Look to many of history’s cultural symbols, and there you’ll find an ancestor of Frosty, the snowman in the movie Frozen. It appeared on some of the first postcards, starred in some of the earliest silent movies, and was the subject of a couple of the earliest photos, dating all the way back to the 1800s. I discovered even more about one of humanity’s earliest forms of life art during several years of research around the world.
For example, snowmen were a phenomenon in the Middle Ages, built with great skill and thought. At a time of limited means of expression, snow was like free art supplies dropped from the sky. It was a popular activity for couples to leisurely walk through town to view the temporary works of chilly art. Some were created by famous artists, including a 19-year-old Michelangelo, who in 1494 was appointed by the ruler of Florence, Italy, to build a snowman in his mansion’s courtyard.
The Miracle of 1511 took place during six freezing works called the Winter of Death. The city of Brussels was covered in snowmen—an impressive scene that told stories on every street corner. Some were political in nature, criticizing the church and government. Some were a reflection of people’s imagination. For the people of Brussels, this was a defining moment of defining freedom. At least until spring arrived, by which time they were dealing with damaging floods.
If you fear the heyday of the snowman has passed, don’t worry: I’ve learned that some explosive snowman history is still being made today. Every year since 1818, the people of Zurich, Switzerland, celebrate the beginning of spring by blowing up a snowman. On the third Monday of April, the holiday Sechselauten is kicked off when a cotton snowman called the Boogg is stuffed with explosive and paraded through town by bakers and other tradesmen who throw bread to the crowds. The parade ends with the Boogg being placed on a 40-foot pile of firewood. After the bells of the Church of St. Peter have rung six times, representing the passing of winter, the pile is lit. When the snowman explodes, winter is considered officially over—the quicker it is burnt down, the longer summer is said to be.
1.According to the passage, why did snowmen become a phenomenon in the Middle Ages?
A. People thought of snow as holy art supplies.
B. People longed to see masterpieces of snow.
C. Building snowmen was a way for people to express themselves.
D. Building snowmen helped people develop their skill and thought.
2.“The heyday of the snowman” （paragraph 4） means the time when___________.
A. snowmen were made mainly by artists
B. snowmen enjoyed great popularity
C. snowmen were politically criticized
D. snowmen caused damaging floods
3.In Zurich, the blowing up of the Boogg symbolizes__________________.
A. the start of the parade
B. the coming of a longer summer
C. the passing of the winter
D. the success of tradesmen
4.What can be concluded about snowmen from the passage?
A. They were appreciated in history
B. They have lost their value
C. They were related to movies
D. They vary in shape and size
Peter loved to shop used articles. Almost a month ago, he bought a popular word game that used little pieces of wood with different letters on them. As he was purchasing it, the salesgirl said, “Uh, look, the game box hasn't even been opened yet. That might be worth some money. ”
Peter examined the box, and, sure enough, it was completely covered in factory-sealed plastic. And he saw a date of 1973 on the back of the box.
“You should put that up for auction (拍卖) on the Internet, and see what happens.” the salesgirl said.
“Yes, you're right. People like something rare.” Peter agreed, “I can't imagine there being very many unopened boxes of this game still around 40 years later.”
“Don't forget to tell me if you sell it.” the salesgirl smiled.
“No problem.” Peter said.
After he got home, Peter went online to several auction websites looking for his game. But he couldn't find it. Then he typed in the name of the word game and hit Search. The search result was 543 websites containing information about the changes of the game. Over the years, the game had been produced using letters in different sizes and game boards in different colors. He also found some lists of game fans looking for various versions of the game. Peter emailed some of them, telling them what he had.
Two weeks later, Peter went back to the shop.
“Hello. Do you still remember the unopened word game?”
The salesgirl looked at him for a second, then recognized him and said, “Oh, hi!”
“I've got something for you,” Peter said. “I sold the game and made $1,000. Thank you for your suggestion.” He handed her three $ 100 bills.
“Wow!” the salesgirl cried out. “Thank you, I never expected it.”
1.Which of the following best describes Peter's word game?
A. It was made around 40 years ago.
B. It had game boards in different sizes.
C. It was kept in a plastic bag with a seal.
D. It had little pieces of wood in different colors.
2.What did the salesgirl probably think of Peter's word game?
A. Old and handy.
B. Rare and valuable.
C. Classic and attractive.
D. Colorful and interesting.
3.What happened at the end of the story?
A. Peter gave the girl $300 as a reward.
B. The salesgirl became Peter's friend.
C. Peter returned the word game for $ 1,000.
D. The salesgirl felt confused to see Peter again.
Digital technology ─ email and smart phones especially ─ have vastly improved workers' ability to be productive outside of a traditional office. Even so, most white-collar work still happens in an office. One reason is that, according to findings of a new survey of office workers conducted by Wakefield Research for the IT company Citrix, most bosses are doubtful about remote working. Half of the workers say their boss doesn't accept it, and only 35 percent say it's tolerated.
Skeptical bosses will likely have their doubts reinforced (加深) by the same survey, which shows that 43 percent of workers say they've watched TV or a movie while ‘working’ remotely, while 35 percent have done housework, and 28 percent have cooked dinner.
It is true, however, that working at home makes people much more efficient, because it allows workers to take care of annoying housework while still getting their jobs done. It's much faster, for example, to shop for groceries at a quarter to three than to stand in line during the after-work rush.
The fact that such practices remain officially unaccepted reflects how far we haven't come as a society from the days when we expected every full-time worker to be supported by a full-time homemaker.
More broadly the Wakefield survey suggests that employers may be missing a low-cost way to give workers something of value. Sixty-four percent of those survey participants who haven't worked remotely would rather give up some bonus in order to get even one day a week working from home. Under such circumstances, smart firms need to find ways to let their employees have enough flexibility to manage their time efficiently.
1.Why do some employers hesitate to allow remote working?
A. They have little trust in modern technology.
B. They want to stick to their routine practice.
C. They fear losing control of their workers.
D. They are used to face-to-face communication.
2.What seems to be most workers' attitude toward remote working?
A. Favorable.
B. Doubtful.
C. Reserved.
D. Disapproving.
3.What does the author suggest smart firms do?
A. Shorten their office hours.
B. Give employees a pay rise.
C. Reduce their staff’s workload.
D. Adopt flexible work patterns.
I used to find notes left in the collection basket of the church, beautiful notes about my homilies(讲道) and about the writer’s thoughts on the daily readings. The _______ fascinated(吸引)me. But it was a long time ______ I met the author of the notes.
One Sunday morning, I was ______ that someone was waiting for me in the office, a young woman who said she ______ all the notes. When I saw her I was ______, since I had no idea that it was she who wrote the notes. She was sitting in a chair in the office. Her ______ was bowed and when she raised it to look at me, she could barely ______ without pain. Her face was disfigured(畸形), so smiling was very ______ for her.
We ______ for a while that Sunday morning and agreed to meet for lunch after that week.
As it ______, we went to lunch several times, and we shared things about our ______. We spoke of authors we were both ______, and it was easy to tell that ______ are a great love of hers.
She suffered from a disfigurement that cannot be made to look ______. I know that her condition ______ her deeply. Yet there was a beauty to her that had nothing to do with her ______. She was one to be listened to, whose words came from a wounded ______ loving heart. She possessed a fine tuned sense of beauty. Her only ______ in life was the loss of a friend.
The truth of her life was a desire to see beyond the _______ for a glimpse of what it is that matters. She found beauty and grace, ________ befriended her and showed her what is real.
1.A. questions B. ideas C. notes D. basket
2.A. since B. after C. when D. before
3.A. told B. warned C. suggested D. showed
4.A. lost B. left C. dropped D. collected
5.A. shocked B. satisfied C. frightened D. disappointed
6.A. hand B. arm C. head D. neck
7.A. stand B. smile C. speak D. sit
8.A. pleasant B. bitter C. ugly D. difficult
9.A. chatted B. discussed C. drank D. greeted
10.A. turned out B. turned up C. came out D. came up
11.A. families B. beliefs C. hobbies D. lives
12.A. popular with B. fond of C. familiar to D. concerned with
13.A. friends B. churches C. writings D. books
14.A. friendly B. happy C. attractive D. usual
15.A. hurt B. impressed C. changed D. defeated
16.A. reputation B. wealth C. interest D. appearance
17.A. and B. or C. but D. also
18.A. fear B. wonder C. expectation D. anger
19.A. dream B. surface C. imagination D. time
20.A. it B. they C. which D. that
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first.
1.It is said that there is a cursed well in the village. (be said to )
____________________________________________________ in the village.
2.Henry is the most famous amnesiac in medical history. (no other…than)
____________________________________________________ in medical history.
3.Although he suffered from total color blindness, Neil could experience color to its fullest with the help of the Eyeborg. (in spite of )
_________________________________, Neil could experience color to its fullest with the help of the Eyeborg.
4.As soon as we entered the room, Hugh hurriedly hid a large parcel under his desk. (no sooner…than)
____________________________________________ under his desk.
5.When I recognized the voice of Helen Bates, I was rather dismayed. (use a participle as an adverbial modifier)
_____________________________________, I was rather dismayed.
Each of the following sentences contains one mistake. Find them out and correct them.
1.My friend couldn’t face leave the villa because he knew that the paparazzi were waiting outside.
2.A short time before, the water damaged the sound equipment due to the heavy rain.
3.Tom was jealous at Adam because Adam’s parents got him everything he wanted.
4.On the bottom right-hand corner of the photo, a man with a large watch is smiling.
5.When asking how he knew where they were, Henry laughed and pointed to a student who was wearing an MIT sweatshirt.
6.It was on April 20, 1990 when the Hubble was launched into space by NASA.
7.By the time we reached the Main Stage, the live show started.
8.The man used to sleep on the floor, but now he is used to sleep on the bed.
9.After the fire had at last put out, a special type of grass-seed was ordered.
10.The search party considered use ‘The Revealer’ to find something of great value.
