An evening in October, I landed in Kuchi...

    Whether we realize it or not, hand gestures are a constant part of our communication. Hand gestures can make people listen to you more attentively, feel more comfortable around you, or even add an air of authority to your words. 1.

These gestures are most helpful when one is speaking to someone with no language in common. 2.. While visiting a new city or country, it is important to learn what certain gestures mean so that you don’t offend anyone.

3.. During a visit to Australia, former US President George W. Bush tried to signal a peace sign by waving the two fingers or V-sign at the crowd. You may think of this as a simple gesture ,but he committed a major error. 4.. This hand gesture in Australia is a rude expression used to show you're very angry. Therefore, it's important to understand the meaning of gestures before you communicate with people in different cultures.

Those considered as a good gestures in one country may be termed as an offensive gesture in some countries. 5..

A.Here is a very common example.

B.We communicate not only by words, but by hand getures as well.

C.However, the same gesture can mean something quite different in another culture.

D.He received warm welcome by the Australians.

E.Instead of his palm facing outwards, it faced inwards.

F.So, if you are a frequent flier to different countries, improve your communication skills by learning the meaning of certain gestures.

G.Since it's such a common mode of communication, using hand gestures effectively is important.

    UK physicist Isaac Newton once said, “ Nature is pleased with simplicity and nature is no dummy （傻子）.” Indeed, Mother Nature can provide almost everything human beings need if we follow her rules. But if we break the rules, she is likely to be cruel.

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia （新型冠状病毒肺炎，NCP） in China and some other countries at the beginning of this year is an example. According to Xinhua News Agency ,the new coronavirus is similar to a virus found in a bat in 2017 and probably has an intermediate host （中间宿主）.If it is believed that the virus originated from the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, Hubei province, where live wild animals were sold.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Dr Peter Daszak, president of the US-based health organization EcoHealth Alliance, said, “This outbreak is a lesson for us. On a global scale, human population density （密度），wildlife diversity, and land use change are what drive new pandemics （流 行病）.”

In ancient times, people needed to rely on nature to survive so they held it in awe （敬畏）. For example, the American Indians believed that humans are a part of nature and nature is a pail of humans. Chinese ancients always pursued the harmony between nature and human beings.

However, as human beings master more knowledge and make more advanced tools, people try to change and even conquer nature. They use more land to make buildings, genetically modify plants, capture some wild and rare animals to suit their own needs. In this process, humans gradually lose contact with nature and even throw it out of balance. For example, cutting a large number of forests means carbon dioxide must build up in the atmosphere and it contributes to global warming.

Although we don't know for sure what first caused the NCP outbreak, Brian Lamacraft at Medium said it's time for people to'' reflect on our relationship with our plant" reconnect with this world and everything that we've been given". After all, according to US poet Gary Snyder, " Nature is not the place to visit. It's our home."

1.Why does the author give the example of the NCP in Paragraph 2?

A.Because it results from humans going against nature.

B.Because it has caused widespread suffering.

C.Because it broke out at the beginning of this year.

D.Because it is similar to another pandemic.

2.What lesson did Daszak think human beings should learn from the NCP outbreak?

A.Bats are one of the most dangerous wild animals.

B.It's impossible to prevent new pandemics globally.

C.We should stop the wildlife trade around the world.

D.Humans should live peacefully with nature.

3.What is the main idea of Paragraph 5?

A.How human beings become their own masters.

B.How human activities cause global warming.

C.How human beings break the balance of nature.

D.How humans use technology to improve their lives.

4.What is the author's purpose in writing this article?

A.To reflect on the NCP outbreak.

B.To explain what led to the NCP outbreak.

C.To describe experts, predictions on new pandemics.

D.To compare ancient and modem attitudes toward nature.

    Many cultures around the world have a grain that is not grown or even known outside its home area. Now, a staple grain native to Ethiopia, teff, is appearing on grocery shelves in America.

Teff has been an important part of the Ethiopian diet for thousands of years. Like rice and wheat, it is a cereal grass. Teff is known for its fine grain and used mainly to make flour. Teff flour is the key ingredient in injera, the large, spongy pancakes that make up a large portion of the Ethiopian diet.

Teff was introduced to the United States by a man named Wayne Carlson, who learned about teff while doing public health work in Africa in the mid-1970s. "I came to know teff because I was eating it all the time and hosted by teff farmers. " he said. In the late 70s, Carlson returned to the U. S. , married and settled in southwest Idaho. Then he came up with an idea to introduce teff grass to his home state. " Geologically, it is very similar to Ethiopia."

Wayne and his wife Elisabeth are not farmers, nor do they want to be. So they convinced actual farmers in Idaho to grow teff on contract for them. The Carlsons milled it themselves.

Wayne went through the Washington, D. C. telephone book and looked for the names that were Ethiopian. And that is how the business slowly grew. Over time, the Teff Company has outgrown four different mills.

Rich Roseberg is a food researcher at Oregon State University. He says teff production has exploded over the past decade in the U. S. He says most teff grown in the U. S. is fed to farm animals. In Idaho, however, where the Carlsons are based, Roseberg believes more of the teff production is for human food. Teff contains lots of calcium, iron, protein and fiber. Roseberg credits Wayne Carlson for being ahead of his time.

1.How do the Ethiopians mainly use teff?

A.By eating the cereal grass. B.By using the flour made from it.

C.By adding the plant into injera. D.By mixing it with rice and wheat.

2.According to Wayne, why is it possible for teff to grow well in Idaho?

A.Idaho is located close to Ethiopia.

B.Teff is easy to survive on its own.

C.Idaho has geographic features similar to Ethiopia.

D.Teff was originally introduced to Ethiopia from Idaho.

3.What can we infer from Paragraph 5?

A.Wayne's teff did not sell well at first.

B.Wayne's teff was sold only to Ethiopians.

C.Wayne sent teff to his Ethiopian friends.

D.Wayne lost control of his Teff Company.

4.What is Rich Roseberg's attitude to Wayne introducing teff into America?

A.Worried. B.Disapproving.

C.Favorable. D.Pessimistic.

    Many people have heard the story of Nessie, Scotland’s Loch Ness monster. Yet, have you ever heard of an ice monster in the American state of Alaska?

An ice monster is what many people thought they were seeing when a federal government agency published a strange-looking video. The Bureau of Land Management put the video on its Facebook page.

The pictures were taken in Alaska, the northernmost part of the United States. While winter has yet to officially begin, weather conditions there already are very cold.

In the video, a fish with ice on its back appears to be swimming. The video was only 20 seconds long. But it was enough to get people wondering what they saw.

One person said it showed a shark that lost its way. Someone else thought the video was a prank designed to cheat people. He said the Bureau of Land Management wanted to bring attention to its Facebook page. Other people asked if the video was edited in some way, removing some images or adding others. Perhaps, they reasoned, the bureau was trying to frighten people around the celebration of Halloween. Some people said the ice monster was a large fish: a sturgeon(鲟). Someone even suggested the creature was a crocodile. But such an animal could not survive in Alaska, where it does not get very hot, even in summer. Some readers said it was ice moving in the river current, or ice that was frozen to a rope or some other object.

On October 31, the Bureau of Land Management published an update. It agreed with some of the people who commented on the original piece. An expert from the Department of Fish and Game told the bureau the picture looked “really cool”, but it was probably just ice stuck to a rope. The ice caused the rope to float and move in the river’s current.

Even though the mystery seems to be solved, some people do not seem persuaded. Others are still wishing it was a “real” monster.

1.What is the author’s main purpose in asking the question in Paragraph 1 ?

A.To encourage readers to answer it.

B.To open a discussion among readers.

C.To arouse people’s interest in Nessie.

D.To introduce the topic of the passage.

2.What does the underlined word " prank” in Paragraph 5 probably mean?

A.Puzzle. B.Dream.

C.Trick. D.Advertisement.

3.The monster couldn’t be a crocodile because .

A.a crocodile can’t swim so quickly B.the temperature is too low in Alaska

C.a crocodile only moves in summer D.it doesn’t look like a crocodile at all

4.According to the expert, what is the ice monster most likely to be?

A.A shark losing its way. B.A large fish: a sturgeon.

C.A sea creature like Nessie. D.A piece of ice frozen to a rope.

Getting around in Australia

You know Australia is a big country, but you may not know how easy it is to get around. The untouched beaches that go for miles and deserts that touch the horizon are just there, waiting to be reached and explored. Following are the different ways you can explore our vast country.

Air

Flying is the best way to cover large distances in a short time. You can spend more time on the Australia's can’t-miss landscapes and relaxing lifestyle. Moreover, competition among airlines makes great flying fees available for you.

Drive

Australia has a vast network of well-maintained roads and some of the most beautiful touring routes in the world. You have no difficulty finding car rental companies at major airports, central city locations, suburbs and attractions.

Bus

Bus travel in Australia is comfortable, easy and economical. Buses generally have air conditioning ,reading lights, adjustable seats and videos. Services are frequent, affordable and efficient.

Rail

Train travel is the cheapest and gives you an insight into Australians size and variety, all from the comfort of your carriage. Scheduled services are a great way to get quickly between our cities and regional centers.

Ferry

The Spirit of Tasmania runs a passenger and vehicle ferry service between Melbourne and Tasmania nightly. Extra services are running during summer rush hours. Sea Jink ferries connect South Australia and Kangaroo Island several times a day. Ferries connect suburbs in our capital cities.

Walk

With easy — on — the — feet pedestrian streets, walking is a great way to get around our cities.

Besides all of above, you can also experience some of the longest tracks and trails in the world in central Australia — impressive journeys of a thousand kilometers or more that can take several weeks to complete.

1.If you have only 5 days and want to visit Australia's famous attractions that are far away from each other, which way of travelling best suits you?

A.By air. B.By car. C.By bus. D.On foot.

2.Ferry service between Melbourne and Tasmania usually runs .

A.only during rush hours B.at night hours

C.several times a day D.in summer

3.Which of the following is TRUE about travelling in Australia?

A.More travelers make the flying fees among airlines higher than before.

B.You can easily rent a car to explore its most beautiful touring routes.

C.Taking a bus tour is the most comfortable, economical and efficient way.

D.Train services can offer you more comfort than any other means of transport.