In our fast world of phones, fax machines and computers, the old-fashioned art of letter writing is at risk of disappearing altogether. 1. There is the excitement of its arrival, the pleasure of seeing who it is from and, finally, the enjoyment of the contents.
Letter writing has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. It probably began with the little notes I would write to my mother. My mother, also, always insisted I write my own thank-you letters for Christmas and birthday presents. 2..
When I left home at 18 to train as a doctor in London, I would write once a week, and so would my mother. Occasionally my father would write and it was always a joy to receive his long, amusing letters. 3. Of course, we also made phone calls but it is the letters that I remember most.
There were also letters from my boyfriend. In our youth he had to work or study away at some time and we were only able to stay in touch by letter. 4. I found that I could often express myself more easily in writing than by talking.
I love the letters that come with birthday or Christmas cards. Notes are appreciated, but how much better to have a year’s supply of news! And it’s better still when it’s an airmail envelope with beautiful stamps.
5. Like my mother before me, I insist they write their own thank-you letters. My daughter writes to me little letters, just as I did to my mother. I strongly urge readers not to allow letter writing to become another “lost art”.
A.Poor handwriting can spoil (破坏) your enjoyment of a letter.
B.I am pleased that my children are carrying on the tradition.
C.We had been writing to each other for a long time but never met.
D.It didn’t matter how short or untidy they were as long as they were letters.
E.But instead of harming the relationship, letter writing seemed to improve them.
F.Yet, to me, receiving a letter cannot be matched by any form of communication.
G.The letters from him contained just everyday events concerning my parents and their friends.
E-cigarettes lead to as many lung diseases as tobacco products, a new study has found. The report from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill compared saliva (唾液) samples from tobacco smokers, e-cigarette smokers and nonsmokers. Researchers found that e-cigarette smokers were likely to develop dangerous proteins associated with lung diseases. The study adds to a growing body of evidence proving that e-cigarettes might not be the perfect alternative smokers addicted to tobacco are looking for.
Last year a Surgeon General’s report claimed that the use of e-cigarettes among a certain group of people jumped 900 percent from 2011 to 2015 and more studies were carried out to research their side effects. That same year, the FDA put e-cigarettes in the tobacco products the administration monitors.
Previous research from UCLA has proven that e-cigarettes can cause lifelong damage to one’s heart, and that one puff (吸一口烟) of an e-cigarette is all it takes to increase one’s risk of having a heart attack. For the new study UNC researchers observed 15 e-cigarette users, 14 cigarette smokers and 15 nonsmokers. The study revealed that e-cigarette smokers have raised levels of NET-related proteins in their airways, the increased levels of which can lead to lung illnesses, making it difficult for patients to breathe.
Study author Dr Mehmet Keismer said, “There is confusion about whether e-cigarettes are ‘safer’ than cigarettes because the potential adverse effects of e-cigarettes are only beginning to be studied. Our results suggest that e-cigarettes might be just as bad as cigarettes.” Dr Keismer also stressed that e-cigarettes come with their own harmful risks along with those linked to tobacco, which challenges the concept that switching from cigarettes to e-cigarettes is a healthier alternative.
A citizen named Dyclna said, “The e-cigarettes probably make you cough less, but nobody gives a warning about your lungs. For producers, it’s just a money thing — it’s just about getting profits from it. The problem is that our government just stands there with its hands behind the back.”
1.Why did the FDA list e-cigarettes into monitored products?
A.It might realize the harm of them.
B.It wanted to improve their quality.
C.It aimed to reduce their illegal sales.
D.It might be warned by the government.
2.What harm does the increased level of NET do to people?
A.Leading to weight gain. B.Spoiling people’s appetite.
C.Making breathing hard. D.Speeding people’s heartbeat.
3.What does Dyclna mainly want to express?
A.E-cigarettes are safer than regular ones.
B.E-cigarettes can only benefit few people.
C.Producers make a high profit from e-cigarettes.
D.Governments are to blame for e-cigarettes’ consumption.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.E-cigarettes: A new way of smoking.
B.E-cigarettes: A better way than tobacco?
C.E-cigarettes: The harmful proteins it produces.
D.E-cigarettes: The urgent need of government control.
UN Humanitarian Chief Mark Lowcock today released US$15 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to help fund global efforts to contain the COVID-19 virus.
The announcement came as the World Health Organization (WHO) upgraded the global risk of the coronavirus outbreak to “very high” – its top level of risk assessment. The WHO has said there is still a chance of containing the virus if its chain of transmission is broken.
The UN funding has been released to the WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). It will fund essential activities including being aware of the spread of the virus, investigating cases, and putting national laboratories into use.
The WHO has called for US$675 million to fund the fight against coronavirus. There is a window of opportunity to contain the spread of the virus if countries take strong measures to detect cases early, isolate and care for patients, and trace contacts.
Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mark Lowcock said, “We do not yet see evidence that the virus is spreading freely. As long as that’s the case, we still have a chance of containing it, by strengthening surveillance, conducting thorough outbreak investigations to identify contacts and applying appropriate measures to prevent further spread.”
“This announcement from the UN’s Emergency Fund will help countries with fragile health systems improve their detection and response operations. It has the potential to save the lives of millions of vulnerable people.” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said,“The potential spread of the virus to countries with weaker health systems is one of our biggest concerns. These funds will help support these countries get ready for detecting and isolating cases, protecting their health workers, and treating patients with dignity and appropriate care. This will help us save lives and push back the virus.”
“At this critical moment, every effort must be made to push back against the outbreak,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. “These funds will support our global efforts to promote weaker health systems and inform children, pregnant women and families about how to protect themselves.”
1.We can learn from the passage that__________ .
A.WHO referred to the COVID-19 as the medium level of risk assessment
B.The virus is still hard to contain even if timely measures are taken
C.The fund will help people with weak health
D.The fund released by UN is much less than WHO originally demanded
2.According to the passage, the fund can be used in the following aspects except ________.
A.The examination of the people concerned
B.The monitor of the the spread of the virus
C.The operation of the national laboratories
D.The establishment of the mobile hospital
3.What is Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’ attitude toward the fight against the virus?
A.Optimistic. B.Skeptical.
C.Cautious. D.Ambiguous.
4.In which part of newspaper can you most probably read the passage?
A.Travel. B.Health.
C.Business. D.Lifestyle.
Old Mrs. Lynn was working in the cottage, hanging the washed clothes on the line. What she wasn’t aware was that some children were hiding in a nearby tree watching her every move. They were sure that she was a witch and wanted to find the evidence.
They watched nervously as she took a broomstick to sweep the dirt from her stone steps. But much to their disappointment, she didn’t get on the broomstick and fly off. The old lady only looked up when her hen began to make sounds loudly — signaling that she had laid an egg in the nest on the top of the haystack. (干草堆).
The old lady put aside her broomstick and walked to the haystack, followed by Michael, a black cat she had rescued from a fox trap. With only three legs, it was hard for Michael to keep up with his mistress. The cat was proof for the children that only a witch would own a black cat with three legs! Accidentally, she tripped and crashed to the ground. The children were in horror.
“Should we go and help her?” asked Mia.
“What if it’s a trick?” replied Patrick. “She probably knows we’re here. Witches know things like that!”
After thinking for a while, Julia said, “Anyway, we should go and check whether she is all right.”
Approaching prudently, they could see a wound on the old lady’s forehead. She had knocked her head on a stone and was unconscious.
“Go and get Dad,” Mia yelled to her brothers. “Tell him about the accident.”
Later, in the hospital, the old lady smiled her thanks. “I was so lucky that you lovely children happened to be passing when I fell. I must have yelled quite loudly.” The children exchanged guilty glances, but were very pleased that she was not a witch after all!
1.Mrs. Lynn stopped sweeping when ________.
A.her doorstep became very clean
B.she heard the hen making sounds loudly
C.she noticed the children in the tree
D.her cat Michael managed to get her attention
2.Why was Patrick not willing to help Mrs. Lynn when she fell?
A.He thought that she could be cheating them.
B.He was afraid of the three-legged black cat.
C.He did not think that she was hurt in the fall.
D.He knew he and the others shouldn’t have been in her tree.
3.Which of the definitions is closest in meaning to the underlined word “prudently” ?
A.Slowly. B.Hurriedly.
C.Carefully. D.Quietly.
4.What is the main idea of the story?
A.Constant dropping wears away a stone.
B.Never judge a book by its cover.
C.A friend in need is a friend indeed.
D.A good medicine tastes bitter.
DIFFERENT PACKS, SAME GREAT QUALITY
Townsville, Australia’s largest farming families, enjoyed the most exceptional pasture in Australia. The people at Townsville blend dairy goodness and clever ideas to bring you great tasting innovative products, which have been shipped to America, Canada and exported to Austria.
Like our lightest one — instant skim (脱脂的) milk powder that makes 10 litres of delicious skim milk. So you never run out of milk again.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE: TO MIX 1 CUP (250ML)
• Add 1/4 cup(25g)of instant Townsville Skim Milk Powder to 1/2 cup of hot or cold water.
• Add more water to make up 1 cup.
• For best result always add powder to water.
• For richer taste and extra nutrition, use additional powder to suit your personal taste or preference.
• To improve the natural taste of this product, we recommend storing the liquid milk in the refrigerator overnight before consumption.
NOTICE:
• Store powder in a cool, dry place.
• Keep refrigerated at or below 4 degrees centigrade no more than 3 days.
• Once opened, store in an airtight container.
1.In which country is Townsville — a world-famous dairy product brand made?
A.Australia. B.Austria.
C.Canada. D.America.
2.What should a user do if he/she wants the milk to taste a natural taste?
A.Add some sugar to the milk.
B.Remove the cream from the milk.
C.Put it in the fridge before using it.
D.Increase its amount in the liquid milk.
3.Where are you suggested putting the powder once it is opened?
A.In a plastic bowl. B.In a warm room.
C.In a watertight jar. D.In a closed container.
阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。
Ten-year-old Sami loved to visit his grandfather's house. The house was near the beautiful blue sea. At the seaside stood thick and tall palm trees with green coconuts hanging from them. When the coconuts fell down, Sami would break them open and drink the coconut water. Sami liked to play under the trees. It was always great fun to spend the holidays at Grandpa's place.
This winter vacation, Sami was surprised when he came to his grandfather's village. There were hardly any trees left. He saw houses built near the sea. People had cut down many palm trees and there was hardly any greenery left.
Grandpa's house was different. He never allowed his trees to be cut. He hugged each palm tree in his courtyard. He also named the two big trees near the front door--one was Petu, and the other Betu. He had planted them with his own hands and today they had become large, massive trees with thick trunks. They were tall and green and gave the sweetest, juiciest coconuts.
One night, Sami was awakened by a strange sound. He could not sleep. He tossed (辗转) and turned in bed. Suddenly, the ground shook as if the earth was splitting. He sat up straight and then ran to Grandpa. He clung (附着) to his grandpa tightly. Grandpa cried out, “It's an earthquake! It's an earthquake!" They ran outside the house. They thought that would be safe.
Suddenly, there was a loud sound; the earth was not splitting but the sea was roaring. People were shouting, screaming and crying, “The sea is rising! The sea is rising." The villagers started running away from the beach. Sami watched dumbstruck (呆若木鸡).
The waves were rising higher and higher. Sami thought, “How big the waves are!" He went into the house again and saw water coming in from all sides. He was scared.
Sami remembered his mother telling him long ago, “You must always get out of the house if the floods come too near." He ran outside the house with Grandpa. But the water came surging (汹涌) in.
Waves about twelve meters high came rushing in, drowning everything. Water was all around and everywhere.
注意：1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2. 至少使用5个短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
3. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
4. 续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1:
Grandpa held Sami's hand tightly but a huge wave separated them.
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Paragraph 2:
“Sami, Sami!” Grandpa cried. “Don't be scared, little one, come to me, quickly.”
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