After a Blockbuster store in Australia closes on March 31, the American city of Bend, Oregon will have the only one left on Earth.
For years, Blockbuster was a big name in the video rental business. The company had thousands of stores in the United States and around the world. But Blockbuster began to lose money during the 2000s. By 2014, all company-owned stores had closed. Since then, locally owned Blockbusters have closed, one by one.
Operating the last Blockbuster Video on Earth is not easy. The computer system uses old disks that only the store’s general manager knows how to use. The video rentals are recorded on a kind of aging tape. The tape cannot be replaced because Radio Shack, another once famous store, went out of business.
Sandi Harding has worked at the Blockbuster in Bend for over 15 years and is the store’s general manager. She says “stubbornness” is part of the reason the store is still open. “We did everything we could to cut costs and keep ourselves relevant,” she said.
Zeke Kamm lives in Bend. He is making a documentary about the store with his friend. He notes that many people who rented videos over the years want to share memories of their experiences Kamm explained how Blockbuste were once an important part of small town in America. The Blockbuster was the only place that was open past nine at night, and a lot of them stayed open much later.
Recently, Harding has noticed that more children are coming to the store, brought in by their parents who like remembering the past. Jerry Gilless and his wife, Elizabeth, on a trip to Oregon, recently brought their two children, aged 3 and 5, to the store in Bend. They watched with a smile as their children walked from row to row, looking at movies. “How could we not stop? It’s the last one,” said Gilless. “They need to see that not everything’s on the iPad.”
1.What is the third paragraph mainly about?
A.The popularity of the video rental business. B.The special computer system of the last store.
C.The value of the last Blockbuster on Earth. D.The difficulties of running the last Blockbuster.
2.Why is the Blockbuster store in Bend still open?
A.It has a long history in all Blockbuster stores. B.Its employees try their best to keep it running
C.Its general manager is very stubborn woman. D.It is a place where people can watch old movies.
3.What is the documentary of Zeke Kamm probably about?
A.People’s experiences of sharing their own memories.
B.Zeke Kamm’s work with his friend in the Blockbuster.
C.People’s memories of renting videos in the Blockbuster.
D.Blockbusters’important role in a small town of America.
4.What’s the best title for the text?
A.Oregon Will Have the Last Blockbuster on Earth B.Different Opinions About the Last Blockbuster
C.People Are Interested in the Last Blockbuster D.A Documentary About the Last Blockbuster
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Riding lessons for beginners
We help kids from the age of 4 and adults learn to ride. We start beginners with half-hour private lessons while they learn the basics. Once you ride independently (usually after 4—6 lessons), your instructor will recommend a suitable group.
Private lessons
We offer 1-to-1 private tuition (讲授) for riders of all levels. We start beginners with half-hour private lessons while they learn the basics and build their confidence. The more experienced riders will benefit from personal tuition too. Whether you want to improve specific aspects of your riding, or just enjoy riding, private lessons are tailored to your specific requirements.
Group riding lessons
We offer broad range of group riding lessons, from child or adult beginner to advanced dressage (花样骑术) lessons and jumping lessons. Call the office to discuss the weekly Group Lesson Schedule on 01344 884992.
Riding lessons on your own horse
We also welcome horse owners who would like to bring their own for either one-off lessons or a concentrated course of lessons to improve their riding. Your horse is going or to prepare you both for competitions. Pricing is the same.
How to book your riding lesson
Call the office on 01344 884992 or email us on info@brc. co. uk.
We are open 7 days a week and have evening riding lessons on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Our three all-weather schools, two outside and one inside, make us have good all-year-round riding.
Note: All new riders, regardless of their abilities, must have a 30-minute assessment lesson so that we can design the most appropriate plan for them.
1.When are beginners likely to ride on their own?
A.Before having three private lessons. B.Before building up their confidence.
C.After meeting with their instructors. D.After taking about five riding lessons.
2.How can learners discuss their schedules of group riding lessons?
A.By making calls to the office. B.By visiting the riding school in person.
C.By writing to group members. D.By writing emails to their instructors.
3.What are all new riders required to do?
A.Take four evening riding lessons. B.Get assessed for proper programs.
C.Spend half an hour riding horses. D.Offer plans on how to ride horses.
阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。续写的词数应为150左右。
While 1 was sitting in the living room, the days that I spent with my mom crowded in on me. We had a very Tom and Jerry relationship. She was a strict trainer; I was naughty. She would ask me to buy groceries, and I wouldn't come right home because I'd be using the change from the milk and bread to play video games at the supermarket. I loved video games. I was a master at Street Fighter. I could go forever on a single play. I'd drop a coin in, time would fly, and the next thing 1 knew there'd be a woman standing behind me with a belt. It was a race. I'd take off out the door and through the dusty streets of Eden Park, climbing over walls. It was a normal thing in our neighborhood:
Everyone knew: The child would come through like a bat out of hell, and his mom would be right there behind him. She could go fast in high heels, but if she really wanted to come after me, she'd kick her shoes off while still going at top speed. She'd do this strange move with her ankles and the heels would go flying and she wouldn't even miss a step. When 1 was little she always caught me, but as I got older I got faster. So it was not easy for her to catch me.
Paragraph 1: When speed failed her, she used her wisdom.
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Paragraph 2: If given a chance, I would let my mom run in front of me.
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假定你是李华，在网上看到美国学生Kate的发帖：
Kate | Hi, everyone. Staying at home during the epidemic really bores me. What's worse, for lack of workout, I have put on some weight. Is there anybody who can offer me some advice? |
| Hi, Kate. This is Li Hua from China. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Don't hesitate to contact me if more help is needed. |
请你给Kate回帖，内容包括：
1.读贴后的感受；
2.给出两点建议。
注意：
1.词数80左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3.开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
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People have been told to stay separated at least six feet apart and to practice what state and local officials call “social distancing". As people try to slow the _______ of the COVID-19, the resulting chaos and fear are bringing both large and small communities_________ even though cases mount across the nation and the world.
Simple acts of kindness are _________ online and in public, as neighbors, students, teachers, and others begin to connect those who can pass this long and ___________ time smoothly, with those who may not have the means to_________ .
For Jesse Farren-James, ___________out has taken the form of organizing trips to the supermarkets for___________use of her membership card if anyone needs to buy large quantities. She_________the offer in a Facebook group for the community residents, and some people came and_________her. “I just feel so lucky that I have so many people in my life to rely on and so __________ that not everyone has that,” she wrote in the group. In another interview, Farren- James said the “community is coming together” and “there are so many good and amazing people________ to help where they can.”
Also,____________ in Dorchester have gathered together online. In a Facebook group called DotParents, parents have been____________money to buy food and supplies for students and families in the community. As the leader, Lisa Graustein has been____________ this activity. On Thursday, she used the more than $2,000 raised by neighbors to purchase food in a restaurant supply company. A group of volunteers packed the food and planned to __________it to schools for those who may need it.
“Food____________ is real in our city and this crisis is going to be severe.” Graustein said. “But here's something we can do that deals better with the hard ____________“. This idea is spreading. She said friends in four other states had been running similar _________ . Next, she wants to find a way to get landlords to __________ abandon rent for residents in financial difficulties because of the__________ .
1.A.influence B.spread C.control D.procedure
2.A.shorter B.kinder C.closer D.nicer
3.A.praised B.recognized C.growing D.connecting
4.A.exhausting B.flexible. C.relaxing D.isolating
5.A.get through B.fit in C.cheer up D.break through
6.A.giving B.turning C.sending D.helping
7.A.supplies B.snacks C.drinks D.vegetables
8.A.delivered B.posted C.accepted D.ignored
9.A.looked after B.turned to C.cooperated with D.learned from
10.A.fortunate B.considerate C.heartbroken D.excited
11.A.agreeing B.hesitating C.refusing D.offering
12.A.neighbors B.teachers C.students D.parents
13.A.paying B.making C.raising D.saving
14.A.organizing B.supporting C.opposing D.sponsoring
15.A.collect B.distribute C.sell D.move
16.A.shortage B.waste C.consumption D.security
17.A.time B.task C.choice D.work
18.A.companies B.campaigns C.institutes D.communities
19.A.instantly B.gradually C.temporarily D.permanently
20.A.donation B.project C.activity D.outbreak
When a fire broke out at Notre Dame Cathedral (巴黎圣母院) in April 2019, people across the globe watched in despair as smoke rose from one of the world's most famous buildings. 1.Several museums, palaces and other cathedrals have been damaged or destroyed by fire. Without proper protection measures, fires will continue to destroy them.2.
Recognize the challenge of protecting cultural buildings.
Often built decades or centuries ago, many cultural buildings are constructed with flammable (易燃的) materials and the articles within them are also composed of such materials. 3. Thus many modern fire protection measures are viewed as damage. The absence of these measures planted seeds of ruin.
Find out proper protection methods.
These buildings and their contents are very sensitive to smoke, humidity and dust. They require specialized methods that could cause little damage. Meanwhile, some stone structures, which trap heat and smoke, make it difficult for firefighters to get to the source of the flame.4.One of them is fire compartmentation (防火分区). It uses fire wall barriers to help limit the spread of fire, which will protect the buildings from burning without damaging them.
5.
Some countries have installed fire protection equipment but can't take action soon enough. Given this, the Brazilian government completed a project to adopt advanced electrical waning system and to inform firefighters of fires in no time, which would urge them to take immediate action to stop the fire spreading.
A.Take action quickly.
B.Improve the protection equipment
C.Sadly, it was not a specific example through the years.
D.Fortunately, firefighters came just in time to put out the fire.
E.So here are some suggestions to help save them from burning.
F.Besides, many buildings are under repairs and need to keep their original features.
G.However, some traditional strategies of fire protection for such buildings are effective.
