Just a few months earlier, I would never have pictured myself acting in a play in front of two hundred people. If not for my ________, Mrs. Sather, I might never have found that opportunity.
In the first and second grade, I was extremely ________ It just wasn’t in my personality to be very outgoing. I would escape in my writing. Mrs. Sather, always ________ me to write more. I think she was one of the first people to see my inner _________
One day, she announced our class was going to ________ a play, a take off on The Wizard of Oz. “I need someone to play the lead part of Dorothy.” A few excited hands ________ Mine, of course, was not one of them.
After school, Mrs. Sather said to me, “Dallas, I was ________ you didn’t raise your hand. You’re great at memorizing things, and you have such a sweet personality. Perfect for Dorothy! I had you in ________ for Dorothy while writing the play! If you ________ don’t want to, though, I won’t make you. It’s your ________.”
I realized it was time to show the world who I really was. I ________ the role. Fast-forward through five months of ________, line memorizing, and costume creating, we were ready.
At the end of the play, when the audience stood and applauded, I knew they were not just ________ for my performance that night, but for the ________ that they knew would come in later years because of my newfound _________
1.A.partner B.teacher C.parent D.classmate
2.A.shy B.weak C.energetic D.ambitious
3.A.recommended B.allowed C.encouraged D.accompanied
4.A.drawback B.peace C.character D.strength
5.A.perform B.watch C.write D.enjoy
6.A.put down B.reached out C.shot up D.drew back
7.A.excited B.amused C.afraid D.surprised
8.A.store B.mind C.memory D.comparison
9.A.initially B.really C.finally D.spiritually
10.A.turn B.choice C.luck D.fault
11.A.accepted B.played C.created D.remembered
12.A.practicing B.learning C.observing D.communicating
13.A.celebrating B.chatting C.cheering D.congratulating
14.A.praises B.efforts C.beliefs D.performances
15.A.skill B.confidence C.interest D.hobby
The dictionary isn’t forever. What happens to a word when its popularity starts to decline? Here’s how the process of deleting a word from the dictionary works.
The dictionary is actually a steadily enlarging volume. 1. New words arise from emerging and expanding disciplines. Definitions also change and shift, so common words gain new meanings. On the other hand, there are also words that become outdated. 2.
Who decides which words to delete? 3. While adding a word to the dictionary is a precise process, it’s even more difficult for a word to get deleted. Editors maintain and study vast language databases to keep up-to-date on the words in circulation across various media.
The Oxford English Dictionary covers the English language over the last 1,000 years, and it’s considered definitive and authoritative. 4. And each has its own process for additions and removals.
5. A 2019 petition(请愿)with 30,000 signatures calls for the Oxford English Dictionary to remove sexist language and definitions, especially those terms under the word “woman.” And Merriam-Webster recently changed definitions of identity-related words to reflect new cultural meanings around fairness.
A. Some new words might be out of date one day.
B. As a result, words get removed from the dictionary.
C. Dictionary additions and deletions reflect social changes.
D. It’s up to the dictionary editors to make the final decision.
E. That’s because the English language constantly develops and changes.
F. These are often the types of words that will make it into dictionaries.
G. However, there are many other dictionaries that are reliable and trustworthy.
Mosquitos can infect you with Malaria, yellow fever, and dengue. All can kill you. So we spray large areas with pesticides (杀虫剂) .But this negatively affects the whole ecosystem and your health. Now there’s a new device, which claims to keep you and your loved one’s mosquito free.
The device was designed by two German engineers who were fed up with being bitten while camping. They found solutions containing ‘DEET’ — a damaging chemical which could be both harmful to us and the environment — worked best, but still only for 45 minutes maximum and that the traditional anti-pest devices didn’t work well! So, they designed the brand new type of bug killer, Moskinator.
Instead of trying to keep the mosquitos away, it actually attracts them, then catches and kills them! It lures (引诱) the flies and mosquitos near using a safe, completely harmless LED light. The flying pests (害虫) can’t resist the UV-PT light! Next to the LED light is a powerful, yet efficient reverse fan that sucks (吸) the insects through a one-way trapdoor. Once trapped in the drying basket they are dried to death by the fan a matter of 2 minutes. You can simply empty the dead bugs into the trash, without even touching them.
Does Moskinator really work in real life? We had some of our customers try it out in their homes. The results speak for themselves:
“My wife would complain she had a headache in the mornings whenever we used chemical pesticides. Now we use our Moskinator, and we wake up bite and headache free!”— Shane Maguire
“This Moskinator really works and you don’t have to worry about breathing any harmful chemicals.”— Jake Shearer
1.What is the name of the new device?
A.DEET. B.Moskinator C.Malaria. D.UV-PT.
2.What is the function of the LED light?
A.It gives off natural light. B.It attracts flying pests.
C.It sucks pests inside. D.It dries pests to death.
3.Which of the following best describes the new device?
A.Innovative and effective. B.Traditional and cheap.
C.Power-saving and portable. D.Chemical free and soundless.
4.What is the purpose of writing the text?
A.To educate the readers. B.To entertain the readers.
C.To introduce a new device. D.To evaluate a new device.
Literature reflects life. So in ageing Japan there are a large number of hit books by aged authors. “Age 90: what’s so great about it?” is a humorous essay on the difficulties of the elderly, by Aiko Sato, who is 95. It sold one million copies in 2017, making it Japan’s bestselling book that year.
In 2018 the Akutagawa literary prize went to Chisako Wakatake, 63 at the time, for her first novel “Live by Myself”. The books talk about how to live in old age. “Going to Die Soon”, also by Ms Uchidate, features 78-year-old Hana, a former alcohol-shop owner trying to make the most of her remaining years. The novel has been called a book for shukatsu, or preparing for death, making readers think more deeply about what it means to age.
Japan’s population has the world’s highest percentage of over-65s. People are living longer, so many have at least 20-30 years of retirement, for much of which they are energetic.
And although the Japanese have been spending less on books, that is least true for the over-60s. Lawson, a convenience-store chain, recently decided to stock books with the older generation in mind.
But the wrinkly writers’ books are attracting younger readers, too. Some are preparing for their own old age or want to understand the increasing number of old people they see around them. Others find relevance in the themes explored, such as loneliness, a problem that stretches well beyond the silver-haired.
The most notable feature of the new trend is that the vast majority of authors, and main characters, are women. Especially popular, are the ara-hun (“around-hundred” years-old) writers like Ms Sato, whose book, readers say, helps them be more positive. Their popularity also reflects support for strong women who are passionate about their work, a phenomenon that is all too rare in Japan today.
1.“Going to Die Soon” is a book ________.
A.about how to stay positive in old age
B.which won the Akutagawa literary prize in 2018
C.which helps people live the rest of the life to the fullest
D.written by a 78-year-old Hana, an alcohol-shop owner
2.The books by aged authors are popular with younger readers because ________.
A.young readers now have more elder relatives
B.young readers face similar problems as the elderly
C.young readers are worried about becoming old
D.young readers are as lonely as the elderly
3.What can we learn from the passage?
A.Aged writers might be more successful than younger writers.
B.An aging society brings more chances for women writers.
C.People have to work after their retirement in an aging society.
D.Ambitious career women might not be popular with the Japanese.
I was excited to take my rescue Beagle (比格犬) to the river the other day, as it’s within walking distance of our new home. Having spent her first six years in a cage, Georgie had never seen a body of water, and I wanted to get there before sunset to watch her experience it.
I was growing increasingly impatient about all the stops her little Beagle nose required. She inspected the grass, dirt, and trees, and licked (舔) whatever was stuck to the road. These were all new discoveries for her, and she took her time studying them.
When I accepted that it was fruitless to hurry her along, I whipped out my cell phone and began texting. I thought that I needed something to do while Georgie was slowing us down. Then, for some reason, I heard the cicadas (蝉) ,and I remembered that the sound of cicadas is my favorite sound in the world. That awakened something buried within me that longed for the simple pleasures that had been replaced by technology.
I made a conscious decision to be present, and to enjoy the journey to the river Just like Georgie. Now, I admired the flowers and the winding ivy on our path. I smelled the grass and the flowers, and the dirt and the air. I treasured each one equally, as if discovering them for the first time.
As we neared our destination,1 realized something even more important: It didn’t matter if we even reached the river. Why must there always be a destination? Georgie had no idea that we had a destination. She was present for the journey, and she savored every bit of that sweet experience. There was no race and no finish line.
Now I’m not sure who rescued whom.
1.Why did the author take out the cellphone?
A.To kill time. B.To awaken the simple pleasures.
C.To hurry the dog along. D.To record the sound of cicadas.
2.What is the fourth paragraph mainly about?
A.How I enjoyed the journey. B.What I saw on the way.
C.Why I traveled to the river. D.Whether I reached my destination.
3.What does the underlined word “savored” in the fifth paragraph mean?
A.Smelt. B.Expected. C.Enjoyed. D.Deserved.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.Say Goodbye to Cell Phones B.Think like a Dog
C.Learn to Get along with Pets D.Travel toward Destinations
Got 48 hours to relax yourself? You’ll maximize your time and fun at "these amazing destinations.
Alabama: Gulf Shores
For relaxing weekend getaways in Alabama, head south to the white-sand beaches of Gulf Shores. Get on the water for some deep-sea fishing. History lovers can get a lesson in the Civil War along a 90-mile path with more than a dozen historic sites.
Alaska: Homer
How does fresh seafood sound? You’ll find it in Homer, located in south-central Alaska, which is either a short flight or a great four-hour scenic drive on the Seward Highway from Anchorage. Get your fill of fishing in Kachemak Bay, explore local trails and enjoy exceptional birding in this remote natural setting.
Arizona: Sedona
Adventurous types can get their fill in the magical red rocks of Sedona, which is said to be the location of healing centers of energy. People flood to the area to meditate, practice yoga and more. Sedona also offers fantastic hiking, off-roading, biking, and even climbing.
Arkansas: Hot Springs
Relax and renew in Arkansas, hot waters in Hot Springs, an art community with Art Deco architecture that is also the home of Hot Springs National Park. Make time for a visit to Bathhouse Row, a National Historic Landmark of eight bathhouses, and Superior Bathhouse Brewery, which produces beer made of the hot spring water inside the National Park. Don’t miss these National Parks that are off the beaten path.
1.Which activity can be found in both Gulf Shores and Homer?
A.Going fishing. B.Taking a flight.
C.Enjoying beautiful birds. D.Visiting historic sites.
2.Which destination is popular with hikers?
A.Gulf Shores. B.Homer. C.Sedona. D.Hot Springs.
3.What is Superior Bathhouse Brewery known for?
A.Its self-made beer. B.Its architecture.
C.Its bathhouses. D.Its paths.
4.Where is this text most likely from?
A.A diary. B.A survey. C.A novel. D.A magazine.
