Food serves as a form of communication in two basic ways. Sharing bread or other foods is a common human tradition that can promote unity and trust. Food can also have a special meaning, and play an important 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(郊区的) and urban(市区的) areas within one country.
Sharing bread, whether during a special occasion(时刻) 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 stand for blocks of gold for prosperity(兴旺) in the New Year. In Greece, people share a special cake called vasilopita. A coin is put into the cake, which signifies(预示) 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(营养) 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 food _______.
A. indicates a lack of food.
B. has its roots in birthday celebration.
C. is a custom unique to rural areas.
D. can help to develop unity and trust.
2.What does the coin in vasilopita signify for its receiver in the New Year?
A. Success B. Trust
C. Health D. Togetherness
3.The author explains the role of food in celebrations by _______.
A. making comparisons B. analyzing causes
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 different cultures.
C. The specific meaning of food.
D. The role of food in ceremonies.
In the early morning, I head for the back door and find 10 inches of snow covering our home. Oh no, Bryan will have to clear the roof again, I think. But Rio rolls onto his back, playing in the white snow and kicking his back legs, delighted. His days in an animal shelter in New Mexico are long forgotten—he’s wholeheartedly enjoyed life as a Colorado dog.
Rio needs a walk. I’ve planned to attend an emergent webinar, but my husband is busy clearing. Rio pushes my leg with his snout(口鼻部), wondering why we are still inside. We’re late for our morning hike. I pull on my boots reluctantly. I don’t have time for this!
Rio and I walk a block through our neighborhood to the beginning of a road. Rio jumps happily into the snow, which is up to his neck. But I walk slowly with heavy steps, worrying about my to-do list, and I don’t notice the world around me until Rio starts barking.
A squirrel (松鼠) chitters at him from a high branch of a pine tree. We haven’t seen a squirrel in at least a week because of all the snow storms, so this is a treat for us.
Once again, my animal teacher is reminding me to enjoy the present moment, and I’m grateful. I take a deep breath and look around. Suddenly there is an explosion(爆炸) of snow. a nearby tree has released its heavy burden, snapping(迅速恢复) back upright. Silver snowflakes(雪花) dust the air around me as a group of birds flees the area, talking to one another as they fly overhead.
I watch and listen in wonder for what seems like a full minute. There will be 1440 munites on this day, but this is the one I’ll remember most. Then I look back to the earth and there is my sweet dog, waiting patiently for a treat. He knows I’ll want to celebrate this moment we’ve just shared. “I love you, Rio!” I say as I give him a cookie. He has trained me well!
When we walk home, I smile broadly, spirit washed clean, ready for whatever the day may bring.
1.The underlined word “reluctantly” in Paragraph 2 can best be replaced by “_____”.
A. quickly B. unwillingly
C. excitedly D. unnecessarily
2.How is the author at the beginning of the walk?
A. She feels very relaxed. B. She is worrying about Rio.
C. She is still angry with Bryan. D. She feels very frustrated.
3.What does the author learn from Rio?
A. No pains, no gains. B. Nothing is impossible.
C. Live in the moment. D. Troubles never come alone.
4.Which can be the best title for the text?
A. Lifted by a walk in fallen snow. B. How I train my dog.
C. A busy day with Rio. D. Dogs in animal shelters.
The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May. Here are some helpful suggestions for your first trip to the Kentucky Derby!
Fashion vs. Comfort
In many ways, the Kentucky Derby is the world’s largest and most entertaining fashion show, with impressive hats and clothes! You’ll be on your feet and walking a lot, so pack a pair of comfortable shoes to change into during the day.
Your Tickets
You MUST have your tickets in order to get through the gates. Please note that the only place that has official permission to buy and resell Kentucky Derby tickets is the Kentucky Derby Ticket Exchange. Law enforcement officials will be on site to prevent people from selling tickets at a much higher price.
If you have questions about your tickets in advance of the Derby, please call Churchill Downs customer service at 502-636-4400.
Finding Help
With over 14,000 employees throughout the track on Derby day, you aren’t too far from someone who can help. If you can’t find an employee to help you, please text the word HORSE to 69050 and you will be placed in touch with Guest Services.
Safety & Security
For the safety of all our guests, your bag may be searched by security. A number of items are forbidden from entering the facility(场所).
For security and crowd control reasons, you can’t enter the facility again after you get out. This means that you will not be able to go outside the gates to fetch items from your car once you have passed through security. Please be sure to bring everything you need.
1.What is the dressing tip?
A. Dress in popular sports clothes.
B. Bring several sets of clothes to change into.
C. Prepare a pair of comfortable shoes.
D. Put on a hat to provide protection from the sun.
2.What should you do if you want to resell your ticket?
A. Call Churchill Downs customer service.
B. Consult law enforcement officials.
C. Find a buyer by yourself.
D. Go to the Kentucky Derby Ticket Exchange.
3.What can we learn from Safety & Security?
A. You can’t enter the facility after the game begins.
B. You are not permitted to re-enter the facility.
C. You can bring whatever you need into the facility.
D. Your car needs to be examined by security.
假如你是李华，你的英国朋友Edward正在学习汉语，希望你推荐一个适合他学习汉语的网站。请你根据以下内容，给他回复邮件。
推荐网站：www.edchinese.com
网站内容：
1. 网络课程：中文情景对话、中国风俗、中文电影、中文歌曲、成语和唐诗等；
2. 有在线教师答疑解惑。
注意： 1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
3. 开头和结尾已为你写好，不计入总词数。
Dear Edward,
I’m more than pleased to know that you are learning Chinese. I’d like to recommend www. edchinese.com to you. ________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
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处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），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后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
I'd like to talking about my most memorable experience. It was the trip to Australia I had three years before with my dance group to participate in international dance festival. It was the first time that I had travelled by plane in my life. My mum worried a lot, so everything went smoothly. I stayed there for two week and it was the happiest time in my life. Besides our performances there, we have much excitement. We spent on almost every morning sunbathing on the beautiful beach and swam in the blue sea. But warmly Australian nights were which I adored most of all. It was a time of joy, lights, music and summer parties.
Researchers find that1.large amount of African dust can blow all the way across the Atlantic Ocean and fall on North and South Americas.
African dust storms can harm air quality2. the ocean. But new research by scientists from some countries 3. (show) the storms also can do some good. 4.is found that an average of 28 million metric tons of Saharan dust falls in South America’s Amazon River basin each year. Scientists say the dust is an important5.(provide) of fertilizer. “Yes, it’s6.(surprise) because of the huge amount of dust and phosphorous(磷), 7. is a nutrient that plants need8.(grow),” one of them says.
In fact, the phosphorous9.(fall) from the sky is about the same as the amount that rivers carry out each year. The thick rainforest and the desert dust 10.(join) together on one small planet.
