While staring out of the window during a flight, not everyone will think carefully about the question why airplanes have rounded windows rather than square ones .
Over the years, aerospace engineering has made huge steps in airplane technology, meaning planes can carry more passengers and go faster. The planes have also changed shape to increase safety—including the windows. As commercial air travel took off in the mid -20th century, airline companies began to fly at higher altitudes to lower their cost—the air density (密度) is lower up there, creating less drag (阻力) for airplanes. However, higher altitudes came with problems, like the fact human beings can’t really survive at 30,000 feet. To make that possible, the cabin was changed to a cylindrical (圆柱体) shape to support the pressure inside. But at first, plane builders left in the standard square windows and this expansion meant disaster. The de Havilland Comet came into fashion in the 1950s. With a closed cabin, it was able to go higher and faster than other aircraft .
However, where there’s a comer, there’s a weak spot. Windows, having four comers, have four potential weak spots, making them likely to crash under stress— such as air pressure. By curving the window, the stress that would eventually break the window comer is distributed and the chance of it breaking is reduced. Rounded shapes are also stronger and resist deformation (变形), and can thus survive the extreme differences in pressure between the inside and outside of the aircraft .
Fortunately, designers figured out the lack of design pretty quick . Now we have nice, rounded airplane windows that can resist the pressure of traveling altitude. It gives being able to gaze out of your window to the world from 35,000 feet a whole new outlook, doesn’t it?
1.Why did airlines aim to fly at higher altitudes?
A.To save money for less drag.
B.To help the plane to take off.
C.To increase safety of the plane .
D.To carry more passengers and go faster.
2.What does the underlined words “de Havilland Comet” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A.An aircraft. B.A band.
C.A planet D.A design.
3.Which is the advantage of the rounded window?
A.It increases the air pressure.
B.It weakens the strength of air pressure.
C.It reduces the possibility of breaking up.
D.It helps to survive the extreme weather.
We all know that water is tasteless. But it happens from time to time: you pick up the bottle of water you didn’t finish yesterday, and it tastes strange. Most often, you tend to drop the bottle in the trash bin, believing that the water has gone bad. But is it true?
According to Time, of course not, taste has little to do with quality of water.
According to Time, when water is exposed to the air for 12 hours, carbon dioxide interacts with the H2O in the water, and the pH value lowers slightly. As a result, the water has a different taste.
“But it’s most likely safe to drink,” Norwegian expert Truls Krogh told Science Nordic. “If the water is covered and of good quality to start with, in principle it can last a thousand years. That’s because when water is fresh, it contains little organic matter. As long as water is held in clean glasses or bottles, no pollutants will enter it to harm our health.”
People in countries like the US, the UK and Australia usually drink tap water. According to Time, if tap water is drunk within six months, the chlorine (氯气) in the water will be enough to kill any bacteria and keep it safe to drink.
However, there are also some exceptions. If you accidentally put your fingers into water or store water in unclean containers day after day, microorganism (微生物) will enter the water.
With the help of surrounding temperature, and sunlight streaming through windows, these microorganisms multiply quickly. Sooner or later, the water will be in the charge of the unfriendly bacteria. And if you drink the water too often, then you’re more likely to be ill.
And what about water in plastic bottles? Heat and plastic are a bad combination, US researcher Kellogg Schwab stresses. When plastic bottles are used at high temperatures, they produce a chemical called BPA. BPA is something that affects hormones (荷尔蒙) and research has tentatively linked it to “several health damage, including heart disease and cancer”, Time reported.
Schwab suggests replacing disposable (一次性的) plastic bottles with the refillable containers made of metal or glass to deal with BPA.
1.The purpose of the first paragraph is to ________________.
A. show an example B. draw a conclusion
C. analyze a phenomenon D. introduce a topic
2.Which of the following may Truls Krogh agree?
A. If the water tastes different, we shouldn’t drink it.
B. The water held in a clean container is likely safe to drink.
C. Although kept fresh, water may still have much organic matter.
D. Covered water can last for a thousand years.
3.What can we infer from the passage?
A. BPA does little harm to our health.
B. Tap water is always safe to drink.
C. Microorganisms are easy to produce in the heat.
D. Disposable plastic bottles have been banned already.
4.What can be the best title of the passage?
A. Why Water is Tasteless B. How to Get Clean Water
C. Does Water Really Go Bad? D. Learn to Protect Water
Judy Wright and her husband decided to move closer to their son, Chris, who lived in Georgia. About a month after the move, Judy fell ill, suffering from her ongoing (不间断的) battle against Parkinson disease.
Her condition worsened rapidly and she required medical care at home. The family hired a nursing aid who canceled at the last minute. Instead, a woman named TunDe Hector showed up in her place.
One day, TunDe shared a story with Judy and her family. She remembered a particularly difficult day in 2014, when a stranger had helped her with a kind gesture. She had run out of gas, and with only $5 in her pocket, was walking to a gas station. A man saw her walking and turned his car around. He paid for her gas and gave her all the cash left in his wallet. Upon hearing the story, Judy’s son, Chris, took off his hat and said ,“That was me!” He was the stranger that had helped TunDe on that difficult day.
During the care of Judy, the Wright family learned about TunDe’s family and her own dream. The nursing aid, TunDe hoped that one day she could become an OB-GYN nurse. Her tuition was past due (逾期) and she had a family to care for, but she was determined to achieve that goal for herself and her family.
Judy died on July 9,2017. Instead of flowers, her family asked mourners (悼念者) to donate to TunDe’s education, to assist her in paying for her nursing school. In less than a week, they raised more than $8,000 and presented her with the surprise check.
1.Why did Judy’s family choose TunDe in the end?
A.To help her with a kind gesture. B.To look after Judy in the hospital.
C.To replace another nursing aid. D.To give Judy the best medical care.
2.How might Chris feel when hearing TunDe’s story?
A.Thrilled B.Shocked
C.Puzzled D.Delighted
3.How did the Wright family help TunDe after Judy’s death?
A.They paid for her education. B.They helped care for her family.
C.They bought her a surprise present. D.They helped her realize her dream.
4.What does the whole story mainly tell us ?
A.Kindness comes full circle. B.Constant dropping wears stone.
C.The truth never fears investigation. D.Actions speak louder than words.
Must-read Books that Are Hitting the Big Screen This Year
The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman
Starring: Jessica Chastain and Johan Heldenbergh
Release Date: July 31, 2017
This true story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Ackerman artfully retells the story of Jan and Zabinski and how they used their zoo to save over three hundred people from the Nazis. After their zoo was bombed, they managed to hide people in animal cages, giving animal names to their guests and human names to their animals. This is one story we truly hope lives up to the hope on film.
The Lost City of Z by David Grann
Starring: Sienna Miller and Robert Pattinson
Release Date: August 14,2017
Looking for adventure? This story is just what you need. The book(and film) tells the tale of British explorer Percy Fawcett and how he ventured into the Amazon jungle in 1925, never to return. It's an enchanting mystery that we can’t wait to see play out on screen.
The Dinner by Herman Koch
Starring: Richard Gere and Rebecca Hall
Release Date: October 5,2017
We always say we'd do absolutely anything for our kids, right? The story begins with two couples politely, eating dinner together, avoiding a conversation about their children who have committed a horrific act. As the story goes on, you'll see just how far these parents will go to protect the ones they love.
The Circle by Dave Eggers
Starring: Emma Watson and Patton Oswalt
Release Date: November 28,2017
A young woman, Mae, is hired to work for a powerful Internet company and Feels like she's hit the job jackpot. The facility is very advanced, lively, and a bit wild. Mae's story begins as one of ambition but soon tums into a heart-racing story of suspense.
1.Why did Jan and Zabinski put people in animal cages?
A.To offer them living places B.To treat them as animals
C.To avoid being bombed D.To hide from the Nazis
2.Who plays the role of a modern white-collar woman?
A.Emma Watson B.Rebecca Hall
C.Sienna Miller D.Jessica Chastain
3.When can you go to see the film if you enjoy adventure stories?
A.In July B.In August
C.In October D.In November
4.Which of the following is related to parents' raising kids?
A.The Zookeeper's Wife B.The Lost City of Z
C.The Dinner D.The Circle
请认真阅读下列材料和图表，并按照要求用英语写一篇150词左右的文章。
Campus security has recently attracted wide public attention. In order to ensure the safety of teachers and students, our school prohibits strangers, students’ parents included, from entering the campus at will. This rule has aroused a strong response from parents. For this reason, our school has recently conducted a public opinion survey among students on whether parents should enter campus. The results of the survey are as follows.
（写作内容）
1.用约30个单词概括阅读材料的主要内容；
2.用约120个单词简要描述图中的信息(包括人数比率、观点及原因)；并就“家长该不该进校园”谈谈你的看法和理由。
（写作要求）
1.可以参照阅读材料的内容，但不得直接引用原文中的句子；
2.不必写标题；
3.作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称。
（评分标准）
概括准确，语言规范，内容合适，语篇连贯。
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请认真阅读下列短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。
Anxiety is a typical human reaction to stress. But too much anxiety can get in the way of living a healthy, happy life. If you feel caught up in your anxiety, try one or a few of the following exercises anytime and anywhere to find relief.
When you’re feeling anxious, you might notice that your heart rate and breathing get a bit faster. First, you should sit in a quiet and comfortable place. Put one of your hands on your chest and the other on your stomach.
Then take a slow and regular breath in through your nose. Watch and sense your hands as you breathe in. The hand on your chest should remain still while the hand on your stomach will move slightly. Breathe out through your mouth slowly. Repeat this process at least 10 times or until you begin to feel relaxed.
If it doesn’t work, try think of your ideal place that you find very calming, happy, peaceful, and safe. Think about how the place would smell, feel, and sound. Envision yourself in that place, enjoying it comfortably.
Once you have a good picture of your “happy place,” close your eyes and take slow and regular breaths through your nose and out of your mouth. Be aware of your breathing and continue focusing on the place you’ve imagined in your mind until you feel your anxiety lifting.
But it can be hard to think clearly when you feel anxious. Sometimes anxious thinking can make us believe harmful thoughts that are untrue or make us do things that make our anxiety worse. Here’s how to avoid so: ask yourself whether endless worry is a problem for you. If the answer is yes, it’s good to be aware of that. Then try different ways such as singing a silly song, , listening to music, reading a book or the like.
Counting is also a simple way to ease your anxiety. When you feel anxiety washing over you, close your eyes and slowly count to 10. If necessary, repeat and count to 20 or an even higher number. Keep counting until you feel ease.
Sometimes this relief occurs quickly, but other times it might take a while. Stay calm and patient. It’s a great tool to use in a crowded or busy space where you can’t do other anxiety exercises.
Choose an anxiety exercise and try it until you’re feeling relaxed. If one exercise doesn’t work, try a different one. But anxiety exercises may not work for those with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). If you have GAD, consult your doctor for more effective treatment options.
Anxiety exercises to help you relax | |
Introduction | Too much anxiety can 1. with your healthy and happy life. One or a few of the exercises can help you relieve yourself anytime and anywhere. |
Relax by 2. | Controlling your breath can help address your body’s stress 3., like increased heart rate and rapid breathing. *Find a quiet and comfortable place, and breathe in slowly and regularly through your nose, with one hand on your chest remaining still and the other on your stomach 4. slightly |
Relax by visualizing | Paint a mental picture of a place that makes your relaxed and happy. *Find an ideal place to relax and imagine enjoying yourself while thinking of the 5.. *Take slow and regular breaths through your nose and out of your mouth, with your eyes closed and your attention 6. on the happy place. |
Relax by interrupting your anxious thinking | Anxiety thinking can result in a bad 7.. It’s helpful to break it. *Identify the problem and try different ways like singing a silly song, , listening to music, reading a book and so on. |
Relax by 8. | When other anxiety exercises might be challenging to 9. out, counting may work. *Keep counting slowly until you find your anxiety decreasing. |
Conclusion | Choose one anxiety exercises and keep trying until you feel 10. anxious. However, it makes sense for those with GAD to consult doctors. |
