The Beauties of the Stone Age
I have just come home after viewing some amazing works of art that were recently discovered in Church Hole Gave in Nottinghamshire. They are not drawings but etchings—shapes cut into the rock—and they describe different kinds of wild animals.
First of all, the number is great: there are 90 in all. Moreover, 58 of them are on the ceiling (天花板). This is quite unusual in cave art, according to Dr. Wilbur Samson of Central Midlands University. “Wall pictures are the usual way,” he says. “The Church Hole etchings are an artistic achievement. It was thought that ice-age hunters in this country were separated from those in central areas of Europe, but the Church Hole etchings proved that they were actually part of a way of living, thinking and seeing the world that had spread right across Europe.”
News of such exciting discoveries spreads quickly, and thanks to the Internet and mobile phones, a great many people have known about this discovery. However, an examination of the etchings last year failed to show the presence of them. The reason lay in the expectations of the researchers. They looked for the usual type of cave drawings, which show up best under direct light. So they used powerful torches (火炬), shining them straight onto the rock face. However, the Church Hole etchings are not drawings on the rocks, like the other cave ones. They are modifications of the rock itself and can’t be easily made out. They show up best when seen from a certain direction in the natural light of early morning.
Dr. Samson feels that the lighting factor provides important information about the function of these works of art. I think the artists knew very well that the etchings would hardly be seen except early in the morning. We can decide that the cave was used for important events like animal worship (祭拜), and that they were conducted just after dawn, as the beginning of the day’s hunting.
To which I can only add that I feel very lucky to have been able to view Church Hole. It is a site of great importance culturally and is part of the traditional values, not only of this country, but the world as a whole.
1.What is the significance of the etchings in Church Hole Cave?
A.They show the existence of an ice-age culture.
B.They describe a more advanced life of Europeans.
C.They prove that ancient people hunted in large areas.
D.They indicate that fewer people settled in central Europe.
2.According to the passage, ________.
A.the methods taken to protect the etchings are useless
B.the etchings are various from the usual cave paintings
C.the discovery of the etchings should not be made public
D.many people visited the cave within hours of its discovery
3.What does the underlined word “modifications” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?
A.Small changes. B.Free gifts. C.Good examples. D.Different areas.
4.What does Dr. Samson state from the lighting factor?
A.The search took place at the wrong place of the cave.
B.The artists never planned to let the etchings seen by others.
C.The torches people used in the examination were too bright.
D.The etchings were intended to be seen at a certain time of day.
Is It a Healthy Interest?
The Guinness Book of World Records describes Ranulph Fiennes as the world’s greatest living explorer. His journeys include the first polar circumnavigation (极地环行) and the first unsupported crossing of the Antarctic continent on foot. So when he suffered a heart attack, it came as something of a surprise.
Exercise is highly beneficial as it reduces both the pulse (脉搏) rate and the blood pressure so reducing stress on the heart as it brings blood round the body. It also helps to keep the artery (动脉) walls more elastic (有弹性的).
But can you push yourself too much? On the subject of exercise, it is good to take several parts of “moderate” exercise a week，which is a little more than quick walking. “We need to be careful when we’re doing extreme sports,” says expert Len Almond. “Extreme stress can make almost impossible demands on the body’s ability to recover. The stress of extreme sports forces biochemical changes in the body, and the physical response to that kind of activity will be too extreme.”
We all know how the Olympics began. The man who ran 26 miles from the town of Marathon to Athens with news of a victory died as soon as he arrived，and the cause of his sudden death might be the heart attack. Further research was done by scientists. They studied cyclists (自行车运动员) on a race that covers 230km with a height change of 5,500m. They were interested in one particular enzyme (酶), high concentrations of which are found in those who have suffered a heart attack. The scientists found that levels of this chemical increased in most of the cyclists who completed the race. The largest increases were seen in the fastest cyclists who had trained the hardest.
Most of us will never put our bodies to such extreme sports. But if, when you hear about someone like Fiennes，you ask whether exercise is worth it. I advise you to consider your own condition. Personally, I agree with the saying: “Run not to add years to your life but to add life to your years.”
1.According to the passage, taking exercise can_______ .
A.speed up the heart rate B.increase stress on the heart
C.reduce the blood pressure D.keep the artery walls straight
2.What does expert Len Almond suggest?
A.Our bodies can easily deal with physical stress.
B.Playing extreme sports is harmful to the human body.
C.We need a long period of recovery after extreme sports.
D.There is more to learn about the effect of physical stress.
3.Why is the research on the cyclists mentioned in Paragraph 4?
A.To suggest a different area of research.
B.To support the activity of taking part in sports.
C.To explain the effect of a height change on cyclists.
D.To prove that extreme sports may cause heart attacks.
4.The author believes that exercise_______.
A.helps you have a regular life B.adds years to your life
C.should be done in moderation D.will be worth the effort
If you were asked to imagine a scientist, what image would come to your mind? The idea that most of the kids have is a man wearing a white lab coat with messy hair, big glasses, and cups of colorful liquids giving off clouds of smoke. As for adults, the majority regard scientists as strange people who spend a lot of time working in a lonely lab. However, the reality is quite different.
Recently I’ve had a chance to take part in a scientific experience far from my lab and into Costa Rica. It has a large amount of wildlife due to its geographical placement between North and South America. It is home to more than 500,000 species (物种), which represents nearly 4% of the species worldwide!
First we worked to protect wildlife at a leatherback turtle (棱皮龟) protection center. We helped the volunteers to remove rubbish from the beach to create a safe environment for turtle eggs to come out. After that we stayed at Mount Arenal where we studied seismic (地壳的) activity relating to earthquakes. During our stay at Arenal, we rode over the mountainous areas and took a long walk through the rainforest. On the last day we got a professional introduction of rocket (火箭) science and learned about new rocket technology that will be used on the international space station.
During my Costa Rica experience, I know that being a scientist doesn’t mean working in a lab all day and night. A scientist is the one who loves learning and getting a better understanding of the world from helping protect wildlife, learning about earthquakes or inventing rockets. I think that science is so much more than wearing a lab coat and mixing chemicals. Kids need to be aware of the excitement and adventures science can bring!
1.According to Paragraph 1, scientists are often believed ________.
A.to do experiments in messy labs B.to spend too much time in labs
C.to wear clothes in a different way D.to work in dangerous conditions
2.In Costa Rica，the author ________.
A.experienced an earthquake B.took part in rocket experiments
C.picked up rubbish on the beach D.helped the volunteers collect turtle eggs
3.What does the author learn about science from his experience?
A.Science is full of boring experiments.
B.Science is related to chemical liquids.
C.Science is more than working in a lab.
D.Science is about wildlife and earthquakes.
4.What is the best tide for the passage?
A.What a Scientist Is Like B.Where a Scientist Works
C.How I Traveled in Costa Rica D.Why I Chose to Study Science
Dear Sir/Madam,
As you know, next month will see the Have a Heart activity, which is a part of the heart research. As part of support for it, several students here at Trent High School have decided to organize a half-marathon event on August 1st. All the money that we hope to raise by doing this will go to Have a Heart.
In order to raise as much money as possible, we are doing two things: a) asking members of the public to sponsor (赞助) individual runners in the race, and b) looking for companies to help raising money. It is for this second reason that I am writing to you now.
As the leader of Trent High School’s half-marathon committee, I am writing to ask if your company would be willing to consider providing sponsorship for our event. What we had in mind, if you are agreeable，is to put the sponsor’s name on the numbers of each runner, and to have the sponsor’s name on banners (横幅) along the way as well as at the finish line. We believe that our sponsor will get a lot of positive publicity.
It is difficult, of course, to make a request for a specific amount of money, but we are hoping that the company which sponsors us would do so to the amount of £1,000 or more, and would perhaps also contribute to the making of banners etc. We do hope that more people and companies can give your love to the heart research.
Should you be interested, please get in touch with us at the above address.
Thank you for giving our request your attention. We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
James MacDonald
1.Why will the half-marathon event be held?
A.To make the school highly popular. B.To support the Have a Heart activity.
C.To raise money for the poor students. D.To encourage students to take exercise.
2.The half-marathon committee promises to ________.
A.provide money to the public B.help the runners finish the race
C.design banners for the company D.put the sponsor’s name on banners
3.The main purpose of the letter is to ________.
A.ask the company for sponsorship B.invite people to the committee
C.explain the details of heart research D.apply for the rules for the event
4.We can learn that James MacDonald is ________.
A.a professional runner B.a school teacher
C.the leader of a company D.the organizer of the event
A Good Heart to Lean (倚靠) On
More than I realized, Dad has helped me keep my balance.
When I was young, I didn’t want to be seen with my father. He was short and crippled (瘸), and when we _________ together, his hand on my arm for balance, people would look at us. It was _________ to coordinate (协调) our steps, and we didn’t _________ much as we went along, just keeping silent _________ as we started out, he always said, “You set the pace (步伐). I will try to stay with you.”
In my memory, my father went to work every day, rain or shine. He almost never _________ a day, even if others could not. Meanwhile he had to _________ the unkind laughter from others. When I think of it now, I am surprised at how much _________ it must have taken him to make a living under such _________. Although disabled, my father still tried to take part in activities in his own way. When a baseball team didn’t have a manager，he kept it _________. He was a knowledgeable baseball fan and often took me to the __________. He also liked to go to parties, where he could have a good time __________ sitting and watching.
I now __________ that he took part in some things through me, his only son. He __________ me all the time. When I played ball, he “played” too. When I joined the Navy, he “joined” too. He was __________ to spend all his time staying with me.
He never talked about himself as an object of __________, nor did he show any envy (嫉妒) of the more fortunate. What he __________ in others was a “good heart’’, and if he found one, the owner was good enough for him. Now that I am older, I believe that is a proper rule by which to __________ people, even though I still don’t know exactly what a “good heart” is. Sometimes I wonder if he __________ my unwillingness during our walks. If he did, I am sorry I never told him how sorry I was, and how I __________ it. At such times I would put my hand on his arm to get my __________, and say, “You set the pace. I will try to stay with you.”
1.A.called B.walked C.listened D.laughed
2.A.dangerous B.popular C.strange D.difficult
3.A.try B.mix C.say D.act
4.A.But B.Nor C.So D.Unless
5.A.covered B.shared C.enjoyed D.missed
6.A.lose B.bear C.send D.earn
7.A.talent B.luck C.courage D.duty
8.A.stress B.power C.loss D.fun
9.A.lasting B.going C.waiting D.pushing
10.A.projects B.offices C.matches D.stations
11.A.still B.even C.seldom D.just
12.A.understand B.compare C.promise D.declare
13.A.checked B.followed C.searched D.reasoned
14.A.crazy B.sorry C.eager D.nervous
15.A.love B.fear C.hope D.pity
16.A.looked for B.gave up C.heard of D.worried about
17.A.imagine B.judge C.control D.attract
18.A.mentioned B.treated C.sensed D.passed
19.A.doubted B.avoided C.confirmed D.regretted
20.A.balance B.challenge C.advantage D.position
近期，21世纪英文报开展了征集英文感谢信活动，以致敬奋战在抗击新型冠状病毒一线的医护人员。假定你是李华，来自于阳光中学，请你写一封感谢信参与投稿，内容包括：
1. 表达谢意；
2. 个人感受；
3. 表达信心。
注意：1. 词数100-120；
2. 开头已给出，不计入总词数；
3. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
参考词汇：传染病epidemic；新型冠状病毒novel coronavirus
Dear medical workers,
I am Li Hua from Sunshine School.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
