Science, to many school-aged children, seems 1.(bore) and difficult. Most do not realize it is 2. (extreme) important and amazing. Bill Bryson’s book A Really Short History of Nearly Everything 3.(cover) many different aspects of science, such as what happened to dinosaurs, why the oceans are salty, how heavy the earth is, and a chain of life, genetics, planets, weather, atoms and etc. from his point of view, the Big Bang was the start of 4.universe and it only took less than a second 5.(happen). Filled with countless illustrations and photographs that accompany facts 6.are short and to-the-point, the book gives a rather detailed but short history of the science of the world.
For any science lover, the book is perfect. Bryson writes in a 7. (humour) manner, but he is very informative, I love the book’s 8. (organize). The vocabulary fits perfectly with the subject matter, and unfamiliar terms 9.(explain) finely. This book has done me, and every curious kid burdened by a dull textbook or a brain-dead science teacher a huge favor. It is a great resource 10.a classroom, home school setting, or library to use.
No one is born a winner. People make themselves into winners by their own _________
I learned this lesson from a(n) _________ many years ago. I took the head _________ job at a school in Baxley, Georgia. It was a small school with a weak football program.
It was a tradition for the school’s old team to play against the _________ team at the end of spring practice. The old team had no coach, and they didn’t even practice to ___________ the game. Being the coach of the new team, I was excited because I knew we were going to win, but to my disappointment we were defeated. I couldn’t _________ I had got into such a situation. Thinking hard about it, I came to _________ that my team might not be the number one team in Georgia, but they were ___________ me. I had to change my _________ about their ability and potential.
I started doing anything I could to help them build a little ____________. Most important, I began to treat them like ____________. That summer, when the other teams enjoyed their ____________, we met every day and ______________ passing and kicking the football.
Six months after suffering our ______________ on the spring practice field, we won our first game and our second, and continued to ____________. Finally, we faced the number one team in the state. I felt that it would be a ____________ for us even if we lost the game. But that wasn’t what happened. My boys beat the best team in Georgia, giving me one of the greatest ____________ of my life！
From the experience I learnt a lot about how the attitude of the leader can ____________ the members of a team. Instead of seeing my boys as losers, I pushed and ______________ them. I helped them to see themselves ____________, and they built themselves into winners.
Winners are made, but born.
1.A.luck B.tests C.efforts D.nature
2.A.experiment B.experience C.visit D.show
3.A.operating B.editing C.consulting D.coaching
4.A.successful B.excellent C.strong D.new
5.A.cheer for B.prepare for C.help with D.finish with
6.A.believe B.agree C.describe D.regret
7.A.realize B.claim C.permit D.demand
8.A.reacting to B.looking for C.depending on D.caring about
9.A.decision B.attitude C.conclusion D.intention
10.A.pride B.culture C.fortune D.relationship
11.A.leaders B.partners C.winners D.learners
12.A.rewards B.vacations C.health D.honor
13.A.risked B.missed C.considered D.practiced
14.A.defeat B.decline C.accident D.mistake
15.A.relax B.improve C.expand D.defend
16.A.shame B.burden C.victory D.favor
17.A.chances B.thrills C.concerns D.offers
18.A.surprise B.serve C.interest D.affect
19.A.encouraged B.observed C.protected D.impressed
20.A.honestly B.individually C.calmly D.differently
Rich and Famous
Twenty years ago the most common ambition of American children was to be a teacher, followed by working in banking and finance, and then medicine. But today’s situation is quite different. 1. Instead they most commonly say they want to be a sports star, a pop star, or an actor—in other words, they hope to become a celebrity .
According to experts, young people desire these jobs largely because of the wealth and the fame. 2. Let’s take athletes and singers as an example. Their careers are short-lived. Many athletes’ best time only lasts a few years and singers can have a very limited career. The field that was once the focus of their lives becomes something they have little or no involvement in. As a result, they’ll have a feeling of worthlessness and a lack of control. 3.The truth is quite simple: they have been so far removed from it for so long.
In spite of these disadvantages, there is greater ambition than ever among young people to achieve that status. They are not satisfied just making a living—they want to be rich and famous. Globally, more and more TV shows provide talent competitions where winners can achieve their goals in just a few weeks or months.4.They unrealistically believe that this lifestyle is easily obtained and leads to great satisfaction.
While many people argue that there is nothing wrong with having such ambitions, others feel that this trend will finally lead to dissatisfaction as more and more people are unable to reach their goals. 5. That means they ignore the simple fact that great effort is needed before success. As a result, many people won’t realize their childhood dreams, which could have a negative effect on their happiness.
A. In many ways this has been brought about by the celebrity culture.
B. People no longer have a sense of satisfaction once their goals have been achieved.
C. Besides, it can be difficult for them to adapt back to a normal everyday life.
. The younger generation don’t favor these professions any more.
E. Unfortunately, they do not always have a positive effect on people’s life.
F. The reason is that they don’t realize it takes talent and hard work to be rich and famous.
G. This quick way of gaining wealth and fame creates a celebrity culture among people.
In the future those who are taking care of old people may get help from the house itself.
Over the last few years, new technology, such as the Internet, Wi-Fi and flat TV screens, has changed our homes and the way that we live. Now, another technology revolution is happening. A new project at the University of Hertfordshire wants to create a home that monitors people living in it who are elderly.
The researchers have developed a wristband device（装置）which helps us to watch the elderly person who is wearing it. The device collects information to see if the person has fallen or has wandered away from where he or she should be.
The assisted-living project is part of the university’s wider Interhome project, which is the development of a smart house. The house remembers the habits of the person who lives there and it uses very low amounts of energy. The Interhome team hope that offering this service will help take care of the elderly. They say, “It’s very important that these technologies are there to help and support and not replace any of the existing services.”
The Interhome is not just a research method. It’s also a way for students from different scientific backgrounds to learn and develop technology. The university uses the latest technology to help students get experience by developing new hardware and software themselves. The team includes design, engineering and computer science students working together.
“We are working on a smart-home project in Watford with some companies at the moment,” says the project leader. “We are looking at how a smart home can provide even more services.” This could help millions of old people around the world have a better and safer life in the future.
1.The wristband device benefits its users by .
A.changing the living habits of the elderly
B.monitoring people who live in a smart home
C.offering information to the person wearing it
D.watching over the elderly who may fall or get lost
2.Whom does the University of Hertfordshire have in its research team?
A.Students who want to find a job eagerly.
B.Students who prefer to work on their own.
C.Students from different scientific backgrounds.
D.Students with a lot of rich working experience.
3.What is the project leader’s attitude towards the future of the smart home project?
A.Uncertain. B.Uninterested.
C.Optimistic. D.Disappointed.
4.What might be the main idea of the passage?
A.A wristband device has changed the way that we live.
B.A smart home helps students develop hardware and software.
C.An Interhome project has been put into use to help the elderly.
D.An Interhome project will help the old live a better and safer life.
As the proverb goes，man struggles upwards；water flows downwards．Water runs downhill from mountaintops to streams, to rivers and to oceans．But downhill isn't the only way that water moves．A new study measures how water travels from country to country for human consumption．This flow isn't the type we usually think about．These scientists looked at the water used to grow and make the products which get shipped from nation to nation as imports or exports．They call this a flow of “virtual water”．
We typically think about water as the liquid that flows from a tap．However，92% of the water used by people goes into growing crops, according to a water researcher Arjen Hoekstra．He recently studied the hidden travels of virtual water used in products made from things like crops and meats．These products are shipped around the world．
For example, consider a sugary soft drink．Hoekstra estimated that to produce one half-liter of the drink requires between 170 and 310 liters of water-about 95% is used to grow and process the ingredients. Another 4% goes into the packaging and labeling．In Hoekstra's calculation, when one country produces a half-liter of soda and sells it abroad，it exports as much virtual water as would fill a large refrigerator．
According to Hoekstra's new report, dry countries like Israel and Kuwait, both in the Middle East, get the majority of their virtual water from other countries，through imported products. More surprisingly, some wetter countries, like the Netherlands and the United Kingdom，also get the majority of their virtual water from other places．That means that most of the water used to grow or produce the products and food consumed in those countries came from other countries．
1.The underlined proverb in Paragraph 1 is used to ．
A.inspire readers to struggle upward B.tell a law of nature
C.introduce the topic of the passage D.summarize the main idea of the passage
2.In which countries does most part of virtual water come from outside？
A.The United Kingdom and China B.America and Israel
C.The Netherlands and Kuwait D.The Netherlands and America
3.What can be a suitable title for the passage？
A.Benefits of Virtual Water B.Hidden Uses of Water
C.Crops and Virtual Water D.Virtual Water’s Worldwide Travels
4.Where does the passage probably come from？
A.A science news report B.A newspaper advertisement
C.A book review D.A science fiction story
“Hungary?” I looked at my school headmaster in confusion. “I never mentioned wanting to go to Hungary.” And with that, my adventure started.
My name is Jonathan Diamond and I just finished an amazing exchange year in Hungary.
Going on an exchange had always been my dream. When my high school offered an all-year program，I jumped at the opportunity. It would pay for almost everything and all I had to do was get a plane ticket. I knew where I wanted to go: Spain, the country of dancers wearing flowing red dresses. So when I heard that I was going to Hungary, I was pretty shocked. But I decided to make the best of it, since it was，after all, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Before I knew it, I was on the airplane, leaving for Budapest International Airport, Hungary.
I had times when I almost gave up. Hungarian is the hardest language on the planet. Cultural differences occasionally embarrassed both my peer teens and me. I had to give up eating carrots, my beautiful favorite, for they think carrots are rubbish in their country. The change in the landscape was amazing, looking nothing like skyscrapers, bullet trains, cars，and people in tiny houses that I had been accustomed to. Gradually, I fell in love with the relaxing lifestyle, the warm-hearted people, and getting home at 2：30 p. m. at the latest from school. And I was sad to leave on my very last day.
Having the host family who took me as one of their own members was the best thing I have ever experienced. From my little sisters, I learned how to embrace life to its fullest. From my brothers I learned that it’s OK for a boy to run around the house. From my host parents I learned to stay positive, to smile, and that when you pick the right persons and take their hands, suddenly, you become friends.
1.How did Jonathan feel when he was told to go to Hungary?
A.Excited and satisfied. B.Confused and shocked.
C.Amazed and embarrassed. D.Delighted and interested.
2.Why did Jonathan still decide to go to Hungary instead of Spain?
A.He didn’t like Spain. B.He wanted to learn Hungarian.
C.It was a rare chance. D.Going to Hungary was much cheaper.
3.What can we learn about Jonathan during his stay in Hungary?
A.He fell in love with eating carrots. B.He couldn’t wait to leave.
C.He was surprised by the landscape. D.He quickly got used to the life there.
4.According to Jonathan, the host family________.
A.changed him completely B.taught him how to dance well
C.treated him as equally as a student D.showed him the good things of life
