Running late after several wrong turns, I made a final, desperate attempt to locate Elliott's home. Down a dirt path, past a group of geese, there it was: the two-acre property, on which Elliott grows nearly all the food she feeds her family. The Elliotts' three-bedrooms house was among a chicken cage, a pigpen, a rabbit hutch, and three gardens, the sum total of which Elliott refers to as her “homestead(农)”— a nod to the back-to-basics movement that inspired her lifestyle.
Elliott "homesteads" because modern technology “has rid people of their purpose”. In hopes of “drawing on and learning things of the past,” she has for eight years rejects an increasing number of modern conveniences. She lives a life like the 19th-century homesteaders. Unlike the pioneers, however, she enthusiastically broadcasts her life to an audience of Instagram followers, book buyers, and 100,000 monthly readers of her blog. Elliott belongs to a growing network of bloggers who have fueled the growing homesteading movement, which encourages self-reliance through the employment of traditional skills. Broadcasting on the net while trying to escape technology’s uncontrolled pace may seem incongruous, but Elliott insists that social media provide advice and moral support, which are lacking in the remote areas where many homesteaders settle.
Elliott’s day passes in a series of chores: weeding, cleaning up after the chickens, feeding the pigs, weeding again... She rejects the idea that success should involve anything more that maintaining a home. “We live in a culture where everything needs to be epic (宏大的) and awesome... Living a very average life? That’s seen as you not living up to your potential. And I really fight against that. I think the everyday is the point of our life,” she said. “It’s okay to be in the kitchen working with a baby on your back. That isn’t a step backward; it is an intentional thing”.
1.What do we know about Elliott’s “homestead”?
A. Noisy. B. Dirty. C. Difficult to find. D. Hard to maintain.
2.What influence does the Internet have on homesteading?
A. It reduces homesteaders’ everything.
B. It connects homesteading farms.
C. It helps promote homesteading.
D. It disturbs homesteader’s life.
3.What does the underlined word “incongruous” in paragraph 2 probably mean?
A. Strange B. Ambitious C. Natural D. Impossible
4.What will Elliott probably agree with?
A. Keep off the outside world B. Stay with your family
C. Wish for something epic D. Lead your own life
Good news for coffee and tea drinkers: No more wasting time and energy waiting for the perfect cup. Using patented Heatworks’ Ohmic Array Technology, the DUO Smart Untethered Carafe (玻璃水瓶) has the power to heat or cool water to the exact degree while you pour. With its functionality, convenience and stylish appearance, the DUO looks like quite the game changer.
So how does it work? The precise temperature control lets you pick the water temperature to the plus/minus one degree. Simply set your temperature, pour water into the tank(fits four cups) at the top and pour into your cup. The carafe features one blue spout(出水口) for filtered (过滤的) cold water and another red spout for hot water, which appears to heat up instantly.
The entire device is battery operated, making it perfect for taking it to the office or really anywhere else. Youwill also be able to plug it in, so the carafe can stay comfortably on your kitchen table or desk to charge for on -the -go use.
The DUO advocate 99 percent energy efficiently and an advanced water filtration system created by heat works CEO Jerry Callahan,who wanted to create a heating system without using metal heating elements. Unsustainable and imperfect metal heating parts have been used for heating for the past 100 years and carry the risk of rusting(生锈). Callahan felt It was time for an upgrade heating systems, and the Ohmic Array Technology was born. Using electrical currents passed through the water itself rather than separate heated elements to transfer heat into the water. Ohmic Array cuts out a whole step in the process.
The DUO is not yet available for purchase, but you can learn more Information and sign up for the release updates on the Heatworks website.
1.What do we know about the DUO carafe from the first paragraph?
A. It makes perfect coffee. B. It heats or cools water.
C. It produces electricity to heat water D. It provides fun game to play
2.Which step is a must to get water of 80 °C with the DUO Carafe?
A. Set the required temperature B. Cool the boiling water
C. Pour water from the blue spout D. Add filtered water into the tank
3.The Ohmic Array Technology makes the DUO Carafe ___
A. fast to charge B. convenient to take
C. tough and stylish D. rust-free and time efficient
4.What's the main purpose of the text?
A. To apply for a patent B. To introduce a product
C. To report a product launch D. To share a technology
When the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris (巴黎圣母院) was on fire, it seemed as if the nation had lost a piece of its soul. A similar tragedy took place in 19th century Russia. And the rebuilding effort of the Russians might offer some inspiration for the French.
Standing in the heart of the Russian capital, with 60,000 square meters of floor space and 1,500 rooms, the Winter Palace was among the world’s grandest building. On Dec. 17, 1837, a fire broke out at the Winter Palace. By the morning of Dec.19, only the structure’s framework remained.
For the czar (沙皇) , the fire presented a political challenge. Fearing that Russia's enemies would cast the fire as a blow to the czarist orders, the czar’s supporters quickly worked together to shape the description of the fire in Russia and abroad. They wanted the country to appear united. And they certainly didn't want despair to become the story.
The first full account of the fire was written in French by the poet Petr Viazemskii. A Russian translation appeared two months later. That text and others painted a highly idealized picture of the response to the tragedy. The accounts noted that the czar forcefully directed the fire’s containment. Soldiers were selfless to save the palace. The Russian people felt the loss just as deeply as the czar.
To erase the shame of the fire, the czar set a nearly impossible goal: rebuild the palace within 15 months, and he ordered that rebuilt palace look exactly as it had before.Thousands of workers labored on the construction site. They made rapid progress. On Match 25, 1839, the czar celebrated the rebirth of the Winter Palace.
Outwardly identical to the old version, the new palace featured more iron and brick in its structures---and less wood. It was far less fire-prone than the original.
Notre Dame hasn’t experienced the same level of destruction as the Winter Palace, if the Russian phoenix of 1839 is any indication, there is hope that a renewed Notre Dame will once again grace the banks of the Seine.
1.What do we know about the fire in the Winter Palace?
A. It burnt down 60,000 rooms
B. It lasted more than 24 hours
C. It was set by Russia’s enemies
D. It completely destroyed the palace
2.Why did the czar decide to rebuild the palace in a short time?
A. To secure his power
B. To challenge his enemies
C. To unite French people
D. To celebrate his birthday
3.What did Viazemskii and others stress in their accounts?
A. The scene of the fire
B. The selflessness of the czar
C. The Russians’ joint effort to fight the fire
D. The ideal result achieved by the Russians.
4.What’s the author’s purpose in writing the passage?
A. To describe a fire at the Winter Palace
B. To praise the renewal of the Winter Palace
C. We express sympathy for the Notre Dame
D. To inspire confidence in rebuilding the Notre Dame.
Many of the most striking beasts on the planet come in only two colors: black and white. These high-contrast markings represent some of the nature's most diverse evolutionary choices. For some animals, black -and- white coloring is a way to warn off natural enemies. For others, to keep insects away. For still others, it creates a clever cover. Spend some time exploring what science has discovered about these animals’ appearances, and you will see that basic black and white isn't so basic after all.
Skunk
Depending on the species, black skunks may wear white spots that act as a cover or white stripes(条纹)that signal enemies to watch out for their smelly spray.
Giant Panda
Resent insights into panda coloring have come from studying each body part separately. Black ears indicate fierceness, and distinct eye patches aid in individual recognition. The panda in white body hides it against snow, white its dark limbs(四肢) keep it from being spotted in forests, a compromise developed from its poor bamboo diet:Bamboo doesn’t let pandas build up enough fat to hibernate(冬眠), forcing them to spend winters in the snow.
Badger
Even when a badger is in its cave, its facial stripes can be seen, Zoologists say the warning coloration helps the small animal prevent natural enemies.
Blackbuck(male)
In bright sun, the buck’s white stomach reduces the effect of the shadow cast by his back, allowing him to appear one color and two dimensional---especially hiding from natural enemies in his own shadown.
1.Which animals can use their color to warn off natural enemies?
A. Skunk and Badger B. Giant panda and Zebra
C. Badger and Blackbuck D. Zebra and Blackbuck
2.White body and dark limbs help the giant panda to ________.
A. show fierceness B. store fat
C. recognize individuals D. take cover
3.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A. Which animals have black- and- white color?
B. How some animals protect themselves from harm.
C. Why so many animals wear black- and- white coats?
D. What science has discovered about different colors.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.Who will give the speech on "China's Road Into Space"?
A. Tom Miller. B. Li Yang. C. Julia Moore.
2.When are attendees advised to arrive at the spot?
A. Before 13:45. B. At 14:00. C. After 14:30.
3.Which items are forbidden to take?
A. Mobile phones. B. Laptop computers. C. Smart watches.
4.What is the speak doing?
A. Delivering a lecture. B. Inviting some experts. C. Introducing a program.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.How does the woman feel?
A. EnergetiC. B. Confident. C. Anxious.
2.What probably is the woman's major?
A. English. B. Biology. C. Education.
3.What is the man's task?
A. Doing his projects. B. Writing his paper. C. Reading his book.
4.What does the man mean?
A. He will treat the woman to dinner.
B. He will lend the woman a gift card.
C. The woman should have saved money.
