2019 年 10 月 1 日庆祝中华人民共和国成立 70 周年阅兵式在北京成功...

阅读下面短文，并按照题目要求用英语回答问题。

Cao Yuan proved he was special at age 14 when he was enrolled in the University of Science and Technology of  China’s  School  of  the  Gifted Young, which is a special  school  to  nurture

teenagers into world-class talents.

But Cao himself didn’t think he was special. He often stressed that he was just an ordinary kid who loved reading about science and doing experiments.

But there is other evidence that Cao is a bit different. On Dec 19，the now 22-year-old doctoral candidate in physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT)，US，was named one of the 10 people who mattered this year by the journal Nature. It was for discovering a“magic angle”in graphene（石墨烯）sheets that he has opened up a new field of superconductor physics（超导体物理学）.

Graphene, first discovered in 2004, is a material made of a single layer of carbon atoms. It’s the thinnest and strongest material in the world. Cao’s work shows that when two layers of graphene are cooled to 1.7 C above absolute zero（-273 C）and rotated（旋转） to a “magic angle”of 1.1 degrees，the upper layer of graphene exhibits nonconducting behaviors.

However, Cao found that these electrons(电子) could flow in the graphene sandwich freely — as if they were traveling through a superconductor —when small amounts of electrons were added to the structure.

The discovery is exciting. “One can imagine making a superconducting transistor out of graphene, which you can switch on and off ， from superconducting to insulating” ， Pablo Jarillo-Herrero，Cao’s professor at MIT，told Science Daily.

But why was Cao able to make the discovery? Both his high school physics teacher Huang Jiatang and Jarillo-Herrero attribute it to Cao’s capacity for independent learning and interest in doing experiments.

Huang said that he remembered that as a young kid Cao had a strong ability to study on his own, a love for hands-on experiments and was unafraid to challenge teachers and ask difficult questions.

Cao seems to be a highly inquisitive young man. Jarillo-Herrero told Nature that  Cao’s hobbies include photographing the night sky using homemade cameras. “Every time I go in Cao's office, it’s a huge mess, with computers taken apart and pieces of telescope all over his desk,” he said.

But even with such convincing proof, Cao still sees himself as an ordinary college student. “After all, we are all humans, with flaws and emotions,” he said.

1.Why was Cao Yuan listed Person of the Year by the journal Nature? (within 20 words)

2.Is graphene a new metal? What is it? (within 15 words)

3.What are the factors that lead to Cao’s achievement? List two of them. (within 15 words)

4.What does the underlined word “inquisitive” mean? (within 2 words)

5.What’s the title of the article? (within 10 words)

    Americans are proud of their variety and individuality, yet they love and respect few things more than a uniform, whether it is the uniform of an elevator operator or the uniform of a five-star general. Why are uniforms so popular in the United States?

Among the arguments for uniforms, one of the first is that in the eyes of most people they look more professional than civilian( 百姓的) clothes. People have become conditioned to ( 习惯于) expect superior quality from a man who wears a uniform. The television repairman who wears uniform tends to inspire more trust than one who appears in civilian clothes. Faith in the skill of a garage mechanic is increased by a uniform. What easier way is there for a nurse a policeman, a barber, or a waiter to lose professional identity than to step out of uniform?

Uniforms also have many practical benefits. They save on other clothes. They save on laundry bills. They are tax-deductible (可减税的) . They are often more comfortable and more durable than civilian clothes.

Primary among the arguments against uniforms is their lack of variety and the consequent loss of individuality experienced by people who must wear them. Though there are many types of uniforms, the wearer of any particular type is generally stuck with it, without change, until retirement. When people look alike, they tend to think, speak, and act similarly, on the job at least.

Uniforms also give rise to some practical problems. Though they are long-lasting , often their initial expense is greater than the cost of civilian clothes. Some uniforms are also expensive to maintain, requiring professional dry cleaning rather than the home laundering possible with many types of civilian clothes.

1.It is surprising that Americans who worship variety and individuality ______.

A.still judge a man by his clothes

B.enjoy having a professional identity

C.hold the uniform in such high regard

D.will respect an elevator operator as much as a general in uniform

2.People are accustomed to think that a man in uniform ______.

A.suggests quality work

B.appears to be more practical

C.discards (丢弃;抛弃)his social identity

D.looks superior to a person in civilian clothes

3.The chief function of a uniform is to ______.

A.provide practical benefits to the wearer.

B.provide the wearer with a professional identity

C.inspire the wearer’s confidence in himself

D.make the wearer catch the public eye

4.According to the passage, people wearing uniforms ______.

A.are usually helpful

B.have little or no individual freedom

C.enjoy greater popularity

D.tend to lose their individuality

5.The best title for this passage would be ______.

A.Uniforms and Society

B.The Importance of Wearing a Uniform

C.Advantages and Disadvantages of Uniforms

D.Practical Benefits of Wearing a Uniform

    People who have got rhythm might have an advantage when it comes to language and reading skills. A new study shows the brains of people who can move to a musical beat react to speech on a more consistent basis than those who can't. Researchers also find that musical training can sharpen the brain’s response to language.

The researchers say their discovery provides the first biological link between the ability to  keep a beat and how the brain responds to speech, something that can have important value for reading skills. To gather materials for their research, the team got more than 100 teenagers who lived in Chicago, Illinois. The teens were given two tests. First, they were instructed to listen to and tap their fingers along to the beat. The researchers calculated low accurately their young volunteers were able to tap along to the musical timekeeper. Second, the teen subjects were linked to an EEG device, which measures electrical activity in the brain. The EEG device was focused on an area of the brain that not only processes sound, but is also connected to parts of the brain responsible for motor-movement. The researchers recorded the brainwaves as their teen subjects listened to the synthesized speech sound, which was repeated irregularly for half an hour. The researchers were able to find out how the nerve cells in that particular region of the brain responded every time the synthesized sound was played.“Across this population of adolescents, the more accurate they were at tapping along to the beat, the more consistent their brains' response to the letter unit was,” said Nina Kraus.

While past studies have showed the links between reading skills and a person’s ability to keep a beat, the researchers said their new findings show the hearing system is what provides a common basis for those links. “Rhythm is naturally a part of music and language.” Nina said.

1.According to the first paragraph, what can get the brain’s reaction to language more effectively?

A.Rhythm. B.Reading skills.

C.Language. D.Musical training.

2.What can we lean about “ the first biological link” mentioned in Paragraph 2?

A.It shows how the brain works.

B.It is very important for reading ability.

C.It shows how the brain reacts to speech.

D.It is helpful to researchers' findings.

3.The underlined word“subjects”in Paragraph 2 probably means “______”.

A.persons or animals that are studied in an experiment or a research

B.areas of knowledge studied in a school, college, and so on

C.things that are being discussed in a conversation or a book

D.persons or things that are the main features of works of art

4.It can be inferred from the last paragraph that ______.

A.reading skills may make language learners keep a beat

B.the hearing system may be useless while a person is learning to read

C.the hearing system may separate sound from meaning while a person is reading

D.the hearing system may be used while a person is reading or taking musical training

5.What can we conclude from this passage?

A.Moving to a musical beat is more popular.

B.Experts are expanding their studies on rhythm.

C.Rhythm might help us improve our reading skills.

D.Experts find the links between the hearing system and reading.

    It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, career, and life itself got in  the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife  and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, “Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday.” Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

“Jack, did you hear me?”

“Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It’s been so long since I thought of him. I’m sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago,” Jack said.

“Well, he didn’t forget you. Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing. He’d reminisce about the many days you spent over ‘his side of the fence’ as he put it,” Mom told him.

“I loved that old house he lived in,” Jack said.

“You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man’s influence in your life,” she said.

“He’s the one who taught me carpentry. I wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important… Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral,” Jack said.

Busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser’s funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time, which was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture… Jack stopped suddenly.

“What’s wrong, Jack?” his Mom asked. “The box is gone,” he said.

“What box?” Mom asked.

“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he’d ever tell me was ‘the thing I value most’,” Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

“Now, I’ll never know what was so valuable to him,” Jack said sadly.

Returning to his office the next day, he found a package on his desk. The return address caught his attention.

“Mr. Harold Belser” it read. Jack tore open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack’s hands shook as he read the note inside.

“Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It’s the thing I valued most in my life.” A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, and tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the fine cover, he opened it.

Inside he found these words carved: “Jack, thanks for your time! Harold Belser.” “Oh, My God! This is the thing he valued most…”

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his assistant and cleared his appointments for the next two days. “Why?” his assistant asked.

“I need some time to spend with my son,” he said.

1.Why did Jack think Mr. Belser died years ago?

A.College and career prevented him from remembering Mr. Bleser.

B.Jack was too busy with his business and family to think about Mr. Belser.

C.Jack was too busy realizing his dreams to think about Mr. Belser.

D.His present busy life washed away his childhood memories.

2.Jack’s mother told him on the phone about Mr. Belser EXCEPT that ______.

A.Mr. Belser often asked how Jack was doing

B.Mr. Belser’s funeral would take place on Wednesday

C.Mr. Belser had asked for Jack’s mailing address

D.Mr. Belser had pleasant memories of their time together

3.What does the underlined word “reminisce” mean in paragraph 5?

A.recover B.reveal

C.recommend D.recall

4.Why did Belser send Jack his gold watch?

A.Because he had no children or relatives.

B.Because he thought he had to keep his word.

C.Because he was grateful for Jack’s time with him.

D.Because Jack had always wanted it during his childhood.

5.Jack said he needed some time to spend with his son because ______.

A.he came to realize the importance of the time with his family

B.he had promised to spare more time to stay with his son

C.he had missed his son and his family for days

D.he was very tired of his work and wanted to have a good rest.

6.Which of the following is the most suitable title for this passage?

A.The Good Old Times B.What He Valued Most

C.An Old Gold Watch D.The Lost Childhood Days

Below is a housing guide for students going to London.

University accommodation (住所)offices

Many university accommodation offices have their own list of registered landlords (房东). Others also provide information on accommodation agencies and other housing organizations. The advantage of using your university accommodation office is that you can get some support if you have 'a problem. The disadvantage is that they are unlikely to have enough registered landlords to house all their students.

Property papers: Loot and Renting

Loot is an important source (来源) of information about private housing for co-renters. The offers are from private landlords, agencies and individuals looking for other co-renters. They also have a website: www. loot. com. The advantage of using Loot is that there are some excellent bargains. The disadvantage is that there is no quality control over the offers.

Renting is another useful paper. The offers in this paper are mainly from accommodation agencies. Their website is at www. Renting.co. uk.

Accommodation agencies

The majority of rented accommodation in London is probably advertised through accommodation agencies. The advantage of using accommodation agencies is that you will have access to a large number of accommodations. A good agent will listen to your requirements and can save you time in looking for the right accommodation. The disadvantage is that they will make a range of charges to potential renters.

Noticeboards

Around the universities you will find a number of noticeboards where offers of accommodation will be posted. These will either be from landlords or from students. Some universities will also have online noticeboards where students can advertise to other students.  Advertisements from students can be an excellent way to find                                                             accommodation. However, advertisements from landlords can be problematic.

Word of mouth

Some of the best housing in London is never advertised but is passed on from one group of students to another by word of mouth. It might be that you can find out about good offers from final year students. However, don't suppose that just because you have found out about housing from a friend it is necessarily, going to be better than that found through any other source.

Family

Faced with the very high rents charged in London, some students and their parents will consider buying as an alternative. In some cases this might be a good choice.

1.What is the advantage of using Loot?

A.It has more offers from accommodation agencies than Renting.

B.It gives you personal information about other co-renters.

C.Their website is designed mainly for students.

D.There are some good bargains.

2.A good agent can help you .

A.know more people

B.find cheap accommodation

C.get the right accommodation quickly

D.get free information about most accommodations

3.The information passed on by word of mouth is important because .

A.it is better than that found through any other source

B.it helps you find some of the best housing never advertised

C.the final year students always offer better information

D.the landlords have little valuable information

4.For students going to London for the first time, which of the following provides the most reliable information?

A.University accommodation offices.

B.Loot and Renting.

C.Noticeboards.

D.Family.