As the international demand for narrative(叙事的) film/TV content continues to increase with popular streaming services like Netflix and others the two questions then come: will the coming generations receive most of their entertainment through visual means rather than through the written word and will such an increase of narrative film/ TV reduce the importance of reading?
Growing examples of this trend include the diminishment(减少) of fiction in the common core (核心的)curriculum, the ever－rising culture of computer games, the wave of streaming services of wide international reach, and movies filled with special effects made for children and teenagers. Nor must we ignore the economic dangers that lie ahead for the written word. The narrative film industry is a moneymaker that dwarfs(使相形见绌) the publishing industry.
The other underlying question, of course, is “does it really matter if the written word bows to the world of film/TV?” From my point of view, any diminishment of fiction delivered by words is a loss for mankind.
There is no greater human feature than the imagination. It lies at the very soul of the human species. It is the brain’s most powerful engine. It is the essential muscle of life and like all muscles it must be exercised and strengthened.
Writing and reading are the principal tools that inspire, create and empower our imagination. Anything that diminishes that power is the enemy of mankind.
It should be known that I am not opposed to new media and technological advances. Instead, I have always felt it necessary to adapt to advancing technology. In fact, a number of my novels are in various stages of development for film, TV, and live stage productions. My hope is that the written word will only stand to be complemented(补充)by its visual counterparts(对应物), not pushed to the edge of extinction.
Of course, there are those who will present arguments for the superiority of the moving image over the written word. Each has its place. My argument is for finding the right balance between it and the moving image.
1.In what way does narrative film/TV embarrass the written word?
A. Economic benefits B. International reach
C. Cultural influence D. Educational importance
2.Why does the author value the role of the written word?
A. It strengthens our muscles. B. It helps sharpen imagination.
C. It distinguishes man from each other. D. It paves the way for narrative film/TV.
3.What is the author’s attitude towards technology?
A. Cautious B. Skeptical
C. Positive D. Critical
4.What’s the author concerned about?
A. The fate of reading. B. The extinction of fiction.
C. The impact of the written word. D. The future of the moving image.
Have you ever spent an afternoon in the backyard, maybe grilling or enjoying a basketball game, when suddenly you notice that everything goes quiet? There is an old phrase “calm before the storm”, often used in a situation---a quiet period just before a great activity or excitement. According to our own experience, we know there is actually calm before the storm. But what causes this calm? And is it always calm before the storm?
A period of calm happens in a particular kind of storm, the simplest kind of storm---a single-cell thunderstorm. In this type of thunderstorm, there is usually only one main stream of current, which is warm, damp air and drawn from places near the ground. Storms need warm and damp air as fuel, so they typically draw that air in from surrounding environment. Storms can draw in the air that fit their need from all directions—even from the direction in which the storm is traveling.
As the warm, damp air is pulled into a storm system, it leaves a low-pressure vacuum(真空) coming after. The rising air meets the cold dry air that has already existed in the storm clouds, thus the temperature of the warm, damp air drops, and the water vapor in it changes into tiny drops that are a precondition of rain. These drops accumulate and build on larger particles(颗粒) like dust, until they grow large enough to form raindrops.
This warm, damp air keeps moving upwards, but it becomes cooler and drier during its trip through cloud. When it reaches the top of the cloud, the air is squeezed out at the top. This air is sent rolling out over the big thunderclouds. From there, the air goes down. Warm and dry air is relatively stable, and once it covers a region, that air, in turn, causes the calm before a storm.
Most thunderstorms, though, don't start with calm. That's because most are actually groups of storms with complex wind patterns. There's so much air moving up and down storm groups that the calm before the storm never happens. Instead, before the storm, it might be really windy!
1.Which best fits the description of a particular kind of storm?
A. A thunderstorm with a single shape.
B. A thunderstorm without strong winds.
C. A storm with air drawn from every direction.
D. A storm fueled by moving air from the ground.
2.What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 3 refer to?
A. Warm and wet air. B. Warm and dry air.
C. Cold and wet air. D. Cold and dry air.
3.Which does the writer most likely agree to?
A. Presence of the calm relies on stable air.
B. All thunderstorms don’t start with the calm.
C. The drier the air is, the bigger the storm will be.
D. Storm happens without air moving up and down.
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A. A brief introduction of a peaceful storm.
B. A personal experience of a heavy storm.
C. An explanation of the calm before a storm.
D. An analysis of causes and effects of a storm.
The dad of the two youngest survivors of US Airways Flight 1549’s incredible landing in the Hudson River said the near-death experience “brought out the best in humanity.” It has been a decade since US Airways Flight 1549 landed in the Hudson River.
Sosa, now 58, told The Post in an email Monday. “As strange as the experience was, it brought out the best in humanity as witnessed by the selfless efforts of so many men and women who came to our aid without thinking twice about their safety. I am grateful to all of them.”
Sosa and his wife Tess were traveling to Charlotte, North Carolina, that day with 9-month-old Damian and 4-year-old Sofia. The couple were sitting several rows apart when the Airbus A320 suddenly struck a flock of Canada geese moments after taking off from LaGuardia Airport.
Sosa could smell jet fuel burning and immediately knew they were in danger. “There was an explosion in the left engine which I could see from my seat,” he recalled. “The next thing I knew the plane went dead silent when both engines broke down. I got a quick glance at Tess seated ahead of me when we both realized we were in trouble.”
The next three minutes were harrowing(折磨). The powerless plane plunged over The Bronx and pointed toward the Hudson, where it would eventually ditch(在水上迫降), thanks to a split-second decision by Capt. Sullenberger. All 155 people on board could survive. Works helped with the rescue mission after the US Airways plane crashed into the Hudson River in the afternoon on January 15 in New York City.
The dad this year 2019 who welcomed a new child, Phoebe, with Tess in the years after the incident — said “To date, it remains an unforgettable memory, a key point in our lives from which we perceive(感知) the world and process our day-to-day experiences,” said Sosa. “When you survive a near-miss experience, I think it makes one more tolerant. It makes you appreciate every day as a gift.”
1.When did the US Airways plane crashed into the Hudson River?
A. 2007 B. 2009
C. 2011 D. 2019
2.The underlined sentence most probably means_____.
A. making efforts B. expressing gratitude
C. displaying virtues D. showing anger
3.What can be learned about Sosa and Tess?
A. The disaster made them cherish every day.
B. They were traveling to Charlotte, South Carolina that day.
C. They realized they were in danger when the left engine failed.
D. They were sitting together when the plane struck a flock of Canada geese.
4.What may be the best title of the passage?
A. Landing in the Hudson B. Unforgettable flight
C. Horrifying flight D. Miracle on the Hudson
Formal Afternoon Teas
A pot of tea, a plate of finger sandwiches and a selection of pastries and scones: In America, this wonderful way to wile away the afternoon is commonly, though mistakenly, known as “high tea.” In Britain, where it originated, “high tea” is simply an old-fashioned name for the evening meal; it’s also called “meal tea.” The light, elegant, scone-centric meal served at fancy hotels is called “low tea” or “afternoon tea”. Whatever you call it, here are four places to get afternoon tea on Long Island. Prices are per person.
Chat Noir
230 Merrick Rd., Rockville Centre
516-208-8521, chatnoirtea.com
Owner Emma Tso is a talented pastry chef, and her afternoon tea($22) includes sandwiches, miniature pastries, warm scones, cream and jam and a pot of tea. Open 7 days a week. Reservations required.
Robinson’s Tea Room
97-E Main St., Stony Brook
631-751-1232
Robinson’s service afternoon tea Tuesday to Sunday. $26 buys unlimited tea, about 10 finger sandwiches, fresh scones, cream and jam and desserts. Reservations required.
The Secret Garden Tea Cafe& Gift Shoppe
225 Main St., Port Jefferson
631-476-8327, thesecretgardentearoom.com
The Street Garden’s menu has more modest options, but the full afternoon tea, $26.95, includes scones, fresh fruit, tea sandwiches, mini desserts and a pot of tea. Open Tuesday to Sunday.
The Hidden Oak Cafe
Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Montauk Highway, Great River
631-277-3895, bayardcuttingarboretum.org
The cafe is open Tuesday to Sunday. Afternoon tea($25.95) includes tea sandwiches, desserts and pastries, scones with cream and jam and a pot of tea. Reservations required 24 hours in advance.
1.What do we know about British afternoon tea?
A. It’s known as “meal tea”. B. It’s centered on desserts.
C. It’s served at fancy hotels. D. It’s originated from America.
2.Which number should you call to reserve for a Monday afternoon tea?
A. 516-208-8521 B. 631-751-1232
C. 631-476-8327 D. 631-277-3895
3.Where can you get afternoon tea with fresh fruit?
A. At Chat Noir B. At Robinson’s Tea Room
C. At the Hidden Oak Cafe D. At the Secret Garden Tea Cafe& Gift Shoppe
假如你是李华,从网上得知2019年北京世园会正在招募志愿者。请你用英语给正在中国留学的Jim写封邮件，要点包括：
1. 邀请他和你一起申报做志愿者；
2. 陈述当志愿者的好处。
注意：1.词数100左右；世园会 World Horticultural Exposition
2.可以适增加细节,以使行文连贯。
Dear Jim,
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏词符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（﹨）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线（___），并在该词下面写出修改的词。
注意：1.每处错误及修改均仅限一词；
2．只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
One day, I sat in comforts in my grandparents’ house, enjoying the rain outside the window or the cartoon film Tom and Jerry with my grandfather. Eat one of my grandmother’s fresh, tasty pies, I see a monkey suddenly swing onto the bars on our door. My grandfather encouraged me offer it my pie; it gentle accepted the gift. Through the window, his new friend stared with an interest at the TV. The curious monkey, my grandfather, and I watched the rest of Tom and Jerry’s adventure together, astonishing at the harmony what exists between humans and animals in our world.
