Food serves as a form of communication in two fundamental ways. Sharing bread or other foods is a common human tradition that can promote unity and trust. Food can also have a specific meaning, and play a significant role in a family or culture's celebrations or traditions. The foods we eat—and when and how we eat them—are often unique to a particular culture or may even differ between rural and urban areas within one country.
Sharing bread, whether during a special occasion or at the family dinner table, is a common symbol of togetherness. Many cultures also celebrate birthdays and marriages with cakes that are cut and shared among the guests. Early forms of cake were simply a kind of bread, so this tradition has its roots in the custom of sharing bread.
Food also plays an important role in many New Year celebrations. In the southern United States, pieces of corn bread represent blocks of gold for prosperity in the New Year. In Greece, people share a special cake called vasilopita. A coin is put into the cake, which signifies success in the New Year for the person who receives it.
Many cultures have ceremonies to celebrate the birth of a child, and food can play a significant role. In China, when a baby is one month old, families name and welcome their child in a celebration that includes giving red-colored eggs to guests. In many cultures, round foods such as grapes, bread, and moon cakes are eaten at welcome celebrations to represent family unity.
Nutrition is necessary for life, so it is not surprising that food is such an important part of different cultures around the world.
1.According to the passage, sharing bread______.
A. can help to develop unity
B. indicates a lack of food
C. is a custom unique to rural areas
D. has its roots in birthday celebrations
2.What does the coin in vasilopita signify for its receiver in the New Year?
A. Trust. B. Togetherness.
C. Health. D. Success.
3.The author explains the role of food in celebrations by______.
A. analyzing causes B. making comparisons
C. using examples D. describing processes
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A. The custom of sharing food.
B. The importance of food in culture.
C. The role of food in ceremonies.
D. The specific meaning of food.
Mu Yumin had no idea that when he stopped by the computer club as a freshman looking for something fun, it would decide his career four years later. The 22-year-old biology major at Huazhong University of Science and Technology found a job as an IT technician in Shanghai. “My experience in the club gave me another ‘diploma’,” said Mu. “ More importantly, I found something I am good at and can make a living from. ”
Now campuses around the country have started recruiting (招收) fresh faces for all kinds of clubs. Upperclassmen and experts suggest a hobby-based choice of clubs, which might have a lasting impact on one' s life and career. Zhang Ling did not get many chances to write stories as an environmental protection major at Jiangxi University of Science and Technology. But this changed when she joined the university broadcasting station. Her daily interviews with students and teachers expanded her horizons. Now she is determined to become a journalist on environmental issues with her degree in environmental protection.” “Journalism changed my life track,” said the 22-year-old girl. “I only wanted to be a science teacher in a local senior high school. But now I am applying for a graduate school in journalism. ”
Lan Yujie, a professor at Anhui University of Technology, regards Mu and Zhang as good examples of choosing “what I like” instead of “what is practical” in finding jobs and seeking further study. “Some freshmen don't know what to choose,” said Lan. “Just following a hobby and doing something you like can easily give you the experiences that make you happy and special. ”
Lan further says that joining clubs should not necessarily have a purpose. As part of campus life, a club experience will impact one's life and career in one way or another. “The point of clubs is to have as many diverse experiences as possible so that students can explore more of their life,” said Lan.
1.Why did Mu Yumi join the computer club?
A．To have a good time.
B．To change his major.
C．To find a good job.
D．To get another diploma.
2.According to the text, joining the campus club has many advantages EXCEPT .
A．offering you many pleasures
B．making you plan your career better
C．helping you get more life experiences
D．helping you make more friends
3.What can we learn from Lan Yujie's words in the last paragraph ?
A．Students should be practical in finding jobs.
B．Club experiences will affect students' life and career.
C．Joining clubs should have a clear goal.
D．Students will have a colorful campus life by joining clubs.
4.What is the main idea of the text ?
A．How to change your major.
B．Joining a campus club for a diploma.
C．Joining a club to explore more of your life.
D．How to find a job after graduation.
There are many places to go on safari in Africa, but riding a horse through the flooded waters of Botswana's Okavango Delta must rank as one of the world's most exciting wildlife journeys.
Several safari camps operate as the base for this adventure, providing unique rides twice a day to explore deep into the delta. The camps have excellent horses, professional guides and lots of support workers. They have a reputation for providing a great riding experience.
The morning ride, when the guides take you to beautiful, shallow lakes full of water lilies, tends to be more active. It is unlike any other riding experience. With rainbows forming in the splashing water around you and the sound of huge drops of water bouncing off your body and face. It is truly exciting. You are very likely to come across large wild animals, too. On horseback it is possible to get quite close to elephants, giraffes and many other animals. The sense of excitement and tension levels rise suddenly though, as does your heart rate, as you move closer to them.
In the evening, rides are usually at a more relaxed and unhurried pace. With golden light streaming across the grassy delta and the animals coming out to eat and drink. Sedate though they are, rides at this time of day are still very impressive. As the sun's rays pass through the dust kicked up by the horses, the romance of Africa comes to life.
Back at the camp you can kick off your boots and enjoy excellent food and wine. Looking back on your day, you will find it hard to deny that a horseback Safari is as close as you will ever come to answering the call of the wild.
1.What does the underlined word “They” (in Para 2) refer to?
A. Flooded waters B. Wildlife journey
C. Unique rides D. Safari camps
2.What does the author find most exciting about a horse safari?
A. Seeing and feeling the real African life.
B. Enjoying good food and wine at the camp.
C. Being part of the scene and getting close to animals.
D. Hunting large animals just as our ancestors did.
3.What does the underlined word “sedate”(in Para 4) probably mean?
A. Slow and peaceful B. Wild and romantic
C. Hurry and thirsty D. Active and excited
4.The author introduced the riding experience in the Okavango Delta mainly by ___.
A. following space order B. making classifications
C.following time order D. giving examples
Does your local town have a nickname? If so, what does it say about the area and the people who live there? Many cities are recognized across the world by their unofficial titles. New York is the Big Apple, London is the Big Smoke, and Los Angles is famously called La La Land.
Now, as part of English Language Day on Wednesday, Britain's national mapping agency, Ordnance Survey, and the British linguistics charity (语言学慈善机构) , the English Project, are launching an interactive project which aims to identify the nicknames people use in their daily lives for local places.
“The name that people create for a place forms an emotional connection,” explains Winchester University's Professor Bill Lucas, a supporter of the English Project. “So Basingstoke becomes Amazingstoke, Swindon is known as Swindump and Padstow, hometown of Chef Rick Stein, is nicknamed Padstein.”
Basingstoke is a town in central England. The local nickname, Amaxingstoke, shows that affection that locals seem to have for the area. Swindon, on the other hand, is sometimes called Swindump, showing that some people think it's a dump (垃圾场). Stanford Le Hope in Essex is called Stanford No Hope by locals. And Padstow in Cornwall is so closely connected with the local famous person Rick Stein that it's become known as Padstein.
Since launching the online survey last week, the creators have already received 3,000 alternative titles for places and landmarks.
There is a practical side to the project. Glen Hart, Ordnance Survey's head of research, says the information could be very helpful to the emergency services. For example, “ By having the most complete set of nicknames we could help the emergency services quickly locate the right place, and maybe even save lives,” he says.
1.What's the passage mainly about ?
A．Some stories about nicknames for places.
B．Organizations collect official place names.
C．People have a great affection for their cities.
D．A survey of the nickname for places.
2.Unlike the town Basingstoke, Swindon is a place that________.
A．seems unpleasant to some people
B．attracts a lot of tourists
C．has few people living there
D．has a long history
3.What does Glen Hart think of the project?
A．It proves that most nicknames are interesting.
B．It is very helpful to the emergency services.
C．It may help increase the number of nicknames.
D．It has helped prevent deaths from happening.
书面表达
随着因特网的发展，网上购物（Online Shopping）已经成为一种时尚。请根据下表内容，用英语写一篇120词左右的短文，描述网上购物的利与弊，并发表你个人的观点。
网上购物 | |
网购的优点 | 提供方便的服务； 购买的商品价格低廉； 节省时间。 |
网购的弊端 | 商品质量无保证； 退还商品不方便； 长时间上网对身体有害。 |
你的观点(至少两点) | 1….; 2…. |
注意：开头部分已经给出，不计入总词数。
With the development of technology, online shopping is becoming increasingly popular these days and has become a symbol of fashion.
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单句改错
每句有一处错误，请按以下要求改错：
错误：把某词改为某词。写为：某词---某词。例如: was--were
增加：在某词后加某词。写为：某词后加某词。例如：by后加the
删除：去掉多余的词。写为：去掉某词。例如：去掉a
1.Comparing with 2005, the price of grain was increased by 50%.
2.Rather than driving himself, he always prefers to ride a bicycle.
3.It will depend on if this problem can be solved.
4.I have some doubt that they can complete the task on time.
5.This teacher often helped me maybe because he felt itself his duty to do so.
6.Some of the tall trees were measured over 90 metres.
7.It’s very late to take any buses, so we have to walk home.
8.As long as I know, they live in the same neighbourhood.
9.The organization is in charge of David who is very capable of managing it.
10.We took turn to drive when going to the seaside.
