Bananas are one of the healthiest fruits you can eat, being loaded with protein, fiber, vitamins A, B6, and C, etc. Bananas are delicious on their own as well. But we’re not here today to talk about the banana fruit, but rather its peels. Generally thrown away as waste, banana peels actually bring about different uses.
Starting off with a topical benefit, banana peels are great for relieving the painful itch of bug bites. Science hasn’t figured out why it works, but you can’t argue with results. People who have tried it report that it is really useful.
There are lots of expensive ways to whiten teeth, and a lot of them use bleaching agents which weaken teeth and can cause sensitivity. But guess what? Banana peels can whiten teeth naturally and gently due to their potassium content.
Banana peels contain a lot of antioxidants that are great for your skin. To reduce the look of lines and wrinkles, simply rub a banana peel directly on the affected areas and wash your face 30 minutes later.
It is fiber once again that can lower your cholesterol levels, which is critical to maintaining a healthy heart. Banana peels contain more soluble fiber than the fruit itself, so throwing away the peel wastes a valuable opportunity to bump your intake. And finally, you can actually rub a banana peel on shoes, leather, and silver articles to clean them up and make them shine.
Whether you eat them or use them, banana peels don’t save very well. Once removed from the fruit, they blacken pretty quickly. It's best to prepare and consume banana peels right away. However, one thing is for sure—you will stop throwing these valuable wrappers in the trash after you discover all the incredible things they can do.
1.Why can banana peels be used to whiten teeth?
A.They will cause sensitivity to our teeth.
B.They are much cheaper than bleaching agents.
C.They can make our teeth white while doing no harm.
D.The effect is better than any other things.
2.What do we know about banana peels’ function?
A.They can stop the bites of some insects.
B.They can clean leather shoes and gold jewellery.
C.They can act as a facial mask and make us look younger.
D.They can keep our heart healthy by increasing our cholesterol levels.
3.What should we do with bananas according to the last paragraph?
A.Consume them right away. B.Throw their peels in the trash.
C.Try to save their peels in good condition. D.Make use of their peels soon after being removed.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.Why not eat banana peels? B.How to make good use of bananas?
C.Banana peels do good to our mental health. D.It is worthwhile using banana peels.
Even before a baby is born, the process of learning language has already begun. In the third stage of pregnancy（怀孕）, when the baby’s ears are fully developed, the intonation(语调)patterns of the mother’s speech are sent through the fluids in the body. This is thought to be like listening to someone talking in a swimming pool: It’s difficult to make out the individual sounds, but the rhythm（押韵） and intonation（语调） are clear. This has an important effect on language learning. By the time a baby is born, she already has a preference for her mother’s language. At this stage the baby is able to identify language through the intonation patterns.
For example, French and Russian speakers place emphasis on different parts of a word or sentence, so the rhythm of these two languages sounds different. Even at four days old, babies can use this information to tell their own language from an unfamiliar other language. This means that the newly born infants (婴儿) are ready to start learning the language that surrounds them; they already have an interest in their mothers’ language.
Research has shown that babies prefer to listen to this exaggerated(夸张的)type of speech than typical adult-like speech. They pay more attention when a parent’s speech has a higher pitch(音调)and a wider pitch range compared to adult-like speech with less exaggerated pitch features. For example, a mother might say the word “baby” in an exaggerated “singsong” voice, which holds a baby’s attention longer than it would in a simple adult-style voice. Words produced in this way also stand out more from the speech stream, making it easier for babies to pick out smaller groups of language.
So, baby talk is not just a way of getting involved with infants on a social level—it has important effects on language learning from the very first moments of a newborn’s life.
1.What does a baby first learn in the process of learning language?
A.Her mother’s language. B.Individual sounds.
C.The rhythm and intonation. D.Speeches around.
2.How does the author develop paragraph 2?
A.By making an instruction. B.By providing an example.
C.By giving a definition. D.By making a comparison.
3.Why does a mother prefer the “singsong” voice when talking to her baby?
A.To amuse herself.
B.To teach a song.
C.To attract her baby’s attention.
D.To make her baby familiar with a higher pitch.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.Baby talk helps infants learn language
B.Babies tend to learn from their mothers
C.Babies are born with unusual learning ability
D.Baby talk helps infants tell one language from another
When I stepped out of Heathrow Airport, the British accents were music to my ears! The roads were so empty and traffic was so organized, with open spaces everywhere and so few people on the streets—what a difference from where 1 came—Mumbai. The difference was even more obvious after I had spent 21 years of my life living in that place. The streets were unfamiliar, and the faces were all foreign.
I boarded my bus for my university town. I felt like I had been in a fairytale book—the small houses, the quiet streets and the well-dressed people among other things. A small and beautiful three-storeyed building is quite a rarity back home and here, I have yet to see a building taller than that! Back home in India, the kind of rent I pay here could have afforded me a luxurious(豪华的） 2 bedroom-hall-kitchen apartment in a good location. But my accommodation here is the size of my bathroom back home! It’s just a fact... reality can be rude at times!
I really cherish the first day of my new university. I’ve met so many students from countries that I didn’t even know. But living alone in a new place, away from the protection of my family and friends, is a different experience altogether—a wonderful experience of further education!
It's been almost two months now. The novelty(新奇)is gradually disappearing, and the dust is settling down. It’s all just daily now but I feel fully settled. I really like this place. It feels like home!
1.What does the underlined part “that place” in paragraph 1 refer to?
A.Heathrow Airport. B.Britain.
C.Mumbai. D.A university of India.
2.What is the author’s first impression of Britain?
A.Dirty and noisy. B.Different but poor.
C.Hopeful and inspiring. D.Strange but beautiful.
3.What does the author probably do？
A.An international student. B.A tourist from India.
C.A British college teacher. D.An unknown writer.
4.What can we know from the last paragraph?
A.The author is less interested in everything because of dust.
B.The author still feels curious about everything around.
C.The author has been used to the new environment.
D.The author feels like going home after nearly two months.
You probably know who Marie Curie was, but you may not have heard of Rachel Carson. Of the outstanding ladies listed below, who do you think was the most important woman of the past 100 years?
Jane Addams (1860-1935)
Anyone who has ever been helped by a social worker has Jane Addams to thank. Addams helped the poor and worked for peace. She encouraged a sense of community by creating shelters and promoting education and services for people in need. In 1931, Addams became the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Rachel Carson (1907-1964)
If it weren’t for Rachel Carson, the environmental movement might not exist today. Her popular 1962 book Silent Spring raised awareness of the dangers of pollution and the harmful effects of chemicals on humans and on the world’s lakes and oceans.
Sandra Day O’Connor (1930-present)
When Sandra Day O’Connor finished third in her class at Stanford Law School, in 1952, she could not find work at a law firm because she was a woman. She became an Arizona state senator (参议员) and, in 1981, the first woman to join the U.S. Supreme Court. O’Connor gave the deciding vote in many important cases during her 24 years on the top court.
Rosa Parks (1913-2005)
On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks would not give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. Her simple act landed Parks in prison. But it also set off the Montgomery bus boycott. It lasted for more than a year, and kicked off the civil-rights movement. “The only tired I was, was tired of giving in,” said Parks.
1.What is Jane Addams noted for in history?
A.Her social work.
B.Her teaching skills.
C.Her efforts to win a prize.
D.Her community background.
2.What was the reason for O’Connor’s being rejected by the law firm?
A.Her lack of proper training in law.
B.Her little work experience in court.
C.The discrimination against women.
D.The poor financial conditions.
3.Who made a great contribution to the civil-rights movement in the U.S.?
A.Jane Addams. B.Rachel Carson.
C.Sandra Day O’Connor. D.Rosa Parks.
假如你是李华,你的笔友Jane最近总是感觉身体不适,因此写信向你询问如何保持身体健康,请你根据以下要点提示用英文给他回信。
要点提示：
1 对Jane表示关切；
2 提出合理建议；
3 期望Jane的不适状况早日好转。
字数：100词左右（可适当增加细节）。
Dear Jane,
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours sincerely
Li Hua
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限一词。
2.只允许修改 10 处，多者（从第 11 处起）不计分.
Dear Kerry,
I’m glad to know that you are coming to China for a visit. I would like to keep you company as a guide, and my schedule fails me.
Anyhow, I really hope you can enjoy our trip in China. When it comes to scenic spots, I sincere recommend that you pay a visit to Hongyadong, Chongqing, which had become an internet-famous place. Rank the second position next to the Palace Museum in The World’s Most Popular Tourist Destinations, 2019, Hongyadong is undoubtedly the fantastic landmark of Chongqing. With unique buildings as well a beautiful night view, it witnesses the history of Chongqing and represent the spirit of Chongqing people. You can’t miss it!
Finally, please allow me to say sorry to my absent. I would be more grateful if you could accept my apology.
