On December 22, 2016 I landed in the land of the “American Dream.” 1. Here is one of the things I’ve struggled with during my almost one year in the States.
2. My uncle and aunt joked that I brought rain from Saigon to America. Saigon, where I come from, is the old name of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Vietnam is a tropical country where it rains most of the year. Before going to the U.S., actually, I had no idea what to expect about its weather, but the big rain on my arrival gave me the first expectation of what the weather here might be like.
California is known for having a great climate — more sunshine, cooler in summer and warmer in winter. 3. However, having been here for a pretty long while now, I have experienced various forms of climate in California.
4. Most of the time I was living in Silicon Valley, where the weather is a bit colder than where I study in Orange County. But I was really surprised to find chill-to-the-bone weather in San Francisco — a big shift from Silicon Valley in only about an hour’s drive. How strange!
5. The worst is that I get n runny nose whenever I wake up in the morning. Because I am allergic to the cold and windy weathers, I keep sneezing badly, and even more badly if I get caught in the cold. I think that my body needs more time to get used to this climate, but as many people said, I am luckier to be in California where I don’t have to fight with extreme weathers as in other stales.
A. I am sensitive to weather change.
B. Such strange weather has affected my health.
C. So the amount of rain this year is considered unusual.
D. LAX airport in California welcomed me with a big rain.
E. So I quickly get used lo the unchangeable climate in California.
F. The weather varies widely depending on where you are in the state.
G. Since then, I have discovered tons of dilemmas about life in America.
Skeptics are a strange lot. Some of them refuse to admit the serious threat of human activities to the environment, and they are tired of people who disagree with them. Those people, say skeptics, spread nothing but bad news about the environment. The “eco-guilt” brought on by the discouraging news about our planet gives rise to the popularity of skeptics as people search for more comforting worldviews.
Perhaps that explains why a new book by Bjorn Lomborg received so much popularity. That book, The Skeptic Environmentalist, declares that it measures the “real state of the world” as fine. Of course, another explanation is the deep pockets of some big businesses with special interests. Indeed, Mr. Lomborg’s views are similar to those of some Industry-funded organizations, which start huge activities through the media to confuse the public about issues like global warming.
So it was strange to see Mr. Lomborg’s book go largely unchallenged in the media though his beliefs were contrary to most scientific opinions. One national newspaper in Canada ran a number of articles and reviews full of words of praise, even with the conclusion that “After Lomborg, the environmental movement will begin to die down.”
Such one-sided views should have immediately been challenged. But only a different review appeared in Nature, a respected science magazine with specific readership. The review remarked that Mr. Lomborg’s “preference for unexamined materials is incredible(不可信的)”.
A critical (批判的)eye is valuable, and the media should present information in such a way that could allow people to make informed decisions. Unfortunately, that is often inaccessible as blocked by the desire to be shocking or to defend some special interests. People might become half-blinded before a world partially exhibited by the media. That’s a shame, because matters concerning the health of the planet are far too important to be treated lightly.
1.According to the passage, which of the following may be regarded as “skeptics”?
A. People who agree on the popularity of “eco-guilt”.
B. People who disbelieve the serious situation of our planet.
C. People who dislike the harmful effect of human activities.
D. People who spread comforting news to protect our environment.
2.Which of the following can be a reason for the popularity of Lomborg’s book?
A. Some big businesses intend to protect their own interests.
B. The book challenges views about the fine state of the world.
C. The author convinces people to speak comforting worldviews.
D. Industry–funded media present confusing information.
3.The author mentioned the review in Nature in order to____.
A. voice a different opinion B. find fault with Lomborg’s book
C. challenge the authority of the media D. point out the value of scientific views
4.What is the author’s main purpose in writing the passage?
A. To encourage the skeptics to have a critical eye.
B. To warn the public of the danger of half–blindness with reviews.
C. To blame the media’s lack of responsibility in presenting information.
D. To show the importance of presenting overall information by the media.
An idea that started in Seattle's public library has spread throughout America and beyond. The concept is simple: help to build a sense of community in a city by getting everyone to read the same book at the same time.
In addition to encouraging reading as a pursuit (追求) to be enjoyed by all, the program allows strangers to communicate by discussing the book on the bus, as well as promoting reading as an experience to be shared in families and schools. The idea came from Seattle librarian Nancy Pearl who launched (发起)the "If All of Seattle Read the Same Book" project in 1998. Her original program used author visits, study guides and book discussion groups to bring people together with a book, but the idea has since expanded to many other American cities, and even to Hong Kong.
In Chicago, the mayor(市长)appeared on television to announce the choice of To Kill a Mockingbird as the first book in the "One Book, One Chicago" program. As a result, reading clubs and neighbourhood groups sprang up around the city. Across the US, stories emerged of parents and children reading to each other at night and strangers chatting away on the bus about plot and character.
The only problem arose in New York, where local readers could not decide on one book to represent the huge and diverse population. This may show that the idea works best in medium-sized cities or large towns, where a greater sense of unity(一致)can be achieved. Or it may show that New Yorkers rather missed the point, putting all their energy and passion into the choice of the book rather than discussion about a book itself.
Ultimately as Nancy points out, the level of success is not measured by how many people read a book, but by how many people are enriched by the process or have enjoyed speaking to someone with whom they would not otherwise have shared a word.
1.What is the purpose of the project launched by Nancy?
A. To invite authors to guide readers. B. To encourage people to read and share.
C. To involve people in community service. D. To promote the friendship between cities.
2.Why was it difficult for New Yorkers to carry out the project?
A. They had little interest in reading. B. They were too busy to read a book.
C. They came from many different backgrounds. D. They lacked support from the local government.
3.According to the passage, where would the project be more easily carried out?
A. In large communities with little sense of unity.
B. In large cities where libraries are far from home.
C. In medium-sized cities with a diverse population.
D. In large towns where agreement can be quickly reached.
4.According to Nancy, the degree of success of the project is judged by ______.
A. the careful selection of a proper book
B. the growing popularity of the writers
C. the number of people who benefit from reading
D. the number of books that each person reads
Any foreigner who has tried to learn Chinese can tell how hard it is to master the tones required to speak and understand. And anyone who has tried to learn to play the violin or other instruments can report similar challenges.
Now researchers have found that people with musical training have an easier time learning Chinese. Writing in the online edition of Nature Neuroscience，researchers from Northwestern University say that both skills draw on the same parts of the brain that help people discover changes in pitch(音调).
One of the study's authors，Nina Kraus，said the findings suggested that studying music “actually tunes our sensory system”.This means that schools that want children to do well in languages should hesitate before cutting music programs，Dr. Kraus said. She said music training might also help children with language problems.
Mandarin(普通话)speakers have been shown to have a more complex encoding(编码) of pitch patterns in their brains than English speakers do. This is because in Mandarin and other Asian languages，pitch plays a central role. A singlesyllable word can have several meanings depending on how it is intoned.
For this study，the researchers looked at 20 nonChinese speaking volunteers，half with no musical background and half who have studied an instrument for at least six years.
As they were shown a movie，the volunteers also heard an audio tape of the Mandarin word “mi” in three of its meanings:squint，bewilder and rice. The researchers recorded activities in their brain stems to see how well they were processing the sounds. Those with a music background showed much more brain activities in response to the Chinese sounds.
The lead author of the study，Patrick C.M.Wong，said it might work both ways. It appears that native speakers of tonal languages may do better at learning instruments.
1.When learning Chinese，a foreigner will find ________.
A. he has a difficult time learning music at the same time
B. he has an easier time learning music at the same time
C. it is hard to master the tones required to speak and understand
D. it is easy to use the brain to help him discover changes in pitch
2.Why does Chinese learning have something to do with music training?
A. Because there is the same difficulty in learning Chinese and music.
B. Because skills to learn the two make use of the same parts of the brain.
C. Because music training might help people with language study.
D. Because people who do well in Chinese study do well in music.
3.The underlined word “intoned” in the fourth paragraph can be replaced by the word “____”.
A. created B. spelled C. seemed D. pronounced
4.What would be the best title for this passage?
A. Mandarin Speakers Are Smarter than English Speakers
B. Skilled Ear for Music May Help Language Study
C. Pitch Plays a Central Role in Chinese Learning
D. Schools Need to Develop Music Programs
Great holidays in Europe!
Do you like the beach but want a bit more?
Then come on an Active Beach holiday atone of our centers in Greece, Turkey or Croatia.All the centers are near beautiful beaches and alloffer sailing, windsurfing orwaterskiing with our excellent instructors. For achange from the water, you can also book a shorttrip to a nearby village and visit the colorfulmarkets or eat in a local restaurant. Atthe end of the day, relax in your hotel room ordance the night away at one of our open-air clubs.
Who was King Arthur? Where did helive?
Join us on a five-day UK Road Trip holiday.Imagine life hundreds of years ago as we visitancient Stonehenge, Roman Bath and TintagelCastle, the home of King Arthur. Learn the historyof these interesting places from your guide as youtravel in one of our famous blue coaches. In theevenings we stop at some of the best youth hostelsin the country. They have everything you needyou don t even need to pack a sleeping bag!
Are you bored with the usual holidays? Doyou want to do something you really enjoy?
Then Fame Camp is for you! Spend a weekat Hightree House in Yorkshire and learn how toplay the piano, violin and guitar! Bring your tentand stay at a campsite near the house. At theend of the week try your new skills in a liveperformance .
How many countries can you see in 21days?
On our Explore Europe holiday, you can seeten! Learn about them from our best guides as youwatch them go past from the window of anair-conditioned coach and stay at some ofEurope's top campsites on the way. Of course,we’ll also have time to do the important thingssuch as visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris, thehistoric Sistine Chapel in Vatican and eating appleѕtrudеl іn Vіеnnа.
Formore information about any ofthese holidays, call 0845 333 4523 or visitwww. comewithusuk. com.
1.Tourists who go on an Active Beach holiday.
A. cando some water sports
B. can cook by themselves
C. will enjoy an open-air concert
D. should bring their own sleeping bags
2.If you want to know more about TintagelCastle, which holiday should you take?
A. Fame Camp. B. Active Beach.
C. UK Road Trip. D. Explore Europe.
3.What can we learn about Explore Europe?
A. It lasts 10 days. B. It is a coach tour.
C. It is a self-guided tour. D. It goes past 21 countries.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What do we know about the Plaza Leon?
A. It’s a new building. B. It’s a small town. C. It’s a public place.
2.When do parents and children like going to the Plaza Leon?
A. Saturday nights. B. Sunday afternoons. C. Fridays and Saturdays.
3.Which street is known for its food shops and markets?
A. Via del Mar Street. B. Fernando Street. C. Hernandes Street.
4.Why does the speaker like Horatio Street best?
A. It has an old stone surface. B. It is named after a writer.
C. It has a famous university.
