Why should most of us hate spiders when we know deeply how much good they do? Is it because they somehow seem so alien? After all, what other land creatures on earth have eight legs? What other creatures spin silk webs in which to catch and wrap their prey to preserve it for the future, much as we put food in the fridge to eat later? I do not personally suffer from arachnophobia, the name given to an abnormal fear of spiders, but I can't say that I like the little beasts. However, some people do, and they actually keep them as pets!
There is a wide variety of spiders in the world. In fact it has been estimated that there are some 35,000 species——from little "money spiders" that live in your back garden, to the "black widow spider", and the “tarantula” ，the spider that is now sometimes kept as a pet.
A tarantula can be any one of a large hairy spiders family and there are about 800 species of them. While experts can tell the difference between species at a glance, most are usually described in reference books as “rather slowly" with “a strong bite which may be poisonous”. They are covered with hairs which can cause a rash （皮疹）if they are handled.
No one has calculated the number of human deaths caused by a bite from a tarantula perhaps because it has never happened, or happened so rarely, and indeed a tarantula will do no harm to anyone if handled correctly. Their disgusting image cannot belie their gentle nature but experts tell us not to handle a tarantula without expert advice.
Tarantulas are popular as pets and it requires very little space to maintain them in excellent condition. They should be kept singly in a glass container, which need not be very large but should have a layer of stones in the bottom. They feed on insects, and while young tarantulas eat twice a week, adults will often eat no more than once every 10 days.
You might like the idea of keeping a tarantula, but personally I am content with just watching them at a distance.
1.According to the text, why do most people dislike spiders?
A.They are abnormal beasts.
B.They take food from fridges.
C.They have unpleasant appearance.
D.They make people suffer from arachnophobia.
2.What do we know about the tarantula?
A.It must be kept in groups.
B.It feeds on poisonous insects.
C.It doesn't belong to hairy spiders.
D.It has mild nature if handled properly.
3.What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 4 refer to?
A.The death caused by a tarantula.
B.The number of human deaths.
C.The bite from a tarantula.
D.The rash caused by hairs.
4.What's the best title for the text?
A.Never judge a book by its cover.
B.Nothing seek, nothing find.
C.No sweet without sweat.
D.Once bitten, twice shy.
For years, the U.S. has experienced a shortage of registered nurses. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that while the number of nurses will increase by 19 percent by 2022, demand will grow faster than supply, and that there will be over one million unfilled nursing jobs by then.
So what's the solution? Robots.
Japan is ahead of the curve when it comes to this trend. Toyohashi University of Technology has developed Terapio, a robotic medical cart that can make hospital rounds, deliver medications and other items. It follows a specific individual, such as a doctor or nurse, who can use it to record and access patient data. This type of robot will likely be one of the first to be implemented in hospitals because it has fairly minimal patient contact.
A robot's appearance affects its ability to successfully interact with humans, which is why the RIKEN-TRI Collaboration Center for Human-Interactive Robot Research decided to develop a robotic nurse called Actroid F. It is so human-like that some patients may not know the difference. This conversational robot companion has cameras in its eyes, which allow it to track patients and use appropriate facial expressions and body language in its interactions. During a month-long hospital trial, researchers asked 70 patients how they felt being around the robot and "only three or four said they didn't like having it around."
It's important to note that robotic nurses don't decide courses of treatment or make diagnoses, though robot doctors and surgeons may not be far off. Instead, they perform routine and laborious tasks, freeing nurses up to attend to patients with immediate needs. This is one industry where it seems the interaction of robots will lead to collaboration, not replacement.
1.What does the author say about Japan?
A.It ranks top in future robotics technology.
B.It takes the lead in offering robotic nursing.
C.It is in desperate need of registered nurses.
D.It provides the best medication for the elderly.
2.Which of the following best explains “implemented'' underlined in Paragraph 3?
A.Cancelled. B.Constructed. C.Improved. D.Applied.
3.What do we know about the robot Actroid F?
A.It has no difference from a human nurse.
B.It gets favorable remarks from all the patients.
C.It interacts with patients like a human companion.
D.It uses body language even more effectively than words.
4.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A.Cooperation will not be replaced.
B.Nurses will still play their roles.
C.The robotics industry will be promising.
D.Robots can meet patients' immediate needs.
I was seven when I first questioned my imagination. I remember watching the first Harry Potter film and my friend was complaining that the characters weren't how she imagined them to be. I couldn't understand what she meant because, in my mind, they had never been images at all, just concepts. When l shut my eyes, I see nothing. I have no visual imagination.
I thought everyone's minds worked this way until about two years ago, when I came across a text about aphantasia, a condition where you lack a functioning mind's eye. I was 23, and it blew my mind to learn that others could visualize things. It was clear I had aphantasia, too, and a lot of things started to make more sense. For me, imagination had always been impossible. If someone asked me to close my eyes and picture myself by the sea, I would see nothing.
I am currently studying for a PhD in biology at college. A good little test for me is drawing. I can copy things almost like for like if they are in front of me, but if I were to draw from my imagination it would look terrible. It doesn't mean you cannot be creative; you just have to adapt. Regardless of how many times I read a technique, it didn't make sense. But when I came to do it in the lab, I understood it immediately. If you have a visual imagination, you can look at a diagram and it triggers your memory; but I learn by repetition or physically doing something.
I'd love to experience life with a mind's eye. I think it'd be cool and beneficial to imagine things so vividly. If you offered me a day with a visual imagination, I'd be excited. I think it'd be so brilliant that I wouldn't want to give it back.
1.After watching the first Harry Potter film, the author ______.
A.misunderstood what her friend said
B.became a huge fan of the Harry Potter film
C.found it impossible to picture its characters in her mind
D.complained its characters different from what she imagined
2.How did the author know she had aphantasia?
A.Her friend told her the fact.
B.She read about aphantasia.
C.She had a medical examination.
D.Her life experience made it clear.
3.What can we learn about the author?
A.She lacks creativity.
B.She always draws terribly.
C.She learns by hands-on practice.
D.She gets benefit from techniques.
4.What is the author's attitude towards her disability?
A.Uncertain. B.Uncaring. C.Upset. D.Positive.
Four things that you can't miss in Macao.
Macao Tower AJ Hackett Bungee Jump
The Macao Tower, 338 meters tall, is the world's 10th highest tower, with a variety of activities, such as gambling, eating and entertainment. One of the acclaimed activities is the bungee jump. The AJ Hackett Macao Tower Bungee Jump is 233 meters high, making it the highest commercial bungee jump in the world. Raise your arms and off you go! If you are not daring enough to jump that height, you can try the skywalk on the 57th floor --- it's still remarkable.
Grabbing a traditional Portuguese dinner
Macao was colonized by Portugal before 1999. As a result, Portuguese culture is deeply immersed into many comers of Macao. Many Portuguese settled and opened Portuguese restaurants in the special administrative region, but the flavor is more adaptable to Chinese people.
Marking at the Ruins of St. Paul
The Ruins of St. Paul is the signature landmark of Macao. The ruins consist of the St. Paul's College and the Church of St. Paul, built in 1583. However, after three intense fires in 1595, 1601 and 1835, the church was seriously damaged. It is beyond belief that after the vigorous cycles of rebuilding and fires, the huge surface and the front stairway remain unburned.
Visiting a museum
Macao, as a tiny city with only an area of 30.5 square kilometers, has 23 eye-catching museums. Due to its unique history, both Eastern and Western historical sites can be found. Many of them are preserved for cultural heritage, tourist spots or museums, such as the Grand Prix Museum, Maritime Museum and Wine Museum.
1.Which activity will be popular with adventurous visitors?
A.Going Bungee Jumping.
B.Grabbing a traditional Portuguese dinner.
C.Marking at the Ruins of St. Paul.
D.Visiting a museum.
2.What is incredible about the Ruins of St. Paul?
A.It has a unique culture.
B.It serves as a symbol of Macao.
C.It partly stays undamaged after fierce fires.
D.It is a combination of a college and a church.
3.What do "'Grabbing a traditional Portuguese dinner" and "Visiting a museum" have in common?
A.Taking a selfie in it.
B.Finding historical sites.
C.Enjoying a breathtaking experience.
D.Feeling both eastern and western cultures.
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。
A video showing a traffic police officer pretending to be blind being denied permission to get on a bus with a guide dog has been drawing public attention and has led to heated online discussions about the lack of support and care for the visually impaired(视觉障碍人士). As shown in the video, wearing a blindfold, the officer wasn't allowed on the bus with the guide dog, and was told no dogs are allowed whether they're guide dogs or not. Some passengers also scolded the officer for making a scene and wasting their time, while the dog appeared very distressed.
The guide dog's owner Gao Zhipeng, who is visually impaired, told media Monday that this has been happening almost every day since he brought Taobao home in 2014，and it is the same when catching a cab. And each time they were refused, Taobao would sink into depression for days.
The guide dog being denied boarding is just the tip of the iceberg, compared to the various difficulties faced by the country's visually impaired population every day when they leave their home.
（写作内容）
1. 用约30个单词概述上述信息的主要内容；2. 用约120个单词发表你的观点，内容包括：(1) 表达你对此事件的看法，并说明理由；(2) 关于如何帮助视觉障碍人士，请你提出2～3个建议。
（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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请认真阅读下面短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。注意：每个空格只填1个单词。
Make the most of networking opportunities
Get to those networking events and talk, talk, talk. “There is value in every conversation you have, you never know where your next piece of work may come from. Changing the mindset to professionalism and saying, ‘I am a graphic designer’ rather than ‘I am a graduate’ is very important, ” says Lydia Wakefield, education and training manager at the Association of Independent Professionals and the SelfEmployed.
Know your worth
It's hard to persuade people to pay for your work if you're willing to give it away. “Value your worth from the beginning. A lot of people feel the pressure to work nothing or charge a really low rate if they've been studying. Clients are willing to pay for the quality of the work that you do, ” says Wakefield.
Set up with the tools to get paid
Register for selfassessment and file those tax returns. “Make sure you have contracts and invoice templates(发票模板) in place, ” says Wakefield. It doesn't hurt to get some advice from a professional, says Jeff Skinner, of the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the London Business School. “Find an accountant or someone doing something similar and ask them for commercial advice, ” he says.
Manage expectations
Know the limits to your capabilities. “You can feel the need to say yes to every project. Have a selfawareness of how much work you can take on at any time and manage expectations, ” says Wakefield.
Build resilience (韧性)
Wakefield highlights the importance of having a thick skin. “If you get a no, don't take it to heart. Keep going, you will find your next client, ” she says, “ask for feedback, you can always use it for testimonial.” And, remember that you're not alone. “It really is emotional highs and lows for any entrepreneur in early stages. But you're in a network with other people on the same journey as you, ” says Skinner.
Tips for New Graduates Who Want to Be Their Own 1.
Take 2. of networking opportunities | ●Every conversation is valuable as it may 3. to your next piece of work. ●It matters a lot to change the 4. you think of professionalism. |
Know your worth | ●If you cannot 5. your own value, how can you expect others to pay for your work? ●You can charge a relatively 6. rate for your work of good quality. |
Set up with the tools to get paid | ●Register for selfassessment and file those tax returns. ●It is always helpful to consult 7.. |
Manage expectations | ●Be aware not to take on too much work 8. your capabilities. |
Build resilience | ●Keep going instead of taking a refusal too 9.． ●It is not 10. for entrepreneurs to experience emotional highs and lows in early stages. |
