For centuries, humans have wondered whether there is life on Mars. Scientists have asked why Mars is losing its atmosphere. Last week, the question was answered with a song. “The answer is blowing in the wind,” said Michael Meyer, taking a line from a Bob Dylan song. Meyer is the lead scientist for NASA’s Mars Exploration Program. It turns out that solar winds from the sun are slowly blowing away Mars’ atmosphere.
Today, Mars has a thin atmosphere. It is cold and dry, with a desert-like environment. Jakosky says it used to be much more different. “When we look at ancient Mars, we see a different type of surface. One that had valleys looked like they were carved by water, lakes that were standing for a long period of time. We see an environment that was much more able to support liquid water.”
Recently they found a kind of liquid water that flows with salt down a mountain area of the planet. But it is not always there. Scientist Michael Meyer describes what they found: “We’re seeing water, with the salt that’s able to flow down the sides of the cliff. Why is this important? That means there is water on Mars, on the surface of Mars today.”
Scientists already knew that ice exists on Mars. So why is it important to find liquid water? Meyer explains: “It means that we have a resource. And when we're looking at sending humans to Mars, water is one of the key things that we need to have, not only for astronauts to drink, but also to make oxygen, to make fuel.”
Sending humans to Mars is still in the distant future. NASA is aiming for the 2030s. Both US government and private industries are developing rockets and spacecraft to get people to Mars.
1.Why is the atmosphere of Mars disappearing?
A.Because Mars doesn't have water to keep the atmosphere.
B.Because the atmosphere is affected by the earth.
C.Because the atmosphere is blown away by the solar wind.
D.Because Mars has no condition to make the atmosphere exist.
2.Which of the following are the functions of the water on Mars?
①Taking shower. ②Drinking for astronauts. ③Making fuel.
④Watering plants. ⑤Producing oxygen. ⑥Washing clothes.
A.②④⑤ B.①③④⑤ C.②③④⑥ D.②③⑤
3.What can we infer from the passage?
A.Whether water exists on Mars or not isn’t important to humans.
B.Mars’ atmosphere has changed a lot since it existed.
C.We can successfully send humans to Mars from now on.
D.Water can not appear on Mars because of its thin atmosphere.
4.Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?
A.Mars Has Conditions to Support Humans
B.Mars Is Strongly Influenced by the Solar Wind
C.Mars and Its Thin Atmosphere
D.Water Does Exist on Mars
I have been studying literature all the time, so someone asked me if l made the wrong choice by devoting myself to studying literature. I was deep in thought.
A good friend of mine took every single literature class she could while in college and decided early on that she wasn't cut out to be a teacher. Her parents were concerned because she wasn't really focused on becoming something that would pay the bills. In order to mollify their concerns, she took a library science course and told them she would regard library science as a career path. But she ended up taking a job as a communications assistant at a mid-size company and eventually became the director of communications. She put her literature studies to work in making company materials and has benefited a lot from that.
Another friend turned his love of Hemingway’s writings into inspiration for his artworks. Most people don’t stay at one job for their entire career. I can’t tell you how many teachers I worked with over the years give up teaching to paint houses, work in an advertising company, start a company, and so on. A degree is important for many places to get your foot in the door. But I think you should choose your job based on what you're really interested in,and no one says you have to do something for the rest of your work life.
Colleges generally don’t clue you in on the possible career paths available to you with your particular studies, but some are getting far better with guiding students toward the possibilities.Your reading, writing and analytical skills would be great advantages to many companies, so don’t think that your love of literature is going to leave you with few choices. So I didn’t feel sad to devote myself to studying literature.
1.What does the underlined word “mollify” mean?
A.Express. B.Relieve.
C.Deepen. D.Realize.
2.What does the author want to say by mentioning his friends?
A.Learning literature is good for one’s later careers.
B.Most people have a negative attitude towards literature.
C.His friends both disliked the career connected with literature.
D.College majors(主修课） have nothing to do with career choices.
3.Which of the following does the author probably agree with?
A.Change your jobs frequently. B.Stay at one job for all your life.
C.Love whatever job you take up. D.Choose your job by your interest.
4.From the passage, we can learn that the author _______________.
A.didn’t regret studying literature all the time
B.had a negative attitude towards literature learning
C.thought that love for literature held the key to career paths
D.thought that colleges should design career paths for students
Project A:Introductory(入门的）Hip Hop for ages 7-12
Hey kids...go back to school with some cool dance moves!
This 4-week hip hop workshop introduces the popular hip hop style of dance in a fun and kid-friendly way. Learn basic hip hop dance moves featured in today's popular music videos, including footwork, freezes, and more.
Open to ages 7-12 with no or little hip hop experience.
Instructor:Jared Hale
Time:Wednesdays,Nov 27-Dec 18 5:00pm-5:45pm(4 weeks)
Cost:$75-4 weeks
Project B:Beginning Musical Theatre Dance for Ages 13 and up
Are you a Musical Theatre student in middle school or high school?Or maybe you just want to give musical theatre a try?This workshop at the beginning level is for YOU!
This 4-week workshop will be taught by the best at the beginning level to help the musical theatre lover learn some of the common dance moves of musical theatre!
Instructor:Adam Roberts
Time:Sundays,Dec 1-Dec 22 1:15pm-2:15pm(4 weeks)
Cost:$80 per 4-week workshop
Project C:Intermediate(中级的）Musical Theatre Dance for Ages 13 and up
Anyone with dance experience at the intermediate level that wants to improve their Musical Theatre Dance skills will not want to miss this workshop!
You will spend 4 weeks with an instructor who has served as an artistic director,choreographer(编舞者），and musical director.
Instructor:Taylor Williams
Time:Sundays,Nov 10-Dec 1 2:15pm-3:15pm(4 weeks)
Cost:$70 per 4-week workshop
Project D:Beginning Ballet Drop-in Class for Ages 11-18
This beginning level ballet class is offered on our drop-in schedule(插班课程）every Tuesday between Nov 26 and Dec 31 this winter.This class gives students the opportunity to try ballet and get some ballet basics needed for other dance styles.
You can start any time and come when you can, enjoying the flexibility you need during the winter!
Instructor:Adam Roberts
Time:Tuesdays,between Nov 26 and Dec 31
Cost:$25 per class.
1.When can a student attend a Hip Hop dancing class?
A.Dec 18 5:00 pm. B.Nov 26 1:15 pm.
C.Dec 1 2:15pm. D.Dec 22 1:15pm.
2.What do Project B and Project D have in common?
A.They share the same class time. B.They share the same instructor.
C.They teach the same dance moves. D.They share the same classroom.
3.How does Project C differ from the other three projects?
A.It costs students more money.
B.It includes free extra lessons.
C.It has changeable class time for beginners.
D.It is for students with middle-level dance experience.
Directions: Write an English composition in 120-150 words according to the instructions given below in Chinese.
假设你是明启中学的学生张华，你们学校暑假里将有英国姐妹学校的交流生来访，你主动申请接待其中一位。学校目前推荐了四项活动：看电影、吃中餐、参加一项学生校外社团活动（自定）、参观一个上海的景点（自定）。请向负责老师写一份申请信。
内容包括：
1. 你的“活动计划”（从上述四个选项中任选两样）；
2. 你的理由。
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Directions: Translate the following sentences into English, using the words given in the brackets.
1.这事他越想越不对劲。(The more ... )
2.只需用上几个收纳小妙招，你就能拥有双倍的书房空间。(take)
3.销售主管工作虽忙，但上周末带着太太和孩子去了郊野公园，享受自然和家庭时光。(as)
4.危机时刻，我们要摒弃成见、同心协力，坚信人类的勇气、智慧和创造力无可限量。(there be)
Directions: Read the following three passages. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.
Should You Disinfect Your Online Shopping?
People who are self-isolating are increasingly relying on grocery deliveries. This raises a new worry: whether delivered goods carry the new coronavirus. Research suggests it can spread via particles in the air, but also via surfaces. How long can the virus survive and how can we protect ourselves?
COVID-19 is a respiratory（呼吸道的）illness and is largely transmitted via drops in the air from coughing or sneezing, says John Lednicky at the University of Florida. The new virus has also been found to persist on surfaces. A team led by Vincent Munster at the US National Institute of persist on surfaces. A team led by Vincent Munster at the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Montana found it may survive on plastic and stainless steel for up to 72 hours.
But other research suggests the coronaviruses that cause SARS and MERS can persist on metal, glass and plastic for up to nine days. Research by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested that traces of the new coronavirus could be on surfaces for even longer; its RNA was detected in cabins of people who had vacated the Diamond Princess cruise ship 17 days earlier, including those without symptoms.
This doesn't necessarily mean these virus particles could still infect other people, says Lednicky. How long virus particles remain active depends on various factors. Those coughed or sneezed out may be covered in a layer of mucus（黏液）that helps them survive longer. Surface survival may also be affected by UV light, which can destroy the ability of some viruses to reinfect us. Heat and higher humidity can also inactivate viruses.
Is it worth trying to disinfect your shopping? Lednicky doesn't think so. Most household cleaning products won't kill coronaviruses, he says. Even if you use one that does, you're unlikely to be able to clean every nook and cranny of, for example, a bunch of grapes. It is more practical to practise social distancing and good personal hygiene, he says.
