I have been reading about Leonardo da Vinci for decades, and in 1994 I bought one of the notebooks, in which Leonardo recorded his thoughts and outlined ideas.
What does a Renaissance(文艺复兴) artist have to do with optimism? For me, the connection is innovation. I feel optimistic about the future because I know that advances in human knowledge have improved life for billions of people, and I am confident they will keep doing so. Although I am no art expert, everything I have learned about Leonardo leads me to believe he was one of the most innovative thinkers ever.
Today of course Leonardo is most famous for paintings like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. But in his mind, Leonardo was not primarily a painter. He thought of himself as an engineer first. In a letter to the ruler of Milan listing his strengths, sent in the early 1480s, Leonardo mentioned ten different skills — designing bridges, tunnels, for example — before adding at the end that he could also paint.
Leonardo was a never-ending learner. He studied everything he could see: the flow of water, the way smoke rises through the air, how a bird uses its tongue. And he had insights that were ahead of his time. He was the first person to correctly explain why you can see light between the two points of a crescent moon, the phenomenon we now call earthshine.
Scientific inquiries like these were essential to Leonardo’s art. He was able to give the Mona Lisa that mysterious look on her face because he had studied all the muscles involved in smiling. In The Last Supper, he could make the perspective lines (透视线) work perfectly because he had spent countless hours understanding how our eyes see objects at a distance. By examining his surroundings so closely, Leonardo was able to develop new techniques that advanced his field and described the world in a way no one had ever seen before. In other words, he was an innovator.
1.In what way does Leonardo da Vinci make the author feel optimistic about future?
A.The creativity he represents. B.His famous paintings.
C.The outline of his notebook. D.His engineering achievements.
2.What can we learn about Leonardo da Vinci according to the text?
A.He desires to know more at all times.
B.He is able to raise difficult questions.
C.He has a strong desire for achievement.
D.He is able to learn and understand things fast.
3.What does the last paragraph focus on?
A.Which fields Leonardo was expert in.
B.Why Leonardo is regarded as an innovator.
C.What made the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper stand out.
D.How Leonardo applied scientific theories to his paintings.
4.Which of the following can best summarize Leonardo da Vinci according to the text?
A.Curious about arts. B.Talented in many fields.
C.Determined in science. D.Skilled in paintings.
When I first catch sight of Greta Thunberg, it is eight in the morning, and a small crowd has already gathered. It is a Friday, her day of protest, and the 16-year-old is standing outside the parliament(议会) building, next to a sign saying “School strike for climate” in Swedish.
This is the 26th week of her protest, which has taken place every Friday since school started last August. Her goal is to bring Sweden in line with the 2016 Paris Agreement, which promises to limit global warming to below 2℃, compared with pre-industrial levels.
Over the past six months, Greta has rocketed to a level of fame and influence that pretty much nobody, including herself, expected. Her protest was quickly highlighted by the media. Then came a TED talk and an invitation to address last December’s U.N. climate talks in Poland.
While Greta may seem an unlikely climate activist, it was not entirely accidental that she became one. Like many children, Greta watched educational films about the melting Arctic and the fate of the polar bears and the marine mammals bloated (肿胀) with plastic. But unlike other children, she couldn’t let them go. “I became very affected. I began thinking about it all the time.” said Greta.
Greta began researching climate change and has been staying on the topic for six years. She has stopped eating meat and buying anything that isn’t necessary. In 2015, Greta stopped flying on airplanes, and a year later, her mother followed her example, giving up an international performing career. The family has started growing their own vegetables on his own garden outside the city. To meet me in central Stockholm, Greta and her father rode their bikes for about half an hour, although the family has an electric car that they use only when necessary.
1.What can be inferred from the second paragraph?
A.Industry in Sweden is developing too fast.
B.School climate education remains to be improved.
C.The climate around the world has increased by 2℃.
D.Sweden should do more to meet the Paris Agreement.
2.Why did Greta become the focus of media attention?
A.She was expected to be famous.
B.She was invited to the TED talk.
C.She skipped school for the protest.
D.She was active in the protest as a child.
3.What makes Greta devoted to climate activities?
A.The educational programs.
B.Her speech at U.N. climate talks.
C.Her great concern about climate change.
D.The protest of “School strike for climate”
4.What happened after Greta became a climate activist?
A.She moved to the countryside.
B.She had an eco-friendly life.
C.She followed her mother’s example.
D.She gave up her work for her research.
The sound of music
The Calgary Folk Music Festival (25-28 July) was born 40 years ago, and has grown from a grassroots event to a celebration that brings together thousands of musicians, artists and fans. The festival is held in Princes Island Park and its relaxed, welcoming atmosphere makes it a great spot in the sun while enjoying some quality folk music.
Want to keep the music playing? Head to Studio Bell, where the new National Music Centre hosts regular exhibitions and concerts.
Green city
Though it’s a relatively short drive to the legendary Rocky Mountains, Calgary itself is also filled in greenery.
A comprehensive network of urban pathways offers walkers and cyclists an urban oasis and an eco-friendly way to get around the city’s neighborhoods. Take a slow walk or cycle downtown along the riverside or walk across the futuristic Peace Bridge to explore the urban village，of Kensington. Alternatively, take in the scenic views and sunshine by rafting(乘筏) down the mighty Bow River instead.
From farm to patio
Calgary is home to a farm-to-table scene. Discover the whitewashed brick walls and nose-to-tail philosophy in the Model Milk, while plant-lined ceilings and a vegetable menu await in bright and airy Ten Foot Henry.
Calgarians take their beer as seriously as their steak and it wouldn’t be summer in Calgary without a good patio-hopping session. Start off at 17th Avenue institution The Ship & Anchor, then make your way to Cold Garden. Don't fancy walking? Explore the city’s craft-beer scene by bike with Urban Pedal Tours.
1.What can we learn about the Calgary Folk Music Festival?
A.It lasts three days in July every year.
B.It is a celebration for grassroots musicians.
C.It has a history of less than 40 years
D.It draws more and more folk music lovers.
2.How many ways are recommended to get around this green city?
A.One B.Two.
C.Three. D.Four
3.What is the underlined phrase "a good patio-hopping session" in the last paragraph about?
A.Taking a bike trip. B.Drinking beer.
C.Visiting the Model Milk. D.Making craft.
假定你是张华,你的美国笔友John得知你校上月举办了首届校园科技节活动,发邮件向你询问相关情况。请你回复邮件。内容包括：
1. 活动的目的;
2. 活动的形式,如智能校园创客(maker)大赛,科创成果展等;
3. 你的感受。
注意：1．词数 100 左右；2．可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
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假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Dear Ms Smith，
I’m writing to ask whether you could do me favor. I’ve just finished an essay naming “Differences between traditional Chinese and Western festivals”，so I’m not sure whether it is well written. To be honestly，I’m not that familiar with some traditional Western festivals. That’s because I’m turning to you for help. I’d appreciate it if you could spare some time to look through your essay for possible mistakes and polish them. Also，I’m looking forward to your valuable advices. My essay has been sending to you along with this email. I hope it won’t cause you very much more trouble.
Thank you by advance.
Yours sincerely，
Li Hua
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
Since childhood，I have seen action movies 1. (star) Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan，and I was always curious to learn the martial arts(武术).2. there is China，there is kung fu. Once I arrived in China，my dream was 3. (learn) kung fu and master the techniques of martial arts.
After my arrival on campus on the first day，I went for a walk in the early morning. I saw some old people exercise by 4.(practice) tai chi slowly. I stopped and watched their movements closely. It attracted me，and 5. very next day at registration time，I rushed to the teacher’s office to choose tai chi as my6.(option) course. The following week I was on the grounds early in the morning with my classmates. The teacher told us, “ Tai chi is favored for its abundant health benefits, and the movement of the body is regarded 7.the motion of yin and yang forces.”
The main 8. (rule) that the teacher taught us were attitude，discipline (自律) and balance. I was taking every bit of the training 9. (serious) and trying to maintain my balance，which was a difficult job. However，as the teacher puts it， our attitude，our willingness and our action will make the 10. (possible) possible. And I will do.
