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。
Diets have changed in China — and so too has its top crop. Since 2011, the country 1.（grow）more corn than rice. Corn production has jumped nearly 125 percent over 2. past 25 years, while rice has increased only 7 percent.
A taste for meat is 3. (actual) behind the change: An important part of its corn is used to feed chickens, pigs, and cattle. Another reason for corn's rise: The government encourages farmers to grow corn instead of rice 4. (improve) water quality. Corn uses less water 5. rice and creates less fertilizer(化肥) runoff. This switch has decreased 6. (pollute) in the country's major lakes and reservoirs and made drinking water safer for people.
According to the World Bank, China accounts for about 30 percent of total 7. (globe)fertilizer consumption. The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture finds that between 2005—when the government 8. (start) a soil-testing program 9. gives specific fertilizer recommendations to farmers - and 2011, fertilizer use dropped by 7.7 million tons. That prevented the emission(排放) of 51.8 million tons of carbon dioxide. China's approach to protecting its environment while 10. (feed) its citizens "offers useful lessons for agriculture and food policymakers worldwide." says the bank's Juergen Voegele.
Our families lived more than 450 miles away. So a few weeks before New Year’s Day one year, my husband and I decided to _______someone for the holiday. I called a senior center and they _______Ilse, a 78-year-old lady, a woman I guessed would be _______and soft-spoken.
That day, Ilse came to our house, talkative and loud-spoken. My _______was wrong. By the end of the evening, we felt as if this _______woman were an old friend. We had kept a _______relationship for years since then. One evening, she phoned me and I _______it. The following day, I returned her call but couldn’t _______what she was saying. I drove her to the _______room, where the doctor confirmed a serious stroke (中风) __________her. At the end of the week, I __________an early-morning call from her caregiver, “She’s passed away.”
The morning after Ilse’s __________, I opened my drawer and read through her __________she’d insisted I take a year earlier. I stopped when seeing my name. She left me $50,000! But I couldn’t __________what she had left me on myself. Ilse was a friend I’d helped out of sincerity and __________, not with the expectation of being __________. I opened an investment account in __________of her. Over the next 20 years, Ilse’s gift grew, __________giving me opportunities to donate money in her name to a cause she __________deeply: children. Meeting Ilse made my life __________absolutely.
1.A.visit B.invite C.sponsor D.tend
2.A.employed B.recognized C.convinced D.suggested
3.A.quiet B.brilliant C.lovely D.dynamic
4.A.intention B.worry C.assumption D.attitude
5.A.stubborn B.lonely C.strange D.unfortunate
6.A.temporary B.close C.rare D.loose
7.A.ignored B.answered C.regretted D.missed
8.A.remember B.forget C.catch D.repeat
9.A.emergency B.waiting C.conference D.living
10.A.hurt B.attacked C.faced D.fought
11.A.refused B.expected C.postponed D.received
12.A.death B.call C.recovery D.arrival
13.A.novel B.article C.will D.newspaper
14.A.spend B.focus C.impress D.base
15.A.interest B.hope C.curiosity D.respect
16.A.recorded B.paid C.admitted D.praised
17.A.advance B.charge C.honor D.search
18.A.instantly B.constantly C.occasionally D.obviously
19.A.took on B.gave up C.set off D.cared about
20.A.richer B.busier C.safer D.simpler
If you like ordering pizza from your local pizzeria, you’ll love making it at home. No pizza will ever taste as fresh as it does when you eat it straight from your own oven.1.Here are some tips.
Preheat the oven to 400℉ (204℃). The oven should be piping hot before you start cooking the pizza.
Prepare the crust (酥皮). 2.Place it on a round baking sheet or any other shape, depending on what you have on hand. Use a brush to spread a thin coating of olive oil over the top of the crust.
Spread pizza sauce (果酱) on the crust. 3.If you love a lot of sauce, go ahead and slather (涂抹) it on. If you prefer your pizza on the dry side, spoon a little in the middle and spread it around in a thin layer. If you want to make a white pizza, add a little extra olive oil and skip the pizza sauce.
Add seasonings (佐料). Layer your favorite seasonings over the sauce. Add as many or few seasonings as you want. Put the heavier seasonings, like onions, chicken or sausage, on the bottom layer, and add lighter seasonings, like spinach leaves or peppers, on the top layer. 4.
Bake the pizza. 5. Then, have it bake for about 20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted. Remove it from the oven. At last, allow it to cool for a few minutes before slicing.
A.Place the pizza in the oven.
B.But where can we get fresh pizza like this?
C.Remove the unbaked crust from the packaging.
D.Fry the paste and tomatoes together over low heat.
E.However, how do we make hot, fresh pizza in a fast way?
F.How much pizza sauce you add is purely a matter of personal preference.
G.Continue until your pizza is loaded with the amount of seasonings you like.
Teens and younger children are reading a lot less for fun, according to a Common Sense Media report published Monday.
While the decline over the past decade is steep for teen readers, some data in the report shows that reading remains a big part of many children’s lives, and indicates how parents might help encourage more reading.
According to the report’s key findings, “the proportion (比例) who say they ‘hardly ever’ read for fun has gone from 8 percent of 13-year-olds and 9 percent of 17-year-olds in 1984 to 22 percent and 27 percent respectively today.”
The report data shows that pleasure reading levels for younger children, ages 2-8, remain largely the same. But the amount of time spent in reading each session has declined, from closer to an hour or more to closer to a half hour per session.
When it comes to technology and reading, the report does little to counsel (建议) parents looking for data about the effect of e-readers and tablets on reading. It does point out that many parents still limit electronic reading, mainly due to concerns about increased screen time.
The most hopeful data shared in the report shows clear evidence of parents serving as examples and important guides for their kids when it comes to reading. Data shows that kids and teens who do read frequently, compared to infrequent readers, have more books in the home, more books purchased for them, parents who read more often, and parents who set aside time for them to read.
As the end of school approaches, and school vacation reading lists loom (逼近) ahead, parents might take this chance to step in and make their own summer reading list and plan a family trip to the library or bookstore.
1.What is the Common Sense Media report probably about?
A.Children’s reading habits. B.Quality of children’s books.
C.Children’s after-class activities. D.Parent-child relationships.
2.Where can you find the data that best supports “children are reading a lot less for fun”?
A.In paragraph 2. B.In paragraph 3.
C.In paragraph 4. D.In paragraph 5.
3.Why do many parents limit electronic reading?
A.E-books are of poor quality. B.It could be a waste of time.
C.It may harm children’s health. D.E-readers are expensive.
Many of us love July because it’s the month when nature’s berries and stone fruits are in abundance. These colourful and sweet jewels form British Columbia’s fields are little powerhouses of nutritional protection.
Of the common berries, strawberries are highest in vitamin C, although, because of their seeds, raspberries contain a little more protein (蛋白质), iron and zinc (not that fruits have much protein). Blueberries are particularly high in antioxidants (抗氧化物质). The yellow and orange stone fruits such as peaches are high in the carotenoids we turn into vitamin A and which are antioxidants. As for cherries (樱桃), they are so delicious who cares? However, they are rich in vitamin C.
When combined with berries of slices of other fruits, frozen bananas make an excellent base for thick, cooling fruit shakes and low fat “ice cream”. For this purpose, select ripe bananas for freezing as they are much sweeter. Remove the skin and place them in plastic bags or containers and freeze. If you like, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice on the bananas will prevent them turning brown. Frozen bananas will last several weeks, depending on their ripeness and the temperature of the freezer.
If you have a juicer, you can simply feed in frozen bananas and some berries or sliced fruit. Out comes a “soft-serve” creamy dessert, to be eaten right away. This makes a fun activity for a children’s party; they love feeding the fruit and frozen bananas into the top of the machine and watching the ice cream come out below.
1.What does the author seem to like about cherries?
A.They contain protein. B.They are high in vitamin A.
C.They have a pleasant taste. D.They are rich in antioxidants.
2.Why is fresh lemon juice used in freezing bananas?
A.To make them smell better. B.To keep their colour.
C.To speed up their ripening. D.To improve their nutrition.
3.What is “a juicer” in the last paragraph?
A.A dessert. B.A drink.
C.A container. D.A machine.
4.From which is the text probably taken?
A.A biology textbook. B.A health magazine.
C.A research paper. D.A travel brochure.
Here are the most popular events in Los Angeles this year.
Earth Day L. A.
Phone number: (213) 972-8080
Earth Day L.A. offers Downtown L.A.’s citizens, workers and visitors ideas, a place to drop e-waste and solutions on how to do little harm to our planet in daily life. The annual event features performances, composting (制肥堆), and plant giveaways as well as electric vehicle exhibits, which are all free to the public (and to a select number of school groups).
Jackalope Pasadena Spring 2020 Fair
Phone number: (323) 989-2278
Where Local Culture Meets Craft (手工艺)！Come and shop—over 200 handmade makers from fashion, home design, art and more all in one place at Jackalope Pasadena coming up April 25th & 26th. Enjoy a bite to eat from a local food truck or take part in a free yoga class offered throughout the weekend.
Explore Caltech
Phone number: (626) 395- 4652
You’re invited to Explore Caltech as the Institute brings science and engineering out the lab and into the community, sharing the excitement of discovery through family-friendly open-air laboratories, a series of 10- minute talks by Caltech researchers, and a keynote discussion.
Yallwest
Phone number: (310) 395-3204
There are over 100 authors and presenters including New York Times Best Sellers along with local and widely- acknowledged young adult and middle grade writers, plus famous TV, film, video game, and comic creators. A day of book signings, food trucks and rock’ n’ roll.
1.What do we know about the event Earth Day L.A.?
A.It charges less than the other events.
B.It offers people the performing techniques.
C.It contributes to participants’ going green.
D.It leads participants to prefer an electric vehicle.
2.Where can people buy handmade products?
A.Yallwest. B.Earth Day L. A.
C.Explore Caltech. D.Jackalope Pasadena Spring 2020 Fair.
3.What will visitors call if they’re interested in science?
A.(213) 972-8080 B.(323) 989-2278
C.(626) 395- 4652 D.(310) 395-3204
