One day, the sewer line (污水管道) under our house burst open. My first reaction was to _______ the pipe repairer, but when he heard what was on, he _______ . He did, however, recommend someone. I made the call, _______ the man to complain about such a terrible job. _______ , he simply asked, “The _______?”
And that was it. An hour later, Steve arrived in his truck. He looked exactly like what I had imagined: rough and bearlike. I _______ as he walked down into the wet depths. A few moments later he _______ , saying, “Yep. It’s broken.”
“Can you fix it?” I asked with a mixture of doubt and _______.
Steve looked at me as if scolding me for lack of _______, saying, “Sure.” Then he told me that he ________ to tear up the street to the main sewer line.
“How long will all this take?” I asked.
“I should have it done by evening.”
I didn’t ________ to watch the digging. All I wanted was to leave, go somewhere, and upon my ________, have everything the way it was before the damage. I felt somewhat ________ upon driving off in my clean vehicle, leaving Steve such a (n) ________ task. I went into town and visited a few friends. ________, around 6 pm, my curiosity got the better of me. I went home, and there was a sweeter ________ I never saw: an area of newly-covered street across my front lawn (草坪). I opened the underground room door and — all was________ and dry.
I sat down and thought about Steve — big and rough Steve, and how people, upon seeing him, might judge him. His good job taught me a lesson: Never judge people by their ________ . And I was taken by the very idea that, whatever might happen to a(n) ________ homeowner, there is somebody who is skilled in its solution. If that’s not a reason for ________, I’m not sure what is.
1.A.visit B.call C.ask D.remind
2.A.apologized B.refused C.complained D.shouted
3.A.requiring B.telling C.forcing D.expecting
4.A.Instead B.Therefore C.Again D.Then
5.A.direction B.payment C.address D.problem
6.A.remained B.watched C.hesitated D.followed
7.A.arrived B.stayed C.nodded D.appeared
8.A.hope B.anxiety C.pleasure D.disappointment
9.A.wisdom B.strength C.trust D.energy
10.A.used B.failed C.struggled D.needed
11.A.decide B.volunteer C.want D.agree
12.A.return B.repair C.check D.arrival
13.A.nervous B.comfortable C.relaxed D.guilty
14.A.dangerous B.dirty C.urgent D.meaningless
15.A.Surprisingly B.Thankfully C.Eventually D.Fortunately
16.A.situation B.place C.environment D.sight
17.A.warm B.tidy C.new D.empty
18.A.appearance B.job C.voice D.action
19.A.helpless B.careless C.fearless D.harmless
20.A.celebration B.consideration C.appreciation D.excitement
Nowadays, people tend to take a selfie (自拍照) wherever they are. However, not all of them can take a perfect selfie. 1. So we’re going to give you tips on how to get a perfect one.
● Use several devices (设备). Before you can even think about uploading (上传) a selfie on your social networking site, you need to decide which device to use in the first place. Although there are many devices you can use to take a selfie, the best one is a smart phone with front and back cameras. But it doesn’t mean that your other devices can’t come in handy. 2. In the end, all that matters is how well you practice and can get the right shots.
● Catch good lighting and the background. To get a great selfie, you have to pay close attention to the lighting and background. If you’re taking a selfie indoors, the best place to be is facing a window or door where natural light is shining right on your face. This really brightens up the picture. 3.
● Aim for untraditional shots. Try taking a selfie with your pet. 4. One great thing about the selfie is that you don’t need to wait for the right time or place. You can reach out for your camera at once, make a pose, and get a rocking selfie.
● 5. Relax, enjoy, click—these are the three basic rules you need to follow.
A.Try to avoid the serious face.
B.Pretend to be very happy all the time.
C.Taking a selfie needs practice and skills.
D.You remember to show your best smiles there.
E.For an outdoor selfie, face the sun to make it work.
F.You just have to understand how each of them works.
G.It’s interesting to see what kind of expression it will give.
In the long dispute over whether dogs are smarter than cats, a recent study published in the journal Learning & Behavior suggests that dogs are no more exceptional than other animals when it comes to smartness and intelligence.
The news is sure to cause the debate among dog owners and scientists who study dog behaviors. The authors reviewed existing studies and data on animal cognition (认知) and found that while dogs are smart and trainable, they are not “super smart”, despite what most dog owners will tell you. Dog research was quite popular in the 1990s and continues to be so. When it came to other animals, though, scientific studies on intelligence were barely involved in, despite evidence to suggest that horses, chimpanzees ( 黑猩猩 ) and cats had tricks of their own. Almost everything a dog claimed to do, other animals could do too.
Researchers set out to test the supposition (假设，猜想). They compared dog cognition with members of three similar groups: meat-eating animals, social hunters and farm animals. Among the animals they studied were wolves, cats, chimpanzees, dolphins, horses and pigeons. What they found was that “dog cognition does not look exceptional”. Dogs can not use tools, unlike dolphins, New Caledonian crows and chimpanzees, which have been observed using plant stems to hunt for termites (白蚁). Homing pigeons are trained to fly home, sometimes crossing hundreds of miles of unfamiliar area. At the same time, farm animals share similar characters with their dog partners. Horses, like dogs, perform complex tasks. And cats? They have more in common with dogs than one might think. Still it is much easier to show intelligence in dogs because they like to be trained. Dogs are not smarter than they are supposed to be, given what they are.
1.What opinion does the recent study hold about dogs?
A.They can be trained to do many things.
B.They don’t have any intelligent advantage.
C.They’re lazy compared with chimpanzees.
D.They show exceptional smartness when trained.
2.How did the researchers conduct the study?
A.By referring to existing studies and data.
B.By comparing animals’ cognition ability.
C.By questionnaire surveys on dog owners.
D.By observing different animals’ behaviors.
3.What do we infer about cats from the last paragraph?
A.Cats can use tools to fish.
B.Cats can go home from far away.
C.Cats can learn to do complex tasks.
D.Cats are more unwilling to be trained.
4.What is the main idea of the text?
A.Cats are smarter than they were.
B.Dogs aren’t so clever as we think.
C.Any animal is smart and trainable.
D.All animals should be treated equally.
Do you want to look fashionable? Is looking fashionable more important than being comfortable? Many people seem to think so, judging by the things they wear. But fashion is not everything. It is more important to be a healthy and good person.
People go to great lengths to be fashionable. Some people think they have to have a certain body type, so they go on extreme, unhealthy diets in order to change their bodies. In addition, many women wear uncomfortable fashions, such as high-heeled shoes that create blisters(水泡), tight body shapers that limit blood flow, and sticky false eyelashes(假睫毛). Men and women alike spend time and money on products that change their natural hair color and use hot irons and blow dryers to curl or straighten their hair. Some people spend several hours a day in front of a mirror. Is fashion important enough to spend so much time and effort on changing how they look like?
If the purpose of fashion is to make a person feel good, it does not make sense that he or she would go through so much discomfort to be fashionable. Fashion should not come first. People should prioritize(优先考虑)being healthy and positive. What people wear does not indicate anything about their personalities. Instead of spending hours choosing a suit, perhaps you should call your friends and do something together. Instead of going on strict diets and starving, why not eat some healthy foods and then exercise? By doing these things, you can keep a healthy lifestyle and truly grow as a person.
1.Why does the author include questions in the text?
A.To enrich the content.
B.To introduce a new topic.
C.To reflect different attitudes.
D.To make readers think and give their opinions.
2.Which statement best represents the author’s viewpoint?
A.Fashion can make people do some unhealthy things.
B.Fashion increases famous people’s self-respect.
C.When you look good, you feel good.
D.People need to diet to lose weight.
3.Which of the following activities would the author most likely recommend?
A.Shopping for fashionable clothes.
B.Starting a new diet with a friend.
C.Going skating with friends.
D.Changing the hairstyle every week.
4.The author’s main purpose in writing the text is to .
A.show readers advantages and disadvantages of dieting
B.persuade readers to value health more than fashion
C.tell readers ways to become fashionable
D.inform readers of the latest fashion trends
Born in 1988 in Saint Michael, Barbados, Robyn Rihanna Fenty has rocked the entertainment world with her contributions to pop music. In her early teens, Rihanna was greatly inspired by reggae（雷盖音乐）singer Bob Marley and pop singer Madonna. She was lucky enough to get her first opportunity at the age of 15, when her friend introduced her to an experienced music composer Evan Rogers from New York.
Rihanna moved to US to start a career in music, and recorded under the guidance of Rogers and his partner Carl Sturken. Later, Shane Carter recognized her talent and had her sign a contract with Def Jam Recordings.
Rihanna has been musically influenced by famous artists, such as Beyonce Knowles, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, and Bob Marley. In 2005, Rihanna released her debut album (首张专辑) Music of the Sun, which included the single hit Pon de Replay. This single broke all records and peaked at No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts, as well as the UK charts.
Her second single If It’s Lovin’ That You Want was at No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, and No. 11 on the UK charts. Rihanna released her second album A Girl Like Me in 2006, which included the hit song and lead single S.O.S. (Rescue Me). This single peaked at the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 2006, Rihanna also tried her luck in films, and made her acting debut playing a role in Bring It On: All or Nothing. The next year, she released her third album Good Girl Gone Bad, which had hit tracks like Umbrella, Hate That I Love You, and Don’t Stop the Music, among others. In the same year, at the MTV Video Music Awards, Rihanna won two awards for the hit single Umbrella. In 2008, Rihanna won her first Grammy Award for her hit single Umbrella. So far, Rihanna has won 45 awards in various categories.
1.What plays an important role in Rihanna’s success?
A.The support of her friends.
B.The encouragement of her family.
C.The help and influence of successful musicians.
D.The education she received at school.
2.What happened to Rihanna when she was eighteen years old?
A.She began to act in films.
B.She started a career in music.
C.She began to release albums.
D.She won her first Grammy Award.
3.What do we know about Rihanna’s second single If It’s Lovin’ That You Want?
A.It was not as successful as her first single.
B.It was released in 2006.
C.It was included in her third album.
D.It was more successful than her third single.
4.Which song earned rewards for Rihanna for two years in a row?
A.Don’t Stop the Music B.Pon de Replay.
C.Hate That I Love You. D.Umbrella
Take a day trip from Dover to Calais for just ￡1
We’ve teamed up with P&O Ferries so you can enjoy a great day out in France with the family, sailing from Dover to Calais, plus, while on board, you can shop for lots of great bargains at reduced high street prices.
While on board, forget the stress of the high street and shop in style with P&O Ferries. Not only can you save up to 50 percent on the UK high street prices but you'll have plenty of choices of famous brand names such as Paul Smith, Dior, Hugo Boss, and Clinique, to name a few.
Stock up(贮备) on champagne, wine, beer and spirits at low prices! Why not fill up the car and save up to 30% off the UK beer, wine and spirits?
If you really want to treat yourself, why not enjoy the first-class dining experience—Mayfair’s famous Langan’s Brasserie, free for passengers of P&O Ferries’ ships.
Dover to Calais, day trips
Foot passenger from ￡1—Travel as a foot passenger from Dover to Calais, for just ￡1 from Sunday to Thursday or ￡1 on Fridays and Saturdays when booked online. There is a ￡1 more charge per person for booking by phone. Depart after 8:25 am and return before 9:00 pm the same day.
Car afternoon trip from ￡15—Depart after 12 at noon and return before midnight the same day with a car and up to 9 people for￡15 when you book online here or￡20 when booked by phone.
Car full day trip from￡18—Depart after 8：00 am and return before midnight the same day. This offer is for your car and up to 9 people from ￡18 when you book online or ￡23 by phone. A￡10 supplement applies for travel on Saturdays.
1.We can infer from the text that P&O Ferries may be ．
A.a famous department B.a wine producer
C.a ship service company D.a big restaurant
2.Which of the following can be free?
A.Dinner of Langan’s Brasserie. B.The UK beer, wine and spirits.
C.Products of famous brands. D.Use of cars during the trip.
3.What’s the main purpose of the text?
A.To compare prices from different companies.
B.To tell the arrangement of a trip.
C.To advertise some services.
D.To introduce a new company
