding C.Breaking D.Approaching
13.A.possessing B.shouting C.awaiting D.attending
14.A.happily B.patiently C.uncertainly D.proudly
15.A.all the way B.in the way C.by the way D.on the way
16.A.merely B.initially C.finally D.immediately
17.A.signaled B.decided C.found D.guided
18.A.approved B.came up C.commented D.mentioned
19.A.Chat B.Sound C.Light D.Food
20.A.comfortable B.high C.quiet D.terrible
No matter what field you are in, there will likely come a time when you have to give a powerful speech to friends, colleagues, or even complete strangers. 1. However, being able to give great speeches is often a necessity for those looking to achieve success. Here are a few tips to help you make the entire process easier.
1. Get in the Right Mindset
Visualize yourself before your speech succeeding to help calm your nerves. 2. And you should remember that people want to see you succeed, they don't want to see you fail. If you get in the right mindset, you will find the rest comes much easier than you may imagine.
2. 3.
Make sure that you focus on the point of your speech and the message that you are trying to get across. Don't worry about focusing on the fact that you are giving the speech or any of the props or visual aids that you may have. If you get nervous or stutter during your speech, don't apologize and just fix your attention on your speech.
3. Do Your Research
When it comes to preparing for your speech, it is not only important that you research the topic but that you research your audience as well. Know who you are speaking to. Also if you are able to greet some of the audience members and speak with them before hand, this is a great way to break the ice and feel more comfortable while speaking. 4. Make sure you also research the room. Arrive early so you feel comfortable in the room, and practice with the microphone or any equipment you will be using.
4. Practice
It may seem like a simple and rather obvious tip, but unfortunately, adequate practice is something that many people today avoid when it comes to speaking in public . 5., but it means practicing out loud，standing up in a similar position while giving your speech. Make sure that you practice in front of both the mirror and the audience.
A.Focus on the Point
B.Develop a Strong Message
C.Make sure you take several deep breaths before giving your speech
D.Practicing does not just mean reading the speech over and over again
E.Thus you won't feel as though you are speaking to a room of strangers
F.You may feel stiff, tight or uncomfortable when you are about to speak
G.There are many people struggling with the process of writing and delivering speeches
A new study has found that North American migratory birds (候鸟)have been getting smaller over the past 40 years. Researchers say the finding suggests a warming climate could be affecting bird growth in North America - and across the world.
The study involved data on nearly 80,000 birds killed from 1978 to 2016 in the city of Chicago, Illinois. Researchers measured the size of the birds. The birds included in the study had died after crashing into buildings during the spring and fall migrations.
Fifty-two species of birds were studied. Most were different kinds of songbirds. These birds reproduce in cold areas of North America and spend their winters in areas south of Chicago. Over the 40-year period, body size decreased in all 52 species. The average body mass fell by 2. 6 percent. Leg bone length dropped by 2. 4 percent. The one area of growth was the wingspan, which increased by 1.3 percent. The researchers said the wing growth likely happened to permit the birds to continue making long migrations with smaller bodies.
Brian Weeks, a biologist at the University of Michigan's School for Environment and Sustainability, helped lead the research. He told the Reuters news agency that he believes the results show a clear link between a warming climate and the growth of the birds.
The study found a direct link between the average summer temperature and the body size of the birds. Dave Willard works with Chicago's Field Museum, which was in charge of measuring all the birds. He said nearly “ everyone agrees that the climate is warming, but examples of just how that is affecting the natural world are only now coming to light.” The study provides new evidence of worrisome developments for North American birds.
A study published in September documented a 29-percent drop in the bird population in the United States and Canada since 1970. The study said this represented a net loss (净亏损)of about 2. 9 billion birds. Weeks said the new study is the largest examination yet to measure body size reactions to warming temperatures involving a large, diverse group of species. “We had good reason to expect that increasing temperatures would lead to reductions in body size, based on previous studies,” Weeks added. “The thing that was shocking was how consistent it was. I was incredibly surprised that all of these species are responding in such similar ways.”
The researchers plan to continue studying the Field Museum data in an effort to find additional evidence to support their findings. They will also further examine the idea that an individual's physical development can change to fit changing environmental conditions.
1.In the study, the size and mass of birds fell but the wingspan increased, which .
A.permitted birds to fly higher and stronger
B.made birds' long migration with smaller bodies possible
C.could protect birds from being extinct in the world
D.made North American migratory birds more beautiful and charming
2.Which of the following statements about Dave Willard is CORRECT?
A.He conducted a research which proved the climate is warming.
B.He provided new evidence of worrisome developments for North American birds.
C.He works with Chicago's Field Museum and is in charge of measuring all the birds.
D.He agrees that evidence proving a link between global warming and nature is just revealed.
3.According to the text, what made Brian Weeks astonished?
A.All species are responding to global warming similarly.
B.His study was surprisingly consistent with other scientists' research.
C.Birds got smaller in all parts of their body with the temperature increasing.
D.All species surveyed became smaller in response to increasing temperatures.
4.What would be the best title for the text?
A.Birds Are Going to Die Out
B.Migratory Birds Are Getting Smaller
C.Climate Change May Be Causing Smaller North American Birds
D.Brian Week, A Great Biologist, Published A Study about Birds
A Japanese school near Tokyo is conducting a pilot program allowing sick students to attend classes using a robotic avatar (替身)called Ori Hime and developed by Ory Laboratory. The program is being conducted at the Tomobe-Higashi special support school in Kasama, a city 60 miles north of Tokyo.
The Ori Hime robot is a small bust-sized robot designed to be placed on a counter top or desk. It has two flap-like arms and a camera mounted in its head, all of which can be controlled remotely via a touchscreen tablet interface.
Since October 31, sick students at Tomobe-Higashi school have each been assigned their own Ori Hime stand in, which is placed on their desk, giving them a live feed of the classroom through the head-mounted camera . Remote students will be able to speak into a mic and the Ori Hime will broadcast their voice through built-in speakers.
Students will also be able to rotate the robots head to look at different areas of the class room, as well as command it to perform simple emotive gestures like waving, pointing, and clapping.
“It's fun to turn the robot in directions I want to look in,” Kanae Sudo, an eleven-year-old student who's used the Ori Hime to attend a science fair from a nearby hospital room, told the Asahi Shimbun.
School administrators had previously allowed remote study with stationary (固定的)camera feed, but the ability to directly control the view and make the robot gesture has greatly improved the results according to school administrators .
“The robot can easily be operated, and students feel like they are actually attending class,” assistant principal Noboru Tachi said.
1.What is the main purpose of conducting the pilot program?
A.Replacing sick students to attend class. B.Improving school's teaching quality.
C.Testing the functions of a robot. D.Adding much fun to students' school life.
2.What does the underlined word “ rotate” in paragraph 4 probably mean?
A.Touch. B.Press. C.Turn. D.Force.
3.How does Ori Hime work?
A.Sick students operate it by taking pictures.
B.It speaks into a microphone and broadcast the voice.
C.Students rotate its head and command it to wave, point and clap directly.
D.It is controlled remotely to broadcast students' voice and perform simple gestures.
4.What can we infer from the passage?
A.Ori Hime has its own emotions.
B.Ori Hime may be used to more schools in Japan.
C.Students should give the robot something to feed it.
D.Students can command the robot to finish their homework.
Soon, Laurent Simons, 9, of Belgium will become one of the youngest people in the world to graduate from a university. And now he is studying electrical engineering at the Eindhoven University of Technology (TUE) - a tough course even for students of an average graduate age.
Described by staff as “simply extraordinary” , Laurent is on course to finish his degree in December. He then plans to embark (从事)on a PhD program in electrical engineering while also studying for a medicine degree, his father told CNN.
Laurent was given test after test as teachers tried to work out the extent of his talents. “ They told us he is like a sponge,” said Alexander, Laurent's father.
While Laurent comes from a family of doctors, his parents have so far not received any explanation as to why their child prodigy is capable of learning so quickly.
The TUE has allowed Laurent to complete his course faster than other students. “ That is not unusual,” said Sjoerd Hulshof, education director of the TUE bachelors degree in electrical engineering, in a statement. “Special students that have good reasons for doing so can arrange an adjusted schedule. In much the same way we help students who participate in top sport.” “Laurent is the fastest student we have ever had here,” he said. “Not only is he hyper intelligent but also a very sympathetic boy.”
His progress has not gone unnoticed and he is already being sought out by prestigious universities around the world, although Laurent's family wouldn't be drawn on naming which of them he is considering for his PhD .
While Laurent is evidently able to learn faster than most, his parents are being careful to let him enjoy himself too. “We don't want him to get too serious. He does whatever he likes,” said Alexander. “We need to find a balance between being a child and his talents”
Laurent said he enjoys playing with his dog Sammy and playing on his phone, like many young people. However, unlike most 9-year-olds, he has already worked out what he wants to do with his life: develop artificial organs. He explained why he wanted to create artificial hearts in the future. The grandparents he grew up with have heart conditions. “I'd like to help people like them,” he said.
1.What is the reason for the child prodigy learning so quickly?
A.It hasn't been decided yet.
B.B. His parents are doctors.
C.His family's gene is very good.
D.His mother ate a lot of fish during pregnancy.
2.What can we know from paragraph 6?
A.Laurent's parents would rather let him unnoticed.
B.TUE is proud of the progress Laurent has made.
C.Laurent is promised to name a university in his name.
D.Many top universities in the world maybe send invitations to Laurent.
3.What caused Laurent to devote his life to developing artificial organs?
A.His parents expect him to research it.
B.He hopes to earn a fame by doing so.
C.He wants to make contributions to his hometown.
D.He wants to help people who have heart disease like his grandparents.
4.What is the text mainly about?
A.A 9-year-old boy will be admitted by TUE. B.A young genius creates artificial hearts.
C.A 9-year-old is about to get a university degree. D.A little boy learns faster than others.
Best Christmas Markets around the World
Christmas shopping doesn't have to mean joylessly battling through department store crowds or trawling the Internet for bargains. Why not combine present-buying with some travel?
Strasbourg, France
Strasbourg, in eastern France, is home to one of Europe's oldest Christmas markets, with the first edition taking place in 1570.
Before getting lost down Strasbourg's narrow alleyways and beautiful squares, visitors should be sure to head to Place Kleber, where they'll find the Great Christmas Tree, a towering effort that puts the spruce (云杉)at New York Rockefeller Center to shame.
Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, Prague, Czech Republic
No city lends itself to Christmas better than Prague.
The city's two main Christmas markets, in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, are only five minutes' walk from each other, so can both easily be explored in one day. Each one has the usual wooden huts found in similar markets across Europe, but the Czech treats are what really set them apart. Visitors can grab a klob sa ( Czech sausage) and wash it down with a Pilsner Urquell in the afternoon, then hang around for the main tree to be lit up on Old Town Square. Both markets are open every day over the festive period until January 6, including Christmas Day.
Grand Christmas Market, Montreal, Canada
Montreal’s Grand Christmas Market in Canada takes its inspiration from Europe's biggest festive events.
Running from December 1 to 24 in the pedestrian thoroughfare of Ste Catherine Street, it has more than 60 wooden houses plying their wares, from warming winter drinks to essential Christmas handicrafts. The market is especially good for kids, with an elves' (精灵)workshop, Santa’s sleigh and even an igloo. Although it closes its doors on Christmas Eve, Montreal's Grand market reopens a week later to see in the New Year.
Viennese Christmas Market, Vienna, Austria
Few cities steep (沉浸)themselves in the festive spirit like Vienna. The Austrian capitals first Christmas Market was held in 1298 and today the city has more than 20 events to choose from. With around 151 stalls serving everything from boozy Christmas punch to gut busting Austrian sausages, the market also boasts a huge ice rink (溜冰场)for skating and reindeer rides for kids.
1.What makes markets in Czech Republic different from other markets in Europe?
A.The fact that there are two markets near each other.
B.The fact that Czech has its own specialties .
C.The fact that the markets are open every day.
D.The fact that the Christmas tree there is the highest one .
2.According to the text, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A.Christmas shopping tends to be joyless.
B.Strasbourg is the oldest Christmas market in the world.
C.Grand Christmas Market was inspired by Europe's largest festive events.
D.Montreal's market is especially intended for kids to explore on Christmas Eve.
3.If you want to enjoy a Christmas on ice, which market should you go?
A.Viennese Christmas Market. B.Grand Christmas Market.
C.Strasbourg. D.Wenceslas Square .
