CHANGSHA-Drones (无人机) for agriculture have proved popular with farmers in China. "Drones are over 10 times more efficient (有效率的) than skilled manpower (人力) and they are cost-effective and environmentally friendly," said Li Liping, a major grain grower in the county-level city of Xiangxiang in Central China's Hunan province.
The 51-year-old farmer, who learned to fly the machine three years ago, said he no longer needed to walk through the mud and water in the fields to spray and fertilize since drones have replaced manual work. "It was so exciting to see the drone taking off," said Li as he recalled the first time he used the machine in the summer of 2018.
As the COVID-19 epidemic (流行病) wanes across China, farmers are encouraged by local governments to expand their planting areas and increase their production input (投入). The city of Xiangxiang, for example, is ready to see a rich summer harvest of early rice. Li has grown some 20 more hectares of early rice this year and expects to see a major rise in grain output with drones being a great help.
Xiao Jianliang, an owner of another major farmland in Xiangxiang, has also benefited greatly from the use of drones in agriculture. Xiao said he acquired his drone license in late 2017 after a 15-day intensive training program, and the skill of flying drones has brought him additional income as the machine improves the efficiency of sowing and crop-dusting (喷杀农药). Farmers like Li and Xiao are among a growing number of Chinese farmers who are introducing smarter and innovative ideas to increase their agricultural production.
They are skilled drone pilots, capable of designing the most efficient flight routes and heights, analyzing the flight path to fill the gap and calculating the precise amount of fertilizer and pesticide for the land.
“A revolution in agricultural production is taking place because of mechanization and intelligent intensive farming, especially in pioneering areas like Xiangxiang," said Li Xiangping, an agricultural expert in Hunan with over two decades of experience in farm management.
As the demand for the machine is predicted to rise in the coming years, farmers including Li and Xiao also expect more intelligent and economical drones equipped with longer battery life.
1.Why did Xiao Jianliang receive the training program?
A.To know the functions of flying drones.
B.To increase the agricultural production.
C.To get the skill of flying drones and a drone license.
D.To reduce the efficiency of sowing and crop-dusting.
2.What does the underlined word "wane” in Para.3 mean?
A.Turn greater in size, number or importance.
B.Having finished and not going to continue.
C.Come near to somebody/something in distance or time.
D.Become gradually weaker, often so that it finally disappears.
3.What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A.The demand for the drone is uncertain.
B.The drone has some room for improvement.
C.It costs much to use the drone in agriculture.
D.Li and Xiao are rather satisfied with the drone.
4.What can be the best title for the news report?
A.Drones have replaced manual work
B.Drones give helping hand to farmers
C.Drones are more efficient than skilled manpower
D.Drones are cost-effective and environmentally friendly
Space is the final frontier (前沿). Sending rockets into space has become almost common. The demand for communications satellites and space-based image services is growing.
Today, space efforts cost about $200 billion a year. Joint efforts between governments and businesses are helping to lower costs and increase our understanding of the universe.
The business of space looks good for Orbital ATK, a company based in the United States. In January, the company launched its Antares rocket. The rocket was carrying the first of eight planned supply shipments to the International Space Station. Orbital ATK is one of the two American companies paid by NASA to transport supplies to the space station.
A company called Arianespace is a private European space business. Clayton Nowry heads the American division of the company. He says the increase in rocket launches is partly the result of increased demand for space-based technologies. These include high-definition (高清的) broadcasts and satellite broadband services.
While there is more demand for satellites, the end of NASA's Space Shuttle program in 2011 has hurt the space industry. Janice Starzyk works at International Launch Services. She works on education issues at the Washington Space Business Roundtable. She said, "It's a pity that the program's shutdown was a huge, huge set of lay-offs (下岗人员) in the industry."
But even as NASA reduces its spending, other countries have announced plans to explore space. In December 2013, China became just the third country to land an unmanned space vehicle on the moon. A month later, India sent its first communications satellite.
1.What makes sending rockets into space become very usual?
A.More and more people wanting to explore space.
B.Space becoming human's final home and dream.
C.Companies making every effort to earn $ 200 billion a year.
D.Increasing need for communications satellites and space-based image services.
2.Why are governments and businesses working together?
A.To earn more money from space projects.
B.To send more rockets into space and use them.
C.To produce more communications satellites for the public.
D.To keep costs down and help us learn more about the universe.
3.What do we know about Orbital ATK?
A.It's a private European space business.
B.It sent its Antares rocket in January.
C.It's a company based in the United Kingdom.
D.It's the only American company paid by NASA.
4.How may Janice Starzyk feel about the program's shutdown?
A.Hopeful. B.Content.
C.Regretful. D.Uninterested.
At 12 years old, Braeden Mannering is already well on his way to running an empire! A 2016 win of Delaware's Healthy Lunchtime Challenge brought Braeden to the White House, where the president asked the children at the event to think about how they could pay the experience forward.
A few days later, on the drive back home, Braeden saw a homeless man in the rain. He had his parents stop so that he cold give the man a bag of snacks. Braeden knew at that moment that this was how he wanted to pay it forward. He knew what he wanted to do in the future. He felt that it was his duty to help people in trouble.
Since that day in July,2016,Braeden has handed out over 8,000 bags to the homeless through his organization Brae's Brown Bags, also known as 3B.These bags vary (各不相同) in contents, and include food, toiletries (化妆品) and even books for the kids 'bags.
In addition to packing and distributing (分发) bags, Braeden travels the country, giving talks in schools to inspire other young people to help their communities. On his travel, he's raised$60,000 to expand his program. He also is a leader at the annual Delaware Hunger Conference, where he encourages kids to write to lawmakers and help pack bags, showing them how to make a difference.
This is a huge accomplishment, especially for someone of his age. But, as he says, “Anyone can change the world, as long as you dream big."
1.What does the underlined word "it" in Para.2 refer to?
A.The bag. B.The experience.
C.The event. D.The moment.
2.What does the boy's organization try to do?
A.Provide children with clothes.
B.Help homeless women with make-up.
C.Hand out bags for people to do shopping.
D.Donate things in bags to people losing their homes.
3.Which of the following is NOT the reason why Braeden travels the country?
A.To raise some money.
B.To give talks in schools.
C.To pay a visit to some lawmakers.
D.To inspire young people to help their communities.
4.How does the author like the boy's career?
A.It is great considering his young age.
B.It is not a little boy's task to do so.
C.The government should give him more help.
D.He sets a good example for other children.
Although being the second-smallest independent state, only 0.7 square mile in the world, Monaco benefits from an excellent climate and beautiful settings between the Mediterranean Sea and France. Monte Carlo is its only city and capital.
Attractions
Every May Monaco has car racing events, such as the Monaco Grand Prix. In the main harbour, expensive yachts and boats make Monaco a good destination for the rich and famous. Monaco's pleasant climate and environment as well as the absence of taxes contribute to this situation. Tourism contributes about 25% of the government income. Museums, zoos and gardens are tourist attractions, so are the beaches, the royal palace and the opera house.
History
Monaco was built by the Phoenicians who occupied the area from the 10th to the 5th century B.C. The House of Grimaldi has ruled Monaco since 1297 and the first Prince Rainier got the throne (王位) in 1304.Later Monaco was under the protection of Rome, France, Spain, and Sardinia. In 1612 when Honore ll was granted the title of prince by the French crown, he signed a treaty of friendship with France, and the country has remained independent from that time on.
People and Religion
Half of the residents of Monaco are the French with many Americans, Italians, the British and Belgians making up the other half. Although the official religion of Monaco is Roman Catholic, there is religious freedom in this French-speaking country.
Government
Prince Rainier Ill rules the country with a minister of state who is French. A National Council with 18 members must approve laws. Its legend was further spread by the marriage of Prince Rainier II to the American actress Grace Kelly in 1956.
1.Which of the following is true about Monaco according to the text?
A.It is on the Mediterranean Sea.
B.It has two cities including its capital.
C.It is the smallest country in the world.
D.Its economy mainly depends on agriculture.
2.Monaco has kept independent till now under the protection of
A.France B.Spain
C.Sardinia D.Rome
3.What can we learn from the text?
A.The residents of Monaco are mainly Americans.
B.Prince Rainier II married an American actress.
C.Half of the residents in Monaco speak English.
D.The minister of Monaco was appointed by the prince.
阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。
The day of the balloon festival, I felt as light as a hot-air balloon. This year I wouldn’t just be watching. I’d be riding in Mr. J’s truck, following the flight of the balloon and meeting it when it came down.
It was a perfect day. Dad and I drove down the road, circled along the lake and turned into the field that was being used as a parking area. Dad pointed to the lake. “That’s where the balloon festival will take place.” he said. We came to a stop and I got out of the car. And then I saw it, a white bird with black stripes, brown head, and skinny legs. It screamed and beat its wings in the dirt in front of the cars that were driving downhills. Its wings looked broken. Suddenly it cried bitterly and flew off.
“Dad,” I called, but my father was watching the balloons.
“It’s a killdeer(北美喧鹆).” A silver-haired old woman said to me, adding that there must have been a nest here somewhere. “In the parking area?” I asked. She nodded firmly. “It was a nesting place before it became a parking area. No one told the killdeer about the balloon festival!”
“Jack!” Dad called “Isn’t it time you went down to meet Mr. J?”
“I have got to go.” I said to the woman but she pointed with her walking stick. There, on the ground was a perfect nest of eggs, looking like pebbles(卵石). They were almost in the path of cars, trucks and motorbikes.
Suddenly, the parent bird was back to its nest and its wings both twisted again. “Jack!” Dad called again. “The balloons are ready to fly.”
“Dad! I am…” A truck roared over the hill. Brakes(刹车) screamed and dust flew. “What’s the matter?” asked Dad angrily from the truck.
注意:
1.所续写短文的词数应为 150 左右；
2.至少使用 5 个短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
3.续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
4.续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1:
“Dad, I am not going,” I said.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
Soon a number of vehicles surrounded the nest.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
—This is the third time he has got the first place in the test !
—In my opinion，he is, ________，one of the best students in the class.
A.out of the question B.out of place
C.out of question D.out of shape
