阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项
King Juan Carlos of Spain once insisted “kings don’t give up the throne(王位), they die in their sleep.” But embarrassing scandals and the popularity of the republican left in the recent Euro-elections have forced him to eat his words and stand down. So does the Spanish crisis suggest that monarchy(君主制) is seeing its last days? Does that mean the writing is on the wall for all European royals, with their magnificent uniforms and majestic lifestyles?
The Spanish case provides arguments both for and against monarchy. When public opinion is particularly polarized, as it was following the end of the Franco regime, monarchs can rise above mere politics and symbolize a spirit of national unity.
It is this apparent transcendence(超越) of politics that explains monarchs continuing popularity as heads of state. And so, the Middle East excepted, Europe is the most monarch- filled region in the world, with 10 kingdoms (not counting Vatican City and Andorra). Most royal families have survived because they allow voters to avoid the difficult search for a non-controversial but respected public figure.
Even so, kings and queens undoubtedly have a downside. Symbolic of national unity as they claim to be, their very history and sometimes the way they behave today symbolizes outdated and indefensible privileges and inequalities. At a time when Thomas Piketty and other economists are warning of rising inequality and the increasing power of inherited wealth, it is strange that wealthy noble families should still be the symbolic heart of modern democratic(民主的)states.
The most successful monarchies try their best to abandon or hide their old noble ways. Princes and princesses have day-jobs and ride bicycles, not horses (or helicopters). Even so, these are wealthy families who party with the international 1%, and media interference makes it increasingly difficult to maintain the right image.
1.According to the first two paragraphs, King Juan Carlos of Spain
A. used to enjoy high public support
B. was unpopular among European royals
C. eased his relationship with his rivals
D. gave up his throne in embarrassment
2.Monarchs are kept as heads of state in Europe mostly
A. owing to their undoubted and respectable status
B. to achieve a balance between tradition and reality
C. to give voters more public figures to look up to
D. due to their everlasting political symbolizing
3.Which of the following is shown to be strange, according to Paragraph 4?
A. The noble families’ excessive dependence on inherited wealth
B. The role of the nobility in modern democracies
C. The simple lifestyle of the noble families
D. The nobility’s sticking to their privileges
4.Which of the following is the best title of the text?
A. Carlos, a good example of All European Monarchs
B. Europe, the most monarch-filled region in the world
C. Carlos, a Lesson for All European Monarchs
D. Europe, symbolic heart of modern democracy.
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项
For more than twenty years scientists have been searching for signs of life on other planets. Most of these searches have been done over the radio. The hope is that someone in outer space may be trying to get in touch with us. Scientists also have sent radio and television messages on spaceships traveling through space, on the chance that someone may be receptive to such messages.
Scientists are using powerful radio telescopes to listen to signals from about 1, 000 stars, all within 100 light years of earth. In addition, they will scan the entire sky to “listen” for radio messages from more distant stars. Using a computer, they will be able to monitor more than eight channels at one time. Scientists are looking for any signal they stands out from the background noise.
Of the 200 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy, scientists find that five percent are like our sun. Perhaps half of them have a planet like earth. Such a planet would be a reasonable distance from the star for temperatures to be right for the evolution of life. Based on the inhabitable(that can be lived in)planets in our galaxy, most scientists agree that chances are likely that one or more of these planets support some life.
However, many scientists wonder whether intelligent life exists on other planets. Some believe that twenty years of searching without any intelligible messages shows that no one is out there. They say that the evolution of intelligence comparable to ours is unlikely.
Other scientists believe that our search hasn’t been long enough to rule out the possibility that intelligent life exists in our galaxy. Although our sun family is only about five billion years old, our galaxy is about 20 billion years old. In that time, some scientists think it is likely that civilization much more advanced than ours have developed. Perhaps these civilizations send us no signals; perhaps we have not recognized the signals they have sent us. If we hope to find intelligent life, these scientists believe that we have to keep looking.[来
1.According to the passage, how many planets in our galaxy might be inhabitable?
A. 5 billion. B. 10 billion.
C. 15 billion. D. 200 billion
2.The first paragraph in this passage is mainly about ________ .
A. how scientists are looking for signs of life on other planets
B. why scientists are looking for signs of life on other planets
C. where scientists are looking for signs of life on other planets
D. when scientists are looking for signs of life on other planets
3.The underlined word “monitor” in the passage means“ ________ ”.
A. find B. imitate
C. check D. form
4.Which of these statements is true based on the information in the passage?
A. The earth is one of the oldest planets in our galaxy.
B. Most scientists believe that there is intelligent life on other planets.
C. Scientists are trying different ways to find signs of life on other planets.
D. Scientists don’t believe that there might be life on other planets.
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项
Tips for Cycle Trips
Cycling has many advantages as a form of travel, as it is the fastest way to travel by human Power, and slow enough to allow the type of local involvement that is impossible with powered travel.Cycle travel is a cheap form of transportation.
Distance
On level terrain(地形),without a headwind, a cyclist of average fitness on a touring bike can comfortably cover 60-120km a day.Distances of up to 250km a day are possible, but anything much beyond 120km will require considerable physical tension and not allow many stops to enjoy the places you visit.For many,80-100km a day will be the most suitable distance to aim for, as it will give a sense of achievement and also leave plenty of time for meals and activities.
Geography
The gradient(坡度)of the trip will reduce your range.A basic rule is that for every 100 metres of altitude you climb, you should add an extra 15 minutes to your journey time.In hilly or mountainous areas, the easiest routes for cycling are downstream along major rivers, as overall they will be downhill.A long, roundabout route along a river will usually be easier than a short, direct route over a hill or mountain pass.However, it is worth bearing in mind that the most scenic routes often come from hilly terrain.
Eat
Food choice depends largely on where you are, so see the respective sections for more information about foods. As you will be working hard, it's important to get enough energy in your food. On long trips away from major towns-there may be little quality food available, so be prepared to live on candy bars, prepared meat products and the like if the need arises.
Sleep
While you can take a tent with you, many hotels and especially campsites can accommodate cyclists. However, there are also some hotels that may be less used to accommodating cyclists.If you are exploring an unfamiliar world, asking about the accommodation spares you the search for a new place to stay after a long exhausting day of travel.
1.Which distance does the author suggest to ordinary cyclists a day?
A.50km. B.90km.
C.130km. D.250km.
2.Form the passage, we can learn that_____________.
A.high quality food is easy to get on long trips
B.hotels seldom provide accommodation for cyclists
C.cycling over a mountain is challenging but worthy
D.it takes cyclists 15 minutes to climb 100m of altitude
3.We can probably read this passage in___________.
A.a geography book B.a research report
C.a science fiction D.a travel magazine
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项
Hundreds of years ago,a Roman army came north from England to make war on Scotland. The Scots,a brave people,loved their country very much. They fought hard to drive the enemy out of Scotland,but there were too many Romans. It looked as if the Romans would win.
One night,the leader of Scots marched his soldiers to the top of a hill. “We will rest here tonight,my men,” he said. “Tomorrow we will fight one more battle. We must win or we will die.”
They were all very tired,so they ate their supper quickly and fell asleep. There were four guards on duty,but they,too,were very tired,and one by one,also fell asleep.
The Romans were not asleep. Quickly they gathered at the foot of the hill. Slowly they climbed up the hillside,taking care not to make a sound. Closer and closer they came to the sleeping Scots. They were almost at the top. A few minutes more,the war would be over. Suddenly,one of them put his foot on a thistle(蓟). He cried out and his sudden cry woke the Scots. In a moment,they were on their feet and ready for battle. The fighting was hard but it did not last long. The Scots wiped out the Romans and saved their country.
The thistle is not a beautiful plant. It has sharp needles all over it. Few people like it. But the people of Scotland liked it so much that they made it their national flower.
1.Hundreds of years ago there was a war between ________.
A. Roman army and North England
B. Roman army and the Scots
C. England and Scots
D. a brave people and the Scots
2.“We must win or we will die.” What the leader of the Scots said means ________.
A. they were sure to win
B. they couldn't escape from death
C. they would win and then they would die
D. they must try hard to win, otherwise they would be killed
3.The Romans climbed up the hill quietly because ________.
A. they didn't want to wake the Scots
B. they wanted to reach the top
C. they wanted to catch the four guards first
D. they were afraid of the sharp needles of the thistle
4.What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. The thistle is a beautiful plant
B. The people of Scotland like the thistle
C. The Romans are a brave people
D. The thistle helped the Scots win the battle
学生英文报近期开辟专栏,讨论学习习惯问题,习惯成就未来,请你结合自身学习实际,按以下提示,用英文为该专栏写一篇稿件。
1.说明学习习惯与学习效果之间的关系;
2.介绍一种好的学习习惯并提出养成该习惯的建议;
3.描述自己在学习习惯方面存在的某个问题并给出改进措施
参考词汇:学习习惯:learning habit 学习效果:learning effect
注意: 1. 词数100词左右; 2. 可适当增加细节。
短文改错。
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处错误,每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加:在缺词处加一个漏词符号(∧),并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除:把多余的词用斜线(﹨)划掉。
修改:在错的词下划一横线(___),并在该词下面写出修改的词。
注意: 1.每处错误及修改均仅限一词;
2.只允许修改10处,多者(从第11处起)不计分。
I’m tired and covered in dust. I’ve been digging all day and I’ll be doing the same tomorrow. Sound awful, doesn’t it ? But I’ve never had so many fun in my life. As an archaeology student, I have already knew something about the Qin Tomb and the terracotta warriors. Most Chinese children can tell you Qin Shihuang was the emperor first unified China. He was a brilliant ruler, and he was also a cruel man who killed thousands of people. When he became the king of the state, he immediately ordered workers to construct an underground tomb for him, which is said to contain great treasures. But, the actual entrance to the tomb has ever been found, nor has the tomb been opened. There are ancient descriptions of crossbows hiding at the tomb’s entrance. It’s said that if everyone steps across the entrance, the crossbows will fire.