The story of chocolate begins with the discovery of America in 1492. Columbus was the first European to come into contact with cacao. Columbus was struck by how much value the Indians placed on them as he did not know the beans were used by currency. It is unlikely that Columbus brought any of these beans back to Spain and it was not until about 25 years later that Cortez grasped the commercial possibilities when he found the Aztecs using the beans to make the royal drink “chocolatl”.
The Spanish, in general, were not fond of the bitter drink so Cortez and his followers made it more palatable by adding sugar and later cinnamon(肉桂) and vanilla(香草) were added. Spanish monks( 僧侣) let the secret out back home and, although the Spanish hid it from their neighbors for a hundred years, finally chocolate’s popularity grew until it was their fashionable drink at the French court(宫廷) and the wise choice of customers at London meeting houses.
The cacao tree is strictly a tropical plant only in hot, rainy climates. Thus, its cultivation (培育 ) is limited to countries not more than 20 degrees north or south of the equator ( 赤 道 ). The cacao tree is very delicate and sensitive. It needs protection from the wind and requires a fair amount of shade under most conditions. This is true especially in its first two or three years of growth. A newly planted young cacao tree is often sheltered by a different type of trees. It is normal to plant food crops for shade such as bananas, or coconuts. Rubber trees( 橡胶树) and forest trees are also used for shade. Once established, however, cacao trees can grow in full sunlight, provided there are fertile soil conditions and intensive farming. With cutting and careful cultivation, the trees of strains will begin bearing fruit in the fifth year. With extreme care, some strains can be stimulated to produce good crops in the third and fourth year.
The process of turning cacao into chocolate hasn’t changed much since the late 1800s, when the Swiss learned to make fine unsweetened chocolate. Mixed with cocoa butter and other ingredients and then “purified”, the finished result is shaped, cooled, packaged by machine, distributed, sold and of course, eaten!
1.Why didn’t Columbus bring beans back to Spain at once when he found cacao?
A.Because he couldn’t afford to buy the cacao bean.
B.Because he didn’t know how to turn cacao bean into chocolate.
C.Because he was not aware of the commercial value of cacao bean then.
D.Because Spaniards then didn’t favour the chocolate that the Aztecs originally drank.
2.The underlined word “palatable” in paragraph 2 probably means _______.
A.affordable B.agreeable
C.patent D.portable
3.Which of the following is correct about cacao tree?
A.Cacao trees require hot, rainy climates and adequate sunlight.
B.Cacao trees need a lot of looking after to be used commercially.
C.Cacao trees won’t produce fruit until the fifth year.
D.Cacao trees can grow well in all continents.
单句语法填空
1.We examine the wording ________ detail before deciding on the final text.
2.I feel it’s your husband who is ________ (blame) for the spoiled child.
3.You are _______ liberty to say what you like.
4.Take some change _______ case you should need it.
5.________ you can sleep well, you will lose the ability to focus, plan and stay motivated after one or two nights.
6.________ seat belts save lives has been proven once and again.
7.A high mountain range runs from east to west, _________(cut) the continent in two.
8.One cannot help being old but one can resist _______( be ) aged.
9.Allen was found guilty and lost his job in consequence________it.
10.To promote the learning efficiency, students should have a _________(balance) diet.
11.I have no idea ________ the new treaty will take effect next month or not.
12.________(owe) to your timely help, all guests were served well in the party.
13.When she is put in a situation _________ she has to remark on others, she always changes the topic.
14.Fruits that are abundant in vitamin can be greatly_________ ( benefit )to our health.
15.Don’t read such books _________ you can’t understand with great effort.
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。
The Mid-Autumn Festival is also called the Moon Festival or the Moon cake Festival. It has a long history 1. (date) back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It 2. (traditional) falls on the 15th day of the 3.(eight) month of the lunar calendar. Since ancient times, customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival 4. (include) appreciating the moon, eating moon cakes 5. drinking wine. The full moon on Mid-Autumn night symbolizes family reunion 6. Chinese culture because the moon is round and the 7. (bright) of the year on this day. With the full moon hanging above in 8. sky, people 9. are far away from their 10.(hometown) might miss families while looking at the beautiful moonlight.
Jeremy Locke, 25, has his own roofing company in Bridgeport, Nova Scotia. For a couple of years before he began his _______, he would drive past the home of Jeanette MacDonald, noticing the _______ state of her roof. He was _______ —not just for the elderly woman but also for the children living with her. So Locke _______ to lend a helping hand.
The young man knocked on MacDonald's door and _______ to fix her roof for nothing, "I didn't know who the woman was, but I wanted to _______ this for her and her grandchildren," he explained to The Chronicle Herald. However, despite his kind _______ , the woman politely turned him down.
MacDonald and her _______ left an impression on Locke. He saw _______ between the woman and his own grandmother, and couldn't bear to see her in this ________ . He had also grown up without much and felt that he should use his skills to ________ .
A year after Locke set up his own roofing company, seeing that the roof was ________ in a state of disrepair, Locke returned to MacDonald's home and asked MacDonald if she wanted to enter a raffle (抽奖) his company was doing for a ________ roof. The 70-year-old woman ________ the chance, but little did she know that there was no ________ .
MacDonald's relief ________ Locke's kindness is immeasurable, "I could win $1 million but it wouldn't make me as ________ as knowing I'm getting a new roof on. Jeremy is ________something. He's a guardian angel (守护天使) sent from God."
The________ should cost about $ 9,000 in terms of materials and manpower. However, the only thing Locke wants in return is a home-cooked meal for his staff from the woman who ________ him of his grandmother.
1.A.journey B.business C.research D.curiosity
2.A.average B.unexpected C.unique D.terrible
3.A.frightened B.embarrassed C.concerned D.convinced
4.A.decided B.complained C.agreed D.happened
5.A.declined B.offered C.managed D.pretended
6.A.catch up with B.take care of C.get rid of D.put up with
7.A.application B.reaction C.theory D.intention
8.A.hesitation B.shame C.regret D.difficulty
9.A.symbols B.conditions C.similarities D.beliefs
10.A.situation B.occupation C.incident D.direction
11.A.respond B.seek C.help D.transform
12.A.still B.even C.already D.just
13.A.temporary B.delicate C.random D.free
14.A.appealed to B.jumped at C.laughed off D.looked into
15.A.competition B.cheating C.dilemma D.potential
16.A.comparing B.withdrawing C.following D.contradicting
17.A.fragrant B.lucky C.happy D.rich
18.A.partly B.consequently C.generally D.really
19.A.room B.work C.meal D.decoration
20.A.reminds B.warns C.convinces D.informs
Our memory naturally declines as we age. We depend on our memory to perform our daily tasks well and do our jobs properly.1.. Nothing is more embarrassing than forgetting crucial information at a gathering. But there are some ways we can do to make it as sharp as ever.
Sleep Well
This is very important if you want to keep your good memory until you grow old. You must give your brain enough rest and sleep so that it can regenerate more cells where it can store more information.2..
Eat Healthily
There are several food products that you can eat to enhance your memory.3.. Have more of beans which contain folate（叶酸）, this is a vitamin B that figures well in brain development. Adding nuts and beans to your daily diet can also contribute to a healthier memory.
4..
Don’t think that you are too old to learn new skills. Try learning a new language or even playing an instrument. Start attending baking or painting classes. It’s not really in the skill that you choose but it’s in the fact that you focus on it for regular periods of time and find it interesting.
Exercise
5.. When you exercise, you increase blood flow to the brain, increase the production of newer and younger cells and protect the brain cells from any kind of damage. Exercise can do a lot of wonders to our body so better start exercising now before it’s too late.
A.Never stop learning
B.Listen to the teachers carefully
C.In school, we greatly rely on it during exams
D.Take responsibility for the mistake you’ve make
E.Eating avocado and broccoli stimulates blood flow to the brain
F.We can never stress the importance of exercise in keeping our memories sharp
G.Try sleeping early and you will find that it is easier for you to focus on the task at hand
Choosing what you want to do with the rest of your life can be challenging, here are some suggestions on how to choose a college major that you will enjoy.
Let your core classes help you choose a major
If you are still in high school, take a look at each of your classes and identify which ones you enjoy most. If you’re going back to college after starting your career, think back to your best high school classes (e.g. math, biology, history, etc.).This can help you identify your strengths and interests so you can narrow your list of possible university degree programs to a particular field of study.
Prioritize (划分优先顺序)your career wants and needs
First and foremost, a college major should be chosen based on your interest and career goals. However, it is not uncommon for students to select their majors based on the careers of their parents or siblings(兄弟姐妹).If following in their footsteps is not right for the student, then it will likely lead to an unfulfilling education and career.
When choosing a major, it is important to identify what aspects of a career are most important to you (money, creative freedom, helping people, working outdoors etc.).Making a list of your top priorities will shed plenty of light on which degree or major is best for you .Also, talk to your parents and siblings about the choices they made and whether they think those majors and careers would be a good fit for you.
Additional tips for choosing majors
Seeking outside advice, not just from family members, is always recommended when choosing a college major. Talk with career counselors, high school teachers, guidance counselors and students who currently enrolled in a major you are interested in. Speaking to professors at universities or to professionals in the field can also give you a good idea of what you might expect from a career.
There are also tests you can take that give an insight into career matches, dominant personality characters and key interests. While a test should not dictate your choices, it can offer you a new perspective on yourself and open your eyes to majors and career prospects you didn’t consider.
1.Where does the support for your particular field of study mainly come from?
A.The college courses that you enjoy most.
B.Every class in your high school.
C.The beginning of your career.
D.Your best high school subjects.
2.The last two paragraphs are mainly to discuss____________.
A.advice from others and tests
B.the careers of parents and siblings
C.suggestions from parents
D.professionals’ ideas about majors
3.What would be the best title for the passage?
A.My View on College Education.
B.How to Choose the Best College Major for You.
C.Learning to Challenge Career Goals.
D.Offering You a New Perspective on Yourself.
