When a laptop or smartphone battery starts losing its power，the only options are to buy an expensive replacement，or just keep it plugged in all the time．But a woman Mya Le Thai may have found the answer to this problem．
Thai was frustrated that the batteries for her wireless devices degraded(降级)over time，until they failed to charge fully．She did not like having to keep her laptop connected to an electrical outlet to keep it powered on．So，she decided to do something about that problem．At first，she and her team at UC Irvine thought about inventing a new battery．But as they experimented，Thai discovered something that might permit lithium—ion(锂离子)batteries to last forever．
Lithium-ion batteries power most wireless devices．Over time，the batteries lose the ability to hold a charge．Most of these batteries have a life span of about 7,000 charging cycles before they die．One of the reasons lithium—ion batteries degrade is their use of nanowires to carry electricity．Nanowires are extremely thin．A human hair is thousands of times thicker，for example．Nanowires are extremely efficient carriers of electricity，which makes them useful in batteries．
But，Thai had a theory—the nanowires might last longer if covered with a gel(凝胶)．She and her team tested this theory．“It was a long process and a lot of work，”Thai said．The team tried many coverings for the wires．PMMA，a type of plastic，was one of them．The nanowires were coated with PMMA and cycled through charges 200，000 times．The PMMA-coated nanowires showed no evidence of damage．The results suggest that batteries could last forever，without losing charging ability．
Thai hopes to continue her research to understand why this gel works so well and to see if any other gel could create better results and she is enjoying the publicity about her discovery．She said she never expected her research to get media coverage．“It’s kind of cool,”she said．“I'm really glad people are showing interest in my work and not just in the work itself，but also in technology and energy．”
1.Why did Mya Le Thai work on lithium-ion batteries?
A. She disliked the batteries for her laptop．
B. Her team were assigned to invent a new battery．
C. Many people thought batteries were too expensive．
D. The batteries would soon lose the function to charge fully．
2.What can we infer about nanowires?
A. They last only 7,000 charging cycles．
B. They are too weak to carry electricity．
C. They are not suitable to use in batteries．
D. Their thinness is a cause of batteries degrade．
3.What might be Thai and her team’s breakthrough?
A. Coating nanowires in gel． B. A new kind of battery．
C. New materials for batteries． D. A new way of charging batteries．
4.What may be the best title for the passage?
A. The options of batteries for wireless devices
B. A woman invents a life—long battery.
C. Mya Le Thai discovered Nanowires
D. The reasons for batteries degrading
Home prices remained divergent in China during December, with some of the first-tier cities recording price drops, while second and third-tier cities saw increases due to the varied market policies, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday.
Newly built commercial housing prices in the first-tier cities－namely Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen－remained stable in December, while those in second and third- tier cities rose by 0.6 percent and 0.5 percent respectively from November 2017.
The same trend was witnessed in second-hand home prices, which dropped slightly by 0.1 percent in first-tier cities and rose 0.3 percent in both second and third-tier cities in December, said Liu Jianwei, a senior statistician at the NBS.
In September 2017, the local governments of several regional capitals launched new restrictions to further slow home sales, in response to the central government’s call to end housing speculation and cool the red-hot housing market in certain cities.
As housing regulations in larger cities have tightened, investors have started looking for opportunities in medium-sized and small cities, thus causing a noticeable home price increase in third-tier cities.
Fan Hengshan, deputy secretary-general of the National Development and Reform Commission, said at an economic forum on Thursday that housing prices in third and fourth-tier cities have risen too fast, and this needs to be monitored carefully.
“The home price increase in third-tier cities will have a fairly large impact, considering that a large part of China’s gross domestic product and population come from these cities,” said Zhang Zhiwei, chief economist and head of equity strategy for China at Deutsche Bank, during a recent media briefing.
Zhang estimated that third-tier cities accounted for a major part of Chinese residents’ 50 trillion yuan wealth gains, driven by rising home prices in 2017.
“Despite a relatively large increase in home prices in third-tier cities, studies have found that at the end of 2017, local residents in 85 third-tier cities need to save four to eight years of their income to buy a home, meaning that house price to income ratios are not too high in these cities,” he said.
1.What does the underlined word “divergent” in the first paragraph mean?
A. Diverse B. Stable
C. Increasing D. Decreasing
2.What do we know from the passage?
A. Housing prices in the first-tier cities dropped slightly in December.
B. Home prices in medium-sized and small cities remained stable in November.
C. National housing prices rose in most time of 2017.
D. The second-hand home prices dropped slightly in the first-tier cities while rose in both second and third-tier cities in November.
3.Why did the housing prices in the third and fourth-tier cities rise fast?
A. Because the local governments didn’t launch any restrictions and regulations.
B. Because the governments in the first-tier cities have carried out tougher measures.
C. Because there are more people living in these cities.
D. Because people there saved more money than other cities.
4.Where is the passage probably taken from?
A. A science book. B. A newspaper.
C. A fashion magazine. D. A text book.
In recent years，Myanmar has opened its doors to western tourism. This once-closed state in Southeast Asia is a gold mine for those who enjoy the ancient Buddhist culture of the region. Compared to its neighbors, the landscape of Myanmar has been left largely undamaged. There are so many reasons why Myanmar is amazing and has been rated one of the top Asian tourist destinations for 2019. Here are some of its scenic spots：
Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon
As far as pagodas are concerned，this is one of the most respected in Myanmar. This massive 325-foot Buddhist pagoda is surrounded by smaller shiny-gold pagodas. It is believed that some of the hairs of Gautama Buddha are well- preserved in here. The Shwedagon Pagoda is a must-see destination on your traveling schedule.
Long Neck Tribe of the Hill Country
These women—who are identified by their long necks that are stretched by brass neck coils(项圈)from an early age—have become world-famous. You’ll find this tribe in the mountainous north of the country，especially in Chin state. This custom dates back to ancient times when tribesmen—who were always at war with neighboring tribes—put neck coils on their women to prevent them from being taken as prisoners of war．These days，the long-necked women are used to seeing foreigners，who make the long journey to this isolated region of Myanmar for the purpose of seeing them．
Mandalay City
This dusty, hot center of trading and commerce for Myanmar is both fascinating and exciting. You’ll never find a shortage of things to do here. Temples. Medieval-era castles. Buildings from the country’s colonial British past. There are over 600 monasteries and nunneries in the Holy Hills of Sagaing, which overlook Mandalay. The city also has an exciting nightlife which will be an attraction for many．
1.What does the writer intend to tell in the passage?
A. Life styles people in Myanmar have．
B. Activities tourists can attend in Myanmar．
C. Reasons why Myanmar is suddenly popular．
D. Information about some attractions in Myanmar．
2.For what purpose were the neck coils initially used?
A. To protect women’s necks．
B. To frighten the enemies away．
C. To make women more attractive．
D. To stop women being victims of war．
3.What will impress travelers to Mandalay City most?
A. Promising commercial future．
B. Architecture of different styles．
C. Shiny-gold pagodas．
D. Abundance of goods in night markets．
假定你是李华，高二（1）班的班长，你班打算在诗歌节期间邀请你校英语外教布莱克先生为同学们做一次有关英语诗歌的讲座，请根据以下要点给他写一封邀请信：
1. 自我介绍，提出邀请；
2. 诗歌节时间（1月15日—16日）；
3. 建议诗歌讲座的内容；
4. 表达感谢并期待回复。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
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： 在缺词处加上一个漏词符号（∧），并在此符号下面写出该加的词。
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．每处错误及修改均仅限一词；
Yesterday, I saw the old lady fall down when I was hurrying to school. I was about to help her up while suddenly a passer-by stop me, saying that I might be accused of knocking her down. Heard his words, I began to hesitate and slow down my steps. At the same time, another student, that saw everything, went up to help. The old lady said nothing but lots of thanks to the good boy. I felt shameful.
As is known to all, help others is forever a good virtue. Even though some old people are becoming immorally, we can’t let it to disappear. I have made my mind that I will reach out my hand without hesitation next time.
语法填空，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
My wife and I1.( pay) a visit to my parents in NewYork. We went to a fast-food restaurant for dinner together. My wife went to the counter2.(order) dishes and I stood with my parents.
My mum is 90 years old. She can hardly see very well and walks with a stick. I was scanning the restaurant,3.(wait) to sit at the first table that was4.(convenience) than others. A woman who was sitting with her son made eye contact with me and asked me to come to her. With a confused5.(express) on my face, I pointed to6.(I) and said ,“Me?” She 7.(nod) and said , “Yes, you.” I walked to the table and she said, “Bring your family here. I can finish eating at the counter. My son is 8.a hurry to leave anyway.” My eyes were filled with tears as she wiped down the table and guided my dad to seat.
I always believe that there are9.(nature)kind people in this world. This woman has set a good example to her son,10.is a really lucky guy.
