One year, a newspaper of the United States published an announcement-the Horticultural (园艺) Institute offered a reward at a high price for the pure white marigold (金盏花). The high reward attracted so many people, but in nature besides golden, the marigold is brown；it is not easy to create the white one. So after they were excited for a time, many people forgot that announcement.
One normal day after 20 years, the Horticultural Institute accidentally received a letter and 100 seeds of pure white marigold. On that day the news spread like wildfire. It turned out to be an old woman of over 70 years old. The institute had always been hesitating over the fact that the letter stated with certainty that the seeds could bloom(开花) pure white marigold.
Those seeds finally took root in the earth. The wonder appeared after one year: large fields of pure white marigold swung in the light wind. As a result, the old woman became a new focus.
Originally, the old woman was just a flower-lover. When she happened to read the announcement 20 years ago, her heart kept beating wildly. But her eight children all opposed her decision. After all, a woman who never knew the seed genetics(遗传学) couldn't complete what the experts could never accomplish! Still, the old woman didn't change her mind and went on working without hesitation. She spread some of the most common seeds and took good care of them. A year later, when the marigold bloomed, she chose one faintest (暗淡) from those golden and brown flowers and made it wither (凋谢) naturally in order to get the best seed. The next year, she again grew them and chose the faintest from these flowers to plant Year after year, through many cycles of spring sowing and autumn harvest, the old woman's husband died; her children flew far and high; a lot of things happened in her life but only the desire to grow the pure white marigold took root in her heart. Finally, after 20 years on the day we all know, in the garden, she saw a marigold, which was not nearly white but as white as silver or snow.
Such a difficult problem as even experts couldn't cope with was readily solved by an old woman who didn't understand genetics. Was it a wonder? Take root in the heart and even the most common seed can grow into a wonder!
1.Why was a great reward offered by the Institute?
A.White flowers could be sold at a higher price
B.Pure white marigold was more beautiful in nature
C.It was very difficult to develop pure white marigold
D.Scientists wanted to know how marigold grew in nature
2.What can we know about the old woman from the passage?
A.She was 70 when she first read the announcement.
B.She sent pure white marigold flowers to the institute.
C.She got professional support from scientists.
D.She kept trying for years before she succeeded.
3.The underlined word “readily” in the last paragraph probably means .
A.easily B.quickly
C.honestly D.luckily
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.Seeds Take Root in the Heart B.White Marigold is Never Alone
C.Marigolds Grow from Bravery D.White Flowers Bring Success
Watching kids' cartoons can be an effective way to learn a language. The basic plot lines of kids' cartoons are fairly simple and the characters speak more slowly, and the dialogue is typically standard and casual. Here are four worldwide popular kids' cartoons which may help you with your English learning.
Peppa Pig
Peppa Pig, the pink piggy, has gained worldwide popularity. There are even videos showing an American child speaking in a British accent to her mom after watching the popular cartoon.
The Simpsons
The Simpsons in the ' 90s was smart, culturally savvy (有见识的), and unbelievably entertaining TV about an average American family. At its height, no show - animated or otherwise - could reach The Simpsons' greatness. From the cleverness of “Marge vs. the Monorail” to everything Lisa Simpson ever said. The Simpsons was fearless and game-changing television.
Once Upon a Time
Once Upon a Time is a French educational animation, created by Procidis. There are seven series (系列), each focusing on different aspects of knowledge. These are mostly historical, focusing on the overall history of mankind or specified historical fields, such as the lives and achievements of the explorers or inventors.
Sazae-san
Sazae-san is more than a kids' show. It's a cultural institution, a national treasure and the longest- running animated series in the world, ever!
It's about a typical Japanese big family living together in Tokyo. The central character is an outspoken but somewhat clumsy woman in her early 20s, living with her husband, son, father, mother, brother and sister all under one roof.
All of the characters are colorful and funny, and all are named after fish!
1.Why does the American girl speak in a British accent?
A.She was born and brought up in Britain. B.Peppa Pig has strongly influenced her.
C.The British accent is popular in America. D.She wants to make fun of her mother.
2.What will a fan of history choose to watch?
A.Peppa Pig B.The Simpsons
C.Once Upon a Time D.Sazae-san
3.What can you learn about Sazae-san from the text?
A.It is about an average American family. B.It is the longest-running of the four.
C.It is a well-received French cartoon. D.It includes seven different series.
目前，随着网络的发展和电子书的盛行，越来越多的人选择阅读电子书或者网购书籍，造成了许多传统书店面临着关门或者入不敷出的境况。请你根据所给图片，用英文为你校校报的“Hot Spots in Focus(热点聚焦)”栏目写篇文章谈谈自己的看法。
内容包括：
1. 描述图片反映的现象；2. 简析产生该现象的原因；3. 简要表达你对该现象的看法。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除、或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写上该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写上修改后的词。
注意：1. 每次错误以及修改仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
I have a very busy school life every day. Beside my lessons every day, I’m occupied by various activities. What I have to finish first are masses of homework. So I have to set aside at least of 4 hours a day to do it. In addition to that burden, many out-of-class activities held in my school, some of them, I dare say, are very boring. Although I do think exercise is important to my healthy, exercise also takes up a lot of his spare time. However, I am tired of too much everyday exercise. Every night I am exhausting when I go to bed. How I wish I were in college now.
阅读下面短文, 在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
The London Underground is the oldest underground network in the world. It normally 1.(operate) between 5 am and midnight. Some lines stay open throughout the night on special 2.(occasion), like New Year’s Eve. The London Underground stations can get very 3.(crowd) during the weekday rush hours. Over the decades the London Underground stations have been modernized. In the past few years, many 4.(equip) with Wi-Fi access to make passengers’ journeys as comfortable as possible. 5. well-known symbol of the London Underground, a red circle with a blue bar, was created at the 6.(begin) of the 20th century and has not changed much since then. Some of the London Underground stations are buildings 7. have special architectural values. Many original stations have been restored 8. they look similar to the way they did over a century ago.
With so many people 9.(use) it every day, the London Underground faces environmental problems. Because the water level of the Thames is on the rise 10.(constant), thousands of cubic meters of water must be pumped out of the underground stations every day.
I was in a big hurry today, I had to be somewhere before noon and the traffic was terrible. As I was making my way through the traffic, I saw an old man standing on one leg and trying to _______ to the passing cars, with the _______ that one of them would stop. No one stopped. He looked very sweaty and I felt so _______ that he had to stand like that in the terrible _______. I decided to help him. As soon as I _______ him, I put my hazard lights on and pulled over. He was _______ to see a woman, and hesitated to come into my car.
I called out to him, “Why don’t you get inside. It’s so hot for you.”
He _______ seemed a little shocked but he opened the door and got into the seat, I _______ the air conditioning for him and then we started our _______.
He kept thanking me and blessing me all the way. He was a ________ army officer and he said he had been ________ for over three hours.
I thanked him for his blessings and asked him where I should drop him off. He said, “I am sure you are a busy lady, ________ let me get down here. It will be ________ for me to get a taxi in this area.” I ________ him a taxi and he got down to bid me good bye, thanking me and blessing me again.
I then rushed on to where I had to be. As soon as I got in, I got a ________ from my husband saying his company had ________ a big contract. This was a very big ________ because my husband’s company was brand new. I was so happy. I ________ that I had done one small kind thing and ________ we had got so much.
I took my husband shopping that day to ________. My husband has asked me to buy something to someone to share some of our good luck.
1.A.reply B.point C.gesture D.come
2.A.mistake B.disappointment C.anger D.hope
3.A.amusing B.normal C.sorry D.embarrassing
4.A.clothes B.heat C.coldness D.smoke
5.A.left B.called C.directed D.approached
6.A.surprised B.proud C.depressed D.funny
7.A.only B.still C.also D.never
8.A.bought B.repaired C.showed D.adjusted
9.A.interview B.journey C.lecture D.work
10.A.present B.lazy C.retired D.future
11.A.speaking B.quarrelling C.waiting D.sitting
12.A.so B.but C.if D.because
13.A.necessary B.easy C.unfair D.silly
14.A.refused B.promised C.drove D.found
15.A.notice B.call C.bless D.invitation
16.A.won B.met C.lost D.prepared
17.A.damage B.error C.achievement D.discovery
18.A.regretted B.joked C.complained D.hoped
19.A.in return B.in total C.on purpose D.in short
20.A.research B.escape C.save D.celebrate
