Every time a new year is coming, people set out to better themselves. They promise they will lose weight, find a new job, or maybe even take that vacation they’ve always talked about. But why do we make these promises to ourselves, and where did this tradition come from? Why does this tradition live on when so many people fail to keep the resolutions(决定) they made? Well, we can start by blaming the ancient Babylonians.
Around 4,000 years ago in Babylon, the earliest recorded celebration honoring the coming of a new year was held. Calendars weren’t as they are today, so the Babylonians did it in late March during the first new moon after the Spring Equinox(春分). The festivities were meant for the rebirth of the sun god, but the Babylonians made promises in order to please their gods. They felt this would help them start the new year off well.
Resolutions continued on with the Romans. When the early Roman calendar no longer synced(同步) up with the sun, Julius Caesar decided to make a change. He consulted with the best astronomers and mathematicians of the time and introduced the Julian calendar, which more closely represents the modern calendar we use today. Caesar declared January 1 the first day of the year to honor the god of new beginnings, Janus. The Romans celebrated the New Year by offering sacrifices to Janus.
To this day, the traditions of the ancient Babylonians and Romans continue around the world. So much that Google launched a Resolution Map in 2013 where people could add resolutions and see others adding theirs in real time. However, no matter how many people participated in Google’s project, the numbers are bleak when it comes to the number of people who maintain their resolutions----only eight percent of people are successful in sticking them out.
1.Why did the ancient Babylonians make promises to their gods?
A. To honor the god of new beginnings.
B. To observe the rebirth of the sun god and please him.
C. To honor the coming of a new year and satisfy their gods.
D. To please their gods and hope for a good start of the year.
2.What can we know about the tradition of the New Year’s resolutions?
A. The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions will soon die.
B. A lot of people don’t feel like making New Year’s resolutions.
C. Julius Caesar made January 1 the first day of a year on his own.
D. The history of making New Year’s resolutions is not well known.
3.What does the underlined word “bleak” in the last paragraph mean?
A. Large. B. Unpleasant.
C. Encouraging. D. Hopeful.
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A. How Making New Year’s Resolutions Came Into Being?
B. The Ancient Babylonians and the Romans
C. The Change of Roman Calendars
D. How People Better Themselves
I'm not much of a gardener. I love having beautiful flowers-but I don't have a good track record when it comes to making them grow.
A few months after our son left for the Middle East, my friend gifted me a box of tulip bulbs (郁金香球茎). She explained that these bulbs were put into the ground in the fall and lay sleeping all winter. They had all the nutrients they needed inside the bulb and would come out in the spring. ''When you see the leaves of the tiny flowers pushing toward the sun, you'll know that it's almost time for your son to come home. They'll give you what you need most.'' She walked me through the process of planting them. I thanked her — trying to show my gratitude for her gift.
It was a long winter — cold and dark. I endured both the weather and the loneliness and fear I felt with my son away. Dead leaves, frost and finally a heavy snow covered the area where I'd planted those flowers, and I soon forgot they were there.
Finally the weather began to warm. One day, as I walked down my front steps, I noticed an area of green. I bent down to inspect the situation more clearly and saw that those tulips had begun to grow, their tiny leaves forcing their way to the sun.
Day after day I noted the flowers' progress. And day after day, the time approached when my son would finally be home. Now with spring just around the corner, nothing could keep either of us from marching toward the light. Almost all of those bulbs bloomed. And with each brightly colored flower, I marked off one day closer to getting to hold my son in my arms again.
1.What can we know about the author?
A.She is a professional gardener.
B.She is not good at growing flowers.
C.She never plants flowers at home.
D.She often sends friends flowers as gifts.
2.Why did the writer forget the tulip bulbs soon?
A.The bitter winter reminded her of her son far away.
B.She was discouraged from making another attempt.
C.They failed to live through the cold and long winter.
D.She had no hope for beautiful flowers indeed.
3.What were those flowers mentioned in the last paragraph referred to?
A.A physical representation of the hope.
B.Things deep inside her heart and soul.
C.A lesson she will never forget completely.
D.The trouble she had in making them come out.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.A dark winter with hope. B.Planting hope in winter.
C.An area of green in spring. D.Living a changeable life.
Want to fit the best of London in your two-week vacation? Here is a list of the best places you must visit in London. Without visiting these, a trip to this city is no more than just incomplete.
Buckingham Palace Perhaps the most famous palace in the world, Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch (君主). State rooms are open to visitors only during the Palace's Summer Opening, which takes place in most of August and September. However, if you are heading to the palace at a different time, you can witness "Changing of the Guard'', where the guard is changed daily from April to July, and on alternate days from August to March.
British Museum This museum showcases works from the birth of human civilization to the modern age, and has contributions from all continents of the world. The main attractions include the much-debated Parthenon Marbles (Elgin Marbles), Mummy of Cleopatra from Thebes, and the Rosetta Stone. Entry to the museum is free.
London Eye The 32 capsules on the London Eye carry many visitors every day. Due to its 360 rotation ability, you can almost see the entire city of London, when you reach the top. Until the Shard's privately-operated deck opened in 2013, the London Eye was the tallest public viewing point.
London Zoo The world's oldest scientific zoo, the London Zoo consists of many different types of animals. This is also one of the best places for children, as you can book a VIP encounter with the animals for them. And what's more? You can also stay overnight at the zoo in Lookout Lodge.
1.When should you go if you want to visit a state room in the Buckingham Palace?
A.In April. B.In September.
C.In July. D.In January.
2.Which of the following is NOT included in the British Museum?
A.Parthenon Marbles. B.the Rosetta Stone.
C.Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection. D.Mummy of Cleopatra from Thebes.
3.Which statement will the author disapprove of?
A.You can visit the British Museum free of charge.
B.You can witness "Changing of the Guard" every other day in December.
C.You can see the almost entire city of London on the top of the London Eye.
D.You needn't buy a ticket for your kid to enter London Zoo.
阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，便之构成一个完整的故事。
One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself: “Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd (书呆子).”
As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, he said, “thanks!” There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. We talked all the way home, and I carried his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. The more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him.
Over next four years, Kyle and I became the best friends. When we were seniors, he had the highest marks in the class and was chosen to give a speech at the graduation ceremony. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a lot, and I was so glad it wasn’t me having to get up there and speak.
Graduation day, I saw Kyle. I said, “Hey, big guy, you’ll be great!” He looked at me with one of those looks, the really grateful one, and said “Thanks,” smiling.
As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began. “Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give him or her. I am going to tell you a story.”
注意：
1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2. 至少使用5个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:
I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
I smiled back in tears.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
假定你是校马拉松跑团团长李华，近期你们即将参加70公里接力赛，请写封邮件告知你的队友William比赛事宜。
内容包括：
1.比赛信息；
2.赛前准备（如训练安排等）；
3.表达期待。
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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。
When you think of robots, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Do you think of science fiction movies like Star Wars, 1. robots of all shapes and sizes are part of daily life? Robots were once just a product of fiction. The word itself comes from the play Rossum’s Universal Robots, 2.(write) in 1920 by Karel Capek.
Today most robots don’t look human. They appear in many forms and 3. (program) to perform a wide variety of things, from working in factories 4. exploring the surface of Mars. But there is a surprising problem in the world of robots: What humans find easy is 5.(extreme) complicated for a robot. For example, picking up clothes in a messy room is simple for humans, 6. it is difficult for robots to do that. 7. problem is programming a robot to pick up some objects of different shapes and sizes without damaging them.
It turns out that one of 8.(difficult) things to improve in robots is their flexibility. Exciting 9.(develop) in making human-like hands and legs are underway. But the biggest advancements are to teach robots to guess what they can do and 10. they help us with daily tasks.
