I often recall those good old days. At that time life was relatively simpler, and people were much more and gentler. Recently, to my surprise, I got the opportunity to experience that same warmth that I thought had from the fast-moving world.
I was out shopping the other day with my husband, two daughters and one . It was a burning hot day, and we were all visibly tired and hungry. We entered a restaurant, looking for some and comfort. To our disappointment, all the tables were and no one seemed in a hurry to . We waited, tired and . After quite some time, one table was vacated(空出), but that could only two of us. My daughter made me sit along with her father, while she and my other daughter alongside. My granddaughter sat on my as we looked all around us, waiting for another table to be soon.
At the next table, two young girls were sitting at a table for four and enjoying their meal. We decided to move to their table, they were finished with their lunch. Since the girls had just got their , I knew it would be a wait. As we were deciding on what to eat, one of the girls got up and their table to us. She said they would move to our table so that my family could sit together.
We were very appreciative of their kind . We thanked them and moved to their table. The girls quickly their plates and glasses and went to sit at our table.
That day, I to myself there still were some kind, civil and helpful youngsters in this non-caring world, and my faith in humanity(人道) was .
1.A. friendly B. generous C. careful D. sensitive
2.A. prevent B. removed C. lost D. disappeared
3.A. niece B. granddaughter C. nephew D. son
4.A. tea B. food C. fruit D. vegetable
5.A. fixed B. covered C. occupied D. set
6.A. start B. wait C. give up D. get up
7.A. impatient B. nervous C. awkward D. embarrassed
8.A. serve B. seat C. lay D. hold
9.A. sat B. followed C. stood D. watched
10.A. shoulder B. feet C. lap D. table
11.A. blank B. free C. available D. clean
12.A. unless B. once C. before D. until
13.A. order B. bill C. note D. menu
14.A. long B. short C. boring D. exciting
15.A. left B. pushed C. shared D. offered
16.A. treat B. expression C. movement D. gesture
17. A. personally B. properly C. publicly D. sincerely
18.A. picked up B. raised up C. put up D. given up
19.A. turned B. came C. thought D. pointed
20.A. lost B. rebuilt C. found D. shaken
There are many reasons for people to study abroad. One is that you can have the chance to make yourself know about the culture of the place. Although we humans belong only to the same one species, we are divided into several races. 1. And when countries are divided by oceans, naturally the way of life in that country is different from ours.
Once you are studying in a foreign country, you will slowly learn to speak the language of the place. 2. If you want to ask for directions or if you are lost, it can be of great help.
3. If you study in such places as Spain and the Philippines, there are lots of foreign sights to see.
Studying abroad will also give you the chance to experience a totally different curriculum(课程). 4.
Studying abroad is also a memory that can be valued for a lifetime. 5. Once you have made friends with your classmates, I’m pretty sure you will enjoy being with them in your hang-outs, in your parties, and even in helping out with each other’s homework.
A. This is an opportunity to make friends from other races.
B. Studying abroad also offers an opportunity to travel.
C. Different countries have different cultures.
D. A college course in the UK, for example, is not similar to the one we have here.
E. Learning the native language of the place can also greatly help you to go around.
F. English is spoken as a third language in many countries.
G. There are Africans, Europeans, Asians and etc.
School Activities
Our school activities are suitable for all ages and levels including primary, secondary and A-Level. We offer workshops, hands-on activities and a teacher support service to help you get the most out of your visit. All school services are free, but must be booked in advance.
Darwin Centre
Find out who you really are and where you come from in our interactive films about evolution, described by Sir David Attenborough.
Hands-on Activities
Get up close and personal with Museum in these hands-on activities, where you can handle real specimens from our collections. Hundreds of real, natural history specimens for students to touch and explore are in our hands-on science centre.
Self-led Activities
Pupils can engage with specimens through role-play in a self-guided explorer challenge through the Museum.
The Great Debate School Program
Students are introduced to the history of the debate during a lively tour. They are then divided into groups and use exhibits to prepare presentations representing the views of the debated key characters.
Booking
All school activities must be booked in advance by calling the schools booking line: 4420 7942 6666.
1.If you want to join in the school activities, you ________.
A. have to pay for the services
B. should be an A-Level student
C. need to visit the school web
D. must book in advance
2.If you’re interested in human evolution, you’d better choose________.
A. The Great Debate Schools Program
B. Darwin Centre
C. Hands-on Activities
D. Self-led Activities
3.Which of the following programs is the most suitable one for team work?
A. Darwin Centre. B. The Great Debate School Program.
C. Self-led Activities. D. Hands-on Activities.
As I grew older, my dad and I grew further apart. We always had totally different opinions. He thought that college was a waste of time, but for me it was important to finish college. He wanted me to work my way to the top as he had done in his field，but I wanted a different life. There was a time when we did not talk with each other.
A few months ago, I heard that my 84-year-old dad was in poor health. When he called and asked whether I could move from Colorado bank to Tennessee to help him, I knew he was seriously ill. I am his only child and so it was time to meet my father's requirement.
Two weeks after moving back, we bought a boat and started fishing again. Fishing was one of the few things that we did while I was young and that we both enjoyed. It is strange but true that as we are fishing we are able to put things that have kept us apart for so many years behind us. We are able to talk about things that we have never talked about before. Fishing has been healing the old wounds that have kept us apart.
It is not important how many fish we catch. It is about enjoying the relationship that we have not had for years. I' m 62 and he is 84. When we are on the lake fishing, it is like enjoying life. It is far better to find a way to put the unhappy past behind. I am so lucky to spend the happy time with my father in his last years. Now my heart is filled with love. A smile always graces my lips.
1.The author and his father became further apart because .
A. they lived very far from each other
B. they seldom went to see each other
C. they only communicated by phone
D. they had different views on things
2.Why did the author came back to Tennessee?
A. Because his father invited him to go fishing.
B. Because he decided to live in a different city.
C. Because his father was ill and needed caring.
D. Because he regretted being rude to his father.
3.For the author, fishing with his old father
A. helps cure his father’s disease
B. makes him realize the importance of relaxation
C. is a good way to get close to nature
D. provides a chance for them to communicate
4.Which of the following can be the title for the text?
A. Fishing Brings Us Together B. Forgiving Is Difficult
C. Memories of Old Days D. My Beloved Father
Sweet peas, cucumbers, grapes ---- what do you think they have in common?
None of these vegetables grow on trees. They all don’t have strong roots, big trunks or long branches, which makes it harder for them to get sunlight. But don’t worry. They have developed their own unique way of growing taller climbing!
Take sweet peas as an example. The plant grows as a straight stem until it finds something to hold onto, either a nearby tree or a stick. That is when the stem makes small coil(卷曲) that helps the plant hold the stick tightly.
How these plants are able to do this has been a mystery to scientists for years. Even Charles Darwin was interested in this question. But it is not until now that a Harvard research team has finally found the answer. The study was published in the Journal Science earlier this month.
The key, as it turns out, is inside a kind of thread-like cell called “g-fiber cell”, which has the ability to shrink or stretch. Each stem of the pea plant is made of several layers of g-fibers. Once the plant finds something to hold onto, cells on side of the stem start to shrink, forcing the whole thing to bend and coil, which is a bit like how our muscles get our bodies to move.
What’s more, a pea’s coil is not exactly like that of a spring. If you look closely, you may find that a spring coils all in the same direction, but a plant’s coil is in two opposite directions, like a telephone line. This means that the stem can stay soft when pulled gently but become strong enough when pulled harder.
“You want the plant to have a little bit of flexibility(柔韧性) so that if the wind blows or an animal disturb it, it doesn’t break,” explained Sharon Gerbode, author of the study. “This structure allows the plant to easily accommodate small movement, but then if something really serious happens it can become strong and protect itself.”
1. According to the article, coiling happens in sweet peas plant to allow the plant to .
A. form a straight stem
B. grow strong roots
C. develop g-fiber cells on the stems
D. climb itself up toward the sunlight
2.According to the article, which one is true about “a sweet pea’s coil”?
A. to be like that of a spring
B. to bend all in the same direction
C. to make the stem hard break
D. to make the stem get soft when pulled hard
3.When the sweet pea plant finds something to hold onto, .
A. g-fiber cells on both sides of stem, forcing the stem to bend and coil
B. g-fiber cells on side of stem shrink, forcing the stem to bend and coil
C. g-fiber cells on the stem start to stretch, forcing the stem to bend and coil
D. there are more g-fiber cells on the stems
4.What’s the purpose of the writer in the passage?
A. To tell us why the sweet peas can climb the tree or stick.
B. To display new research allows scientists to understand more about climbing plants.
C. To show us new scientific research about the role of “g-fiber cell”.
D. To tell us the mysterious natural phenomena of some plants.
The cars were honking (鸣叫) on the road one morning as I was walking to the park. I walked on and soon found the cause — a little taxi that had got stuck in the middle of the road. There was sweat on the driver's face as he tried to start the engine again and again — nothing happened. "No petrol,"
I said to myself and then found myself getting angry. "Why doesn't the fool move his taxi to the side?" I thought, so did all the others who honked and shouted.
He got up tiredly, and the passenger in the taxi got out. He was a young man in a white shirt, who watched the driver try to push it to the side. "Stupid guy!" I said. "Can't he lend a helping hand? "
I watched as the poor driver pushed it to the side. Cars, buses and trucks went past cursing (咒骂 ) the poor man. The young man took another taxi and went off.
The taxi driver began mending his taxi. "Stupid passenger!" I said to him. "He didn't help you!" The taxi driver slowly got up. "Sir!" he asked, "Did you?" I looked at him guiltily, then looked away, and walked away fast, asking myself, "Did I help the poor man push his taxi?"
What had I been doing as the traffic jam took place? How had I helped deal with the problem? Did I help the poor man push his taxi? I’d done my bit, with my mouth. But never had I moved to solve the problem. I was shocked with guilt as I heard him asking, "Sir! Did you?"
1. Why did a traffic jam happen on the road when the author was walking to the park?
A. There was too much traffic in the street.
B. Truck drivers attempted to go ahead of others.
C. A taxi driver couldn't start his engine.
D. A young man wasn't good at driving.
2.The author's attitude toward the passenger is that of __________.
A. anger B. respect C. sympathy D. guilt
3.Why did the author feel guilty?
A. Because he blamed the driver wrongly.
B. Because he didn't help the driver, either.
C. Because he tried to help but failed in the end.
D. Because he didn't persuade the passenger to help.
4. From the incident, the author learnt a lesson that we should _________.
A. criticize those who don't help
B. hurt the self-respect of others no more
C. think more of those who are in need
D. stop talking and start to help
