My wife Pat and I were having drinks outside our home, The weather was unusually____for March in Mississippi, There was barely any breeze, After we finished the second cup, flashes of____danced across the sky. When the first drops of rain drove us____, the phone rang.Pat’s face____on that gray and hot day. It was our son, David, a helicopter pilot who____in the US Air Force in South Korea. David intended to sound____, but we recognized the sign of homesickness from his voice.____,the power of conversation made us feel____,until a crash shook the windows.
David wondered what it was,“Just thunder,”Pat said.
There were several seconds of silence,“David”,I asked, “are you____there?”
“Yes…apart from the two of you, do you know what else I____most? Thunder, We have rain, wind, and____here, but it never thunders, Remember? Dad, when I was a kid, you laughed me out of fear of thunder? I wish I were there to____with you now.”
“Yes…”I said, trying to____my tears, On hanging up the phone, I told Pat,“I’m going to record our son some ____.”“Bob, the neighbors will think you’re crazy.”
“David won’t,” I said and went outside with a recorder, Later I ____the tape to David with a single line:A ____gift.
David called again, “Dad,”he said,“you won’t believe that some friends and I had a thunder party where we realized we were listening to the sounds of ____, Thanks, Dad! It was really a special present,” While David was in Korea, we found ourselves ____thunderstorms. ____feeling blue, we regarded the thunder as special which let us know that wherever we might be, we were _____together as a family.
1.A. wonderful B. fine C. hot D. unique
2.A. images B. lightning C. electricity D. clouds
3.A. over B. off C. outside D. inside
4.A. darkened B. lightened C. widened D. opened
5.A. served B. employed C. searched D. studied
6.A. miserable B. respectful C. comfortable D. Cheerful
7.A. Suddenly B. Gradually C. Increasingly D. Frequently
8.A. simpler B. less C. worse D. Better
9.A. still B. even C. instead D. yet
10.A. possess B. miss C. offer D. say
11.A. sky B. stars C. snow D. earth
12.A. play B. run C. Listen D. Work
13.A. gave out B. hold back C. took in D. Set off
14.A. music B. songs C. wind D. Thunder
15.A. gave B. presented C. mailed D. rushed
16.A. typical B. special C. common D. Strange
17.A. countryside B. city C. suburb D. home
18.A. expecting B. lacking C. trusting D. having
19.A. Other than B. Less than C. Rather than D. More than
20.A. established B. qualified C. linked D. pressed
Everyone, from homeless people to billionaires, is likely to be influenced by stress; there’s simply no way to avoid it1.Here are five powerful tips for ways to kill stress in almost any situation.
Eat Healthier
Though a lot of stress is psychological, there are also plenty of physical factors that lead to this natural human response to noticed danger, In order to relieve stress, make sure you’re treating your body right. A big part of this is eating healthier2.Anyway, adopting an alkaline(碱性的）diet instead of an acidic (酸性的）one is recommended.
Wake Up Earlier
3.However, waking up 15 or 20 minutes earlier each morning may have more benefits than sleeping in. By giving yourself some extra time, you won’t feel quite rushed in the morning, which leads to better preparation and more confidence.
4.
Since you are never going to remove 100 percent of the stress in your life, one of the best things you can do is let it be one of your motivations. This is what stress is designed to do, after all. The psychological and physical reactions brought on by stress are supposed to heighten our senses and empower us to fight off a threat.
Watch a Funny Video
Here is a simple and practical tip: watch a funny video on You Tube, Research shows that seeing something amusing activates the part of the brain that produces calm physiological(生理的）responses. This can lead to less anxiety and more happiness.
Take Walk Outside
Whenever possible, make sure you take your walk outdoors5.It can improve energy levels and memory by as much as 20 percent.
A.A number of studies are two important keys to good health.
B.Diet and relaxation are two important keys to good health.
C.There are no magic”anti-stress”foods.
D.However, there are ways to reduce the amount of stress you suffer from.
E.Keep Positive Relationships
F.Let Stress Motivate You
G.It is certainly true that the more sleep you get, the less stressed you’ll be.
Liverpool, my hometown, is a special city. It is so unique that in 2004 it became a World Heritage（遗产）Site.
I recently returned to my home city and my first stop was at a museum on the River Mersey. Blanketed in mist（薄雾），Victorian architecture rose from the banks of the river, responded to the sounds of sea-birds, and appeared unbelievably charming. When I headed toward the centre, I found myself surrounded by buildings that mirror the best palaces of Europe. It is not hard to imagine why, on first seeing the city, most visitors would be overpowered by the beauty of the noble buildings, which are solid signs of Liverpool’s history.
As if to stress its cultural role, Liverpool has more museums and galleries than most cities in Britain. At Walker Art Gallery, I was told that it has the best collections of Victorian paintings in the world, and is the home of modern art in the north of England. However, culture is more than galleries. Liverpool offers many music events. As Britain’s No. 1 music city, it has the biggest city music festival in Europe, and its musicians are famous all over the world. Liverpool is also well-known for its football and other sports events. Every year, the Mersey River Festival attracts thousands of visitors, making the city a place of wonder.
As you would expect from such a city, there are restaurants serving food from around the world. When my trip was about to complete, I chose to rest my legs in Liverpool’s famous Philharmonic pub（酒馆）. It is a monument to perfection, and a heritage attraction itself.
Being a World Heritage Site, my home city is certainly a place of “outstanding universal value”. It is a treasure house with plenty of secrets for the world to explore.
1.Visitors who see the city for the first time would be deeply impressed by__________.
A. its charming banks B. its famous museums
C. its wonderful palaces D. its attractive buildings
2.Liverpool has important cultural role because __________.
A. it has the best collections of Victorian paintings
B. it has museums, galleries, music festival and sports events
C. the Mersey River Festival attracts thousands of visitors
D. the best palaces of Europe are in Liverpool
3.The author uses the Philharmonic pub to prove that__________.
A. Liverpool is a well-known city for its restaurants
B. Liverpool is an impressive place full of attraction
C. a pub is a wonderful place for visitors to relax themselves
D. a pub is a perfect choice for visitors to complete their journey
Grown-ups are often surprised by how well they remember something they learned as children but have never practiced ever since. A man who has not had a chance to go swimming for years can still swim as well as ever when he gets back in the water. He can get on a bicycle after many years and still ride away. A mother who has not thought about the words for years can teach her daughter the poem that begins "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" or remember the story of Cinderella or Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
One explanation is the law of overlearning, which can be stated as follows: Once we have learned something, extra learning attempts or tries to increase the length of time we will remember it.
In childhood we usually continue to practice such skills as swimming, and bicycle riding long after we have learned them. We continue to listen to and remind ourselves of words such as "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" and childhood tales such as Cinderella and Goldilocks. We not only learn but overlearn.
The multiplication tables(乘法口诀表) are an exception（例外） to the general rule that we forget rather quickly the things that we learn in school, because they are another of the things we overlearn in childhood.
The law of overlearning explains why cramming(突击学习)for an examination, though it may result in a passing grade, is not a satisfactory way to learn a college course. By cramming, a student may learn the subject well enough to pass the examination, but he is likely soon to forget almost everything he learned. A little overlearning, on the other hand, is really necessary for one's future development.
1.What is the main idea of paragraph 1?
A. People remember well what they learned in childhood.
B. Children have a better memory than grown-ups.
C. Poem reading is a good way to learn words.
D. Stories for children are easy to remember.
2.The author tells the experience in childhood in order to __________.
A. remember the good old days
B. let readers follow the example
C. explain the law of overlearning
D. help readers understand the importance of knowledge
3.According to the author, being able to use multiplication tables is__________.
A. a step towards studies B. a result of overlearning
C. a special case of cramming D. a skill to deal with math problems
4.What is the author's opinion on cramming?
A. It's helpful only in a limited way. B. It causes failure in college exams.
C. It's possible to result in poor memory. D. It increases students' learning interest.
Yellowstone Weather
Yellowstone National Park is at lofty height. Height. Most of the park is above2,275meters.
Yellowstone’s weather is unpredictable. In summer, it may be warm and sunny with temperatures in the high 70s. At night in any given month, the temperature may drop close to freezing. So it is best to come prepared for cold evenings and mornings,especially if you are camping or hiking. When you leave your campsite,please leave it prepared for possible thundershower and wind.
A sunny warm day may become fiercely stormy with wind, rain, sleet and sometimes snow. Without enough clothing, an easy day hike or boat trip can turn into a battle for survival.
Seasonal Weather Information | |
Spring Cold and snow continue into May, although temperatures gradually climb. Early in spring, daytime temperatures average in the 40s and 50s; by late May and June, they may reach the 60s and 70s, Nighttime lows fall below freezing. | Summer Daytime temperatures are usually in the 70s ,occasionally reaching the 80s in the lower elevations(高度）. Nights are cool,temperatures may drop in the 40s and 30s―sometimes even the 20s. July and August tend to be somewhat drier, although afternoon thundershowers are common. |
Fall Weather can be pleasant, although temperatures average 10-2 degrees lower than summer readings, Nighttime lows can fall into teens and lower. Snowstorms increase in frequency as the weeks go by or towards the end of the fall season. | Winter Temperatures often stay near zero throughout the day, occasionally reaching high in the 20s. Subzero nighttime lows are common. Annual snowfall averages nearly 150 inches in most of the park. At higher places, 200-400 inches of snow have been recorded. |
1.If you are planning to stay here in spring for a few days, what is necessary for you?
A. Enough clothing. B. Weather report.
C. Umbrella. D. Boiled water.
2.Which season is generally pleasing?
A. Winter. B. Fall.
C. Spring. D. Summer.
3.In winter the average snowfall is_____.
A. 200inches B. 20inches
C. 150inches D. 400inches.
4.This passage is written probably for those who plan to______in Yellowstone National Park.
A. Do research work B. Take a business trip
C. Have sports games D. Spend their holidays or take a tour
Luke has always been my closest and constant companion these past five years. In fact, he is very friendly to me especially when I take care of other furry friends in our shelter.
There have been a lot of forest fires during the summer season. Not far from our shelter, a forest caught fire during this hot summer. Luke rushed towards the forest where flames send out a terrible heat. There’s no longer any hope at the moment to wait for Luke to come back to the shelter. In fact, I was waiting for the firemen to announce me his death in the forest. Suddenly, a fireman burst into my office and informed me that my dog Luke succeeded in saving four cats which were trapped by the flames. Luke seized the kittens, one by one moving them to a safe place. I immediately accompanied the fireman to the forest to pick up the rescued kittens, but Luke was not there. Then we heard the sound of a dog came from the forest barking furiously. The firemen followed the tracks of the dog until they found him barking loudly by the side of an injured fireman who was lying on the ground.
That day, I was very proud of Luke for his two heroic actions. I paid a visit to the fireman accompanied with my adorable Luke. What a memorable scene when the fireman hugged Luke tightly to his chest!”One thousand thanks, Luke, for saving my life,” the fireman said.
This true story of love and compassion shows us that pets are loving, caring and compassionate. We should love and protect them. Don’t belittle them. Little animals can make enormous things for humans.
1.At the very beginning the author thought .
A. Luke ran away from the shelter for ever.
B. Luke was afraid of big fire
C. Luke was killed by the big fire.
D. Luke was able to save all the people
2.The reason why the author was proud of Luke was that .
A. Luke rescued four cats and a fireman from the fire.
B. Luke warned people of the coming fire.
C. Luke took care of other furry animals in the shelter.
D. Luke has always been my closest and constant companion.
3.The underlined word “belittle”in the last paragraph probably means “ ”.
A. Make things small B. Look down upon
C. Show respect for D. Make enemy with
4.What is the author’s purpose in writing the passage?
A. To stress the role of pets in people life.
B. To persuade people to keep pets.
C. To call attention to the danger big fire.
D. To share a story of love and compassion of pets with us.
