I've handled chopsticks skillfully for decades. While it used to amuse me, it mildly annoys me now that Chinese react with astonishment to see a foreigner handle them—as if someone from a country that put a man on the moon would somehow be incapable of handing two simple sticks. As you can see, China’s influence stretched far and wide long before opening-up in the late 1970s or today’s Belt and Road Initiative. So the idea that most foreigners cannot use chopsticks is, simply put, fiddlesticks.
My first exposure to chopsticks came way back in the 1960s via the elementary piano tune known as Chopsticks, which aroused my curiosity as to what the word meant. Not long afterward, my parents introduced me to Chinese food at King Fong Cafe in Omaha, Nebraska, which, I only learned recently, was among the landmarks of the heartland city’s once-thriving Chinatown in the early 1900s.
In fact, I have undergone special kuaizi training (improving skills, for example, by constantly picking up peanuts when I lived with my Chinese tai chi master) and experimentation (exploring the use of chopsticks to snap up popcorn and donuts; I’m working on ice cream).
But there’s one western food for which chopsticks are truly a godsend: salads. After moving to China in 2014, I bought a salad at a convenience store, and the clerk handed me kuaizi. I refused at first, but then thought, “All right” and gave it a try.
Amazingly useful! I could pick and choose each small piece much more carefully, without having to move awkwardly trying to spear (刺) the crispy carrot or cherry tomato and then move it mouth ward.
Another clear advantage of these simplest of tools is that they regulate the pace and volume of eating. It's much harder to “pig out” by shoveling food with chopsticks than with a fork and spoon.
However, in the spirit of globalization, let’s not overlook the finer points of knife and fork. In fact, a handy thing about the fork is that everyone can basically use it with each hand. I dare to say that, for Chinese and foreigners alike, switching hands while using chopsticks is not so readily done with confidence.
1.What makes the author feel unhappy about using chopsticks?
A.The comments on chopsticks from foreigners.
B.Incapacity to handle two simple sticks.
C.The idea that foreigners don't like chopsticks.
D.Reaction of Chinese on seeing him using chopsticks.
2.What does the underlined word “fiddlesticks” in Paragraph 1 mean?
A.nonsense B.reasonable
C.acceptable D.shameful
3.What is the advantage of chopsticks according to the passage?
A.They can let people wolf down food easily.
B.They can spear the crispy carrot or cherry tomato.
C.They can be amazingly useful to eat western food.
D.They can help users control the pace and volume of eating.
4.What is the best title for the passage?
A.Me and Chopsticks B.Chinese Kitchen Culture
C.The Globalization of Chopsticks D.Two Sides of Chopsticks
Island Lobster (龙虾) Company Open
Owners Katie and Thom Werner opened Island Lobster Company earlier this week. It’s located on Peaks Island in the space formerly occupied by Peaks Island House.
The 64-seat establishment is a trap-to-table restaurant. The Werners are serving lobsters that they’re trapped and hauled in with their own boat. You can see a copy of their menu on their website.
Coals Pizza Opens Today
Coals Pizza is scheduled to open today at 5 pm. Coals is located at 114 Preble Street in the former Portland & Rochester space. This is Coals’ only location outside of New York. They specialize in grilled pizza. You can see their full menu online.
Luke’s Lobster
The seafood spot, which will soft open for dinner on Wednesday, is a major milestone for the lobster company that first launched in Manhattan in 2009. Started by Cape Elizabeth native Luke Holden, Luke’s Lobster debuted in New York City’s East Village, and went on to make its mark in 10 cities across the U.S.— plus Japan and China.
Under Construction: Twist
A new food truck called Twist is under development Twist is a collaboration between Melissa Lombardi, a former manager at Woodford F&B and Dan Zarin, the longtime writer of the Breakfast Serial column. Twist will be serving customized ice cream and shakes made to order.
1.What is special in Island Lobster Company?
A.It serves freshly caught lobsters. B.It is the only location outside of New York.
C.It is a milestone for the lobster company. D.It serves customized ice cream and shakes
2.Where should you go if you want to have pizza?
A.Peaks Island. B.114 Preble Street.
C.Portland & Rochester space. D.New York City's East Village.
3.Which restaurant has opened a branch in China?
A.Island Lobster Company. B.Coals Pizza.
C.Luke's Lobster. D.Twist.
假定你是校学生会主席李华， 请写封邮件告知你校留学生观看一场线上健康专题讲座。主要内容包括：
1. 讲座目的；
2. 讲座时间， 内容；
3. 欢迎收看。
注意: 1. 词数 100 左右;
2. 可以适当增加细节， 以使行文连贯。
Dear foreign friends,
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Student Union
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有 10 处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改 10 处，多者(从第 11 处起)不计分。
Plogging, that is a new way to exercise, is becoming popular with runner worldwide. Many of them are posting photos of themselves and friends hold bags of litter on social media. A Swedish man called Erik start the movement. He became terrible worried about the amount of litter on the road but decided not to go to work by bike any more. Instead, he began to run to work and pick them up at the same time. To his happy, more and more people joined in him and soon plogging became popular. Many people choose plogging because they think plogging not just benefits earth; it is also a good way to exercise.
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入 1 个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
Looking out of the window of his Ford truck, Bob Fitzgerald sees large, undesirable plants growing in the fields.1.(visitor) to his neighborhood in Princess Anne, Maryland 2.(main) see dying forests and empty farmland.
Fitzgerald says the land3.(be) in his family for over 3 centuries. “I’d say in the next 20 years. You’re going to lose4.very high percentage of that land.”
The land around the Chesapeake Bay has been sinking for hundreds of years. But climate change is making things5.(bad). As sea level rises, salt water is entering rivers and other waterways. As a result, the ground is becoming too salty for crops6.(grow) on.
Maryland’s Eastern Shore is home to some of the oldest farms in North America. Fitzgerald says he has seen big changes during his life.
“You just can’t believe7.it’s been taking things over in the last 15 or 20 years. I can show you land around here that people raised tomatoes on when I was a little boy. And now it’s gone.”
Around the world, scientists warn that coastal farms are under8.(threaten) from rising seas and salt water. A World Bank report estimates rice production in coastal areas of Bangladesh may fall9.15 percent by the year 2050. Another study found hundreds of millions of people will10.(force) to move inland because of rising waters.
The residents of Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin are no strangers to wild turkeys. However, Smoke, a turkey that has been living in the town since spring this year, is_____. The bird runs after_________vehicles, and “controls”__________flow by parking himself in the middle of the road. He is also known to boldly____residents and shout at them, as though saying____to them.
Though the bird can be somewhat annoying at times, the____have grown to love their resident wild turkey. Those who commonly kept to themselves are forming____after Smoke’s arrival, using the new common pet as an ice breaker to start a____.
To show their_______, the residents recently named Smoke the town’s honorary mayor, and______a Facebook page “Smoke Turkey-Mayor of Ashwaubenon” to________the growing fans to keep up with the bird’s antics(滑稽动作).
Randy Tews is well aware of Smoke’s____. He says, “I think some residents will be ___to see him go. He’s brought so many smiles to people’s faces here. And this turkey is ___traffic for people on their way to work, and it gives them something to cheer about.”
However, people are_______that Smoke’s rising popularity will result in road accidents as distracted drivers try to take a_______or two. There is also the danger of a traffic jam caused by drivers______stepping on their brakes to avoid hitting the bird, which regularly______ around on busy roads.
Despite months of trying, all_______to catch and take Smoke to a nearby wildlife rescue station have proved______. The turkey seems to love the residents, unwilling to leave the town.
1.A.common B.smart C.wild D.unique
2.A.flying B.moving C.resting D.working
3.A.information B.water C.traffic D.air
4.A.approach B.escape C.attack D.scare
5.A.sorry B.hello C.yes D.no
6.A.fans B.birds C.locals D.cleaners
7.A.classes B.visions C.bonds D.shapes
8.A.conversation B.project C.business D.club
9.A.attitude B.view C.affection D.talent
10.A.gave up B.made up C.put up D.set up
11.A.force B.allow C.require D.beg
12.A.reality B.possibility C.ability D.popularity
13.A.sad B.delighted C.annoyed D.excited
14.A.monitoring B.directing C.changing D.recording
15.A.afraid B.proud C.sorry D.sure
16.A.rest B.photo C.step D.turn
17.A.gently B.heavily C.specially D.suddenly
18.A.jumps B.jogs C.wanders D.lies
19.A.attempts B.struggles C.challenges D.tricks
20.A.unfair B.unusual C.uneasy D.unsuccessful
