Where are the Bees?
Bees are essential to the production of food we eat. Bees make honey, but they also pollinate (授粉) large areas of _______ such as strawberries, apples and onions. About a third of the food we eat is a(n) _______ of pollination of the bees. _______, bees have been disappearing at a(n) _______ rate.
In 2006, beekeepers started reporting about something called Colony Collapse Disaster (CCD). The main sign of CCD is the _______ of adult honey bees from a hive. In October of 2006, some beekeepers reported that they had lost between 30 and 90 percent of their hives.
There were many _______ for the disappearance of the bees. But the most convincing one has been _______to pesticides (杀虫剂) and lifestyles of bees today. Nowadays beekeepers get most of their income not from _______ honey but from renting bees to pollinate plants. This means that the life of the typical bee now _______ travelling all around the country to pollinate crops as the ________ change. That means a lot of traveling on trucks, which is very ________ to bees. It is not ________ for up to 30% of the hive to die during ________ due to stress. In addition, bees that spend most of their time locked up on trucks are not ________ what they usually live on. ________, they live on a sweet liquid from corn, usually polluted with pesticides.
The ________ reason for the disappearance of bees is not sure, but losing bees is very ________ to the economy. The bee pollination services are ________ over 8 billion a year. With no bees, pollination will have to be done ________, which would have effects on the quality of food and increase food prices. We hear a lot about big environmental disasters almost every day. ________ one of the biggest may well be the loss of that tiny flying insect.
1.A.flowers B.trees C.crops D.grass
2.A.protection B.result C.power D.impact
3.A.Eventually B.Accidentally C.Interestingly D.Unfortunately
4.A.alarming B.moderate C.amusing D.reasonable
5.A.escape B.loss C.boom D.growth
6.A.chances B.theories C.adjustments D.excuses
7.A.applied B.associated C.related D.involved
8.A.producing B.buying C.keeping D.processing
9.A.includes B.consists C.considers D.stands
10.A.beekeepers B.behaviors C.prices D.seasons
11.A.beneficial B.acceptable C.stressful D.familiar
12.A.likely B.necessary C.unusual D.common
13.A.flight B.circle C.stay D.transport
14.A.interested in B.exposed to C.accustomed to D.hunting for
15.A.Thus B.Otherwise C.Therefore D.Instead
16.A.exact B.extra C.complex D.original
17.A.essential B.dangerous C.insignificant D.costly
18.A.demanding B.remaining C.worth D.valuable
19.A.by chance B.by hand C.in time D.in turn
20.A.But B.For C.Or D.So
People often say that “failure is the mother of success”. 1. As a result, Manalo, a professor of educational psychology in Japan says, “We know we shouldn’t give up when we fail—but in reality, we do.”
Manalo and Manu, a professor of learning sciences in Swiss, put together a special issue (专利) last December on benefiting from failure. The issue’s 15 studies provide teachers and educational researchers with a guide for achieving success. 2. Another confirmed that advice on failures is most constructive when the receiver is prepared to experience unpleasant feelings.
Manalo and his co-authors also focused on overcoming one everyday form of failure: not completing a task. They asked 131 students to write an article about their school experiences. Half of the students received instructions for their writing, and half were left to their own. 3. Afterward the researchers found that those in the instructed group were more willing to complete their articles, compared with those who lacked guidance—even if the latter were closer to being done. 4.
5. Stephanie Couch, the director of the Lemelson-MIT Program, holds the opinion. Couch, whose work was also featured in the special issue, says that we should tell them to think of failure as part of a process toward success.
A.However, all were stopped before finishing.
B.The saying shows the importance of success.
C.Teaching students not to fear failure makes goals achieved more easily.
D.One study reported that the sooner students fail, the sooner they can move forward.
E.Though having some truth to it, the saying does not tell us how to turn a loss into a win.
F.They believed that learning how to fail can help people avoid becoming lasting failures.
G.Knowing how to finish, in other words, was more important than being close to finishing.
It is no secret that physical activity is necessary to a person’s well-being. Because children are continuously developing physically and emotionally, they are especially affected by the benefits of activity. Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative reports that nearly one-third of US children are overweight or obese, and that “schools are a key setting for kids to get their 60 minutes of play with moderate activity, given the significant portion of time they spend there.”
Physical education programs in schools directly benefit students’ physical health. Regular exercise promotes muscles and bone development. In addition to participating in physical activity, students in P.E. learn the fundamentals of a healthful lifestyle, the building blocks upon which they can develop into healthy, knowledgeable adults.
Though the lack of attention on P.E. is often justified as an opportunity to spend more time in the classroom, studies show that physical activity contributes to improved academic performance. Regular activity during the school day is strongly associated with higher concentration levels. A statewide policy in North Carolina requires that children from kindergarten to eighth grade participate in 30 minutes of physical activity each day.
Activities in P.E. help children develop healthful social interactions. From a young age, children learn cooperation through group activities and form a positive sense of identity as part of a team. Such group activities are continually important as children grow older. The International Platform on Sport and Development states that sport has been used as a practical tool to engage young people in their communities through volunteering, resulting in higher levels of leadership and community engagement among young people.
The benefits of P.E. to a child’s mental health are both complex and comprehensive. Improved physical health, academics and social interactions all contribute to good mental health. Physical activity sets the stage for a good night’s sleep, provides more energy to participate in hobbies and interact with others.
1.The first paragraph implies that .
A.children are becoming much lazier nowadays
B.some schools have forbidden physical activity
C.most parents are dissatisfied with school education
D.schools must pay more attention to physical education
2.Physical education is ignored in a way because .
A.children dislike taking physical activity B.schools are worried about children’s safety
C.students should have more time for study D.less sporting equipment is available to school children
3.What is the author’s possible attitude towards the policy in North Carolina?
A.Skeptical. B.Favorable.
C.Ambiguous. D.Objective.
4.Which is NOT a benefit of P. E. classes?
A.They assure you of a successful future. B.They keep your mind in a good state.
C.They help you focus on your studies. D.They do good to your social skills.
Robots have certain advantages compared to humans: They are efficient, tireless, can be repaired when damaged and they never get sick. This last trait has made them the star during our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. While hundreds of thousands of medical workers have fallen ill dealing with this highly infectious virus and a lot more are forced to stay at home for fear of getting the disease, this isn’t a problem for robots.
This is why the COVID-19 outbreak is seen as the “tipping point”---noted The Independent Science reporter Anthony Cuthbertson---for robots to start to replace humans in certain jobs.
In areas like hospitals and healthcare facilities, robots are used to perform high-risk tasks. In China, for example, a hotel in Hangzhou employed a robot named “Little Peanut” to deliver food to people under quarantine（隔离期）. In Spain, robots are about to be used to test people for the coronavirus. Ultraviolet-light-disinfection (紫外线消毒) robots are also being widely used to clean hospital corridors and wards.
“Hospitals around the world are waking up to autonomous disinfection,” Per Juul Nielsen, CEO of Denmark’s UVD Robots, a leading company manufacturing disinfection robots, told Forbes. “We can’t build these robots fast enough.”
In non-medical companies, robots are also replacing human employees since they don’t have the problem of social distancing and will never take sick leave. Walmart and Amazon, for example, where robots are already used in sorting, packing and shipping, are planning to increase the number of robots in their facilities. Fast-food chains like McDonald’s are not only delivering food with robots in some areas, but also looking to use them as cooks and servers.
According to futurist Martin Ford, using more robots than human employees can prove to be rewarding for companies---even when the pandemic is over. “People will prefer to go to a place that has fewer workers and more machines because they feel they can lower overall risk,” Ford told the BBC.
But this sudden surge (激增) in robot demand doesn’t mean that they triumph over humans in every aspect. According to Bill Smart, a roboticist at Oregon State University, the human contact between doctors and patients is still important. Doctors comfort the patients and guide them through hard decisions while robots are only doing routine tasks, like cleaning and giving tests, just to free up doctors and nurses.
It might be true that robots have certain advantages over humans, but they are still secondary to human interaction.
1.What is the text mainly about?
A.The advantages of robots compared to humans.
B.Different views toward applying robots to fight COVID-19.
C.Why the COVID-19 outbreak has fueled robot demand.
D.The important role humans play in certain areas.
2.What has made robots desirable during the pandemic according to the text?
A.They can be repaired when damaged.
B.They test people for coronavirus more precisely.
C.They never get tired and can replace doctors and nurses.
D.They are not vulnerable to the coronavirus.
3.What does Martin Ford think of the application of robots?
A.Its benefits are appealing and lasting.
B.Machines are less disturbing than humans.
C.It poses a threat to human employment.
D.There are some risks with the use of robots.
4.What can be concluded from the last two paragraphs?
A.The demand for robots is too great to meet.
B.Human interaction is essential in some areas.
C.Doctors can make more accurate judgments than robots.
D.Robots need updating to improve contact with humans.
When Lina was awoken by the sound of thunder, she was alone on the island. The air was cool and bullfrogs croaked. It was that brief moment when the summer sun had set but the stars hadn’t yet appeared. Lina rubbed her eyes and looked around. “Hello?” she called. “Celia? Marie?” There was no response.
The moon was rising now, shedding light on the island. They had always called it “Forgotten Island” because no one but they seemed to remember its existence. It wasn’t on any of the maps they could find, and even the forest rangers didn’t know about it. Lina loved that the island, hidden in a heavily-wooded side stream of the river, was a secret between the three friends---her, Celia, and Marie. But now Lina was here alone, and it was night. Worse still, it was her own fault.
“Come on, Lina, let Marie row the boat.” Celia had said. Marie was two years older than Lina, but she was a hopeless rower. That’s why Lina refused and rowed the boat to the island. The argument that followed the refusal took the usual form. Celia took Marie’s side, as she always did. Lina exploded and yelled at them to just leave. So they got back in the boat and left.
A bolt of lightning crossed the darkened sky, accompanied by a deafening thunder clap. The storm was here. As the first cold raindrop slid down her neck, Lina’s mind returned to her current problem. She was stuck here by herself. She just hoped she didn’t become as forgotten as the island. The thought of it sent a chill down her back.
Suddenly, Lina spotted something in the water. It was a boat, and inside it were Marie, Celia, and Marie’s dad, who was steering through the fast flowing waters. As the boat approached, they saw Lina waving and the worried expressions on their faces turned to relief.
In her excitement Lina jumped into the river. Only once she was in the icy water did she remember how fast the water was moving. Luckily a strong arm reached into the water and pulled her out. She smiled weakly at Marie’s dad and, without a word, hugged Celia and Marie. They didn’t seem to mind becoming wet.
1.What is special about the island?
A.It is very near the ocean. B.It is a popular place for boating.
C.It is surrounded by thick forest. D.It has never been reached by others.
2.Why did Lina get angry?
A.Lina was left alone on the island. B.Marie would not help row the boat.
C.Marie didn’t know how to row the boat. D.Celia supported Marie in the disagreement.
3.What caused Lina to feel scared?
A.Her shame about the unnecessary argument.
B.The first raindrop of the approaching storm.
C.The idea that no one would come to save her.
D.The drop in temperature as the sun went down.
4.What can we infer about the three girls?
A.All of them could swim well. B.They had an adventurous spirit.
C.They lived far away from the island. D.They didn’t make up in the end.
If you are taking a trip across the States, and are eager for a hotel, here are four economical ones for you to choose in San Francisco.
Motel 6 Downtown
Neighboring the Golden Gate Bridge, it’s one of the most popular motels in San Francisco with enough free parking spaces.
Check in: 15:00 pm with passports and credit card.
Check out: before 12:00 am.
$140, free charge for two children.
Pets not permitted in. Tel:77345984
The Opera Inn
Located in the art district, it’s close to the Opera House, with chances to take part in various cultural activities.
Check in: at 16:00 pm with passport and credit card
Check out: before 11:00a.m.
$179, free charge for one child. No extra bed.
Pets not permitted in. Tel:77345244
Amsterdam Hotel
Located in downtown San Francisco, it’s a clean and tidy cheap hostel, with only eight minutes’ walk to the Chinatown.
Check in: 15:00 pm with passports and credit card
Check out: before 10:00 am
$106, free charge for two children.
Pets not permitted in. Tel:72346654
Van Ness Inn
Neighboring the blue sea, it has a quiet and beautiful environment. It’s a best choice for those who are tired of the noisy downtown.
Check In: 1:00 pm with passports and credit card.
Check Out: before 11:00 am.
$118, $ 5 for one child
Pets not permitted in. Tel:72346664
1.For a couple with two children planning to check out at 10:30 am, which is the most economical hotel for them?
A.Motel 6 Downtown. B.The Opera Inn.
C.Amsterdam Hotel. D.Van Ness Inn.
2.What is Amsterdam Hotel the most competitive in?
A.Low Price. B.Excellent Service.
C.Peaceful Surroundings. D.Pets permission.
3.If you are an art lover, you are most likely to book the hotel and call________.
A.Tel:77345984 B.Tel:77345244
C.Tel:72346654 D.Tel:72346664
