Dark Sky Parks around the World
Warrumbungle National Park
Situated in the central west slopes of New South Wales is Australia’s only dark sky park, Warrumbungle. The park has served as a dark sky park since July 2016. Its crystal-clear night skies and high altitude make it a natural, educational, and astronomical heritage site in the southern half of the earth. Tourists can use Australia’s largest optical telescope within the park boundaries to view the auroras(极光)，the Milky Way, and faint shooting stars.
Sark
Sark is a Channel Island near the coast of Normandy under the protection of the UK. It was the World’s First Dark Sky Island set up in January 2011. Its historical and cultural blend attracts over 40,000 tourists annually. With no motor vehicles and public lighting on the island, there is an exceptional view of the dark skies. A rich Milky Way is visible in the dark night skies from the shores of the island.
Pic du Midi de Bigorre
Pic du Midi de Bigorre in France was designated as a dark sky park in December 2013 making it the second largest dark sky park in the world. The park covers 3.112 square kilometers spread across the Pyrenees National Park and UNESCO’s World Heritage site, Pyrenees-Mont Perdu. The park attracts over one hundred star watchers every year. The Observatory Midi-Pyrenees, which was built in 1870, is one of the world’s highest museums at a height of 2,877 meters above sea level.
Ramon Crater/Makhtesh Ramon
Ramon Crater is a unique 1,100-square-kilometer nature reserve located in the Negev Desert in Israel. In 2017, the Ramon Crater became the first designated dark sky park in the Middle East. Its location, rough climate, and forbidding landscape that are characteristic of the Negev have largely defeated historical attempts for human settlement, making it a great place to view the night skies. Stargazers usually camp in the desert to have an uninterrupted view of the stars, planets, and the Milky Way.
1.Which park serves as a heritage site for astronomy?
A. Sark.
B. Pic du Midi de Bigorre.
C. Warrumbungle National Park.
D. Ramon Crater/Makhtesh Ramon.
2.What do we know about Sark from the passage?
A. Not a single car runs there.
B. It was an island belonging to Normandy.
C. The Milky Way can only be seen there.
D. Visitors like to stay on the island in groups.
3.What makes it difficult for humans to live in Ramon Crater?
A. High altitude. B. The large area.
C. Geographical conditions. D. Cultural features.
阅读下面短文，根据其内容写一篇 60 词左右的内容概要。
Children form opinions about drugs and alcohol at a very early age. Even four and five year olds have definite opinions about alcohol. Preschoolers, because of the commercials(商业广告) they see on TV, often think that alcohol helps people have more fun and be better athletes! Images of alcohol are everywhere in our society—consumption of alcohol is represented twice per hour in daytime shows, and three times in an average evening program. Also, posters about alcohol can be seen on buses, at underground stations, in streets and so on.
Despite the wide spread of alcohol in our society, and the problems that can be connected with it, many parents feel uncomfortable when talking about alcohol with their children, or are not sure when and how to start. Many parents believe that teenage drinking is something that their children would never be involved in.
Unfortunately, teenage drinking is very common in North Dakota. In a statewide survey of adolescents in junior and senior high school, only 24% claimed to have never consumed alcohol. When asked about their drinking in the past 30 days:
•61% adolescents reported drinking
•42% drank five or more drinks in a row
•17% reported binge(大吃大喝) drinking
•4.2% reported driving and drinking
Other research on rural youth in North Dakota has found that about 10% of a sample of fifth and sixth graders were engaged in frequent drinking. Teenagers who reported alcohol use (especially those who began use in late elementary school and junior high school) were more likely to be depressed, feel less positive about both their family and friends, and have poorer grades.
Research has found that children and even teenagers turn to their parents in making decisions about important things in their life. Decisions about using alcohol are undoubtedly something that parents will want to provide guidance about. So it’s high time that parents should talk to children about alcohol seriously.
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假定你是李华，你的美国外教Tom 在你校任教期间，帮助学校组建了英语俱乐部，增强了英语学习的氛围。现在，他三年任期已满准备回国。请你代表学校给他写一封信，内容包括:
1. 对其所作工作表示感谢；2. 表达继续保持联系的愿望；3. 欢迎他再次来中国。
注意:1.词数 80 左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3. 开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear Tom,
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours truly,
Li Hua
阅读下面材料, 在空白处填入适当的内容(1 个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。
Cell phones can be life-saving communication tools to have on hand in a vehicle in case of emergency. 1., actually using a cell phone while driving may be life threatening. Many different studies have shown that when drivers use a phone while driving, it can be very 2.( danger). At some point during the use of a cell phone, a driver’s eyes are sure to be distracted from the road.
Studies have shown that new drivers are especially likely 3.(have) an accident when they use a cell phone while driving. The reason for this is4.new drivers have less experience in focusing 5.driving during distractions. Also, several studies 6.(do) on teen drivers found that many teens send text 7.(message) while driving, which is thought to be more distracting and at risk.
All drivers, not just teens or other new drivers, who use a cell phone while driving 8.(say) by studies to be at least four times9.(much) likely to be at risk than drivers who don't use a phone behind the wheel. Such studies have inspired many countries, 10.(include) the United States, to have at least some bans on hand-held cell phone use while driving. However, many people feel that these restrictions are not enough because studies have also shown that hand-held cell phones are just a part of the problem.
On the night of August 24, 2001, everything changed when my friend’s car hit a wall with me inside. I lost most of my right ______, and I was left bleeding with several broken bones. _____, my mind was still very clear in the hospital. I just kept telling myself to _____ and I _____ with the doctors that once I could roll onto my side, I would leave. They agreed. Two weeks later, I was___ to go home.
__ I left the hospital, the fight was far from over. My left knee was badly injured, which___ different surgeries(外科手术) over the next few years. And soon, more of my right leg had to be___ . This made it harder to wear my false leg, so I donated it to a nurse who couldn’t ____ one for herself, from___ I gained greater happiness than the joy I felt on any day I was able to wear it myself.
People often tell me they’re ______ of me for staying strong. But in my mind, I can do _____ but stay strong. So, on the ______ I left the hospital, I made a promise to myself to ______ live life to the fullest. I soon ____ everyday life again, until one day I realized I wasn’t living my life as ____ as I wanted to. After 13 years of thinking I was confident,___ , I knew I should help people around me.
In 2014, I even started modeling. My dream is that one day a little girl will see me in a magazine and say, ―Wow, she’s___ , and she had only one leg. I could do that too some day, even though I have a __ . My dream is simple, to___ people to believe they are beautiful the way they are.
1.A. feet B. knee C. leg D. arm
2.A. However B. Therefore C. Besides D. Thus
3.A. keep on B. stick to C. insist on D. hold on
4.A. consulted B. argued C. debated D. required
5.A. asked B. allowed C. admitted D. applied
6.A. Because B. When C. Although D. As
7.A. took place B. resulted in C. came about D. brought in
8.A. repaired B. rebuilt C. recovered D. removed
9.A. afford B. make C. borrow D. lose
10.A. it B. her C. whom D. which
11.A. fond B. proud C. aware D. sick
12.A. anything B. everything C. nothing D. something
13.A. moment B. minute C. hour D. day
14.A. always B. almost C. also D. already
15.A. took on B. set up C. got over D. settled into
16.A. richly B. easily C. comfortably D. fully
17.A. at first B. for the first time C. for a while D. once in a while
18.A. ambitious B. brave C. beautiful D. determined
19.A. talent B. disability C. problem D. doubt
20.A. force B. hope C. inform D. inspire
Self-confidence is defined as a feeling of trust in one’s abilities, qualities, and judgment. 1. Whether you apply for a promotion in work or sign up for a cooking class, believing in yourself is the key to putting yourself out there. However, not all people are born confident.2.
Stop comparing yourself to others. Whether you compare how you look to your friends on Facebook or you compare your salary to your friend’s income, comparisons aren’t healthy. Researchers found that people who compared themselves to others, experienced envy.3. It can be a terrible cycle. When you notice you are drawing comparisons, remind yourself that doing so isn’t helpful. Everyone is running their own race and life isn’t a competition.
4. . It’s hard to feel good about yourself if you’re abusing your body. Skimping on sleep, eating an unhealthy diet, and lacking exercise will do harm to your well-being. Studies consistently show physical activity boosts confidence. A 2016 study published in Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment found that regular physical activity improved participants’ body image. And when their body image improved, they felt more confident.
Embrace (拥抱) self-doubt. Sometimes, people put off doing things—like inviting someone on a date or applying for a promotion—until they feel more confident. But sometimes, the best way to gain confidence is by doing.5.. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare or practice, of course. If you have a big speech coming up, practice in front of your friends and family so you’ll gain some confidence. But don’t wait until you feel 100 percent confident before you proceed. You might never get there.
A. If you’re afraid you’ll embarrass yourself or you think that you’re going to mess up, try it anyway.
B. Take care of your body.
C. Embracing a little self-doubt might actually help you perform better.
D. And the more envy they experienced, the worse they felt about themselves.
E. Take regular physical exercise.
F. Fortunately, there are things you can do to gain your self-confidence.
G. Having self-confidence can help you become successful in your personal and professional life.
