I had been living with Dino and his family for ten days or so, who lived and worked in the rainforest. They were the “bad guys”, burning much of the western Amazon to tun it into cattle farms. They were also some of the nicest and warmest hosts. They are a family trying to survive in a very tough environment through hard work. Their view and understanding of the problems the Amazon faces are different from mine. I see the Amazon as an extraordinary valuable life that should be treasured and protected at all costs-the world needs it, and we all need it. However, the Dinos see the Amazon as a vast, lasting resource that feeds them. After talking extent win them, I realized their respect for it was as deep as my own: they just saw it very differently.
Cattle farming in the Amazon is perhaps mainly responsible for the fires we are seeing now. It is an industry of cutting forest, burning it and turning it to cattle farms. Fires spread throughout the Amazon every year as a result of that practice. Putting cattle on the land means replacing trees with animals that produce damaging levels of greenhouse gases. This is just about the most stupid thing humans can do.
One morning after a fire, I returned to the land. I felt as though I had seen the blue smoke from those blackened tree trunks that remained upright, which are memorials to human stupidity.
The problems the Amazon faces are perhaps more complex now than ever before, but they are curable. We need to decide where and how we appoint and apply values based on sensible economic models that favor both the farmer and the forest. One of the issues facing the Brazilian Amazon now is a loosening of rules by the current administration which has opened up more land for deforestation(毁林) and burning. This could be disastrous, both for the Amazon and the rest of the world.
1.What does Paragraph 2 mainly talk about？
A.The consequences of cattle farming. B.The main cause of forest fires.
C.The causes of greenhouse gases. D.The importance of cattle farming.
2.How did the author feel when returning to the land after a fire?
A.It helped the author recall his memory about the land.
B.It reminded us of our foolishness of destroying the land.
C.It's not surprising to see the land destroyed by the fire.
D.It's amazing to see the trees keep straight after the fire.
3.Which of the following statements is true?
A.The writer and Dino respected the Amazon equally in different ways.
B.Cattle farming is not to blame for the fires happening in the Amazon.
C.The problems the Amazon faces are more complex and can't be solved.
D.The Dinos are considered to be bad for burning the forest to make a fortune.
4.What should the Brazilian government do to solve the Amazon problems？
A.Prevent the deeds of burning. B.Offer more land.
C.Take stricter measures. D.Appoint economic models.
Last year, Wolf Cukier, who is 17 years old, spent his summer vacation as few other rising seniors have：he helped discover a planet-TOI 1338b, the newly identified world orbiting two stars which are more than 1, 300 light years away.
Last July， just after he finished his junior year at Scarsdale High school in Scarsdale, New York, Wolf started an internship(实习期) at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
During the first week of the internship, as be combed through data that had been flagged by citizen-scientists. he fixed attention on s system that included two orbiting stars. He identified a body in that system that was later proved as a planet about 6.9 times as large as Earth. while knowing this inspiring discovery, his colleagues immediately gave the system a name, TOI 1338b.
According to scientific research, any dip in the brightness of a single star is a good indication that a planet has crossed in front of it. However, TOI 1338b was particularly complicated because it involved two stars-a large star ere the planers track was easy to detect, and a smaller one where the planet's track was so small that it was not observable.
Many people think that wolf is a lucky dog, but as a matter of fact, it is not just a coincidence. When he studied in Junior High School, he had shown great passion on astronomy and was devoted to studying it. Wolf plans to study astrophysics(天体物理学) when he starts college in September. When it came to his contribution to the discovery of the new world. he emphasized it was the team work in the verification process rather than his own effort that counted.
1.What did Wolf do last year?
A.He was employed by NASA.
B.He finished his senior year in High School.
C.He spent his summer vacation like other seniors.
D.He helped find a new planet named TOI 1338b.
2.How can we describe Wolf？
A.Modest and hardworking. B.Ambitious and casual.
C.Considerate and lucky. D.Optimistic and helpful.
3.What can be inferred according to the text?
A.The planet was named by Wolf.
B.The planet is the same size as the Earth.
C.The planet was easy to discover as there are two stars involved.
D.Team work in the verification process was highly valued by Wolf.
4.Where is this text most likely from?
A.A diary. B.A magazine.
C.A guidebook. D.A scientific novel.
Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, is one of China's most important hubs of transportation, with a long history and rich cultures. If you have a chance to travel there, you'll never miss the following tourist attractions.
Yellow Crane Tower
Bordering on the Yangtze River and located on the top of the Snake Hill, the Yellow Crane Tower is one of the three most famous towers on the south bank of the Yangtze River. First built in 223 AD, the tower has a history of over 1700 years. It is not only an important scenic spot, but also a symbol of “piping times of peace”in people's minds. Scholars in the past dynasties wrote hundreds of poems and writings in praise of the magnificent Yellow Crane Tower.
Guiyuan Temple
Guiyuan Temple, situated on Cuiwei Street, is one of the four biggest temples in Hubei as well as an important Buddhist(佛教的) temple in China. It was first built in the early Qing dynasty by two monks. Guiyuan Temple is famous not only for spreading Buddhism throughout the whole country, but also for its perfect architecture and excellent sculpture. In 1956, Guiyuan Temple was listed as a preserved antique unit of Hubei province and in 1983. it was appointed as one of the key Buddhist temples of Han nationality district in China.
East Lake
The lake covers 33 square kilometers and stretches far into the distance. Ancient temples around the lake make the scenic spot more historic. All the six areas of the East Lake have in common green hills, clear waters, an abundance of woods and typical style of Chu Culture. Millions of residents here get a lot of fun out of going for a walk along the lakeside.
1.Which of the following about Yellow Crane Tower is true？
A.It is on the north bank of Yangtze River.
B.It was built not more than 1000 years ago.
C.It was built by two monks in Qing dynasty.
D.It was often written in many scholars' poems.
2.What is special about Guiyuan Temple?
A.It is one of the four biggest temples in China.
B.It combines religion and architecture quite well.
C.It was listed as a preserved antique unit of Hubei in 1983.
D.It is surrounded by green hills, clean waters and abundant woods.
3.What's the author's purpose of writing this text?
A.To list some historical events of Wuhan. B.To introduce some temples of Wuhan.
C.To advertise some tourist spots of Wuhan. D.To recommend some lifestyles of Wuhan.
请阅读下面文字，并按照要求用英语写一篇150词左右的文章。
Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, schools across the country have put off opening. For more than two months, students have been taking online classes at home.
Su Hua: I am required to attend online classes every day and I always listen attentively to what teachers instruct. As to questions put forward by teachers, I try to answer and talk to myself, even when teachers can’t hear my voice. I can complete daily online homework as expected. Sometimes, food, or other things distract me, but I can put them away. I feel content with my everyday progress. I think the best way to learn efficiently during the extended holiday is to manage myself effectively. |
Li Jiang: My parents have said I attend online classes every day, but do not pay attention at all. I can’t resist the temptation to play games with smartphones. Thus, it is difficult for me to finish assignments on my own. Last week, when I went back to school to take the first exam, the results were not satisfying. I feel regretful for wasting so much time but I couldn’t control myself. The root cause may lie in lack of self-discipline. |
（写作内容）
1. 用约30个单词概述上述信息的主要内容；
2. 结合上述信息，谈谈“自律”的重要性(至少两点)；
3. 就如何培养“自律”，提出你的建议(至少两点)。
（写作要求）
1. 写作过程中不能直接引用原文语句；
2. 作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称；
3. 不必写标题。
（评分标准）
内容完整，语言规范，语篇连贯，词数适当。
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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的空格处填入一个最恰当的单词。
注意:请将答案写在答题纸上相应题号的横线上。每个空格只填一个单词。
Is Loneliness a Health Epidemic (流行病)？
Over the last twenty years, more and more studies reveal increasing numbers of people experience loneliness regularly. In the face of such a situation, earlier this year, Britain appointed its first “minister for loneliness”, who is charged with dealing with what the Prime Minister called the “sad reality of modern life”.
Public-health leaders immediately praised the idea-and for good reason. In recent decades, researchers have discovered that loneliness left untreated is not just psychically painful; it also can have serious medical consequences. And numerous studies have linked loneliness to heart disease, cancer, depression, diabetes and suicide. Vivek Murthy, the former United States surgeon general, has written that loneliness is associated with a reduction in life span similar to that caused by smoking 15 cigarettes a day and even greater than that associated with obesity.
Anxiety about loneliness is a common feature of modern societies. Today, two major causes of loneliness seem possible. One is that societies throughout the world have embraced a culture of individualism. More people are living alone, and aging alone, than ever. Liberal social policies have turned workers into unstable free agents, and when jobs disappear, things fall apart fast. Labor unions, civic associations, neighborhood organizations, religious groups and other traditional sources of social unity are in steady decline. Increasingly, we all feel that we’re on our own.
The other possible cause is the rise of communication technology, including smartphones, social media and the Internet. A decade ago, companies like Facebook, Apple and Google promised that their products would help create meaningful relationships and communities. On the contrary, we’ve used the media system to deepen existing divisions, at both the individual and group levels. We may have thousands of “friends” and “followers” on Facebook and Instagram, but when it comes to human relationships, it turns out there’s no choice but to build them the old-fashioned way, in person.
But is loneliness, as many political officials and experts are warning, a growing “health epidemic”? I don’t believe so, nor do I believe it helps anyone to describe it that way. Social disconnection is a serious matter, yet — if we arouse a panic over its popularity and impact, we’re less likely to treat it properly.
In places like the United States and Britain, it’s the poor, unemployed, displaced and migrant populations that suffer most from loneliness. Their lives are unstable, and so are their relationships. When they get lonely, they are the least able to get adequate social or medical support.
I don’t believe we have a loneliness epidemic. But millions of people are suffering from social disconnection. Whether or not they have a minister for loneliness, they deserve more attention and help than we’re offering today.
Is Loneliness a Health Epidemic? | |
Introduction | •The severity of loneliness resulted in the 1. of “minister for loneliness” in Britain. |
Consequences of loneliness | •If left untreated, people 2. from loneliness may well develop physical and mental illnesses. |
•Similar to negative effects caused by smoking and obesity, loneliness is to blame for 3. deaths. | |
Possible 4.of loneliness | •In a culture laying emphasis on individualism, it has become too easy to be alone. Meanwhile, with sources of social unity declining 5.people lack opportunities to be connected. |
• 6. to what technological companies promised, the growth of using modem technology actually leads people to split up, as there is no 7. for face-to-face communication. | |
Writer’s attitudes towards loneliness | •Overstatement about loneliness may panic people, which is likely to lead to 8. treatment of the problem. |
•There is no epidemic, but people at a(n)) 9. are in need of adequate social or medical support, and those disconnected from society are 10. of more concern. |
In January 2017, snow began’ to fall across the Apennines. From his home in the Rome suburbs, Edward watched the weather with concern. He and his wife, Caroline, had planned an overnight getaway to the hotel. But now he wondered whether they should go with the road covered with snow. Edward phoned the hotel, whose owner, Del Rosso, advised Edward to use chains on his tyres.
After a short talk, Edward and Caroline decided to make the trip. By the time they neared the resort (度假胜地) six hours later, they were battling a total whiteout. When they finally reached the hotel, they were cold and exhausted. They checked into their room, trying to forget their long day in the car.
Suddenly, the hotel began to shake. The windows rattled, and the water in the tub spilt over the edges. An earthquake with a magnitude of 5. 7 had struck the mountain. Edward had had enough. “Let’s get out of here,” he told his wife, dressing quickly. They were about to head to the parking lot when the snow on the mountain began to slide.
Martin, the resort’s caretaker, had been working in the tiny boiler hut about 30 yards from the main building when he noticed something abnormal. Standing on an empty snowfield, he gazed at a trail of complete destruction — it was as if a giant rake (耙子) had been dragged down the mountain, pulling down beech trees, crushing cars, chewing up everything in its path.
Finding a signal with his phone seemed to take forever. In fact, it took two hours before Martin finally spoke with the chief of the region’s rescue team.
“We’re coming,” Crocetta promised.
“How long will it take?” asked Martin.
“Five or six hours.”
Eight hours after Martin had talked to Crocetta, the rescuers finally arrived. There was no movement anywhere — no human sound, just rubble (碎石).Edward lay in a coffin-sized pocket of air beneath 30 feet of snow, ice, and rubble. He could hear nothing of what was happening at the surface. Shock had set in, and he felt no pain, no hunger, no cold. Each time Edward awoke, he faced a new terrible reality: he was buried alive. Despair suddenly seized him. He asked himself, who is going to save us?
Nick and three other rescuers kept digging on, breaking blade after blade on their circular saws (圆锯), battling toward a faint cell signal detected deep in the ruins. Suddenly they heard a voice. They silenced their saws and listened. It was Edward. He was still fading in and out of consciousness. A vision of his wife stayed with him, an angel of mercy, he thought. She assured him he would be OK.
“Edward, we are here!” Nick shouted, ten feet above where the trapped man lay.” Are you injured? Are you bleeding?”
As the voices and the buzzing of saws grew louder, Edward became more alert. “Where is my wife?”
“We put her in the car because it’s cold,” Nick lied.
At last, at around six in the morning, Nick’s saw broke through a final thick layer of insulation (隔绝). He pointed his light toward the opening and spotted Edward’s back. Nick could see how the angled beams had created a cocoon that prevented Edward from being crushed to death. Those near him had not been so lucky: Squeezed in the space with him were the bodies of two women — one supporting his head, one curled (卷曲) beneath his left leg.
Rescuers raised the concrete beams off Edward’s limbs with a jack (千斤顶). “You are a superhero,” Nick said as he reached beneath Edward’s armpits and gently lifted him out of his tomb.
Five days after his rescue, Edward was given the heartbroken news that his wife had died. Her body had been found, crushed by debris, near where Edward had been trapped. The angel who had appeared to him in his dreams had, somehow, never left his side.
1.Edward was advised to use chains on his tires in order to .
A.protect the tyres
B.reduce the risk of slipping
C.make the car stronger
D.put on the weight of the car
2.What did Martin see after noticing something abnormal?
A.A beautiful scenery of snow.
B.The cars crushed by the trees.
C.A giant rake dragged down the mountain.
D.The snow swallowing everything on its way.
3.It took Martin two hours to get in touch with the rescue team because .
A.his phone was out of power
B.the signal was not strong enough
C.he was too scared to make the call
D.the line was too busy to get through
4.What was Edward’s condition after he was trapped?
A.He was lucky to be safe and sound.
B.He was optimistic and waiting for the rescue patiently.
C.He was in a bad state and came back to life once in a while.
D.He was seriously injured and out of consciousness completely.
5.Nick lied to Edward when he asked about his wife because .
A.he didn’t want Edward to lose hope
B.he was a dishonest rescuer and often lied to others
C.he wanted to play jokes with Edward to relax him
D.he wanted to distract his attention to reduce his pain
6.What does the author want to convey to us?
A.Rescuers are true superheroes.
B.Where there is life, there is hope.
C.Love can help a man survive a disaster.
D.A snow crash goes hand in hand with an earthquake.
