-
1、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。
Dujiangyan is the (old) man-made water system in the world, and a wonder in the development of Chinese science. Built over 2, 200 years ago in what is now Sichuan Province in Southwest China, this amazing engineering (achieve) is still used today.
In ancient times, the region in which Dujiangyan now stands suffered regular floods (cause) by overflow from the Minjiang River. To help the victims of the flooding, Li Bing, the region governor, together with his son, decided to find effective solution. Li designed a series of channels built at different levels along Mount Yulei that would take away the floodwater while leaving the river flowing (natural). Better still, the extra water could be directed to the dry Chengdu Plain, making suitable for farming.
Once the system (finish), no more floods occurred and the people were able to live peacefully. Today, Dujiangyan is admired by scientists from around the world because of one feature. Unlike modern dams the water is blocked with a huge wall, Dujiangyan still lets water flow through the Minjiang River naturally, (enable) ecosystem (生态系统) and fish populations to exist in harmony.
-
2、When I studied in my high school, I did an experiment about how the temperature affected the growth of a plant. That experiment made me1 that science teaches us the domino effect (多米诺效应) in the environment. It teaches people our2 so we know where we are from. That day I3 decided to be a scientist and that will be my greatest ambition in life. Ever since that day I have studied harder4 in all my science-related subjects. After school I do much research on how I can become a 5 scientist in the future.
One of my6 in becoming a scientist is Barbara McClintock. She has been awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. At 25 she already had her PhD in botany and after that she started her7 as the leader in the development of maize cytogenetics (玉米细胞遗传学) and she was8 to that research for the rest of her life.
If I am lucky and given the9 to achieve my ambition as a scientist, I want to be like Doctor McClintock. She10 something that helped the other scientists11 the thing about genetics that did not just help her generation but also the future generation.
I know I will be able to achieve my12 as long as I put my heart and perseverance into it. If I am lucky enough to achieve my goal, I will share my13 with all the kids who also love science and want to become scientists. My future will be as14 as the stars in the night sky. My future is still far but I will make the most of all in the15 to achieve my greatest ambition of becoming a scientist.
(1)A 、recognize B 、suspect C 、treasure D 、wonder(2)A 、root B 、school C 、study D 、development(3)A 、lazily B 、easily C 、resolutely D 、partly(4)A 、potentially B 、particularly C 、separately D 、suitably(5)A 、popular B 、content C 、outstanding D 、careful(6)A 、persuasions B 、creations C 、generations D 、inspirations(7)A 、experience B 、career C 、science D 、compliment(8)A 、addicted B 、dedicated C 、attached D 、linked(9)A 、freedom B 、reason C 、opportunity D 、privilege(10)A 、scheduled B 、heard C 、predicted D 、discovered(11)A 、figure out B 、head out C 、carry out D 、stand out(12)A 、reward B 、fame C 、platform D 、ambition(13)A 、determination B 、information C 、fortune D 、brightness(14)A 、qualified B 、shining C 、brave D 、proud(15)A 、mind B 、lecture C 、heart D 、present -
3、Push yourselves beyond the limits
Limits are blocks between you and your success. You will face great resistance when attempting to break through the limits. It could be fear, lack of confidence, physical disabilities, and mental block. If you desire a life of success, you must face the resistance and push yourself beyond the limits. Here are tips for you to succeed.
Don't wait for external motivation to make the first move. Discover your inner motivation! It could be a motivational video, articles, TED Talks, or quotes. Ensure it is something that fills you with passion and drive to get things done. Inspiration can push you forward.
Take on a little more than you think you can. Pushing past your limits means taking on newer, harder challenges. If you're not challenging yourself to do bigger and better things regularly, you're only working within what you already can do.
Work on your goals a little each day. Chances are great that you need to build your empire brick by brick. That takes time and regular effort. That is, there is not a day that you don't work on your big goals, at least a little bit. It can be fifteen minutes dedicated to doing one small thing that will get you closer to that big thing you want to accomplish.
Find someone who supports you and encourages you to keep going. Having someone to support you can balance out the impact of any negative thinking that may limit you. It could be a life coach, friend, parent, or your wife or husband. They can help you make the push you need to get out of your comfort zone.
A. If you don't do this, your goals and dreams will remain out of reach.
B. Even small help makes a big difference when facing challenges.
C. That's just standing still without making any real progress.
D. A smart strategy is to follow the "No Zero Days" rule.
E. Progress comes step by step.
F. Find what truly excites you.
G. Motivate yourself.
-
4、According to Dr. John Swaddle, a professor at the Institute for Integrative Conservation at William & amp; Mary hundreds of millions of birds die every year from window collisions (碰撞).
However, if you put decals (贴花纸) or colorful stickers outside of your windows, the birds are more likely to see the barrier and therefore avoid it. Remember: never inside your window; always outside of your window.
"Double-glazed (双层的) windows reflect a lot of light, especially when you view them from a slight angle, as a flying bird would do,"Swaddle told Salon. He is the corresponding author of a recent study which tries to figure out how this basic reality of physics impacts on a bird's experience as it flies near a standard window. For their experiment, researchers had birds perform repeated and controlled flight trials near windows with film (薄膜) products, BirdShades film and Haverkamp film, respectively.
"In our collision avoidance trials, BirdShades increased window avoidance by 47% and the Haverkamp increased avoidance by 39%. But neither product was effective when the films were applied to the internal surface of windows," the authors concluded.
When breaking down the problem of avoiding window collisions from a bird's point of view, Swaddle explained, "The light and reflected imagery from the external surface of the glass is sufficient toobscure a film or decal that is stuck to the inner surface from being seen clearly."
If you want to protect birds from easily avoidable deaths without buying window film products, there are other solutions. Swaddle recommended "pleasing fritted glass that could be used in new construction and which is also bird-friendly". Besides, he notes that screens can be helpful as well, not only by limiting reflectiveness but by providing birds with a cushion if they make impact. It is also possible to use everyday household objects to signal to birds that there are barriers—netting, bits of string, colorful stickers, and paint. These can all be used to this effect.
(1)、What can we do to reduce bird window collisions?A、Decorating the inside of windows with decals. B、Applying stickers to the outside of windows. C、Selecting windows with two layers of glass. D、Keeping windows closed at night.(2)、What are the researchers trying to figure out in their experiments?A、The effective ways to avoid collisions. B、The eco-friendly glass and films designed for birds. C、The relationship between light bounce and bird window collisions. D、The responses of birds when they suddenly hitting the shiny windows.(3)、Which of the following can replace the underlined word "obscure" in Paragraph 5?A、Apply. B、Shade. C、Preserve. D、Discover.(4)、What could we learn from the last paragraph?A、Solutions to prevent birds from hitting windows. B、Methods to lower the cost of windows. C、Eco-friendly glass materials. D、Bird-attracting objects. -
5、Scientists have discovered a new and renewable source of water on the moon for future explorers in lunar samples from a Chinese mission.
Water was stored in tiny glass beads (珠子) in the lunar dirt where meteorite (陨石) impacts occur. These shiny, multicolored glass beads were in samples returned from the moon by China in 2020. The beads range in size from the width of one hair to several hairs; the water content was just a very small part of that, according to Hui HeJiu of Nanjing University, who took part in the study.
Since there are billions if not trillions of these impact beads, that could amount to substantial amounts of water, but mining it would be tough, according to the team. "Yes, it will require lots and lots of glass beads. There are lots and lots of beads on the moon," said Hui in an email.
"These beads could continually yield water thanks to the constant bombardment by hydrogen in the solar wind. The findings are based on 32 glass beads randomly selected from lunar dirt returned from the Chang'e 5 moon mission. Therefore, more samples will be studied," said Hui.
These impact beads are everywhere, the result of the cooling of melted material pushed out by incoming space rocks. Water could be got by heating the beads, possibly by future robotic missions. "More studies are needed to determine whether this would be feasible and, if so, whether the water would be safe to drink. This shows water can be recharged on the moon's surface…a new water reservoir on the moon," said Hui.
Previous studies found water in glass beads formed by lunar volcanic activities, based on samples returned by the Apollo moonwalkers more than a half-century ago. These, too, could provide water not only for use by future crews, but for rocket fuel.
(1)、Why is it tough to collect water from the glass beads on the moon?A、The temperature of the beads is high. B、The beads are extremely tough to break. C、The beads are so tiny that they are invisible. D、The beads contain only a tiny amount of water.(2)、Why are glass beads constantly producing water?A、Because of the continuous hydrogen from the solar wind. B、Because of the huge number of glass beads on the moon. C、Because of the influence of meteorite. D、Because of glass beads getting hot.(3)、What does Hui intend to express in paragraph 5?A、Researchers must conduct further investigations about water on the moon. B、The moon's water resources should be used to create electrical energy. C、The water on the moon could be accessible to explorers someday. D、The moon's water is collected in a reservoir.(4)、Which title fits the passage best?A、Scientists Carried out an Investigation about Water On The Moon B、China Achieved Lunar Sample Collection Successfully C、Glass Beads Could Serve as Water Storage Containers D、Scientists Has Found Water in Lunar Glass Beads -
6、On her 53rd birthday, Debra Ferrell received the usual well-wishes on Facebook, but she also got some unusual messages. One was about a family in Minnesota who had just lost their four-year-old son to cancer. His older brother, autistic (自闭症) and nonverbal, was struggling with grief. They were reaching out to Ferrell, seeking any possible support. "Could you bring him some comfort?" they asked with deep sadness.
Ferrell's heart ached when she read the message. She knew she had to do something. She sent them a wind chime (风铃) with the message "Listen to the wind and know that I am near." written on the clapper. It now hangs in the four-year-old's bedroom, where his brother can go to listen to it whenever he wants. Ferrell says, "I hope it brings him some comfort. Sometimes, a small gesture can mean the world to someone going through a tough time."
This is not the first time that Ferrell decided to give gifts for her birthday. In fact, for her 47th birthday in 2014, she founded Love with Skin On, an organization devoted to doing good deeds near her home in Roanoke, Virginia, and beyond. Its motto is simple: Be Love, Do Stuff. "I believe that small acts of kindness can make a big difference," Ferrell explains. "It's amazing to see the joy on people's faces when you do something unexpected for them."
To celebrate her 53rd birthday, Ferrell decided to commit 53 random acts of kindness by the end of her birth month. She put out a call on her Facebook page, asking for information on people who could use a little help. Over the years, she has reached out and touched well over 100 strangers, some found through Facebook callouts, others with help from her grandkids. In another act of giving, she shares her favourite inexpensive and creative gift ideas on Pinterest for others to use. Her grandkids often join her on these missions, making it a family affair. "It's amazing to see the joy on people's faces," she says. "And it's even more rewarding when my grandkids are involved. They learn the value of kindness and compassion."
Ferrell funds all these acts of kindness herself. She buys gift cards, makes pay-it-forward purchases at drive-throughs, sends care packages, and even covers the gas to deliver these surprises. Her family often gives her extra birthday cash, jokingly warning her not to spend it on others, but she always does. "I got a couple of Amazon gift cards for my birthday this year and was like YESSS!" she says with a laugh. "It's my party, and I'll give if I want to!"
(1)、On Deba Ferrell's 53rd birthday, what did she receive?A、Invitations to give a speech at a community event. B、Beautiful birthday gifts from Love with Skin On. C、Unique birthday wishes with moving stories. D、Messages calling for help.(2)、What does Deba Ferrell do on Pinterest?A、She lets her grandkids participate in family activities. B、She introduces innovative ideas. C、She buys presents for strangers. D、She distributes care packages.(3)、What description matches Deba Ferrell most accurately?A、Warm-hearted and generous. B、Aggressive and demanding. C、Modest and cautious. D、Logical and cold.(4)、What meaning does the story express?A、The significance of founding organizations. B、The pleasure of giving expensive gifts. C、The power of small acts of kindness. D、The desire for social media fame. -
7、Here are the books that often appear on high-school reading lists for 12th-grade students, and are often discussed in greater depth in college literature courses. The books on this list are important introductions to world literature.
The Seagull
By Anton Chekhov
Price: $40.4
The book is a scene-of-life read set in the Russian countryside at the end of the 19th century. All characters are dissatisfied with their lives. Some want love. Some want success. No one, however, ever seems to get happiness. Some people view The Seagull as a tragic (悲剧的) play about always unhappy people. Others see it as a humorous and bitter book, making fun of humans' foolishness.
Candide
By Voltaire
Price: $48.6
Voltaire offers his view of society in Candide. The book was published in 1759, and it is often considered the author's most important work. A simple-minded young man, Candide is sure his world is the best of all worlds, but a trip around the world opens his eyes about what he believes to be true.
Jane Eyre
By Charlotte Bronte
Price: $128.6
Charlotte Bronte's heroine was one of the first in English literature to serve as first-person narrator (讲述者) of her own life story. Jane falls in love with a rich man, Rochester, but on her own terms, and only after he has proven himself worthy of her.
The Bluest Eye
By Toni Morrison
It tells a story of Pecola Breedlove, a young African American girl who dreams of having blue eyes-a sign of acceptance in a world ruled by white conceptions of beauty.
(1)、What are the characteristics of the The Seagull?A、The characters live a satisfying life. B、People's viewpoints on it differ significantly. C、Every character ultimately makes their dreams true. D、It focuses on American life in the final years of the 1800s.(2)、What changed Candide's view of the world?A、A book he came across unexpectedly. B、A dream he experienced in his sleep. C、A misfortune he encountered in life. D、A global journey.(3)、Which would you choose if you want to read a story about a girl who wants to be beautiful?A、The Bluest Eye. B、The Seagull. C、Jane Eyre. D、Candide. -
8、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。
Animated Film "Chang An" Love Letter to Golden Age of Poetry
A Chinese animated (动画) film, Chang An, featuring some of China's most well-known poets has been a surprise hit at the box office. Since its release on July 8, the film (fetch) over 700 million yuan, leading the domestic box office over the weekend. It is also a success by (arouse) enthusiasm for poetic romance in the hearts of moviegoers.
The film is set by in the Tang dynasty, is often seen as a golden age in Chinese history from 618A.D.to 907 A.D. due to its (economy) and cultural prosperity, describing the stories of Gao Shi and Li Bai, their struggles to better themselves and society in the Tang dynasty.
Sitting in cinemas (crowd) with moviegoers of all age groups, the audience eagerly recited poetry alongside the actors on screen as they headed down memory lane. The movie is undoubtedly a masterpiece showing characteristics of Chinese culture to the world. "The most fascinating part of the film is realizing that these familiar names were not just great poets real people with flesh and blood," Liao Kun, a Guangdong resident who watched the movie Saturday, told Sixth Tone.
Zhou Jing, the chief director, (stress) after the film's debut (首秀), "We created Chang'an to explore into the limitless treasures of Chinese culture through animation." Xie Junwei, who co-directed the movie with Zou Jing, said the film was aimed at increasing (aware) among young Chinese of traditional Chinese culture and history. "We want to tell the stories of the brilliant figures to young people through an animated film so that they can have a deeper understanding and more enthusiasm our history and classic works," Xie told domestic media Beijing Daily.
-
9、It's often the simple things in life that make the most significant impact on us. It was late one afternoon in mid-September. My three-month-old son was napping in his1. As I wandered through our living room, I2 to look out of my balcony window. Puddles(水坑)had3 on the ground and the rain had slowed.
Down below4 a boy of about four. Filled with a mixture of5 and happiness, he stomped (踩) through the puddle, mud and water flying. He walked, stomped, splashed through that puddle6, happily enjoying what mother nature had left for him.
Not more than ten feet away stood his mother. She didn't scold him.7, she watched with a pleasant smile on her face. She showed no8 for a little mud and for the laundry she would later have to do. As for me, it was a (n)9 moment that changed the way I will forever view my role as a mother.
The little boy probably will10 each afternoon that his mother takes him outside, as he11. He may not remember each little thing that happens each time his mother lets him12 his world. But he will remember that his mother13 him and he will know that she helps him to learn and grow in a pleasant and fun environment.
Maybe we can all learn from the innocence of14 that views a rainstorm not as something to run through or to avoid, but something meant to explore, to15 and to love.
(1)A 、desk B 、bed C 、toy D 、bench(2)A 、attempted B 、subscribed C 、happened D 、yielded(3)A 、formed B 、left C 、saved D 、collected(4)A 、waved B 、trembled C 、stood D 、slid(5)A 、suspicion B 、fascination C 、ambition D 、expectation(6)A 、by and by B 、more or less C 、now and then D 、over and over(7)A 、Instead B 、However C 、Therefore D 、Also(8)A 、concern B 、respect C 、desire D 、interest(9)A 、embarrassing B 、confusing C 、touching D 、exhausting(10)A 、experience B 、remember C 、forget D 、recall(11)A 、grows up B 、loses heart C 、turns in D 、cries out(12)A 、visit B 、explore C 、find D 、understand(13)A 、loves B 、helps C 、scolds D 、kisses(14)A 、youth B 、childhood C 、majority D 、adulthood(15)A 、await B 、share C 、stop D 、enjoy -
10、Research shows that infectious diseases can be caused by pathogens (病原体) that enter the body through a wide range of methods. .
Wash your hands
When it comes to preventing the spread of infectious diseases, proper hand hygiene (卫生) is vital. and from there to your eyes and mouth where they can gain access to inside your body. Thus, washing your hands is one of the first steps to take to reduce the transfer of infectious agents.
Avoid touching your face, eyes, and nose
People tend to touch their face several times throughout the day. This is when the infectious agents in your hands gain access to your body., the eyes, the nose and the mouth do allow.
Prepare and store food safely
Some pathogens can be transferred into your body via food (so called foodborne illnesses)., it can multiply and cause illness. Thus, it is vital you prepare and store all food appropriately.
Travel wisely
Be aware of the risks of infection that increase when you travel. Some infections may be more common in places where you are traveling compared to where you live. Talk to your doctor about important vaccinations to get before traveling..
A. If you are ever exposed to the pathogen
B. Pathogens are easily transferred (转移) to your skin
C. This allows you to be more prepared to the native pathogens
D. With some healthy habits, you can keep many illnesses at bay
E. Once food is consumed and the pathogen gains access to your body
F. Understanding infectious diseases helps you manage your risk factors
G. Where an undamaged skin does not allow transfer of pathogens into the body
-
11、To solve a big environmental problem, chemists in the Czech Republic have been thinking small. Really small. Their new minirobot has one purpose: to help clean up tiny bits of plastic polluting waterways across the globe.
Each new robot is no bigger than the tip of a sharpened pencil. They are magnetic (有磁性的) and shaped like stars. When sunlight hits them, they produce chemical reactions that push them through water in a specific direction. When they find a piece of plastic, they stick to it and start to break it down. When the light goes out, they let go and are free to be used again.
"This work is great," says Douglas Blackiston at Tufts University in Medford, Mass. He's a biologist who did not work on the project but knows about such devices. He's been designing robots out of living cells, including some that might help with pollution cleanup. Speaking of the new one, he mentions that, "These robots can eat plastic. They chew it up. Or they can recover it and be collected with a magnet. Scientists love robots with all these capabilities. "
Chemist Martin Pumera at the Czech University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague led the project. He studies ways to build microrobots. About a decade ago, he says, scientists began developing tiny bots that could move themselves in water. Then, they had to find them a mission and thought "Let's make them do something useful." Since then, Pumera has focused on the problem posed by microplastics, which are everywhere—from the bottom of the ocean to air blowing onto ice atop mountains. They've turned up in drinking water, both bottled and tap water, and some studies estimate that trillions of pieces of plastic end up in the world's waters. The plastic has many sources, from drinking straws and shopping bags to laundry and cleaning wipes. Plastic doesn't easily degrade or fall apart, and that's always been one of its appeals.
Pumera says his final goal is to make cheap and environmentally friendly robots that can be used anywhere in the world.
(1)、What do the new robots mainly do?A、To collect tiny bits of plastic in the sea B、To push the pollution in water away C、To help do research into the plastic D、To deal with the plastic in water(2)、How do the new robots get powered?A、By stars B、By plastic C、By sunlight D、By living cells(3)、Why did Pumera take part in the project?A、Because of public attention to the plastic B、Because of the challenges from the plastic C、Because he was asked to do so by other scientists D、Because he was inspired by the invention of microrobots(4)、What is the best title of the article?A、Small robots, big dreams B、No plastic in water anymore! C、Robots, winners against plastic D、The fight between robots and plastic -
12、Called "America's wolf", the red wolf is the only large predator whose historic range is found entirely within the United States, stretching from Texas to New England. But hunting gradually reduced its range, and it was declared extinct in the wild in 1980.
Recovery efforts in the wild began in 1987 on the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. In a ground-breaking successful experiment, eight captive (圈养的) wolves were released this year into North Carolina, eventually growing into a population over 100, reaching a peak of around 120 wolves in 2012. But illegal hunting and management changes by the Fish and Wildlife Service resulted in their numbers plummeting.
In the spring, conservationists celebrated a small bit of good news when four captive-born pups (幼兽) were placed into a cave and successfully adopted by a wild red wolf mother. Meanwhile, another four adults were released into the wild. The pups are thought to be still alive and healthy. But the adults didn't go well. In the months after release, three were struck by cars and killed, and the fourth was fatally shot on private land.
To boost the population after these deaths, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced in November that it planned to release nine adult red wolves into their recovery area this winter, land within and surrounding two wildlife reserves.
The Service also recently announced it would withdraw a 2018 proposal to shrink (缩小) the red wolves' protected area in North Carolina by 90 percent, after a lawsuit accused the agency of going against the Endangered Species Act. Ron Sutherland of the Wildlands Network says it's crucial that the agency has abandoned this wrong-headed proposal. And yet the situation now is even more urgent than it was in 2018 — this should launch the conservation community in the U. S. into crisis mode to save this species and bring it back from the extinction.
(1)、What does the underlined word "plummeting" in paragraph 2 mean?A、Promising. B、Declining. C、Multiplying. D、Increasing.(2)、What can we infer from paragraph 3?A、The released wolves lived well. B、The population boosted after the release. C、The red wolf faced greater threat than before. D、The released red wolves still needed protection.(3)、What would the Service do to save red wolves?A、Shrink the red wolves' reserves. B、Make a proposal to protect the red wolves. C、Put some red wolves in some specific places. D、Force the protected area into the state of emergency.(4)、What does the text focus on?A、The protection of red wolves. B、Challenges faced by red wolves. C、Reasons for red wolves extinction. D、The relationship between red wolves and humans. -
13、Maryton College Public Lecture Series
Join us for our 9th season of free lectures in 2024. All lectures start at 11:15 A.M. Doors open at 10:30 A.M. Seating is strictly on a first-arrival basis, so plan to come early. Call (555) 757-4310 if you have any questions.
March 30 Melville Hall
Nation of Ulysses: James Joyce and the Great American Novel
Dr. Carl Morris
One of the country's foremost experts on modern American literature, Dr. Morris will discuss the influence of Irish novelist and poet James Joyce on the modern American novel.
April 5 Science Hall, Room 130
Beaches in Peril: Maryton's Human and Animal Populations in Conflict
Dr. Elizabeth Thorogood
A Maryton College biology instructor and Life Sciences Department chair, Dr. Thorogood will describe the impact that booming residential construction is having on Maryton's coastal wildlife.
April 12 Maryton School of Business, Room 255
Europe and the Italian Perspective
Silvio Paretti
Mr. Paretti, who served as the Italian ambassador to the United States for six years, will present an insightful overview of recent political and economic upheavals (动荡) within the European Union.
April 19 Lecture Room 4
Men on the Moons? — The possibility of life on Jupiter's moons
Karen Godwin
Famous for her radio show "Science and the Stars," Ms. Godwin discusses recent discoveries about the moons of Jupiter and the possibility of life beyond the Earth.
(1)、What will be involved in Dr. Thorogood's lecture?A、The stars beyond the earth. B、The trend of the American novel. C、The conflict between human and wildlife. D、The present serious situations in Europe.(2)、Whose lecture is intended for the students interested in space?A、Silvio Paretti's. B、Dr. Elizabeth Thorogood's. C、Dr. Carl Morris's. D、Karen Godwin's.(3)、Which rule do the lecture series require students to follow?A、First come, first served. B、Book a seat in advance. C、Make a detailed schedule. D、Pay to attend the lectures. -
14、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。
Huangshan-based lacquerware artisan Gan Erke has devoted his life to reviving (复兴) ancient lacquer techniques. His journey began at a local arts and crafts factory, he noticed a gap between traditional Chinese lacquerware and modern global standards. This led him to revive the nearly lost rhinoceros leather (xi pi) lacquer technique, (inspire) by a brief description in a Ming Dynasty text. After (year) of experimentation, he successfully recreated and enhanced the technique by adding gold and increasing layers (层) from six to up to 102, (achieve)greater depth and movement.
One of his (influence) works is a round box with complex rhinoceros leather patterns. The surface is polished to mirror-like finish, reflecting light beautifully. Another example is a tea container, to which Gan applied the same high standards, ensuring perfect polish both inside and out. Each piece takes over a year (complete), as Gan aims for perfection.
Gan's works have earned (recognize) at home and abroad. In 2011, one of his rhinoceros leather lacquered round boxes (add) to the permanent collection at Beijing's Palace Museum. Major museums the British Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the US have also acquired his pieces.
-
15、It's quite common that when a stranger is kind to us while travelling, it's obvious that the favour cannot be returned. Soon, we will be physically1 and lost to each other forever. It's an2 with no past and likely no future.
Yet, there are3. I still remember a family trip to a scenic spot in Georgia. Several ladies were taking pictures there, one of whom was4 with a bunch of flowers. I truly liked them, and went up to her, saying how lovely they were. Immediately, she5 to give me the flowers to take a picture with. I smiled6 as my mom took out her camera. Yet this stranger's kindness didn't end there: the woman insisted that I7 the flowers — she saw that they8 my happiness.
People usually receive flowers from loved ones, and it's so9 to receive them from a stranger! The flowers gradually withered (枯萎) away, but the10 will stay with me forever. This small gift became a powerful11 of the goodness that people can12 to others.
I13 a lot of people on that trip, but I still remember this experience, which shows that a14 action can go a long way. The flowers made my day, and every time I think back to it, the world seems a bit15.
(1)A 、restless B 、active C 、helpless D 、distant(2)A 、encounter B 、assumption C 、achievement D 、inspiration(3)A 、alternatives B 、doubts C 、exceptions D 、rules(4)A 、running B 、posing C 、painting D 、performing(5)A 、resolved B 、hesitated C 、offered D 、agreed(6)A 、joyfully B 、awkwardly C 、nervously D 、secretly(7)A 、purchase B 、keep C 、throw D 、deliver(8)A 、took away B 、put out C 、contributed to D 、stood for(9)A 、stressful B 、natural C 、odd D 、precious(10)A 、lesson B 、memory C 、wisdom D 、friendship(11)A 、shadow B 、feature C 、reminder D 、purpose(12)A 、award B 、introduce C 、lend D 、show(13)A 、passed B 、supported C 、missed D 、changed(14)A 、brave B 、simple C 、timely D 、firm(15)A 、smaller B 、richer C 、safer D 、brighter -
16、Motivating yourself is hard. If you've ever failed to reach an attainable goal because of delay or lack of commitment, I encourage you to read on.
Any goals you set for yourself should be specific. Studies have shown, for example, that when individuals make daily exercise commitments, they're more likely to increase their fitness levels. For instance, "walking 10,000 steps a day" is much better than "doing your best".
Some tasks are extremely challenging. In such cases, it can be helpful to create external motivators for yourself over the short-to-medium term. You might promise yourself a vacation for finishing a project or buy yourself a gift for losing weight. For instance, rewarding weight loss with junk food sets back progress.
When people work towards a goal, they usually start with strong motivation but then their effort decreases in the middle, when they are most likely to stop. If you divide your goal into smaller steps, like setting weekly instead of three-month targets, you'll have less time to fall into that unwanted decline.
The people who will best motivate you to accomplish certain tasks are not necessarily those who do the tasks well. Instead, they're folks who share a big-picture goal with you. Thinking of those people and our desire to succeed on their behalf can help provide the powerful motivation we need to reach our goals. A woman may find boring work rewarding if she feels she is providing an example for her daughter.
A. These approaches can help drive you forward.
B. As social beings, we can use social influence wisely.
C. But external rewards can backfire if mismatched with goals.
D. Luckily, shortening the middle can help change this pattern.
E. Concrete tasks are usually more effective than abstract ambitions.
F. Support from loved ones can turn boring tasks into meaningful acts.
G. Research has uncovered several ways to help you design smart rewards.
-
17、King Shahryar, betrayed (背叛) by his wife, decides to marry a new woman each night and have her killed by morning to ensure he is never betrayed again. Scheherazade volunteers to marry the king. Each evening, she begins an engaging story but stops at dawn, leaving him eager for more. Night after night, she keeps him attracted with new tales, and over 1,001 nights, the king falls in love with her and abandons his cruel ways.
This ancient tale from One Thousand and One Nights highlights storytelling's impact. Our recent research shows that strong storytelling skills can dramatically improve someone's well-being.
At its core, storytelling helps people find meaning from life's chaos. Studies show we shape our identities by turning experiences into personal stories. Skilled storytellers excel at two key skills: they need to connect events logically and they must learn to see the world through the eyes of their characters, understanding the "why" of what drives people. Applying these two skills to their own lives, skillful storytellers use the first to identify and pursue what gives their life meaning, while the second develops a mindset that prioritizes the "why" behind their actions over just the "how".
To illustrate this point, we conducted studies with 800 participants. We measured storytelling ability through self-reports, friend evaluations and expert reviews on lab experiments where each participant told one story about himself and the other with three given random words. In addition to these assessments of storytelling skills, we asked participants questions to get a sense of how meaningful they found life and whether they approached decisions with a "why" mindset rather than a "how" mindset.
Results consistently linked storytelling skills to stronger life meaning and goal clarity. Personality also mattered: people open to new experiences collected more interesting life stories, while shy people used storytelling to balance out their limited social interaction.
A strong "why" mindset connects with reduced stress and extended life. Storytelling also builds social connections. By helping people express their purpose and build relationships, stories may indirectly strengthen both mental and physical health.
Storytelling workshops, now popular globally, may do more than teach communication they could help participants redefine their life's direction.
(1)、Why does the author mention Scheherazade's stories in the first paragraph?A、To show Scheherazade's cleverness. B、To entertain readers with a classic tale. C、To introduce the topic of storytelling. D、To compare ancient and modern stories.(2)、What does the "why" mindset primarily focus on?A、Completing daily tasks efficiently. B、Avoiding stressful situations. C、Memorizing random life events. D、Understanding life's purpose.(3)、What were participants asked to do in the lab experiment?A、Share personal interests in a group. B、Tell a story with words provided. C、Reflect on the "why" behind their actions. D、Connect events into a meaningful story.(4)、Which can be the best title for the text?A、Scheherazade's Survival in an Ancient Tale B、How People's Storytelling Abilities Develop C、Living a Meaningful Life through Storytelling D、Why Shy People Attend Storytelling Workshops -
18、Have you ever found yourself really wanting to change yet somehow remaining stuck in the same patterns? The answer might not be in your behaviors, but in your beliefs — specifically, the beliefs you have about yourself and who you are. This is what psychologists call self-concept inertia (惰性).
Self-concept inertia is the psychological resistance to changing our identity. Our self-concept is influenced by our narrative identity, which is made up of the stories we tell about ourselves. These narratives can go beyond simply describing who we are today — they can restrict us from being who we believe we're capable of becoming in the future. This means that even if we want to change, as long as we hold onto our old identities, we'll unintentionally resist making the changes we know we need to make to become the "new" version of ourselves.
Our self-concept doesn't yield easily, even to our conscious (有意识的) desires. When your behaviors contradict your self-image, you experience a state of psychological discomfort. For example, if you've always seen yourself as "not a morning person", successfully waking up at 5 a. m. creates tension with your established identity. So your brain has two options: Update your self-concept (hard) or abandon the new behavior (easier). As Carol Dweck discusses in her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, people with "fixed mindsets" tend to avoid challenges that might contradict their self-concept.
Yet your self-concept is malleable by design. Notice when you use a phrase like "I'm just not a ________ person". The absolute statement signals few changes will happen. Instead of "I'm not an organized person" (identity), try "I haven't developed strong organizational systems yet" (behavior). Identity statements feel permanent, but behavior statements feel changeable. Identifying these habits also gives you insight into a solution you can practice and improve.
Self-concept inertia weakens when we hold our identities lightly. When we see ourselves as works in progress rather than finished products, we create the psychological space needed for genuine transformation. The question isn't whether you can change — it's whether you're willing to let go of familiar limitations to discover what lies beyond them.
(1)、How does our narrative identity affect us?A、It defines our better future. B、It changes our self-concept. C、It limits our behaviour choices. D、It improves our previous selves.(2)、What does the example of waking up at 5 a.m. illustrate?A、The difficulty in getting rid of tension. B、The benefits of becoming an early riser. C、The conflict between behaviour and self-identity. D、The importance of following a strict daily routine.(3)、What does the underlined word "malleable" in paragraph 4 mean?A、Predictable. B、Available. C、Sustainable. D、Adjustable.(4)、What does the author advise people to do?A、Make perfect products. B、Avoid labelling yourself C、Monitor psychological changes. D、Attach importance to self-image. -
19、Writer Chloe Dalton discovered an unexpected teacher in nature when a damaged internet cable, chewed by a brown hare (野兔) in her countryside home, brought not annoyance but concern for the animal. This marked a significant shift for Dalton, whose book Raising Hare records her relationship with a hare she rescued in early 2021.
She discovered a newborn hare near her house, unguarded by a nest or its mother. At first, she left it, hot wanting to disturb nature's course. But when she returned hours later to find the hare still there, exposed to the rough weather and potential enemies, she nervously took it home, without any knowledge of hare care. She carefully fed it milk with a dropper. While there was plenty of rabbit advice online, hares were still mysterious.
Refusing to domesticate the hare, Dalton let it move freely in her home, adjusting her busy life to match its habits. Its simple life reshaped her view: "If I could get this much pleasure from something so simple," she reflects, "what else might be waiting to be discovered?" Their life together ended the strong focus on her busy life and brought a greater awareness of the environment.
In her book, Dalton gives historical context on the human-hare relationship and illustrates how horribly hares have often been treated. The brown hare population in Britain has declined 80 percent in the past century due to hunting and agriculture. The story provides a peaceful feeling with its delicate illustrations, but Dalton avoids idealizing nature, recognizing humans' influence on animals.
Animal encounter books are common, and the good ones act like peaceful countryside escapes. We already understand the basic outlines even without reading books with similar themes — Catherine Raven's Fox & I and Helen Macdonald's H Is for Hawk. But Dalton's weak animal is much lower on the food chain, adding more suspense to Raising Hare: Will the small creature survive until the story ends? Dalton's journey with her "weak companion" offers a reminder that healing (疗愈) often comes not from control, but from adjusting to nature.
(1)、What prevented Dalton from immediately rescuing the hare?A、Respect for nature. B、Lack of feeding knowledge. C、Attack from its enemies. D、Advice from conservationists.(2)、How did the hare influence Dalton's daily life?A、By damaging her home facilities. B、By reminding her to focus on writing. C、By requiring her constant care. D、By inspiring her to live a slow-paced life.(3)、What distinguishes Raising Hare from other animal stories?A、Its description of idealized nature. B、Its delicate illustrations of the hare. C、Its stimulation of readers' tension. D、Its focus on the knowledge of the hare.(4)、What is the text?A、A news report. B、A short story. C、A research paper. D、A book review. -
20、The Sellman Plantation is made up of 500 acres (英亩) of farmland and the historic Sellman House. The area is full of history just waiting to be explored, and that is exactly what volunteer scientists are doing as part of several active archaeology (考古) projects at the plantation.
The Archaeology Lab is staffed entirely by volunteers and college students. We encourage anyone who is interested to get in touch with us. As a volunteer, you'll have the opportunity to:
●dig in areas that scientists think contain objects that show how the local people lived.
●sort soil through big screens to find small items like old pipes, nails, and Indian artifacts (器物).
●smooth the units to reveal color and texture patterns that provide evidence of how the land was used.
●wash and identify recovered artifacts.
If you are interested in regularly volunteering, we encourage you to consider creating your own research project. You can:
●develop original research questions.
●create procedures to answer those questions.
●do the research with support from assistant volunteer scientists.
●write reports about the methods and findings.
Age and time commitment
Minimum age is 16.
Minimum time commitment is three 3-hour visits.
Days/times
The lab is active on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., but volunteers don't need to stay the entire day.
To sign up or for more information
Contact Rachael Mady, SERC Participatory Science Coordinator, at MadyR@si.edu or 443-482-2276.
(1)、What can volunteers do at the Archaeology Lab?A、Classify ancient documents. B、Uncover historical artifacts. C、Interview research assistants. D、Organize public exhibitions.(2)、What is an essential requirement for volunteering at the lab?A、Being at least 16 years old. B、Staying for the entire 6-hour workday. C、Participating every Wednesday. D、Writing reports on archaeological findings.(3)、What is the main purpose of this text?A、To promote tourism at Sellman Plantation. B、To train scientists in advanced techniques. C、To seek volunteers for historical studies. D、To explain the history of the Sellman House.