In the film The Matrix, Agent Smith, a super-computer in human shape, says, “You move to an area, and you multiply, and multiply, until every natural resource is consumed. The only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern: a virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet. ”
Yes, relatively speaking, we are just a large virus. While most species live in balance with their ecosystems, we fail to do so. We are taking more from nature than it has to give. We wipe out animals and plants as a virus might invade and kill a host. We are destroying our host, the earth.
Our brain has been our most successful tool for survival. The funny thing is that our mind has developed to such a degree that we have thought up solutions to more survival problems. We are for the first time in earth's history changing nature to suit our comfort and desires. Being a human, I do like the advancement of technology and medicine as we nave the chance to survive longer and sometimes feel less pain. After all, nature is cruel and we can soften its blow through these inventions. However, people surviving genetic faults or illness, could they be actually making the gene pool more “dirty” and could even more people in the future suffer due to an increase in faulty DNA? It seems that even though we deal with a short-term problem we could be causing more. Are we being kind to be cruel?
We are lucky enough to own a brain complex enough to think and create. But we fail to realize the only way to really survive is through respect of our host, the earth, and working with it as the only way a living thing can benefit is by benefiting its host as it depends on it to survive.
1.According to the passage, what characteristics do humans and viruses share?
A.They take and give. B.They expand and destroy.
C.They create and consume. D.They balance and survive.
2.What does the author think of modern technology and medicine?
A.They can help humans control nature. B.They can guarantee purer human DNA.
C.They may reduce humans' effect on the earth. D.They may bring humans more harm than good.
3.What is the author's purpose of writing the passage?
A.To appeal for humans' respect for nature. B.To put forward ways to advance medicine.
C.To talk about a film character, Agent Smith. D.To argue against comparing humans to viruses.
Everyone procrastinates(拖延). “It's part of the human condition, ”says procrastination researcher Tim Pychyl. “We want to feel good now. The way to do that is avoid the task.” He admits that in the short term, procrastination is powerfully rewarding. The present self-benefits, of course, but not the future self.
His research has shown that people can procrastinate on nearly anything, even enjoyable tasks such as planning a vacation. Some people procrastinate cleaning. Some people procrastinate by cleaning. The top tasks people delay are advancing their careers, taking care of their health, and planning their finances.
One big factor for them is fear of failure, of not living up to expectations. Kelli Saginak, a 57-year-old health coach from Wisconsin, procrastinated about looking for a new job for years. That inability to take action only confirmed her belief that she would never do any better. “It's totally fear of judgment,” says Saginak. “If I don't take the risk, I don't have to face the judgment. Yet it's simply me judging myself.”
Some people embrace procrastination, insisting that the white-hot pressure of a last-minute completion makes his or her work better. But researchers have proved it wrong. “I did an experiment, putting procrastinators under restrictions of time. They did worse than non-procrastinators, but they thought they did better.” says Joseph Ferrari, a psychology professor. “Non- Procrastinators focus on the task that needs to be done. They have a stronger personal identity and are less concerned about what psychologists call social esteem's how others like us.”
Procrastination is usually not going to be good for you. Just thinking about what you haven't done may cause discomfort. So if you have been procrastinating on starting an exercise routine, just put on your walking shoes. If you've been putting off a work project, reread your boss's notes about it.
1.According to Tim Pychyl, people procrastinate because .
A.it simplifies the tasks B.it offers temporary relief
C.it allows more time for planning D.it benefits one's self development
2.What did Kelli Saginak mean by “Yet it's simply me judging myself”?
A.She has false expectations. B.She makes quick judgement.
C.She regrets taking no action. D.She values her present career.
3.What does Joseph Ferrari's experiment show?
A.Procrastinators usually lack confidence.
B.Procrastinators turn pressure into motivation.
C.Non-procrastinators care much about others 'feelings.
D.Non-procrastinators perform better within a time limit.
4.What is the author's attitude towards procrastination?
A.Favorable. B.Reserved. C.Opposed. D.Objective.
Fernando, Lucia, and their moms were heading downhill. Tired and hungry, Fernando was eager to have a rest and eat up the sandwich buried in his pack. Lucia desperately wanted to rest her tired feet and legs, which ached terribly from the challenging climb up the mountain. Mountain climbing was not her greatest talent.
Distracted by hunger pains and by the beautiful view of the valley below, Fernando didn't see the large fallen branch steps ahead of him. His foot caught on it, sending him down a steep path. After rolling to a stop, he knew something was wrong with his ankle.
His mom supported him as he tried to stand, but it was much too painful. They tried calling 911, but the surrounding trees blocked their cell phone signals. Analyzing their dilemma, the group decided that Lucia and her mom would climb back to the top of the mountain, where they would set off the emergency flares they carried. Lucia really began to worry when the group settled on this plan. She wasn't confident that her overtaxed muscles could carry her up the mountain a second time in one day!
Fernando's mom stayed with her son, and tried to make him as comfortable as possible. The air on the mountain was dry and turning cooler. She wrapped him in her jacket to keep him warm and periodically gave him sips of water.
Meanwhile, Lucia and her mom climbed up the mountain-again! A feeling of pride washed over Lucia when she finally made it to the mountaintop-she was tougher than she thought! Then pride turned to amazement when she spotted a helicopter approaching. Quickly, her mom fired a flare, and they shouted and waved to attract attention. The helicopter flew round to let them know that he had seen them. The plan nearer and the pilot circled had worked-they were going to get Fernando safely off the mountain!
1.What happened to Fernando?
A.His ankle got injured by accident. B.A branch knocked him on the head.
C.He went missing in the deep valley. D.He could find his sandwich nowhere.
2.Why did Lucia climb up the mountain again?
A.To signal for help. B.To wait for the helicopter.
C.To search for water. D.To look for Fernando's cellphone.
3.Which words can best describe Lucia's second climb?
A.Painful and fruitless. B.Dangerous but exciting.
C.Tiring yet worthwhile. D.Challenging and enjoyable.
假定你是李华，你的新西兰朋友Henry将随访华团来中国，发邮件向你询问中国有哪些著名古代名胜。请你回复邮件。内容包括:1.欢迎来访;2.重要名胜;3.愿意陪同参观。
注意:1.词数100左右;2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加:在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除:把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。
修改:在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意:1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词。2.只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。
In Britain and American, people were feeling depressed because the bad economic situation. Charlie understand their problems. His character “the little tramp”, knowing throughout the world, was poor but homeless. However, everybody loved he for his kind heart and a way he dealt with his difficult situation. Charlie Chaplin made people laugh at some of these terribly situations like being without food or money. He wrote to and directed some his own film and received an Oscar for his outstanding work.
A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms (习语), ________ my teacher said again and again that it was important.
One day, I ________ to meet an Englishman on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about ________ I was studying English, the foreigner shook his head, saying, “You don’t say! You don’t say!" I was ________. I thought, perhaps this was not a (n) ________ topic. Well, I’d________ change the topic. So I said to him, “Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall? ________ the way, have you ever ________ there?”
“Certainly. Everyone back home will________ me if I leave China without seeing it. It is great!”
I said, “The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world. It is a place of ________. ”But soon I was ________ again by his words,“________!” I couldn’t help but _______ , “Why did you ask me not to talk about it?”
“Well, I ________ ask you to do so,” he answered, gently surprised.
I said, “Didn’t you say ‘You don’t say’?”
Hearing this, the Englishman ________ to tears. He began to _______, “‘You don’t say!’ actually means ‘Really?’ It is an ________ of surprise. Perhaps you don’t pay attention to English_______.
Then I knew I had made a fool of ________. Since then I have been more________ with idioms.
1.A.though B.when C.what D.because
2.A.decided B.longed C.stopped D.happened
3.A.what B.when C.how D.which
4.A.pleased B.angry C.scared D.surprised
5.A.proper B.interesting C.ideal D.polite
6.A.to B.better C.not D.like
7.A.On B.In C.With D.By
8.A.gone B.arrived C.seen D.been
9.A.look up to B.think highly of C.be proud of D.laugh at
10.A.fun B.interest C.pleasure D.beauty
11.A.cut off B.cut up C.cut in D.cut down
12.A.Really B.It was great C.You don’t say D.You are right
13.A.ask B.to ask C.asking D.asked
14.A.won’t B.don’t C.couldn’t D.didn’t
15.A.laughed B.cried C.moved D.came
16.A.explain B.shout C.prove D.say
17.A.experience B.expression C.explanation D.example
18.A.learning B.idioms C.language D.phrases
19.A.me B.myself C.him D.himself
20.A.patient B.anxious C.careful D.worried
