Dutch officials toasted on Tuesday the opening of what is being called the world’s first 3D-printed concrete bridge, which is meant to be used by cyclists. There was applause as officials wearing hard hats and workmen’s jackets rode over the bridge on their bikes at the opening ceremony in the southeastern town of Gemert.
“The bridge is not very big, but it was rolled out by a printer which makes it unique,” Theo Salet, from the Eindhoven University of Technology, told Dutch broadcaster NOS. Work on printing the bridge, which has some 800 layers, took about three months after starting in June and it is made of pre-stressed concrete, according to the university. “One of the advantages of printing a bridge is that much less concrete is needed than in the conventional technique in which a mould (泥浆) is filled,” it said on its website, adding “a printer deposits the concrete only where it is needed.”
The eight-metre (26-foot) bridge crosses a water-filled channel to connect two roads, and it was tested for safety to bear loads of up to two metric tons in cooperation with the BAM Infra Construction company. Although designed for bikes, it could take up to 40 trucks, the designers said “We are looking to the future,” said the head of BAM, Marinus Schimmel. “3D printing meant fewer rare resources were needed and there was significantly less waste,” he added.
The Netherlands is among countries, with the United States and China, taking a lead in the cutting-edge technology of 3D printing, using computers and robotics to construct objects and structures from scratch without using much traditional manpower. Last year a Dutch architect unveiled (提示) a unique 3D printer with which he hopes to construct an “endless loop” building. And a Dutch start-up called MX3D has begun printing a stainless-steel bridge, of which a third is already completed. The aim is to finish printing by March and lay the bridge over an Amsterdam canal in the future.
1.According to the text what makes the bridge unique?
A. It adopts 3D printing
B. It opens only to cyclists.
C. It is made of new material.
D. It uses much less concrete.
2.According to Marinus Schimmel. the bridge ________.
A. fails to bear heavy loads more safely
B. needs no concrete and mould
C. is designed for bikes and trucks
D. is cost-efficient and eco-friendly
3.According to the last paragraph, which of the following statement is true?
A. The 3D-printed bridges are all designed for bikes.
B. 3D-printed construction saves much human labor.
C. United States and China develop slowly in 3D printing.
D. The stainless-steel bridge by MX3D has been put into use.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A. The Value of the 3D Printing Technology
B. The Netherlands Leads the Way in 3D Printing
C. World’s First 3D-printed Bridge Opens to Cyclists
D. 3D Printing is Widely Used in Building Bridges
Many people enjoy the beauty of the snow. But do you really know the snow? Here are three biggest snow myths that will surprise you.
First of all, it’s a myth that no two snowflakes are the same. In 1988, a scientist found two identical snow crystals that had both formed in a snow storm in Wisconsin, USA. Since then scientists have come to learn that snowflakes can only form into 35 different shapes. Although scientists are also unsure why exactly the various shapes of snowflake form, they have identified eight major shapes, with each of these eight shapes having several different variations.
“Snow is white” is the second biggest myth. It’s actually colorless. Snow is made up of ice particles, and ice is translucent, which means that light does not pass through it easily, but rather it gets reflected. When light hits a snowflake, it gets reflected back from the snowflake’s many surfaces, often bouncing between these surfaces, and because of this that light is reflected back to our eyes as the color white. This is why, up close or magnified, a snowflake always looks clear, yet in reality appears as white.
Lastly, snow doesn’t always appear to us as the color white. Not counting the infamous yellow snow that everyone knows never to eat, you can also get naturally blue snow or even pink snow.
Deep snow can sometimes appear blue in color because the extra layers of snow create a filter for light, which causes more red light to be absorbed by the snow than blue light, meaning that it looks blue.
Likewise, snow can sometimes appear pink in mountainous regions or coastal Polar Regions due to it containing cryophilic fresh-water algae that have a red pigment in them.
As an interesting bonus fact, the fur of Polar Bears is actually made up of translucent fibers, trapping light between its many surfaces and making the Polar Bear look white, when in actuality if you were to examine a single piece of Polar Bear fur up close it would look clear – just like a snowflake.
It’s also a commonly known fact that, if shaved, a Polar Bear would be black in color. The reason a Polar Bear’s skin is black is because black is the color which locks in the most heat.
1.According to the passage, the underlined word “myth” means _________.
A.tale B.riddle
C.mystery D.misunderstanding
2.Why does a snowflake appear as white?
A.Because snow is white.
B.Because snow is made up of ice particles.
C.Because ice is translucent, light does pass through it easily.
D.Because the lights reflect back and forth between the snowflakes’ surfaces.
3.Which of the statement is true?
A.Polar Bears’ black skin can help them keep warm.
B.The color of the snowflakes are white, yellow, blue and pink.
C.Scientists have identified eight minor shapes of the snowflake.
D.The snow absorbs more blue light than red light, making it look blue.
4.Which of the following doesn’t belong to the three biggest snow myths?
A.Snow is white B.Snow always looks white
C.No two snowflakes are the same D.Polar Bear fur looks clear--just like a snowflake.
“We wish you a merry Christmas” with pictures of Elvis Tsui seems to be the latest trend among Chinese netizens during this year's Christmas.
Born in 1961, Hong Kong veteran actor Elvis Tsui has become the latest internet icon thanks to the classic character he played in the 1992 comedy movie, where he looked a bit similar to Santa Claus, with a red hat and white beard. The movie Tsui starred in was adapted from The Deer and the Cauldron, a novel by late Hong Kong novelist Louis Cha. Tsui played the role of Oboi, a malicious and greedy military officer who conspires to fight for the throne.
Also, the character's name Oboi is pronounced similar to “all buy” in English, which encourages people to buy some gifts for loved ones during the Christmas season. And the coincidence further increases the popularity of Tsui.
Reputed as China's Santa Claus, Elvis Tsui has been frequently searched on Dec 24 on Sina Weibo, China's answer to Twitter, and his images have been adapted into micro videos, gifts and emojis at very short notice. Some clever business minds have produced tailor-made products on China's e-commerce platform Taobao.
On Dec 25, an image of Tsui's character from the film has already been added into the Sina Weibo emoji list for users to choose from. “I have been waiting for more than two decades to find the Chinese Santa Claus, and he just appeared. I believe that he is the perfect image in my heart,” said weibo user Xiao Midou1993.
In response to the enthusiasm shown by online users, the 57-year-old was pleased to receive the new title, and wrote on his official weibo account, “It's Christmas and the old man with a red hat and white beard is bringing you the best wishes!”
1.Why has Elvis Tsui become the latest internet icon?
A.Because he played in the 1992 comedy movie.
B.Because he is a veteran.
C.Because he encourages people to buy gifts during the Christmas season.
D.Because his character in the 1992 movie seemed similar to Santa Claus.
2.What has already been added into the Sina Weibo emoji list?
A.An image of Tsui's character B.A micro video
C.A tailor-made product D.A gif
3.The underlined word “title” in paragraph 6 means______.
A.Gift B.Name C.Wish D.Image
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A.An introduction to Elvis Tsui B.Wish you a merry Christmas
C.Chinese Santa Claus storms the internet D.Hong Kong veteran actor Elvis Tsui
Many people spend more than four hours per day on WeChat, and it is redefining the word “friend.” Does friending someone on social media make him or her your friend in real life?
Robin Dunbar, a professor at Oxford University, found that only 15, of the 150 Facebook friends the average user has, could be counted as actual friends and only five as close friends. WeChat may show a similar pattern.
Those, with whom you attended a course together, applied for the same part-time job, went to a party and intended to cooperate but failed, take up most of your WeChat friends. In chat records, the only message may be a system notice, “You have accepted somebody’s friend request”. Sometimes when seeing some photos shared on “Moments”, you even need several minutes to think about when you became friends. Also, you may be disturbed by mass messages sent from your unfamiliar “friends”, including requests for voting for their children or friends, links from Pinduoduo.com (a Chinese e-commerce platform that allows users to buy items at lower prices if they purchase in groups) and cookie-cutter blessings in holidays.
You would have thought about deleting this type of “friends” and sort out your connections. But actually you did not do that as you were taught that social networking is valuable to one’s success. Besides, it would be really awkward if they found that you have unfriended them already. Then, you keep increasing your “friends” in social media and click “like” on some pictures that you are not really interested. But the fact is that deep emotional connections do not come with the increasing number of your friends in social media.
If the number of your friends reaches 150, maintaining these relationships can be tough to you, and sometimes even will make you anxious. According to Robin Dunbar, 150 is the limit of the number of people with whom one can maintain stable social relationships.
1.What can we learn from Robin Dunbar’s finding in Paragraph 2?
A.A Facebook user has 250 friends on average.
B.Most of the social media friends can be actual friends.
C.Among our social media friends, only a few people matter.
D.Only 15 people of a person’s Facebook friends can be close friends.
2.What does the third paragraph tell us about most of your WeChat friends?
A.You have deep communication with them.
B.You benefit a lot from their mass messages.
C.You just have a nodding acquaintance with them.
D.You become friends with them in important occasions.
3.What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A.We will be anxious if we make friends online.
B.We should avoid making any friends in social media.
C.We should make as many friends as possible in social media.
D.We have difficulty managing relationships with over 150 people.
假如你是李华，2018年中国首设“中国农民丰收节”。你的美国笔友John对此很感兴趣，写信向你询问，请你回复，内容包括：
1.日期：从2018年起每年秋分庆祝；
2.意义：体现丰收的喜悦和对传统24节气的尊重与传承；
3.活动：民俗表演，技能比赛，品尝美食和观光等。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
参考词汇：秋分：autumn equinox 24节气：24 solar terms 民俗表演：folk culture performances
Dear John,
As for your last letter asking about the Chinese Farmers’ Harvest Festival,
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
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（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
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。
One Sunday morning, I went for a walk along a quietly path. When I was sitting down for a rest, the black dog suddenly appeared. It ran up to myself and lay down at my feet. I touched its heads. When I decided to walking home, it still followed me. I called the nearest police station and told the police that I found a dog and I will keep it until its owner called for it. I gave the police with my name and address. Two days later, an old man came to my home, look for the dog. To express his thanks, he offered me ten dollars, and I did not take it. Then he invited me to visit him someday.
