About a year ago, I had to spend a week in a hospital, because of the deadly food poisoning. There I met an elderly woman, who _______ to be a professional musician. That time when I met her, the idea of learning to sing didn't _______ my mind. I thought it was something _______ and not meant for me, like being an airplane pilot.
And only recently, I suddenly decided to learn singing.1 was _______ my dog early in the morning. I sang _______ to myself and it made me feel so wonderful. At that moment I _______ I had known more good songs and how to control my _________ better. And then I thought, why didn't I take some singing lessons? Of course, it was not a (n) _________ skill that I could use at work, but not everything in this life is about actual _______ and income.
It was easy to find that woman. I remembered her name and there was only one ______________ college in our city. I was ______________ she would reject me because l was a terrible ______________. But she took my request very ______________. She understood how important music was ______________ one's soul. In my first lesson, she sat at the gorgeous big piano and ______________ some rising notes that I had to repeat. At first I was terrified to ______________ because I feared being judged and criticized. But my teacher was kind and professional.________________, she was strict when she knew I could do better.
Learning to sing was like learning to walk. It was like ________________ that all your life you had some superpower but were not aware of its ______________. Singing taught me more than just being able to take some high or low ______________. Most importantly, it taught me to be braver about expressing myself and my opinions.
1.A.turned out B.ran out C.went out D.called on
2.A.lose B.cross C.change D.slip
3.A.realistic B.fashionable C.unavailable D.worthless
4.A.sorting B.owning C.evolving D.walking
5.A.jokingly B.painfully C.lightly D.properly
6.A.planned B.wished C.heard D.regretted
7.A.sound B.hope C.talk D.voice
8.A.practical B.different C.interesting D.accurate
9.A.benefit B.damage C.habits D.dates
10.A.literary B.architectural C.medical D.musical
11.A.angry B.afraid C.surprised D.pleased
12.A.citizen B.patient C.amateur D.friend
13.A.casually B.seriously C.rudely D.uniquely
14.A.from B.under C.for D.during
15.A.wrote B.left C.played D.kept
16.A.make a sound B.take a walk C.write the song D.tell the truth
17.A.Instead B.Therefore C.Moreover D.However
18.A.giving out B.admitting to C.belonging to D.finding out
19.A.existence B.contents C.purpose D.forms
20.A.words B.notes C.noises D.spirits
Not long ago, no one understood that infectious diseases were caused by tiny organisms that moved from person to person. Even now, although we know that tiny living microbes cause disease, how they do so is not always obvious. 1. They can also be transmitted through our skin through insect or animal bites. The best way to prevent infections is to block pathogens (病菌)from entering the body.
The first line of defense is to keep germs at bay by following good personal health habits. Wash your hands well. You probably wash your hands after using the bathroom, before preparing or eating food, and after gardening or other dirty tasks. 2. Wet your hands thoroughly. Lather(泡沫)up with soap or cleanser, and rub it into the palms and backs of your hands and your wrists. Be sure to clean your fingertips, under your nails and between your fingers. Wash under running water. 3.
Whether you are young or young at heart, getting vaccinated(接种疫苗)is an essential part of staying healthy. 4. such as a temporarily sore arm or low fever, they are generally safe and effective. Vaccinations are essential if you are to avoid getting sick. In general, children should receive the recommended childhood vaccinations. Adults should make sure their vaccinations are up to date. When traveling abroad, check with your health care provider about additional immunizations(免疫).
5. Stay clear of wild animals. Many wild animals, including bats, foxes and coyotes, can spread the virus to humans by biting. Keep your pets away from wild animals, too. Dogs, cats or any other type of warm-blooded animal can pick up the virus and pass the virus along to people.
A.Dry your hands and wrists thoroughly.
B.Use animal control to prevent infections.
C.While vaccines may cause some common side effects,
D.Although vaccines can not prevent some rare diseases,
E.Other wild animals can not transmit the virus and other infections.
F.We do know that most microbes enter through openings in the body.
G.You should also wash up after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
As Wilson Guarin watched the helicopter roaring above, he wondered if the men being lifted into the sky felt the risk had been worth it.
Moments earlier, Guarin and his children had hiked to Hermit Falls in Angeles National Forest, one of the most popular waterfalls in the Los Angeles area. Soon after they arrived, they saw a man dislocate his shoulder when he jumped into the rock pool at the base of Hermit Falls. Less than a minute later, another man jumped and appeared to break both his legs. Guarin said the cliff jumpers' intentions were obvious. They wanted to get a video of themselves and post it to social media.
A thirst among hikers, often inexperienced and under-prepared, to collect "likes" and shares on Instagram and other social media sites has led to a significant increase in rescue missions by first responders.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff' s Department's Search and Rescue teams conducted 681 missions in 2017, the largest number in five years. It' s a 38% increase from the 491 rescues they did in 2013.
The teams' leaders say the single largest factor for that increase is people posting videos of extreme activities online. Then, without any thought about the difficulty, others try to recreate their own 15-second version of glory.
On Instagram, posts from visitors venturing to waterfalls and swimming holes in Angeles National Forest and other recreation areas show hikers changed into models, striking seemingly the same poses in the same places.
We shouldn't discourage people from enjoying the outdoors. But many accidents are avoidable and happen either when people go off trail or ignore official warnings about an area being closed and visit anyway.
Guarin still thinks about the two men he watched hitching helicopter rides to a hospital. "You get concerned about what people are willing to do - to not have fun. It's risking everything for no reason. "
Well, there are the "likes".
1.What happened to the two jumpers'?
A.They both got badly injured.
B.They were trapped in a rock pool.
C.They were rescued by the Guarins.
D.They were caught in an air crash.
2.What is the main reason for the increase in the number of rescues?
A.Hikers are inexperienced and under-prepared.
B.Helicopters are readily available in more areas.
C.Travelers go off trail or ignore official warnings.
D.More people share their extreme activities online.
3.What do the figures imply in paragraph 4?
A.More social rescues are timely and effective.
B.More attention is paid from the social media.
C.More people raise the awareness of self-defense.
D.More public resources are obviously being occupied.
4.What does Guarin think of the jumpers' action?
A.It is not a wise thing to do.
B.It is their own version of glory
C.Watching it online is a lot of fun.
D.Getting "likes" makes it worthwhile.
Faced with greater competition, movie theaters have tried multiple experiments to upgrade the cinematic experience, including bigger and brighter screens and rumbling(折叠) seats. But a major challenge for exhibitors is to make the experience more attractive without depending on tricks.
One local theater, Regal L. A. Live, is experimenting with an idea that managers say strikes the right balance between so-called increase and sensory overload. The downtown L. A. theater plans to introduce Immersive Cinema Experience known as ICE technology in one of its auditoriums(礼堂) this fall.
The 190-seat auditorium will feature a traditional screen at the front, 1ike any other theater. But the audience will also have five LED screens on both sides that will flood moviegoers' peripheral (周围的 ) vision with lights and colors based on what's playing on the main screen. For example, if you're watching a scene that takes place in the African desert, the LED might shower the audience with enveloping colors of sky-blue, sun-like yellow sand. But importantly, viewers won't have to turn their necks to catch any additional onscreen action. "When you' re watching the movie, you actually feel very absorbed into the film," said Shelby Russell, a manager at L. A. Live. "It strengthens the mood of each of the scenes."
Regal L. A. Live will be the first U. S. theater to employ the technology. Managers did not say how much tickets will cost, but like other previous formats such as Imax, they will be more expensive than standard admissions.
Other cinemas have tried to introduce some other formats as theaters face growing threats from popular media. Results have been mixed, though. 4DX, which uses seat movements, water and scent effects, operates in more than 620 theaters around the world. On the other hand, Barcoo Escape, a once promising idea for a three-screen theatrical design, failed to catch on. Shelby said the success of ICE theaters in France, where it competes with Imax, indicates well for its U. S. expansion. "The problem with other formats is that they distract the moviegoer from the film," Shelby said. "ICE appeals to a very large audience."
1.What leads cinemas to experiment with new technology?
A.Expensive admissions
B.Growing competition
C.Mixed results of previous formats
D.The increasing number of moviegoers
2.What does ICE use to upgrade cinematic experience?
A.Brighter colors
B.Rumbling seats
C.Multiple screens
D.Sweet-scented effects
3.How do audience feel when watching films in an ICE cinema?
A.Absorbed into the movie
B.Distracted from the screens
C.Overloaded with excitement
D.Tired from turning their necks
4.What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A.Imax failed to catch on in France.
B.ICE looks promising in the U.S.
C.Barcoo Escape is a popular design.
D.The use of 4DX is on the decline.
Growing up in an Italian-American household was, for me, pretty special. My mother, Gina, an immigrant from Italy, held on to so many of her family's traditions that at times, regardless of the fact that I was living in American, our home felt like in Italy.
To this day, my mother only speaks to me in Italian. She may speak in some English terms and expressions from time to time, but our conversations are, for the most part, in her mother tongue. And most of those conversations are about food. For us, food —Italian food is an important part of our lives. The food my mother prepared for me and my sister as children is the same food my grandmother created in her small farm kitchen high up in the mountains.
One of my family's dishes of heritage I made sure to learn and perfect is my mother's arancini di riso (Italian rice balls). Arancini, in Italian, means little oranges. After you roll some leftover rice into a small ball, place a piece of mozzarella (马苏里拉奶酪 ) in the center, then bread that and fry it, the golden outside resembles one of our favorite fruits. For my family, it also showcased my mother' s ability to always find a delicious way to never let anything go to waste: Last night's good rice was repurposed into this perfect mid-day snack or dinner appetizer.
So, when I take a perfect little arancini out of the hot oil and crack it open, I am immediately transported back to my childhood: I am a little girl getting off the bus and running through the back door to the smell of last night's rice transformed into sticky, delicate goodness. This small snack symbolizes so many important elements in my life: my mother' s waste-not philosophy, her ability to take a few simple ingredients and transform them, and finally, the way she carried her mother' s recipes to the U. S. in her mind and heart so she could, years later, teach me about my heritage through food.
Eating arancini, and all the other recipes my mother continued to make here in the U. S. after leaving Italy, allowed her to teach me who I am, where I come from, and why I should be proud of it all.
1.What makes the author's home feel like in Italy?
A.Fruit and snacks.
B.Neighbors and friends.
C.Names and holidays.
D.Food and language.
2.Why does the author make sure to learn and perfect arancini di riso?
A.It saves valuable food from going to waste.
B.It reminds the author of her days at school.
C.It plays a major role in continuing family tradition.
D.It showcases the cooking skills of the author's mother.
3.What does the underlined word "goodness" in paragraph 4 refer to?
A.Arancini di riso.
B.Mother' s kindness.
C.The Italian language.
D.Amazing cooking skills.
4.What is the text mainly about?
A.Why learning to cook is important for a mother.
B.How the family heritage is taught through food.
C.How childhood experiences change one's life.
D.Why mothers are important in children's education.
Summer Boarding Courses
Ages: 8~12 Dates: Monday 13 July~Monday 10 August 2020
Courses: General English or Junior Summer Study
SBC Oxford Summer School is held at the world-renowned Dragon School in Oxford. The Dragon School is one of the UK's top Prep Schools and is located in a beautiful area of leafy Oxford. The summer school is just a 20-minute walk from the centre of this historic city. Our summer school for young learners has one member of staff for every five students, thus making it the ideal choice for students studying away from home for the first time.
Ages: 13~16 Dates: Saturday 4th July~Saturday 18th July 2020
Courses: English, Mathematics, Humanities, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths)
Eton College provides international students with the opportunity to study at one of the world's most famous schools. Founded in 1440 by King Henry VI, Eton College has educated 20 British Prime Ministers as well as numerous authors, scientists, actors, and Olympians.
Ages: 15~18 Dates: Monday 6 July~Monday 3 August 2020
Courses: Business & Leadership, International Relations, Law and Medicine
Cambridge College Summer School takes place at Clare College, the University of Cambridge. Clare College was founded in 1326 and is the university's second oldest remaining college. The picturesque campus is located on the banks of the River Cam and just 15 minutes from the centre of Cambridge. The summer courses are specifically designed for international students. Our courses teach English through the study of specific academic subjects and prepare students for further study or professional life in their chosen field.
1.What can we learn about the Dragon School in Oxford?
A.Students graduate here at the age of 12.
B.A class here is no bigger than 5 students.
C.It's located not far from the city center.
D.It's offering summer courses for the first time.
2.Which one will you probably choose if you are interested in engineering?
A.Dragon School. B.Clare College.
C.Oxford College. D.Eton College.
3.How do students learn English at Cambridge College Summer School?
A.Through the course of General English.
B.Through the study of academic subjects.
C.Through further study in other chosen fields.
D.Through communication with international students.