“Good Night Lights” began as a game，with the effort of Steve Brosnihan, a cartoonist volunteering at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. He ______ from room to room drawing and chatting and doing whatever else he can to ______ the sick children up. During one ______ to a teenager who would be in the hospital for the last night, he decided to do something ______ for their final farewell.
As he left, Brosnihan told the ______ to watch the corner near the bus stop from his window. Brosnihan ______ to that spot in a Parking area, and flickered (闪烁) his bike light up toward the ______. To his surprise, the teen flickered his own room lights back ______.
Brosnihan made it a(an) ______ to flicker his bike light to kids as he left for the night as a(an) ______ way to say goodbye. When he mentioned this activity to a friend, owner of a ______ restaurant, the friend agreed to flicker the restaurant’s ______ at 8:30 every night for one minute. The nightly tradition became such a ______ that customers started joining in too.
Good Night Lights has been such a simple, ______ powerful, rallying point(号召力) for the community to support the young patients. For 60 seconds, patients were ______ in a luminous(发光的) dialog with residents.
“It would be very hard not to do this ______ you start,” says Brosnihan. “You do it to represent how much you care for kids and families who ______ a lot during their hard times in hospitals.”
Brosnihan hopes it ______ more. “In my grander dreams, I hope other cities that have children’s hospitals ______ the idea and run with it and ______ their own version of Good Night Lights.” he says.
1.A.rushes B.moves C.checks D.marches
2.A.put B.turn C.cheer D.bring
3.A.visit B.show C.experience D.journey
4.A.strange B.exciting C.similar D.different
5.A.colleague B.teenager C.doctor D.friend
6.A.biked B.ran C.fled D.walked
7.A.park B.hospital C.road D.bike
8.A.in return B.in order C.in response D.in place
9.A.ceremony B.activity C.habit D.routine
10.A.logical B.unique C.fun D.important
11.A.local B.generous C.native D.distant
12.A.fires B.forks C.plates D.lights
13.A.hit B.wonder C.start D.tradition
14.A.and B.yet C.or D.so
15.A.given B.crowded C.involved D.participated
16.A.once B.whether C.while D.as
17.A.waste B.enjoy C.spend D.suffer
18.A.grows B.spreads C.discovers D.deepens
19.A.give up B.set up C.pick up D.build up
20.A.design B.invite C.open D.create
Do you get upset because you can’t accomplish what you want to? When you can get organized, keep things under control, and live a neat life, you can work faster and think more creatively. Here are some tips that can help:
Make schedules and deadlines
1. They recognize that keeping things organized goes hand-in-hand with staying productive. They make and keep schedules for the day and week. They make deadlines and set goals. And most importantly, they stick to them!
Give everything a home
It’s easy to get lost if you don’t have a home. Keeping your life organized means keeping your things in their proper places. Organized people keep order by storing things properly and by labeling storage spaces. Make easy-to-access storage spaces for things you use all the time. 2.
3.
Highly organized people make sure they find time every week or more to organize their things. Stuff does not stay organized on its own; it needs to be reorganized continuously and consistently. Use small bits of time to clean out a drawer or put old clothes into a box for donation.
Stay away from bargains
You have removed the things you don’t need. Will you replace them when you see something on sale? Instead of bargain shopping without planning ahead, write down exactly what you need and buy only those items. 4. Items on sale will only produce more waste.
Work hard
Put in a little effort. 5. Staying organized is not all a breeze. It requires that you work hard with recognition that when you work harder, you can enjoy your mess-free home life later. What’s more important is to remember what you work for is meaningful to you.
A.Tidy regularly
B.Know what you need.
C.Actually, put in much when necessary.
D.Don’t jump back and forth from room to room.
E.Organized people never give in to false advertising.
F.Organized people don’t waste time.
G.Organized people only keep what they need and what they really want.
Clearing the air in class saw significant boosts to reading and math achievement of students, according to a New York University study, even though the outdoor pollution didn’t prove to be a problem. The findings suggest improving air quality may also help disadvantaged students who often live in more polluted areas and attend class in older buildings.
Michael Gilraine, study author at New York University, analyzed both the air quality and the math and reading test scores at the 18 schools. In schools that received the new air filters, students improved by 0.18 of a standard deviation(标准偏差) in reading and 0.2 of a standard deviation in math, compared to students’ performance in the schools that did not receive air filters. To put that in perspective, those gains are about equal to the learning benefits from reducing class sizes or providing intensive tutoring. Students sustained those math and reading gains the next year, particularly if they attended the same school or another that had installed new filters in the following year. “In fact, given the large test-score increases they generate, installing air filters actually outperforms other education reforms such as class-size reduction on a cost-benefit basis,” Gilraine said.
Prior studies have found that better air quality can lead to fewer teacher and student absences, particularly for those with chronic asthma (慢性哮喘) or other respiratory illnesses. While schools with the new air filters installed did have lower student absenteeism, attendance alone didn’t seem to be driving the gains in math and reading achievement. Rather, he said, “you can get a lot just from being able to think clearly while you take a test. And then you also might be learning a bit better because you’re thinking clearer in class from day to day”.
Separate studies have found rising average temperatures likewise can increase indoor air pollution and reduce student achievement, particularly if students take tests on hot days.
“We’ve had a decade or more of research into the effects of lead. There’s been much less research on the effects of air quality We’re still in early days.” added Gilraine.
1.What did the study find?
A.Outdoor pollution does harm to students’ health.
B.Clean air promotes the students’ study achievement.
C.Air quality puts New York University at a disadvantage.
D.Polluted areas and old buildings have air problems.
2.How did the researcher conduct his study?
A.By making analysis and comparison.
B.By giving examples and listing basic data.
C.By telling stories and doing experiments.
D.By demonstrating the causes and effects.
3.According to Gilraine, what makes the students gain achievement?
A.Fewer teacher and student absences.
B.Rising temperatures in class.
C.Clearer thinking in better air quality.
D.Taking a math and reading test everyday.
4.What can we infer about the Gilraine’s research?
A.It will focus on the research of lead. B.It gets off with a good start.
C.It gets lots of support from schools. D.It still has a long way to go.
There have been thousands of marine species that have become extinct. Currently there are thousands of fish that are endangered and in great need of protection. The following are some.
The Arcadian Redfish are found in warm waters, such as the Atlantic and Indian Ocean. These fish mature at a late age (5 to 6 years) and have low reproductive rates. However, they can live to be 50 years old, which is relatively remarkable. Young redfish are marked with patches of black and green color. They don’t develop their red color until after they move to the ocean bottom. Now the Arcadian Redfish is endangered due to overfishing. These fish started to decrease in population in the early 1900s because of their increased popularity in the food industry.
The Bluefin tuna is one animal that is high on the endangered species list. This fish has been named one of the wonders of the ocean, because they can grow to be 12 feet long and weigh over 1, 500 pounds! Why are these fish disappearing at alarming rates? Because they are being captured for food, with over 75% consumed in Japanese restaurants often by making a popular sushi.
The European Eel is found in the Baltic and the Mediterranean Sea. They have a unique metamorphosis process and they change their forms over a longtime period. According to IUCNRedList.org, the European Eel is one of the threatened species that are not only endangered, but critically endangered.
The whale shark is one of many endangered sharks out there. According to one source, sharks are revered as our last “living” dinosaurs. They are known as the largest fish with the potential to grow over 60 feet long and weigh over 70,000 pounds. The whale shark also has the potential to live to be over 100 years old.
1.Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A.The Last “Living” Dinosaurs B.The Endangered Ocean Fish
C.The Most Popular Sea Fish D.The Extinct Marine Species
2.What can we learn about The Arcadian Redfish?
A.They are found in the Arctic Ocean.
B.They are born to be red.
C.Their survival rate is relatively low.
D.They are slow-growing, long-lived fish.
3.What makes the Bluefin tuna one of the wonders of the deep-sea?
A.Huge size. B.Strange color.
C.Sharp sight. D.High intelligence.
4.What does the underlined word “metamorphosis” mean?
A.Reduction in population. B.Limitation in sight.
C.Change in form. D.Increase in weight.
Many kids start humming tunes like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” as their first songs, but Nygel Witherspoon was an exception. He preferred Finnish composer Jean Sibelius’s Violin Concerto in D Minor.
So when Nygel Witherspoon began to hum the very difficult concerto(协奏曲), his family guessed that he should have music lessons. He was, however, just 3 years old.
“He was calm, with an ability to focus.” recalled David Holmes, Witherspoon’s cello(大提琴) teacher from age 3 to l6.
Witherspoon is a familiar name in his hometown. He has inherited his talent from both sides of his family, including his aunt, the late jazz vocalist Shirley Witherspoon.
The 17-year-old doesn’t see himself as competitive. “I think it’s more important for students to have a supportive environment than a competitive one;” he said. “It’s great to have a support system, where you can be yourself and improve right along with others doing the same thing.”
Witherspoon’s love of music blossomed as he attended viola(中提琴) lessons with older siblings. Their teacher, David France, noticed that the little boy was a sponge(海绵).
“He’d absorb everything they did.” France said. Witherspoon was given a box violin, but he wanted to play “the big one”— the cello. He loved its size and tone. That’s when he was matched with his teacher Holmes.
Witherspoon’s drive is inspired by the connection music provides. He recalled that he and his siblings performed as a chambertrio(室内乐三重奏) at their grandmother’s nursing home. The positive reaction from residents gave him motivation.
“It’s so important, whether it’s hip-hop or classical,” he said. “Music is the universal language. It connects all of us.”
1.How was Witherspoon different from other kids when he was 3?
A.He began to teach himself music.
B.He was able to hum very difficult tunes
C.He had already made up his mind to learn violin
D.He could already play the songs he’d heard.
2.What does Witherspoon think is important for music learners?
A.Practicing hard.
B.Being very competitive.
C.Being in a supportive environment.
D.Having a good teacher from an early age.
3.What is France’s impression of Witherspoon?
A.He is a fast learner. B.He is a creative player.
C.He works very hard. D.He is open-minded.
4.What is the main purpose of the last two Paragraphs?
A.To compare Witherspoon’s performance with his siblings.
B.To show that motivation plays a big role in music studies.
C.To stress that music connects people.
D.To show how studying music helped Witherspoon overcome difficulties.
PHUKET is Thailand’s largest island and currently one of its famous tourist destinations. The following are some special sights for you.
Phuket Aquarium
Phuket Aquarium is a modest, government-run attraction but it’s not a bad place to spend an afternoon on the cheap. It provides different exhibitions and you (and even your kids) can learn a lot about Southeast Asian freshwater and saltwater creatures there. It opens daily from 8: 30 am to 4: 30 pm.
Phuket Thaihua Museum
It houses a photo exhibition and video media which tell the history of the Chinese people in Phuket and displays on mining, local clothes, Sino-Portuguese architecture, local foods and traditions and culture of Phuket. The Museum opens every day, between 9: 00 am and 5: 00 pm.
Phuket Zoo
It’s set in tropical gardens shaded by big trees. The zoo has a large number of workers who can speak several languages. They are happy to answer everyone’s “why” questions. If you get hungry on the tour, there are different foods for you, but you must pay for them. It’s open daily from 8: 30 am to 6: 00 pm.
Pung Chang Cave
It is a destination for tourists who love adventure since rafts are required to travel through it. It takes around one hour and a half to tour this cave, which is about 600 meters long. To take this trip, you have to reach the cave between 10: 00 am and 2: 00 pm.
1.What gives Phuket Aquarium an advantage over other sights?
A.Target visitors. B.Budget entrance fees.
C.Big size. D.Long opening time.
2.Which place sets a limit on visitors’ arriving time?
A.Phuket Aquarium. B.Phuket Thaihua Museum.
C.Phuket Zoo. D.Pung Chang Cave.
3.What is the passage mainly about?
A.Reasons for study in Phuket.
B.Tips to save money in Phuket.
C.Introduction of tourist attractions in Phuket.
D.Dos and don’ts while traveling in Phuket.
