The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms More than 2000 years ago, ancient Chinese people created this overall framework to mark the annual passage of time based on observations of the sun's motion. In the international meteorological field (国际气象界) the 24 solar terms are honored as “the fifth great invention of China”.
The 24 solar terms begins with Start of Spring followed by Rain Water, Insects Awaken...and ends up with Minor Cold and Major Cold. Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice are two days of the year with the longest and shortest amount of daylight respectively, while Spring Equinox and Autumn Equinox are days with the most balanced amount of daytime and nighttime. Through these four parts, a year is divided into four part: Spring Summer, Autumn and Winter.
In ancient times this system not only guided agricultural production, instructing farmers to expect the changes in temperature, spring planting and autumn harvest but also directed Chinese folk customs. For example, Winter Solstice was the first one set among 24 terms and later developed into a festival to worship Heaven and ancestors. Every year at Winter Solstice, emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties would go to the temple of Heaven to hold a ceremony to worship Heaven, for good weather for their crop, and peace and prosperity for the country.
Nowadays, the 24 solar terms could not only be applied to farming but also guide Chinese everyday life. They remind people to adapt to the changes in the seasons through suitable food and cultural rituals (文化仪式). Seasonal customs are sill the rage such as eating spring pancakes at Start of Spring, sweeping ancestors' tombs at Qing Ming, gaining weight to keep warm at Start of Autumn and eating nutritious food to store energy at Start of Winter. They have actually became important rituals in Chinese life.
The 24 solar terms is a common cognitive system among Chinese. It reflects the emotional bond, the wisdom and creativity of Chinese, who respect and live in harmony with nature.
1.How were the 24 solar terms created in ancient China?
A.They were the results of leaning from each other.
B.They were set based on the movements of the sun.
C.They were created according to the change of the weather.
D.They were gradually developed from the practical experience.
2.What is a common feature of Spring Equinox and Autumn Equinox?
A.They both have the same amount of day and night.
B.They were set only for guiding agricultural activities.
C.They both play the role in dividing a day into day and night
D.They are the days on which the length of a day is longer than night.
3.What does the underlined word in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A.Cheer B.Honor. C.Appreciation. D.Fashion.
4.What’s the text mainly about?
A.The reasons for the recognition of the 24 solar terms.
B.The invention of the 24 solar terms in ancient China.
C.The origin and influence of the 24 solar terms in China
D.The ways to handle the relationship between human and nature.
The idea of turning recycled plastic bottles into clothing is not new. During the last five years, a large number of clothing companies, businesses and environmental organizations have started turning plastics into fabric to deal with plastic pollution. But there’s a problem with this method. Research now shows that microfibers could be the biggest source of plastic in the sea.
Dr. Mark Browne in Santa Barbara, California, has been studying plastic pollution and microfibers for 10 years now. He explains that every time synthetic clothes go into a washing machine, a large number of plastic fibers fall off. Most washing machines can’t collect these microfibers. So every time the water gets out of a washing machine, microfibers are entering the sewers and finally end up in the sea.
In 2011, Browne wrote a paper stating that a single piece of synthetic(合成的) clothing can produce more than 1, 900 fibers per wash. Browne collected samples from seawater and freshwater sites around the world, and used a special way to examine each sample. He discovered that every single water sample contained microfibers.
This is bad news for a number of reasons. Plastic can cause harm to sea life when eaten. Studies have also shown that plastic can absorb other pollutants.
Based on this evidence, it may seem surprising that companies and organizations have chosen to turn plastic waste into clothing as an environmental “solution.” Even though the science has been around for a while, Browne explains that he's had a difficult time getting companies to listen. When he asked well-known clothing companies to support Benign by Design-his research project that seeks to get clothes that have a bad effect on humans and the environment out of the market, Browne didn’t get a satisfying answer. Only one women’s clothing company, Eileen Fisher, offered Browne funding.
1.What has happened during the past five years?
A.Fabric has become much stronger. B.Plastic pollution has been less serious.
C.Many plastic bottles have been reused. D.Microfibers have been greatly improved.
2.What does Browne think of washing synthetic clothes?
A.It is adding microfibers to the clothes.
B.It is worsening environmental problems.
C.It is making synthetic clothes last longer.
D.It is doing great damage to washing machines.
3.What can be inferred about Browne’s Benign by Design research project?
A.It has achieved great success. B.It hasn’t got anything done.
C.It is known to very few people. D.It is facing some difficulties.
4.What’s the best title for the text?
A.It’s important to learn to recycle
B.It’s never easy to solve pollution problems
C.Recycled plastic clothing: solution or pollution?
D.Are human beings moving forward or backward?
Cory Nichol's whole life changed after he watched the documentary (纪录片) Hard Times. Lost on Long Island. This documentary follows four different families over six months as they struggle with unemployment. Cory knew he had to help any way that he could.
He founded an organization named “C the Difference”. The first step of his charity was to advertise. Using his own money, Cory had orange bracelets (手链) made. Now, he has sold the bracelets. A lot of people who are willing to donate bought them. “We've gotten donations from $5 to $500,” Cory said. “Every dollar really helps.”
Since founding the organization “C the Difference”, Cory has gotten the word out through e-mail and social media He has managed to get upwards of 7,500 and the amount will keep ring each month For Cox, his work is truly rewarding and he loves knowing that poll fortunate than him are really benefiting tom al the donations Once he said, “I was in the pantry (食品室) one time when a woman was taking food, and she was grateful for what I was doing That made me feel great.”
Cory's work has been truly remarkable. These past years he was recognized for “C the Difference” and was a recipient (获得者) of the New York State Prudential Spirit of Community Award. Cory was honored when he found out the news, and even more shocked When he found out that he was one of the only 102 winners out of the 28.000 applicants, As a recipient Cory got to travel to Washington D.C. with the other winners.
There are bright things in Cory's future. First, he wants to keep doing well in school. “I think school is really important to be successful in life.” In addition, Cory wants to keep “C the Difference” going through high school. “I am continuing to get donations, and to get younger kids and my peers involved to help each month”.
1.After watching the documentary, Cory _______.
A.set up a charity organization B.found a job in Long Island
C.donated money immediately D.felt the documentary interesting
2.Cory tried to raise enough money by _______.
A.wearing a ring and a bracelet B.spreading the word out
C.phoning to his friends D.collecting from his classmates
3.Cory felt _______ after he knew he was given an award.
A.proud and surprised B.interested and delighted
C.embarrassed and puzzled D.ashamed and frightened
4.We can infer from the passage that Cory will _______.
A.travel in Long Island alone B.stop raising money
C.study in Washington D.go on his charity
The UK's music festivals are world famous but there are plenty more to celebrate in the country.
Burns Night, Scotland
On 25 January, Scots celebrate the life and works of Scotland's national poet Robert Burns by holding a special Burns Supper. This can be a chance for friends to get together with a huge formal dinner. Guests take it in turn to recite Burns' poems or sing one of his songs.
Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye, Wales
For 10 days each May, the small town of Hay on-Wye on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales is filled with writers, filmmakers, musicians, and people who come to hear them talk and exchange ideas. The festival celebrates great writing of all genres (体裁) and it all takes place in a village in the town.
Camp Festival, Dorset
As a branch of a festival held in Dorset, it's one of the best family festivals in the UK Held every year in the grounds of the historic Lulworth Castle in Dorset, the festival includes top live music acts, but as the organizer say, “kids are king” at Camp Festival, with a wide variety of entertainment, workshops and fun for kids. The 2020 Camp Festival takes place from 25 to 28 July.
Guy Fawkes Day or “Bonfire Night”
All over the UK on 5 November, the British light bonfires and set off fireworks in their back gardens or, more commonly these days, at organized events in public parks. They celebrate the Catholic Guy Fawkes' failed attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament (议会院) on 5 November, 1605.
1.Which festivals are related to literature (文学)?
A.Hay Festival and Camp Festival. B.Bums Night and Hay Festival.
C.Burs Night and Guy Fawkes Day. D.Camp Festival and Guy Fawkes Day.
2.When does the festival most attractive to children take place?
A.In July. B.In May. C.In January. D.In November.
3.What does Guy Fawkes Day celebrate?
A.An impressive building. B.A successful adventure.
C.An organized game. D.A historical event.
阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。续写的词数应为150左右。
While driving, I sensed something wrong with my car. Pulling into the first parking lot I found, I stopped it and climbed out to assess the situation. My heart sank as I discovered that one of my rear（后面的）tires was flat.
I’d bought the secondhand car several months before, but it didn’t include a spare tire. Although I knew I needed to purchase one, my schedule was so tight that I hadn’t done it yet. Because I was working full-time in the emergency room at a local hospital and taking evening classes at a university fifty miles away.
Now here I was, alone forty miles from home. In those days, cell phones were a luxury. I had no way to call for assistance.
My spirits grew darker the minute I checked the place where I had pulled over. No one was around, except a rusty, red truck. It was getting dark. I had two options：stay in my car until morning or start walking in hopes of finding a convenience store with a pay phone. Neither option appealed to me.
I was about to grab my purse and set off on foot when a man came out from what seemed to be a law office. Pulling a set of keys from his pocket，he locked the office door，and then turned and saw me standing next to my car. I must have looked scared and confused as he headed straight toward me.
“Can 1 help you with anything?” he asked.
Judging from his appearance, I decided I could trust him.
“I have a flat tire but don’t have a spare,” I said, relieved to see him.
“I can help you remove the flat and then drive you to a tire shop to get it fixed,” he said.
I remembered the cautionary（告诫的）words my parents had drilled into my head：Never get in a car with a stranger.
“That’s okay,” I said. “Thanks anyway.”
假定你是学校英语俱乐部主席李华，你校要举办一场文艺演出，需要两个英语节目。请你写一个通知，征集节目，内容包括
1.节目形式（英文歌曲或者英文短剧）；
2.提供详细计划；
3.报名方式和截止时间。
注意：1.词数80左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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