根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Today we eat on the go, at our desks and even in front of computers. We eat takeout, delivered and packaged meals, __1.__
“Over the past three decades, people have started eating out more than ever before and purchasing more prepared foods at the grocery store, which tend to contain more fat, salt and sugar than their home-made foods,” noted US healthy living website SparkPeople.
____2.__ It encourages us to value the time we spend preparing, sharing and consuming food, as a recent USA Today article put it. It all started in 1986 with the efforts of Slow Food’s founding father, Italian activist Carlo Petrini, who wanted to bring back food varieties and flavors that had gone dark in the face of industrialization. ___3.__ Now, his idea is almost the mainstream.
Starting at the table, the movement promotes an unhurried way of life founded on the idea that everyone has a right to cooking pleasure, and that everyone must also take responsibility to “protect the heritage (遗产) of food, tradition and culture that make this celebration of the senses possible”, wrote The Phnom Penh Post.
“______4._ It means turning down the speed at which we eat and increasing the amount of time we spend dining together with other people,” Althea Zanecosky, spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, told The Huffington Post. “ ___5._____ Dinner table conversations keep families together,” noted the Belgian non-profit organization Greenfudge.
A. It is a way to bring back the social togetherness of yesterday.
B. It seems that we have adapted our foods to our fast-paced lives.
C. So, the Slow Food Movement has occurred against this fast-food trend.
D. Slow Food doesn’t necessarily mean food that takes a long time to cook.
E. It is based on the idea that we should spend as much time as possible on cooking.
F. It’s not only the food itself but also the time we spend dining together that matters.
G. At that time, he asked people to follow a more sustainable (可持续的) living model.
A team of engineers at Harvard University has been inspired by Nature to create the first robotic fly. The mechanical fly has become a platform for a series of new high-tech integrated systems. Designed to do what a fly does naturally, the tiny machine is the size of a fat housefly. Its mini wings allow it to stay in the air and perform controlled flight tasks.
“It’s extremely important for us to think about this as a whole system and not just the sum of a bunch of individual components (元件),” said Robert Wood, the Harvard engineering professor who has been working on the robotic fly project for over a decade. A few years ago, his team got the go-ahead to start piecing together the components. “The added difficulty with a project like this is that actually none of those components are off the shelf and so we have to develop them all on our own,” he said.
They engineered a series of systems to start and drive the robotic fly. “The seemingly simple system which just moves the wings has a number of interdependencies on the individual components, each of which individually has to perform well, but then has to be matched well to everything it’s connected to,” said Wood. The flight device was built into a set of power, computation, sensing and control systems. Wood says the success of the project proves that the flying robot with these tiny components can be built and manufactured.
While this first robotic flyer is linked to a small, off-board power source, the goal is eventually to equip it with a built-in power source, so that it might someday perform data-gathering work at rescue sites, in farmers’ fields or on the battlefield. “Basically it should be able to take off, land and fly around,” he said.
Wood says the design offers a new way to study flight mechanics and control at insect-scale. Yet, the power, sensing and computation technologies on board could have much broader applications. “You can start thinking about using them to answer open scientific questions, you know, to study biology in ways that would be difficult with the animals, but using these robots instead,” he said. “So there are a lot of technologies and open interesting scientific questions that are really what drives us on a day to day basis.”
1.The difficulty the team of engineers met with while making the robotic fly was that ________.
A. they had no model in their mind
B. they did not have sufficient time
C. they had no ready-made components
D. they could not assemble the components
2.It can be inferred from paragraphs 3 and 4 that the robotic fly ________.
A. consists of a flight device and a control system
B. can just fly in limited areas at the present time
C. can collect information from many sources
D. has been put into wide application
3.Which of the following can be learned from the passage?
A. The robotic flyer is designed to learn about insects.
B. Animals are not allowed in biological experiments.
C. There used to be few ways to study how insects fly.
D. Wood’s design can replace animals in some experiments.
4.Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?
A. Father of Robotic Fly
B. Inspiration from Engineering Science
C. Robotic Fly Imitates Real Life Insect
D. Harvard Breaks Through in Insect Study
My mom takes pride in the fact that I was talking in three and four word sentences before I was ten months old. Some say it’s a gift while others simply think I talk too much.
As my thirties came to a close, I found myself reflecting on my life. I’m very happy and have no significant regrets. However, when I looked back on those times of difficulty, I saw a clear common denominator(特征); I didn’t seem to know when to stop talking. Whether it was hurting someone’s feelings, or having carelessly told a secret, the incident could have been avoided had I closed my mouth sooner. So I decided to practice the power of quiet.
To take this step, I needed to understand how people could sit comfortably in a group and not talk. Why does my husband feel completely content to say nothing in a conversation? He’s highly intelligent and has wonderful opinions but he’ll sit quietly and just listen. Even when he’s asked a pointed question, he’ll answer with few words while still communicating effectively. What a talent!
Can you imagine being happy just listening? In surveying those I know who talk less than I do, I got two answers—they either didn’t feel confident enough to speak up, or they just didn’t feel the need to participate in the conversation. Of course there were other reasons for not talking, but these were the two most popular answers.
The first one didn’t work for me. I’m just fine letting people know what I think about them, and hopefully it will make the conversation much more interesting. The second one didn’t work either. I do feel the need to participate. I feel it physically like an electrical pulse through my body; sometimes it’s so strong that it causes me to behave badly in the form of interrupting or speaking in an unusually loud voice. I had to look further.
An interesting thing happened on this journey to the power of quiet. During my weekly yoga class, it came to me like an answer so clear that the words rang in my head like soft, heavenly bells.
I talked too much so people would know I cared about them. It was my way of taking care of those I love. I decided before my fortieth birthday, that from that day forward, those around me would know I loved them, and cared what they thought and felt, but I was going to practice the power of quiet.
As my forty-second birthday approaches, I can say that deciding to talk less has been more about focusing on quality rather than quantity. I’ve found that listening more shows those who I care about that I really do care how they feel. Now when I break in, it means more to them. Oh, sure, I still have my short periods of talking too much, but for the most part this has been one resolution that I can call a success.
1.In Paragraph 3 the writer mentions her husband mainly ________.
A. to show how one communicates effectively
B. to explain the reason for his silence in a conversation
C. to give her high opinion of his communication skills
D. to give an example of those who have the power of quiet
2.By “I had to look further”, the writer means she had to ________.
A. look into the future in order to succeed in practicing the power of quiet
B. try harder to prevent herself from talking too much
C. find out other reasons why she should talk less
D. survey people in other areas who talk little
3.Which of the following best describe the writer’s character?
A. Kind but pessimistic.
B. Selfless but proud.
C. Loving and active.
D. Stubborn and sensitive.
With fuel costs rising and airlines finding more fees to impose on travelers every day, airfare isn’t getting any cheaper. Since you can’t drive to all your dream destinations, flying is the only way to go sometimes and, undeniably, the fastest. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to find the most affordable fares and also avoid paying as many extra charges as possible when you plan ahead.
Getting the best fare. Airlines put out their fare sales on Tuesday morning, making this day the best day to book a flight for less.
Fly during the least popular times. Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday are the slowest days to fly, which means cheaper deals than the rest of the week. You can also find reduced rates on early morning flights, since many people don’t like to get up before the sun to get to the airport. Earlier boarding times can also considerably cut down your chances of getting bumped on an overbooked flight or delayed because of other delayed flights or mechanical issues.
Choose your seat later. Some airlines charge you to pick your seat when you book online, adding even more to the bottom line of your ticket cost. If you show up early on your travel day, you can still get suitable seats. Some of the best seats get held back until flight day, unless others are willing to pay extra for them ahead of time, so you still have the chance at one of those.
Fly on holidays. You already know that summer is the most expensive time to fly, and even though most other times are more affordable, the days surrounding holidays can be crazy. Save big if you’re willing to travel on major holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Don’t wait until the last-minute to book. Many travelers don’t know that there’s a sweet spot for booking and getting the best price on your tickets. Book too early or too late and you could end up paying more than you need to. The best time to book is between three months and six weeks from when you want to travel.
Avoiding extra fees Airlines will charge for just about anything these days. Some have even toyed around with charging customers for using the restroom. All those extra fees can certainly add up, but there’s no reason to pay them if you don’t have to. Here are some tips to keep money in your wallet once you get to the airport.
Avoid the upgrade it's not necessary. Sometimes upgrades are free, but mostly you will be charged for seeking a last-minute bump to first class, and the cost can be hefty.
Fly carry-on only. Baggage fees vary wildly, but almost all airlines charge them and charge big. Why pay for your clothes to fly with you? If everyone in your travel party checks a bag, your bill can be astronomical before you ever even get to your destination. It’s easy to reduce the amount of stuff you pack: Make sure all your clothing coordinates, so you can take less and still make more outfit combinations, take only two pair of shoes, plan to do a bit of laundry on your trip and bring only travel-sized toiletries.
Pack your own snacks. Unless you’re flying internationally, it’s rare your flight comes with a free meal. Snacks on the plane are not cheap and almost never healthy. Don’t rely on what’s on the small menu and instead tuck some of your own snacks — granola bars, homemade muffins, fruit and trail mix all make fantastic travel foods — into your bag and eat a lot better, and cheaper, than other passengers.
Do you have a tried and true method of getting the best deal on your flights? Let us know.
1.Tuesday is the best to book a ticket at a lower cost for ________.
A. fewer people travel on Tuesday.
B. the flights are slower than usual.
C. fare sales are usually announced on Tuesday.
D. flights are seldom delayed on Tuesday.
2.Which of the following will help to cost you less for a flight?
A. Book your flight on Thursday.
B. Travel surrounding Christmas.
C. Pick your seat the moment you book online.
D. Book early morning flights.
3.The underlined word “hefty” here has the same meaning as ________.
A. largeB. heavyC. fierceD. acceptable
4.To save the cost for the flight, you should ________.
A. check whether the upgrade is free before you bump to the first class
B. make sure your clothes and shoes are fit for a lot of walk
C. share your own snacks with other passengers
D. plan to do the washes on flight
Worlds of Fun
Location: Worlds of Fun is located off Highway 435 in Kansas City, Missouri.
History: Worlds of Fun was opened on May 26, 1973, at a cost of 25 million dollars. Loosely themed around the Jules Verne book, Around the World in Eighty Days, the park was founded by Hunt Midwest Company. In 1982, Hunt Midwest bought a nearby waterpark, Oceans of Fun. In 2013, Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun were combined to a one ticket admission, providing all guests with access to 235 acres of amusement and water rides.
Hours: Worlds of Fun is open from April through Halloween.
Tickets: Buy and print online. Always try to buy your tickets in advance, to save time when you get to the park.
Reservations: Worlds of Fun sells “Fast Lane” cards that save riders’ time by allowing them to bypass the majority of wait for most of rides and attractions including Mamba, Prowler, and Patriot. Ride as many times as you want all day long.
Strategy: Most visitors tend to begin the day with Prowler, the hottest attraction in the park. Use that tendency to your advantage and head to the Patriot first. After that, try the Dragons. Then work your way back to the Prowler. After riding the Prowler, there is only one coaster left, Mamba. Hit it next. If the park is not very crowded, you can ride Boomerang on the way to Mamba. After riding Mamba, head back for a ride on the Wolf. By then you will have tried most of the popular rides and attractions in the shortest possible time.
News: In 2017, Worlds of Fun is adding Steel Hawk, a ride that will take guests up 301 feet in the air and spin them at a 45-degree angle for a 60-second flight. Wait to have a try!
1.When did Hunt Midwest’s two parks start to share one ticket?
A. In 1937.B. In 2013.C. In 1982.D. In 2014.
2.With a “Fast Lane” card, the visitor can ________.
A. save some money
B. buy tickets online
C. avoid lining up for long
D. enjoy all the rides for free
3.What is talked about in the part of Strategy?
A. The hottest attractions in the park.
B. The highest ride in the park.
C. The most popular tour season.
D. The best visiting route.
4.According to the passage, by beginning with ________ a visitor can try most of the popular rides and attractions in the shortest possible time.
A. ProwlerB. DragonsC. PatriotD. Wolf
假设你叫李华，你的一个朋友John刚从美国归来，邀请你参加本周日在他家举办的朋友聚会，但你不能参加，请你根据以下要点给他写一封电子邮件:
1. 表达想参加的意愿；
2. 忙于准备高考；
3. 由于感冒，身体不适；
4. 表示歉意并另约时间。
注意：可适当添加细节以使行文连贯；词数100左右，开头和结尾已给，不计入总字数。
Dear John,
I’m extremely sorry to tell you that _______________________________________
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Best wishes,
Yours,
Li Hua
