During the Nov.11 shopping event, many people tend to buy more than they need because of sales promotions or just plain urge. But what normally_____the shopping spree(疯狂购物）is not ___but regret. That's because many people just buy things to fill the______in their hearts, but accumulating things actually_______the burden in their minds.
The concept of Danshari may provide a (n)______to the problem. Danshari was based on three Chinese characters, duan she li, _____refusal, disposal(清除）and separation. It promotes the idea of getting rid of _______things and separating oneself from the drive to own____ possessions. There are two basic rules that________whether you should keep something--the relationship between you and the item under________as well as the timing. So before you____ your payment password for something, ask yourself two questions: Do I_______ it now? Does it suit me?
Danshari encourages you not only to________yourself things, but to give up the unreasonable desire associated with owning them. Nowadays, people need to learn to________their daily lives. Buy only the necessities and________items, regularly________things you don't need any more, then you'll get freedom in your heart.
However, it doesn't mean that you should________your desire and live a less interesting life. Instead, you should ______ yourself rather than material goods. Through ______ what to buy and what to get rid of, you can see a deeper reflection of yourself._______learning to make wise decisions about more important things.
1.A. prevents B. follows C. starts D. promotes
2.A. expectation B. wealth C. satisfaction D. relief
3.A. emptiness B. needs C. silence D. space
4.A. measures B. covers C. relieves D. indicates
5.A. limit B. alternative C. solution D. introduction
6.A. meaning B. abolishing C. violating D. predicting
7.A. updated B. temporary C. used D. unnecessary
8.A. private B. material C. valuable D. popular
9.A. prove B. permit C. decide D. affect
10.A. guarantee B. consideration C. control D. discussion
11.A. change B. create C. provide D. enter
12.A. need B. try C. want D. match
13.A. deny B. prepare C. spare D. serve
14.A. fix B. risk C. enrich D. simplify
15.A. special B. cheap C. suitable D. optional
16.A. discover B. recycle C. update D. abandon
17.A. fuel B. identify C. kill D. balance
18.A. reflect on B. focus on C. give up D. cheer up
19.A. choosing B. avoiding C. comparing D. mentioning
20.A. rather B. otherwise C. therefore D. still
Eyesight plays a very important role in our daily life． Every waking moment， the eyes are working to see the world around us． Over forty percent of Americans worry about losing eyesight， but it's easy to include steps into our daily life to ensure healthy eyes． Here are five suggestions for a lifetime of healthy eyesight：
Schedule yearly exams．1.Experts advise parents to bring babies 6 to 12 months of age to the doctor for a careful check． The good news is that millions of children now can have yearly eye exams and following treatment， including eye- glasses．
Protect against UV rays． Long-term stay in the sun creates risk to your eyes． No matter what the season is， it's extremely important to wear sunglasses．2.
Give your eyes a break． Two-thirds of Americans spend up to seven hours a day using computers or other digital products．3.Experts recommend that people practice the 20/20/20 rule： every 20 minutes， take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away．
4.As part of a healthy diet， eat more fruits and vegetables each day． Vitamins C and E help protect eyesight and promote eye health．
Practice safe wear and care of contact lenses （隐形眼镜）． Many Americans use contact lenses to improve their eyesight． While some follow the medical guidance for wearing contact lenses， many are breaking the rules and putting their eyesight at risk．5.Otherwise， you may have problems such as red eyes， pain in the eyes， or a more serious condition．
A．Eat your greens．
B．Eye care should begin early in life．
C．They can properly protect your eyes．
D．Stay in good shape by taking more vitamins．
E．Parents usually don't care about their own eyesight．
F．Always follow the doctor's advice for appropriate wear．
G．This frequent eye activity increases the risk for eye tiredness．
Since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay climbed Mount Everest, Mount Qomolangma’s peak is no longer a lonely place and is turning into a trash heap.
So far, more than 350 climbers have successfully reached the peak. And they have complained about waiting for hours in the bottlenecks (狭窄路段) on the way to the peak, a situation that isn’t just uncomfortable — it’s cold and windy up there — but downright dangerous. If bad weather strikes, climbers can die.
As a matter of fact, the dangerous crowds aren’t the only problem on Qomolangma. All those climbers need to bring a lot of gear—and much of them ends up being left on the mountain, sometimes even the peak itself. Mount Qomolangma is becoming the world’s largest dump. Here’s mountaineer Mark Jenkins writing in National Geographic about the state of Qomolangma: “The two standard routes, the Northeast Ridge and the Southeast Ridge, are disgustingly polluted with oxygen cans and torn tents everywhere.”
But the good news is that some mountaineers are taking it upon themselves to clean up Qomolangma. Mountianeer Paul Thelen and his friend Eberhard Schaaf are part of the annual Eco Everest Expedition, which has been cleaning up rubbish from base camps to the peak since 2008. So far they’ve collected over 13 tons of garbage.
Some of that rubbish is even being used for a higher purpose. As part of the Mount Everest 8844 Art Project, a group of 15 artists from Nepal collected 1.5 tons of garbage brought down the mountain by climbers. They’ve transformed the cans and oxygen tanks—and in one case, part of the remains of a helicopter—into 74 pieces of art that have already gone on exhibition in Nepal’s capital. Part of the profit from sales will go to the Everest Peakeers Association, which has helped collect tons of rubbish on the slopes of the mountain.
1.What do we learn about the bottlenecks on the way to Mount Qomolangma's peak?
A. They are relatively safe.
B. They are often crowded.
C. They are very easy to pass.
D. They are sites of base camps.
2.What does the underlined word “gear” mean?
A. Equipment for climbing mountains.
B. The food climbers brought onto the mountain.
C. Some important machines used for the bottle necks.
D. Some rubbish found on the mountain.
3.The group of 15Nepali artists .
A. created works of art using rubbish from Qomolangma.
B. were employed by the Everest Peakeers Association.
C. climbed Qomolangma and collected 1.5tons of trash.
D. painted 74beautiful pictures of Mount Qomolangma's peak.
4.What can be the best title for the text?
A. Eco Everest Expedition Proves Successful
B. Qomolangma Has Become A Huge Mess
C. Test Yourself Against Qomolangma
D. Recycle Rubbish On Qomolangma
It is one of the most annoying words in the English language and it seems there is no escaping it. The word "huh?”is in worldwide use, a study found.
Researchers discovered that languages spoken in countries from Ghana and Laos to Iceland and Italy all include "huh?", or something that sounds very like it. They said that while the study may sound silly. The word is an absolutely necessary part of speech. Without it and similar words, it would be impossible to show that we haven't heard or understood what had been said and this would lead to constant misunderstandings.
But while other words used in the same context, such as “sorry” or “what”, vary widely across languages, “huh?” remains unchanged.
The Dutch researchers carefully studied ten languages from around the world, including Siwu, which is spoken in Ghana, and an Australian Aboriginal language, as well as Italian, Spanish, Dutch and Mandarin Chinese.
They analyzed tapes of recorded conversations for words that sounded like “huh?” and were used to request that whatever had just been said be repeated. All contained a version of “huh?”. The word was also found in another 21 languages. While there were subtle differences in each country, all sounded basically the same.
This is surprising because normally unrelated languages will use very different words to describe the same thing. For instance, the Japanese for dog is “inu”, while the French is “chien”.It is thought that
languages around the world have developed their own version of “huh?” because the sound is quick and simple to form, as well as being easily understood.
The researchers, said that it might seem unimportant to carry out scientific research into a word like “huh?” but in fact this little word is an essential tool in human communication. They also have an answer for those who claim that “huh?” isn't a word. They say that it qualifies because of the small differences in its pronunciation in different languages. It also can be considered a word because it's something we learn to say, rather than a grunt or cry that we are born knowing how to make.
1.According to researchers, the word “huh?” is very important in speech because of .
A. its stable meaning in language development.
B. its important function in communication
C. its simple and easy sound and spelling
D. its popularity in every language
2.What is the natural response if you hear the lady you're speaking to say "huh?"?
A. You should ask her to repeat what she says before that.
B. You should apologize to her for speaking in a low voice.
C. You should invite her to share her different views politely.
D. You should try to repeat what you've just said in a clearer way.
3.The main method used in the research of "huh?”was .
A. interviewing language experts in universities.
B. talking with people from ten different countries.
C. analyzing the recorded conversations in different languages.
D. comparing different words with the same meaning in different languages.
4.What is the purpose of the passage?
A. To inform readers about research on the worldwide used word "huh?"
B. To argue that “huh?” is the most important word in every language
C. To entertain readers by relating similar idioms in different languages
D. To instruct readers of the differences of "huh?”in different languages
The National Civil Rights Museum
The National Civil Rights Museum is a word-renowned cultural attraction that draws thousands of visitors each year. This institution examines the civil rights struggles faced by both our city and our nation throughout the history.
The Lorraine Motel:
Today the National civil rights Museum is partially housed in the Lorraine Motel’s history, however is a short and sad one. It opened in 1925 and was originally a “white” establishment. By the end of World War II, however, the motel had become minority-owned. It was for this reason that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stayed at the Lorraine when he visited Memphis in 1968.Dr.King was assassinated on the balcony of his hotel room on April 4th of that year. Following his death, the motel struggled to remain in business. By 1982,the Lorraine Motel went into foreclosure(抵押品赎回权).
Saving the Lorraine:
With the future of the Lorraine Motel uncertain, a group of local citizens formed the Martin Luther King Memorial Foundation for the only purpose of saving the motel. The group raised money, solicited donations, took out a loan, and partnered Lucky Heart Cosmetics to purchase the motel for $144, 000 when it was up for auction. With the help of the city of Memphis, Shelby County, and the state of Tennessee, enough money was then raised to plan, design, and build what would eventually become the National Civil Rights Museum.
The Birth of the National Civil Rights Museum:
In 1987, construction began in a civil rights center housed within the Lorraine Motel. The center was intended to help its visitors better understand the events of the American Civil Rights Movement. In 1991,the museum opened its doors to the public. Ten years later, the ground was broken again for a multi-million-dollar expansion that would add 12,800 square feet space. The expansion would also connect the museum to the Young and Morrow Building and the Main Street Rooming House where James Earl Ray purportedly fired the shot that killed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Exhibits: The exhibits at the National Civil Rights Museum illustrate chapters of the fight for civil rights in our country in order to promote better understanding of the struggles involved. Included in the exhibits are photographs, newspaper accounts, and three-dimensional scenes depicting civil rights events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, and the Lunch Counter Sit-Ins.
1.The underlined word “assassinated” (in Paragraph 2) probably means .
A. arrested. B. murdered.
C. assisted. D. accompanied.
2.It can be inferred from the third paragraph that .
A. Lucky Hearts Cosmetics tried to build the museum
B. the government was against the plan of the motel
C. the motel was sold in order to raise more money
D. the local people found a memorial foundation to save the motel
3.What probably happened to the National Civil Rights Museum in 2001?
A. An extension was added to the museum.
B. Many visitors traveled to the Lorraine Motel.
C. The civil rights center was built.
D. James Earl Ray killed Dr.Martin Luther King,
4.Which of the following can help visitors to know more about the National Civil Rights Museum?
A. The treasures. B. The souvenirs.
C. The items on display. D. The magazines.
Dessi Sieburth's love of birds started about six years ago. Now, he has his own group called Protecting Our Birds.Recently,Dessi,14 years old, chatted with TFK about his work and goals for the future.
TFK:
What is Protecting Our Birds?
DESSI：
Birds are citizens of the world, so they need protection. I basically try to do conservation work to help birds get protected throughout the world. I recently wrote an article about a bird called the bartailed godwit(斑尾）.I interviewed a biologist named Nils Warnock, who had studied the bartailed godwit. He expressed the concern about the threat that the bartailed godwit is facing. I wrote an article about his answers to the questions, which is published on the American Birding Association Website.
TFK:
What impelled you to start this project?
DESSI:
When I was eight years old, our class had to do a woodworking project, so I chose a bird feeder(喂食盒). I didn't like birds at the time. I made the feeder, filled it up with seed, put it in my backyard and then the birds started coming. I got really interested in birds as more came. I later got involved in my local Audubon Society, which is devoted to conserving and restoring natural ecosystems. It really got me into birds and I realized bird populations were declining, and many are becoming endangered quite rapidly. I wanted to help them, so I started the project.
TFK:
What are some future projects you plan to work on?
DESSI：
I live in L.A., where there are a lot of parrots. Most of the parrots' native range is in Mexico, but they’re really declining there because of habitat loss. I want to study the parrots and help them in their native range in Mexico, so they can start increasing again.
TFK:
How can people learn more about Protecting Our Birds and the work you're doing?
DESSI：
I have a website. It's my free website about protecting our birds. There people can learn about what I do and how to help birds.
1.What's Nils Warnock's attitude to the bartailed godwit?
A. Worried. B. Changing.
C. Uncertain. D. Optimistic.
2.When did Dessi start his project “Protecting Our Birds”?
A. After he prepared a feeder for birds.
B. After he interviewed Nils Warnock.
C. After he studied parrots in Mexico.
D. After he joined a local association.
3.What will Dessi probably do next?
A. Write articles about birds in danger.
B. Help parrots losing the natural home.
C. Set up a website to teach how to help birds.
D. Recreate his own conservation organization.
