Many years ago, I was working in an office in Halifax, Nova Scotia. We had a large ___that looked out over a busy street. I was standing by it one day when a woman in a __ car looked up and made eye contact. Naturally I ___. As she turned and tried to identify me, a quiet laugh __ my lips. My co-workers began taking an interest, and stood back watching the __ I received, and laughing happily. Then the stress of work was __ away.
Christmas was approached, and job ___were announced. Several of my co-workers were losing their jobs, and everyone was___. While I was working a night shift, a red jacket, a box of foam(泡沫橡胶)packing and strips of tape in the corner attracted my __. They could be Santa’s jacket and beard! Then I folded a red file into a __ and tied the beard to it. The next day I walked __ down into the office in the costume. My co-workers __ around me and laughed for the first time in weeks. Suddenly, my boss came up to me, __, shook his head and then left. I feared __. Then the phone rang.
With a bead of sweat __ my forehead, I entered the boss’ office. __, he laughed: “Thanks, Mike! It’s been hard to enjoy the Christmas season. Thanks for the laugh. I __ it.”
That evening, I stood __ by the window and waved at my fans, with my heart __ with joy. For a few minutes of that day, we’d been able to forget our __.
1.A. board B. window C. roof D. curtain
2.A. working B. wandering C. passing D. following
3.A. waved B. ignored C. shouted D. shook
4.A. obtained B. locked C. grasped D. escaped
5.A. concerns B. feelings C. reactions D. actions
6.A. given B. turned C. washed D. broken
7.A. loads B. time C. arrangement D. cuts
8.A. depressed B. excited C. confused D. awkward
9.A. notice B. attention C. appreciation D. consideration
10.A. jacket B. tie C. vest D. hat
11.A. sadly B. nervously C. embarrassedly D. bravely
12.A. got B. gathered C. turned D. presented
13.A. approached B. backed off C. stepped in D. paused
14.A. closure B. difficulty C. trouble D. mistake
15.A. pulling down B. rolling down C. flowing on D. moving on
16.A. Lastly B. Thus C. Instead D. However
17.A. needed B. deserved C. declared D. shared
18.A. happily B. carefully C. hopefully D. silently
19.A. filled B. covered C. equipped D. loaded
20.A. weakness B. faults C. losses D. changes
Interruptions(打扰) are one of the worst things to deal with while you’re trying to get work done. 1., there are several ways to handle things. Let’s take a look at them now.
2.. Tell the person you’re sorry and explain that you have a million things to do and then ask if the two of you can talk at a different time.
When people try to interrupt you, have set hours planned and let them know to come back during that time or that you’ll find them then. 3.. It can help to eliminate(消除) future interruptions.
When you need to talk to someone, don’t do it in your own office. 4., it’s much easier to excuse yourself to get back to your work than if you try to get someone out of your space even after explaining how busy you are.
If you have a door to your office, make good use of it. 5.. If someone knocks and it’s not an important matter, excuse yourself and let the person know you’re busy so they can get the hint(暗示) than when the door is closed, you’re not to be disturbed.
A. If you’re busy, don’t feel bad about saying no
B. When you want to avoid interruptions at work
C. Set boundaries(界限) for yourself as your time goes
D. If you’re in the other person’s office or in a public area
E. It’s important that you let them know when you’ll be available
F. It might seem unkind to cut people short when they interrupt you
G. Leave it open when you’re available to talk and close it when you’re not
Dodder is an unusual and unwanted plant that attacked other plants. Except for its flower, the plant looks like spaghetti, a kind of noodles in the shape of long thin pieces that look like string when they are cooked. Its almost leafless, thread-like stems hang down on top of other plants that dodder needs to stay alive. Dodder does not produce its own food. Instead, it steals food from other plants. It feeds by sucking juices from the plant which is wrapped around, often making its host very weak or even killing it.
Dodder can find other plants by their smell. When a young dodder plant starts growing, it follows the smell of plants it prefers, like tomato plants, potato plants, or other farm crops. Unlike most plants that usually grow in the direction of light or warmth, a dodder plant will grow in the direction of , for example, tomato smell-if a tomato happens to be growing nearby.
However, a young dodder plant must find a host plant quickly. It no longer needs its root once it is attached to the host and wrapped around it. If it cannot catch a smell of potential host within a few days, it will dry up and vanish even if there is plenty of water around. Once it finds a host, the young dodder plant will attach itself to it and start growing faster. At that point the dodder plant will drop its root.
Dodder is thus a difficult weed to manage and a real headache for farmers. When it does get out of hand, dodder can greatly reduce a farmer’s harvest or even destroy crops completely. Before sowing their produce, especially farmers in warm parts of the world often check to make sure no unwanted dodder seeds have mixed with their crop seeds. This is a good way to stop dodder plants from making their way to a crop field secretly.
1.Why does the author mention spaghetti in the first paragraph?
A. To analyze the content of some food. B. To introduce the topic of this passage.
C. To tell the usage of the dodder plants. D. To describe the shape of dodder plants.
2.What does the underlined word “vanish” in the third paragraph mean?
A. invade B. grow
C. escape D. disappear
3.What can be inferred from the passage?
A. Dodder doesn’t produce its own food. B. Dodder gives off smell to attract plants.
C. Dodder can affect farmer’s income. D. Dodder can only survive in the shade.
4.What is the purpose of the passage?
A. To introduce a new variety of farm crops.
B. To introduce plants that are harmful to humans.
C. To introduce the special abilities of a dangerous plant.
D. To introduce recent improvements in farming methods.
Here is a record of the discussion about AI (artificial intelligence) conducted by several scientists.
Scientist A: I would say that we are quite a long way off developing the AI, though I do think it will happen within the next thirty or forty years. We will probably remain in control of technology and it will help us solve many of the world’s problems. However, no one really knows what will happen if machines become more intelligent than humans. They may help us, ignore us or destroy us. I tend to believe AI will have a positive influence on our future lives, but whether that is true will be partly up to us.
Scientists B: I have to admit that the potential consequences of creating something that can match or go beyond human intelligence frighten me. Even now, scientists are teaching computers how to learn on their own. At some point in the near future, their intelligence may well take off and develop at an ever-increasing speed. Human beings evolve biologically very slowly and we could be quickly substituted. In the short term, there is the danger that robots will take over millions of human jobs, creating a large underclass of unemployed people. This could mean large-scale poverty and social unrest. In the long term machines might decide the world would be better without humans.
Scientists C: I’m a member of the campaign to Stop Killer Robots. Forget the movie image of a terrifying Terminator stamping on human skulls and think of what’s happening right now: military machines like drones, gun turrets and sentry robots are already being used to kill with very little human input. The next step will be autonomous “murderbots” following orders but finally deciding who to kill on their own. It seems clear to me that this would be extremely dangerous for humans. We need to be very cautious indeed about what we ask machines to do.
1.What is Scientists B worried about?
A. AI technology will destroy the earth.
B. Computers can’t think by themselves.
C. Robots will take the place of humans.
D. Humans will be unhappy without machines.
2.What does the underlined word “this” in the last paragraph refer to?
A. I launch the campaign to Stop Killer Robots.
B. We forget the movie image of a terrifying Terminator.
C. “Murderbots” can’t decide by themselves.
D. “Murderbots” will be against human’s orders.
3.Which statement is RIGHT according to the record?
A. Scientist A thinks AI technology will never develop.
B. The employment will be affected by AI technology in the future.
C. “Murderbots” will follow the orders of their manufactures in the wars.
D. All the three scientists agree that AI technology will benefit human beings.
4.Who agree(s) AI has more negative aspects than positive aspects?
A. Scientist A B. Scientist B
C. Scientists B&C D. Scientists B&A
The setting was a packed gymnasium just before the start of a game against another school. There were five girls who were members of the Danville High School basketball team-all of them starters. They were not in uniform to play that night and would not be on the team for the rest of this season. They were there to admit their breaking of team rules. They were there to support their coach’s decision to take them off the team. They were there to let the town know there was a problem in their little community that needed to be addressed. And they did it with sincere regret rather than defensiveness.
While the school had been out for the New Year’s holiday, the five girls had gone to the party with several of their friends. There was alcohol there. And they all drank some.
Coach Rainville has a zero tolerance rule on drugs and alcohol for her members though it was a hard decision to make. When classes resumed and accounts of holiday parties were shared, rumors about the five girls began closing in on them. The coach said she couldn’t back down on her rules. And the players-two junior students and senior students-agreed. That night in the gym was part of their public support of the coach’s decision.
“We hope you will understand that we are not bad kids. What we did was definitely not worth it. We hope this event will make everyone realize that there is a big drug and alcohol problem in our community,” one of the senior students said, “And if you work with us to try to solve this problem, you will help us feel that we have not been thrown off our basketball team for nothing.” The five left the floor to deafening applause.
The team may not win another game this year. But they’ve learnt something about personal responsibility, the effect of one’s action on others, and honesty that will serve them well throughout life.
1.It can be inferred from the passage that five girls who were kicked off the team were_.
A. very good players on the team
B. addicted to alcohol and drugs
C. three junior students and two senior students
D. scolded by their parents for drinking alcohol
2.What did the girls do to support their coach’s decision?
A. They didn’t fight for Danville High School any more.
B. They all gave speeches to apologize in the local press.
C. They admitted their mistake in public in the gymnasium.
D. They would never drink any alcohol throughout their life.
3.Which word best describes the coach Rainville?
A. Indifferent. B. Strict.
C. Stubborn. D. Cruel.
4.Which would be the best title for the passage?
A. Growing up with pain B. A bad mistake
C. Team rules are everything D. Basketball girls in high school
Starting Cycling
We have two services designed to give people the confidence and knowledge to cycle successfully.
Lessons
All our instructors have been trained to National Standards level of “Bike-ability”. This means you will be trained to a standard consistent across the whole country.
There are three levels of skills to progress through. Children would start levels 1&2, progressing from the playground or park to cycle on less busy local roads. Teenager and adult beginners can also learn levels 1&2 in an off-road and quiet environment.
Confident teenagers and adults can broaden their skills by learning level 3, using multi-lane roads and larger roundabouts. We provide both complete packages of lessons for the beginner or individual lessons tailors to the client. Whatever the need we can address and practice until perfect!
Cost is ＆30 per hour.
Guided Ride
We know that riding on the roads in London can be scary, and if you have to navigate(确定行车路线)as well it can become a real hard task! The Guided Ride service takes all the stress out of it for you by providing the following:
Route planned in advance to suit your skill level. Route map provided to you.
Cycle and equipment checked. We will teach you a simple method to check basic roadworthiness(车辆性能)of your bike that you can perform on a weekly basis.
Route discussed and focus given to any areas requiring special attention.
Cycle along with the instructor close behind. Here the traffic can be controlled by the instructor and rider observed.
We currently cover London Zones1&2. Please contact us if your requirements are outside of these areas.
Cost ＆30 per hour.
1.Where can level1&2 lessons for adult beginners be carried out?
A. Off road. B. Near large roundabouts.
C. On busy local roads. D. On multi-lane roads.
2.What services does the Guided Ride provide?
A. They check your cycle and equipment every week.
B. They help you to be familiar with all London roads.
C. They let users experience the busiest road in London.
D. They ensure users ride safely in London zones 1&2.
3.Who is the text probably intended for？
A. Bike riding lovers. B. Children and teenagers.
C. Travelers in London. D. Parents loving cycling.
