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. table
14.A. long B. short C. boring D. exciting
15.A. left B. pushed C. shared D. offered
16.A. treat B. expression C. impression D. action
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
Even if you think that your parents are mean-spirited(心胸狭窄的) at times, loving your parents is a normal and fulfilling part of life. You love them for the fact that they created you, raised you, and are in part of a source of who you are. Here are some ways to love your parents.
1.. A gentle “Good morning” and “I love you” will warm a coldest heart. Remember that they brought you into this world. Without your parents ,you might still wander at an unknown corner in an unknown world. Respect them more and cherish these moments. You can use these moments to learn from them when you’re off on your own. It’s OK to get angry but angry actions don’t help you or your parents . Act calmly, cool off, keep a journal about your feelings, or talk to a friend. 2. .
Obey their requests. It will make your attitude better and earn you more respect from them. It may seem like you are going through hell when you don’t get what you want or you have to clean. However, you had better remember they keep a roof over your head when it’s cold, raining, snowing, or too hot. Understand that parents are human beings and make mistakes.3. . Since you can forgive your friends, why not forgive your parents?
Keep company with them. Do things with your parents like watching TV, or go somewhere with them. 4..Listen to their old stories and learn from them. You will find they are your teachers in this way or another.
Some people simply may not be able to love their parents. 5.. Seek help if you are being abused(虐待) in any way. Parents do not have a right to harm you.
A. Forgiveness is the key.
B. Tell them you love them every morning.
C. Parents will in turn express their love to you.
D. After this, share your feelings with your parents.
E. Anyway, spend as much time with them as you can.
F. Please remember parents are as important as friends.
G. There can be realistic reasons for this, family violence for example.
Flight cancellations(取消) and loss of luggage can ruin even the best-planned holiday. The key to a stress-free trip is having a backup plan.
Fly non-stop. The worst problems involve connections, so it is important to take non-stop flights whenever possible. If you do have to make a connection, try to route through a southern city, where snowstorms and de-icing delays will be less likely. Always allow at least two to three hours for flight connections.
Check the weather. Check the weather in your connecting city, not just the arrival and departure city. If your departure flight is cancelled because of weather, you can go home or back to your hotel. Airlines promise to get you on the next available flight, not the next flight. That could be several days later on a sold-out holiday weekend.
Go early. The earlier in the day you fly, the better your chance of getting rebooked the same day after a missed connection. It will also put you ahead of stranded(滞留的) passengers who arrive later.
Rebook immediately. As soon as your flight is delayed or cancelled, get on the phone and rebook your flight instead of waiting at the ticket counter. If your rebooking is delayed, call or ask your travel agent to find a seat on another carrier, and then ask your original carrier to endorse your ticket to the new airline. Airlines are not required to do this but often do. Learn more at www. dot. gov/ airconsumer/ fly-rights.
Ship bags. A few days before your flight, ship suitcases or holiday gifts to your destination by a documented express service. It’s preferable to losing bags because of re-routed flights and sometimes cheaper than paying airline overweight bag fees.
Know your rights. Airlines are not required to compensate passengers for delayed or cancelled flights, but it never hurts to ask for goodwill vouchers(折扣) for meals, taxis or a room.
1.When making a flight connection, it’s common that you’ll___________.
A. stop in the south B. choose a good city without snowstorm
C. be trapped in the storm D. wait for two or three hours
2.The suggested way for you to rebook your flight is___________.
A. through the phone B. by waiting at the ticket counter
C. by changing another airline D. by surfing the Internet
3.The underlined word “compensate” in the last paragraph can be replaced by “___________”.
A. pay B. ask C. host D. treat
4.What’s the best title of the passage?
A. The Worst Problem in the Trip.
B. The Preparation Before the Flight Trip.
C. How to Book the Plane Ticket.
D. How to Plan the Holiday.
The demands of the modern world are growing day by day and this is putting more pressure on scientists to do research. However, as stated by Griffiths, “There is no hope of doing perfect research”. Naturally, there have been a lot of criticisms (批评), as many scientists immediately announce that their research methods are very safe and that they have the perfect research theory (理论).
However, scientific history is filled with examples, in which a perfect scientific solution that was based on decades of scientific research has been overturned (推翻) with new theories. Naturally the first example that comes to mind is the fact that Newton’s Theories were thought to be very safe and they were used in all fields of science. For centuries, thousands of scientists around the world used Newton’s Theories to formulate (规划) other theories.
However, after nearly two centuries of use, Newton’s Theories were found to be not as perfect as they were thought. Through Einstein’s publication on the General Theory of Relativity, it was found that Newton’s laws were imperfect in explaining all motions (运动) that were taking place in our universe. It was found to be imperfect under some conditions, even though, Newton’s laws are still used today to predict motion at low speeds.
Thus, perfect research is only a myth (神话). Of course, this does not mean that a scientist should simply give up and accept imperfection in his or her research efforts. Improvements and changes in research techniques and methods are a natural part of evolution (进化) and it is each scientist’s responsibility to take it forward as much as possible.
While the final answer to the universe’s questions may never exist, a time will come when there will be fewer questions as new answers are found and more improved research is carried out by scientists around the world.
1.Why have there been a lot of criticisms?
A. The modern world demands mor e and more.
B. Scientists have a negative attitude.
C. Many scientists arrive at their conclusions (结论) too fast.
D. Griffiths does not believe what scientists say.
2.Through the publication of the General Theory of Relativity, Newton’s Theories turned out to be ______.
A. not so perfect B. completely wrong C. very safe D. very exact
3.What will scientists do to deal with the “imperfectness” problem?
A. Accept the fact and give up.
B. Improve and change their methods and techniques.
C. Try their best to carry out the perfect study.
D. Ignore it and do as they please.
4.We can learn from the last paragraph that ______.
A. the universe’s questions are sure to have a final answer
B. the number of questions is sure to increase with the passing of time
C. scientists are carrying out improved studies
D. there will be more scientists in the world in the future
U.S. News evaluated more than 28,000 schools for the 2016 Best High Schools rankings. These 10 schools scored the highest out of the 500 top-ranking gold medal schools. Here are four of them.
Carnegie Vanguard High School
Carnegie Vanguard High School is a Texas school for talented and gifted teens. The school’s curriculum consists of Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Students must take at least seven AP courses to graduate. Students consistently exceed(超越)state and national averages on SAT and ACT exams. Carnegie requires every student to complete 100 hours of community service before graduation.
Medal Awarded Gold: National Rank# 10
Houston, TX 77019
Phone: (713) 732-3694
Academic Magnet High School
Academic Magnet High School aims to challenge each student, teacher and parent with high academic expectation. All courses are AP courses, and every student has to complete a year-long independent research project. Students’ work has been published in multiple(多种多样的)academic and professional journals.
Medal Awarded Gold: National Rank# 8
5109AWest Enterprise St, North Charleston
Phone: (843) 746-1300
Pine View School
The curriculum at Pine View School mixes traditional classroom learning with independent study. Pine View School places a strong emphasis (强调) on volunteer work. Students must complete advanced foreign language courses to graduate. After-school activities at Pine View include rowing clubs, Model United Nations and National Honor Society.
Medal Awarded Gold: National Rank # 7
1 Python Path 1 Python Path, Florida.
Phone:(941)486-2001
Thomas Jefferson High School
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology uses the unique curriculum that starts with the advanced biology, math and technology programs for seniors. The school has more than 10 specialized research labs. After-school activities at Thomas Jefferson High School for science and technology include cultural groups such as the Persian Club and a variety of athletic teams.
Medal Awarded Gold: National Rank#5
6560 Braddock Rd
Phone: (703) 750-8300
1.What are the conditions for a student to graduate from Carnegie?
A. Taking six AP courses and finishing 100 hours of community service.
B. Taking at least seven AP courses and finishing 100 hours of community service.
C. Taking seven AP courses and finishing 50 hours of community service.
D. Taking eight AP courses and finishing 50 hours of community service.
2.Academic Magnet High School places a strong emphasis on .
A. physical education B. students’ writing C. volunteer work D. academic quality
3.Pine View School which has after-school activities .
A. lays stress on volunteer work
B. has more than 10 specialized research labs
C. provides AP course for talented and gifted students
D. requires students to finish a year-long independent research project
4.Which high school has a strict request for foreign languages?
A. Academic Magnet High School B. Thomas Jefferson High School
C. Pine View School D. Carnegie Vanguard High School
Does a 16-year-old have the ability to change the world, benefiting hundreds of thousands of people?
Olivia Hallisey should believe so. With her invention of new Ebloa test, the girl from US has become the winner of the 2015 Google Science Fair, a yearly competition for creative teenagers who want to make a difference in the world.
Hallisey’s method asks patients to put a sample of their saliva (唾液)onto a testing card. The card changes color if the person is infected with Ebloa. Present Ebloa tests can take up to 12 hours and cost $1,000. Hallisey’s method, by contrast, can be done just in 30 minutes for about $25. Moreover, the test needn’t be put in a refrigerator thanks to the silk material Olivia used to produce the testing cards.
Hallisey started working on the test one year ago when she saw Ebloa spreading across African countries. Her research was based on looking at and using previous research and her own creative ideas.
“She deserves all the praise she’s getting for her hard work, dedication, and intelligence,” said her science teacher Andrew. “Her project is very helpful for the medical diagnosis that we need in parts of the world where Ebola is most common.”
“What affects one country affects everyone,” Hallisey told CNBC. “We have to work together to find answers to the challenges that threaten global health, our environment and our world.”
1.According to the article, Olivia’s tests .
A. use a person’s saliva, which is sorted at a low temperature
B. are less time-consuming and less expensive than current tests
C. are less time-consuming but more expensive than current tests
D. show changes in the color of blood if the person is infected
2.Which of the fo llowing statements is TRUE?
A. Olivia’s discovery could benefit the lives of many people.
B. Olivia’s research was based on her own creative ideas.
C. Olivia set her mind on winning the 2015 Google Science Fair.
D. Olivia’s research began before the outbreak of Ebloa in Africa.
3.What quality makes the test more convenient?
A. The material used can easily be produced in Africa.
B. The material used is easier to store in a refrigerator.
C. The material used needn’t be put in a special device.
D. The material used is common in the places where Ebloa is most comm on.
