Minimalism (极简主义) refers to living comfortably with as few material possessions as possible. 1. Here are three main reasons.
Reducing isn’t the first choice
It is hard to make the time to actively reduce what we own, especially when we’ve already managed to cut down life’s inventory (存货) in half. But the truth is totally opposite. 2.
3.
We tend to create an identity around the things we own. It is difficult for us to let go of things we already spent money on, even if it doesn’t make sense to keep them.
Organizing takes effort
4. Clearing out belongings takes physical labor. Actually, the whole process is emotionally draining (排水). There isn’t much to be done other than doing it. Stop thinking about what is involved, and just do it.
Don’t quit in fear of change. 5. Embrace what’s on the other side of what you’re accustomed to. Just one small change at a time can lead you to discovering the real joy in your life.
A.Getting rid of stuff is a challenge.
B.How to become a minimalist one step at a time?
C.Minimalism will actually help you find happiness.
D.Minimalism is increasingly popular in our daily life.
E.Minimizing would help one become more productive.
F.Finding proper space is not easy, for there is effort involved.
G.But why do people often find it difficult to lead a minimalist lifestyle?
Oh my God, the robots are taking over! We’re doomed! Doomed! Now that I’ve got that out of my system, it’s become clear that though we may or may not be doomed, the robots are taking over. The latest example is the government’s new guidelines for self-driving cars.
Tesla, Google and Uber are already testing driverless cars in cities across America. Uber chief executive Travis Kalanick is among those predicting that by 2021, self-driving cars will play a big part in urban settings.
Nearly 40,000 people died last year in this nation in automobile-related accidents, and we believe driverless cars can save tens of thousands of lives annually.
Makes sense. Robot drivers are less likely to get drunk, drive without a license, text while driving or feel anxious at the scene of a pileup. But I wonder how these highly sensitive cars will react, with walkers constantly dashing into the street. Will they jam on the brakes (紧急刹车) every 10 seconds?
But there’s a bigger picture. Not only are robots replacing humans behind the wheel, but behind the work desk, in warehouses, senior homes, you name it. Robots aren’t just taking over in the workplace.
The question is, where can’t a robot function better than a human? How about writing songs? A robot can go through every combination of notes in record time and come up with a pleasing melody. The lyrics might be a different story. Is a Grammy-winning song co-written by Hank Human and R-3071 in our future?
Finally, it’s only a matter of time until we have robot politicians and presidential candidates. Why not? They can be programmed to be experts in world and domestic affairs and come up with the best solutions without corruption and bad humors.
Hopefully, such technology will be available in the near future. Pretty sure the robot would win in a landslide.
1.According to the text, which statement is NOT true about self-driving cars?
A.New guidelines for self-driving cars have been set up by the government.
B.Some companies are testing self-driving cars in the US.
C.Self-driving cars will play an important role in rural areas.
D.Self-driving cars can help reduce car accidents.
2.What doubt does the writer have about self-driving cars?
A.How passengers behave in it.
B.How they respond to walkers on a busy street.
C.How robot drivers get the license.
D.How they avoid crashing into other cars.
3.The last question asked in the sixth paragraph shows the writer’s _________.
A.confidence in robots’ winning Grammy Awards
B.desire to listen to songs written by robots
C.puzzle about robots’ ability to write songs
D.curiosity about the future Grammy songs
4.What is the author’s attitude towards the future of robots?
A.Indifferent. B.Doubtful.
C.Pessimistic. D.Optimistic.
When the natural climate changes due to global warming, it can surely affect seals (海豹). The majority of them live in the Antarctic region but the ice is melting and their natural habitat can be seriously affected. These changes don’t take place overnight. They can be the result of many years of additional temperatures in the area. The seals then have to find ways to adapt.
Seals depend on the cool air currents to bring plenty of food for them. When the temperatures get higher there is less and less food and the seal population starts to get depleted. Mothers are not healthy enough to feed their babies. Many of them end up abandoned as the mothers have to leave to find their own source of food.
The fact that their desire to produce young can be changed and the warmer temperature is frightening too. It is also believed that the warmer temperature can allow different diseases and viruses to attack the seals. This is a huge concern as they can rapidly wipe out huge numbers of seals out there.
However, these changes in climate and temperature aren’t all bad for other species of seals. Scientists have found that those living in warmer climates are producing more young due to the changes. Research also shows that the females are moving further to find food and water. When they are out of the reach of the governing males, they are more willing to accept the moves of other males in the group.
This is good news too because it means that there will be more selection in the gene pool (基因库) for future generations. It can help the seals as a species adapt to change in their natural environment more easily.
The climate change problem for seals is directly linked to humans. When we take action to change what we let out into the environment, we will make positive changes for the seals. However, it is going to take a very long time to reverse (彻底改变) the effects of what has already been done.
1.What does the author regard climate changes for seals as?
A.A mirror of evolution.
B.A double-edged sword.
C.An unavoidable disaster for existence.
D.A requirement for more choice in the gene pool.
2.What does the underlined phrase in paragraph 2 probably mean?
A.Explode. B.Vary.
C.Disappear. D.Decrease.
3.What will happen to the seals in warmer climates?
A.The female seals will be in the lead.
B.Their genes will change a great deal.
C.Their number will be on the increase.
D.The females will keep away from the males.
4.What’s the main idea of the text?
A.How climate change affects seals. B.The importance of protecting seals.
C.Seal’s adaptation to climate change. D.Why seals are becoming less and less.
Every year, billions of kilograms of fresh produce are wasted in the United States. Meanwhile, millions of poor Americans go hungry, without access to healthy and affordable meals.
Evan Lutz is enthusiastic about correcting that social injustice. And he combines that goal with enthusiasm for business. Lutz is CEO and founder of Hungry Harvest, a business which collects and sells “ugly” produce. These are fruits and vegetables that most food companies would throw away. More than six billion pounds are wasted each year due to surface imperfections.
“So I’ll give you an example.” Lutz says, “If you go to a grocery store you will see all the produce lineup shiny, perfect, of the same size and color. But on a farm, everything doesn’t grow the same way. So all that stuff that doesn’t grow the same way often gets thrown out. And what we do is take all that normally gets thrown out because of its odd size or shape, box it up and deliver it to our customers once a week.”
For Evan Lutz, giving back to others came form his upbringing. “When I was growing up, my parents taught me the values of giving back, and giving is a lot more powerful than receiving. We sell produce with a purpose and that doesn’t just mean we reduce food from going to waste. We hire people that were formerly in prison or were formerly injured or sick living in homeless shelters. They really wanted to get back on their feet for a second chance in life.”
Evan Lutz is really happy to be realizing great mission that he thinks can really revolutionize the food industry in America.
1.The social injustice in Paragraph 2 refers to the fact that _________.
A.vegetables and fruits that don’t taste good are thrown away
B.grocery stores only sell produce of the same size
C.poor Americans can not afford healthy food
D.much produce gets wasted while many Americans starve
2.What business does Hungry Harvest mainly do?
A.Deliver food for free. B.Collect “ugly” produce and sell it.
C.Raise money for the poor. D.Buy “ugly” produce and process it.
3.Why does Evan Lutz employ those people mentioned in Paragraph 4?
A.To provide them with a job. B.To reduce labor costs.
C.To increase productivity. D.To earn a better reputation.
4.What can be the best title for the passage?
A.Creating More Jobs for the Less Fortunate.
B.Putting Healthy Food on Dinner Table.
C.Giving Unused Produce a Purpose.
D.Making Profits from Shiny Produce.
Tampa Bay has a long and colorful history, which is located on the west coast of Florida. And there are plenty of events on holidays every year. The following are the top things to experience on Tampa Bay over Christmas.
Jackie Evancho
The superstar exploded on to the national scene after her first performance on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, which left audiences and judges at the show astonished that such a voice could come from a 10-year-old girl. 7:30 pm, Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 N McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater. $39.50-$89.50. (727) 791-7400.
Holiday Lights in the Gardens
Stroll through the gardens with more than one million twinkly lights, lasers, Florida-style displays, animated figures, visits with Santa and entertainers lining the pathways. 5:30 pm, Florida Botanical Gardens, 12520 Ulmerton Road. Largo Donation of $4 suggested; 12 and younger free. (727) 582-5800.
Wordier than Thou
Prose and Short Story Open Mic — a unique open mic series focusing on storytelling. Poetry and musical performances are not allowed. The event includes a performance by a featured reader followed by numerous 10-minute open mic slots. 7:00 pm, Studio@620, 620 First Ave.S, St, Petersburg. $5. (727) 895-6620.
Rockapella Christmas
The five-man contemporary pop vocal phenomenon sing takes on classic holiday favorites and branches new originals. 7:30 pm, Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater. $30-$59. (727) 791-7400.
Holiday Classic Movie Series
It’s A Wonderful Life — enjoy select holiday classics with a singalong to holiday carols by the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ before each show. 7:30 pm, Tampa Theatre, 711 Franklin St., Tampa. $10; $8 members/children. (813) 274-8982.
1.What can we learn about Jackie Evancho?
A.She broadcasts news at 7:30 pm every day.
B.She has a special talent for dancing.
C.She began to speak when she was 10.
D.She is a super musical star.
2.Which activity is partly admission free?
A.Holiday Lights in the Gardens.
B.Wordier than Thou.
C.Rockapella Christmas.
D.Holiday Classic Movie Series.
3.Where should you go if you are a story lover?
A.Ruth Eckerd Hall. B.Capitol Theatre.
C.Studio@620. D.Florida Botanical Gardens.
假定你是李华，你校于11月13日举行了冬季运动会。你的英国笔友Peter对此事很感兴趣。请你写信向他介绍此次活动，内容包括：
1. 时间、地点；
2. 参赛项目；
3. 感想。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3. 开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
4. 参考词汇：百米赛跑100-meter race 跳高 high jump 跳远 long jump
Dear Peter,
How is everything going?
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Yours,
Li Hua
