Thanks to world-famous Colombian writer Garcia Marquez, many people think of Latin America as a land of magic. In his books, impossible things happen.
1. It may come from the mix of different cultures and ethnicities (种族) in Latin America. Although some of these differences have caused conflicts, they have also been a source of beauty, as well as encouraged people in Latin America to be more open-minded.
Latin America includes more than 30 countries and areas located south of the United States in the American continent. From north to south, it starts from Mexico in North America, goes through the Caribbean and ends at the southernmost tip of South America.
Latin America’s environment is quite diverse. People can enjoy sunshine in the Caribbean islands, ride horses on the green grasslands of the Pampas, and explore volcanoes and snow-capped mountains in the Andes. 2. Many of the world’s most unique plants and animals live there.
There is also a diverse mix of people in Latin America. 3. In countries like Mexico and Colombia, over half of the population is of mixed ethnicity. However, most of them speakthe same languages — Spanish or Portuguese.
4. Latin American people have created the samba, rumba, cha cha and tango . These dance styles require dancers to hold each other closely and move passionately. 5.
Latin America is an open and romantic place. Its impressive natural environment, historical contributions and cultural traditions have made it unique and influential.
A. It has natives, Africans and Europeans.
B. Where does the magic in his books come from?
C. They are cheerful and can bring strangers together.
D. It even has the world’s biggest rainforest — the Amazon.
E. Many people in Latin America have open and romantic hearts.
F. The music and dance of Latin America are quite well-known.
G. To most people, Latin America is a land of happiness and passion.
Angel Garcia Crespo is a computer engineer at Carlos III University of Madrid in Spain. His group has invented a new way for deaf-blind people to “watch” TV. The idea for the technology grew out of previous work by his group. The team had already worked on making audiovisual(视听的) materials accessible to people with either vision or hearing disabilities. But the group wanted to help people with both challenges. So they asked some deaf-blind people what would help.
In addition to relying on their sense of touch to communicate, deaf-blind people can also get and send information with a Braille line. The Braille system uses patterns of raised dots to stand for letters and numbers. A Braille line is an electronic machine with a changeable Braille display. Dots rise up or drop down based on the information sent to the machine.
Now the new system changes TV signals to data a Braille line can use. “The key to the system is the possibility of using subtitles(字幕) to collect TV information, ” Garcia Crespo explains. “Subtitles travel with the image(影像) and the audio in electromagnetic waves we don’t see. But an electronic system can keep those waves. ”
First, a computer program, or app, pulls out the subtitles and visual descriptions from the broadcast signal. The system then combines the information and changes both into data for Braille.
Now another app gets to work, which sends the data out to people’s Braille lines on demand. “This is done in real time, in less than a second, ” Garcia Crespo says. This lets a deaf-blind person “watch” TV as it’s broadcast. The system will work with various Braille lines, as long as there’s a bluetooth connection available. Now, the system is only used in Europe, and it should soon be available in the US.
1.What inspired Garcia Crespo’s group to work on the new technology?
A. Deaf-blind people’s poor life.
B. Their pity on the disabled people.
C. The challenges they face in work.
D. Their group’s previous research.
2.Why can the electronic system collect TV information?
A. It can combine all kinds of broadcast signals.
B. It can keep the waves with subtitles traveling.
C. It can work together with a variety of Braille lines.
D. It can pull out the subtitles and visual descriptions.
3.What does the author think of the future of the new technology?
A. Challenging. B. Bright.
C. Rewarding. D. Hopeless.
4.What should be a suitable title for the text?
A. New Technology Is Improving Deaf-blind People’s Life
B. A New Braille Line Is Applied to Disabled People’s Life
C. A Spanish Group Makes TV Accessible to Blind People
D. New Technology Helps Deaf-blind People “Watch” TV
There are many programs for high school students today thathelp isolated teenagers cope with loneliness．However，loneliness is not only an issue for teens but also an important and rarely acknowledged one in the elderly．
In Britain，Tracey Crouch was appointed to be the first Minister of Loneliness in order to address the issues caused by loneliness．This is the first time such a position has been created．
In Britain，there are around 9 million people who say they are lonely frequently．In Germany，a study conducted by Ruhr University Bochum found that 20 percent of people over the age of 85 felt lonely，and 14 percent of those between age 45 and 65 felt socially isolated．In the United States，more than 25 percent of the population lives alone，more than 50 percent are unmarried．
Isolation is generally associated with cardiovascular disease，depression，obesity，and anxiety．Additionally，the stress from loneliness can cause your cells to change on a molecular(分子)level that reduces its abilities to defend your body against diseases．In fact，doctors believe having feelings of loneliness is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes per day in regard to its impact on health!
In Britain，the new Minister of Loneliness will help establish government policies on the issue and fund charities to devote their efforts towards aiding loneliness．There are charities that link lonely seniors to high school students in order to give them a line of communication whenever they feel lonely!
The possibilities for the new Minister of Loneliness are endless．For example，she can provide education services to household businesses so that they can identify lonely customers if they see one．Loneliness fits into the category of being a social issue that must be monitored by the entire community in order to help those in need．Hence，government involvement in medical services and care for seniors and others is essential for happy seniors．
1.What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. UK becomes the capital of loneliness． B. Loneliness affects old people’s life．
C. Many teenagers suffer from loneliness． D. UK appoints Minister of Loneliness．
2.How did the writer develop the third paragraph?
A. By listing some specific numbers．
B. By giving examples of lonely people．
C. By pointing out similarities and differences．
D. By comparing different cultures in different countries．
3.What does the underlined words in Paragraph 4 mean?
A. Relevant． B. Equal．
C. Opposite． D. Superior．
4.What will the Minister of Loneliness do?
A. Do housework for lonely people．
B. Develop friendships with the elderly．
C. Help fund charities to aid lonely people．
D. Communicate with depressed school students．
Donna Strickland is a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Professor Strickland is one of the recipients( 受领者) of the Nobel Prize in Physics 2018 with Gérard Mourou, her PhD supervisor at the time. They published this Nobel-winning research in 1985 when Strickland was a PhD student at the University of Rochester in New York state. Together they paved the way toward the most intense laser pulses ever created.
Professor Donna Strickland is only the third woman ever to have won a Nobel Prize in physics. She and her fellow winners were honored for what the Nobel Committee called ground-breaking inventions in laser physics. Professor Strickland devised a way to use lasers as very precise drilling or cutting tools. Millions of eye operations are performed every year with these sharpest of laser beams.
---“How surprising do you think it is that you’re the third woman to win this prize? ”
---“Well, that is surprising, isn’t it? I think that’s the story of Maria that people want to talk about --- that why should it take 60 years? There are so many women out there doing fantastic research, so why does it take so long to get recognized? ”
Physics still has one of the largest gender gaps in science. One recent study concluded that at the current rates it would be more than two centuries until there were equal numbers of senior male and female researchers in the field.
The last woman to win a physics Nobel was German-born Maria Goeppert-Mayer for her discoveries about the nuclei of atoms. Before that it was Marie Curie, who shared the 1903 prize with her husband, Pierre. This year’s winners hope that breaking this half century hiatus will mean the focus in future will be on the research, rather than the gender of the researcher.
1.Which of the following best explains “ground-breaking” underlined in Paragraph 2?
A. active B. talented
C. creative D. awesome
2.What do we know about Professor Strickland’s achievement?
A. She created the most intense laser pulses by herself.
B. She advocated equality between man and women.
C. She discovered the nuclei of atoms with her husband.
D. She invented a way of using lasers as accurate cutting tools .
3.When was the second Nobel Prize in physics awarded to woman?
A. in 1963 B. in 1985
C. in 1903 D. in 1958
4.What can be inferred from the statements in paragraph 4 ?
A. Woman’s achievements in physics are as great as man’s.
B. Woman’s achievements in physics are more and more fantastic.
C. Maria’s discoveries resulted from her long time research.
D. Gender discrimination still exists in the field of science research.
The pub is a great British invention. Here, experts pick their favourites for Sunday lunch, picturesque settings, craft beer, history and more.
Free Trade Inn, Newcastle
House favourites
Fyne Ales Jarl, 3.8%
Scream for Pizza food truck, every Wednesday, £5 (if pre-booked)
Moors and oceans are great, but looking up the Tyne towards the city’s bowed bridges from this pub in Ouseburn is another kind of delight. It is especially exciting at sunset, as the Instagrammers and amateur photographers of north-east England have discovered — city lights gleaming(闪烁) against Miami Vice skies.
The Angel on the Bridge, Henley-on-Thames
House favourites
Brakspear Bitter, 3.4%
Slow-roast belly pork, £13.50
For those who prefer their views more landscaped than wild. The river is peaceful, the ducks entertaining, the air clean, and sunsets and mist keep the view varied all year round. The pub even has its own moorings for people with boats.
Duke of Marlborough, Suffolk
House favourites
Adnams Dry Hopped Lager, 4.2%
Braised beef cheek, £13.50
Time has a habit of leaving its trace on village pubs and the Duke is no different. Originally built as a medieval hall house, it became an inn during the 17th century. With the help of what is obviously a very active community , the pub is a lively place attracting drinkers, foodies and families with kids . Help yourself to dog biscuits if you bring your best friend.
The Bevy, Brighton
House favourites
Harvey’s Sussex Best Bitter, 4%
Sunday roast, £7.95
In 2010, what was then the Bevendean pub was closed by the police due to a series of antisocial incidents. Four years later it reopened as the Bevy, after locals bought it and carried out essential works. The whole project is an example of how an urban pub in an unfashionable area can be saved.
1.Which pub offers a cheaper price if booked in advance?
A. The Bevy. B. Free Trade Inn.
C. Duke of Marlborough. D. The Angel on the Bridge.
2.What make the view of Henley-on-Thames different all year round?
A. City lights. B. Sunsets and mist.
C. Only sunsets. D. The moorings.
3.Which of the following pub has a history of crime?
A. The Bevy. B. Free Trade Inn.
C. Duke of Marlborough. D. The Angel on the Bridge.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.Where did Johnny often stay?
A. On a bridge. B. At the gas station. C. On the side of the road.
2.What did Kate McClure do to Johnny in return?
A. She gave him $20.
B. She bought him food.
C. She created a website to help him.
3.What is the purpose of the talk?
A. To tell people to spend money in a wise way.
B. To encourage people to be helpful.
C. To remind drivers to take enough gas.
