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.
I went to Arizona earlier this month to see what the college of the future might look like. What I found is an exciting new era of higher education that will help more students get a great, personalized education at an affordable price.
This future may not always include the lecture halls, dormitories, and other features of the traditional college experience. Instead, the colleges I visited are experimenting with ways for students to get their degrees online, allowing them to take courses any place and at any time.
These “colleges without walls” as they are sometimes called, are at the forefront of the effort to broaden access to higher education, especially for low-income students with full-time jobs and families. During my visit, I heard encouraging stories of students who were taking advantage of these flexible learning models to pursue degrees that could put them on paths to new careers.
One of those students was Shawn Lee. He had a compelling story: After dropping out of college decades ago, he found himself in a series of low-paying, often back-breaking jobs. He recently decided to get his degree when he had his first child and wanted to start building a better life.
Tucked away in an industrial park in Tempe, Rio Salado didn’t look much like a traditional institute of higher education. There were no students running to class. Just a couple of glass-faced office buildings. The college had just 22 full-time faculty serving 60,000 students, with more than half of them attending classes online.
Several students I met during my visit said they liked learning online. “I’ve taken college classes in a big auditorium with herds of people. There was no personal connection,” one student said. “Now I can reach my teacher with the click of a mouse.”
After several days’ visit, I left Arizona feeling quite optimistic about what the future holds for higher education.
1.What does “colleges without walls” in the third paragraph refer to?
A.Colleges that have no walls around.
B.Colleges that students attend online.
C.Colleges that can be entered freely.
D.Colleges that give students more freedom.
2.What made Shawn Lee return to attend college again?
A.That he has nothing to do.
B.That he couldn’t find a job.
C.That the cost of the college is low.
D.That he wanted to find a better job.
3.How did the writer feel after the visit?
A.Hopeful. B.Dissatisfied. C.Disappointed. D.Upset.
4.What is the writer’s purpose by writing this passage?
A.To explain what “colleges without walls” are.
B.To advertise the colleges.
C.To encourage people to attend higher education.
D.To introduce a new model of education.
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1.What does the hospital specially offer to pets?
A.Pet licenses and timely care. B.Clinic rooms and pet playmates.
C.Good pet doctors and full services. D.The best medicine and treatment.
2.What is the most important for pet health?
A.Food and exercise. B.Nutrition and prevention.
C.Technology and equipment. D.Experience and patience.
3.What is the author's purpose in writing the passage?
A.To make an advertisement for a pet hospital.
B.To inform pet owners how to treat their pets.
C.To introduce a trusted veterinarian to pet owners.
D.To tell people to treat their pets better.
阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。
The canteen was crowded with summer campers from high schools across the city, all extremely hungry after a day's activities. I spotted an empty place and walked there. Just as I put my tray(餐盘) down, I felt a bump against my hip. The tray dropped on the table and the soup spilt all over my camp shirt and jeans. And I heard a burst of laughter.
"Can’t you look where you are going, you clumsy fool!" I shouted, glaring at the troublemaker, a tall boy with wild hair.
"Sorry! Can't help laughing! You look so funny!" said the boy, bending over with laughter. I was too annoyed to respond and just walked away to change my clothes.
The next morning, we were all assembled for roll call(点名), when I saw the same boy come running out of the dorm, his unbuttoned shirt flying behind him. Before he could slide into place, he was spotted by the Camp Commandant. As a punishment for being late, he was made to do a hundred pushups. As I walked past him later, I let out a loud laugh, saying "Sorry. I can't help laughing. You look so funny."
So the war of words continued in the following three days with the wild-haired boy, whose name, I found out, was Ben.
A mountain hike(远足) marked the last day of the camp. On the way back, I found myself left far behind my team. Soon, they were out of sight. The camp site was a long way away and I was getting anxious as evening fell. I risked taking a shortcut(近路) clung to the mountain side, but suddenly, I tripped off the path and slid right down the slope(斜坡).
Fortunately, my fall was stopped by a bunch of bamboo. I saw I was about ten meters below the track. There was no way I could climb up the slope as evidently I had my ankle broken. After making several vain attempts, I waited hopelessly. It got dark and I became afraid.
注意：
1.所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2.应使用5个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
3.续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
4.续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1:
Then, I saw a faint light, and heard a voice calling out my name.
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Paragraph 2:
The next day, as we were boarding the buses which would take us back to our own homes, Ben came up to me.
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假设你是高三学生李华，你所在的学校将举行“行走马拉松(walkathon)”公益活动，为贫困山区的孩子们筹款。请给你的美国朋友Chris写一封信，询问他是否愿意一起参加。内容包括：
1. 介绍活动的相关内容（例如：时间、长度、参加者等）；
2. 你对此项活动的看法；
3. 询问对方的意向。
注意：1. 词数 80左右。
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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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。
Beijing, together with Zhangjiakou, succeeded in getting the chance to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, which speeds up the development of Zhangjiakou City. Word came 1. the Beijing- Zhangjiakou high-speed railway, located in North China, is now 2. construction, and is expected to be completed by 2020 in 3. (prepare) for the cities to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Starting from Beijing North Railway Station and heading west through the Great Wall, the project is 4. (probable) the biggest challenge ever. Its designers say that the explosions needed 5.(dig) the tunnels will not have a negative effect on the structure.
The railway line has a length of 174 km as a double-track passenger line, with ten stations along its route. Enjoying 6. total investment of 31.17 billion yuan ($5 billion), the trip between the two cities will only take 40 minutes 7. the train will travel at an average of 250 km/h.
According to the plan, the high-speed railway will have two branch 8.line) — one is to Yanqing Station and the other to Taizicheng of Chongli, where the Olympic Village lies. The full railway,9. (include) a 70-kilometer section through Beijing, 10. (complete) in four and a half years.
