相关试卷

Ship cats are not a recent phenomenon. They have been serving on ships for almost as long as humans have been going to sea. Ancient Egyptians depicted them hunting from boats sailing down the Nile.

Cats' hunting skills on land made them valuable companions at sea. Rats and mice caused major problems on ships. Cats were a cheap and effective solution to these problems — and they were also good company. On long voyages, they could provide a vessel's crew with affection and softness in the harsh environment of a ship.

Not surprisingly, sailors developed plenty of beliefs around cat behavior. Seamen preparing to sail considered it good luck when cats chose to board their vessels. An even worse omen (预兆)? The sight of two cats fighting on a pier could be forewarning that those setting sail would die.

Though cats are known for their dislikes to water, their biology makes them surprisingly suited to life at sea. Unlike human sailors who drank lemon juice to prevent scurvy, cats can make their own vitamin C. Cats are also able to obtain most of the water they need from their prey, so they do not require a lot of potable water as human sailors do.

The long run of the ship cat was ended by stricter international quarantine laws imposed. Many countries required a lengthy quarantine period for disembarking cats. If local officials caught one sneaking off a ship, the captain could be fined or even placed under arrest.

A. But it was a dreadful sign indeed when a cat decided to jump ship.

B. Therefore, they can survive on a diet that lacks fruits and vegetables.

C. They polluted and consumed food, chewed through equipment, and spread disease.

D. And the cats made their way across the Mediterranean aboard Greek trading vessels.

E. And in the UK, the cats supplied to the Royal Navy even received a weekly allowance.

F. Since the beginning of the WWII, however, most navies of the world have adopted a similar policy.

G. However, following the end of the WWII, the special position that cats held on Navy ships began to decline.

Of course, artists themselves contributed to this myth. "Many artists credited their talents to the presence of some paranormal power." Whole movements of art have centered on the supposedly otherworldly nature of art. For example, the Romantic poets believed that art was a term that meant an ultimate expression of beauty and truth. The search for this ideal led them to explore both natural and divine themes in their works.

Another persistent view of art regarded its divorce from logic. Reason and logic were the province of scientists and philosophers, whereas creativity and insight were the area of the artists. The two separate aspects of the mind were supposed to remain distinct.

But in 1704, a major breakthrough occurred. Sir Isaac Newton, mathematician and physicist, published his study of light, Opticks. One of Newton's major discoveries was on the nature of color. Using a prism (棱镜), Newton found that white light is actually composed of all the colors of the rainbow. He even provided a scientific explanation for the presence of rainbows. The artistic community was shocked. A scientist had taken a beautiful and magical experience and reduced it to the simple refraction of beams of light through the prism of a raindrop. A scientist had ventured into their sacred territory.

More than a hundred years later, John Keats, one of the most famous Romantic poets, accused Newton of reducing beauty by "unweaving the rainbow." His colleague, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, famously remarked that the souls of five hundred Newtons would be needed to make one Shakespeare. And yet, from another perspective, Newton did not reduce the beauty of the rainbow; he enhanced it. In his search to uncover the secrets of the rainbow, Newton demonstrated the wonder, creativity, and inspiration of an artist. He also gave the world another opportunity to experience the sublime (绝妙的东西). Newton's discovery paved the way for the development of the science of spectroscopy (光谱学), a way of analyzing the chemical makeup of light. Now scientists can look at the stars and know their composition. The sense of wonder this ability creates is not much different from the wonder the poet or artist feels when staring at those same stars.

But the "Age of Authenticity" does not seem to have made us happier. Quite the reverse. One possible explanation for this paradox is that the lowering of self-control is an understandable but significant error in our collective thinking, and it takes us in exactly the wrong direction where happiness is concerned. Understanding how this happened can help you be happier in your own life.

From a psychological perspective, two brain systems govern self-management: the behavioral activation system, which drives reward-seeking, and the behavioral inhibition system, which avoids punishment. When activation rises or inhibition falls, self-control decreases; when inhibition rises or activation falls, self-control increases.

So which combination makes us happier overall — more of the behavioral activation system and less of the behavioral inhibition system, or the other way around? The answer is both. A team of eight psychologists showed this in a 2018 study on self-control in the Journal of Personality. The team fielded a series of undergraduate surveys. The researchers found that low levels of self-control were associated with the lowest levels of subjective well-being. Moving to a higher level of self-control increased the undergraduates' happiness. Interestingly, the researchers also discovered a complete lack of self-control was associated with slightly higher momentary well-being, which might lead to negative social consequences for others.

For your own well-being, and everyone's, increasing self-control might be much better than lowering it. If you want to increase your self-control, be aware of the forces around you that may lower the activity of the inhibition system in your brain and thus push you toward lower self-control, such as anonymity (匿名), and social power. If you're seeking to boost your self-control, shun any social media forum where your identity is hidden. If you possess an ability to publish material that many other people will read, see, or hear, you should ask yourself whether your desire to attract and retain an audience is leading you to abandon your privacy.

Aristotle once wrote that "virtues are formed in a man by his doing the actions." One important choice we have is to behave with either controlled grace or uncontrolled entitlement. Neither option is in reality more authentic than the other because, in becoming who we are through our choices, both paths are equally authentic; both embody who we've chosen to be as people. But only one path, that of controlled grace, leads to greater happiness for one and all.

"Are you doing that because it's National Stuttering Awareness Day?" I asked with excitement, eager to connect with other stutterers. When he asked how I knew that, I said I grew up with a stutter. He nodded, asking hopefully: "So your stutter has magically disappeared?" I paused. I understood why he assumed this — I sounded quite fluent. But even as we spoke, my stutter had influenced my speech, and that's why I'd misnamed International as National to avoid the tricky front sound that I continue to struggle with.

Data shows four percent of all children stutter, while only one percent of them stutter into adulthood-a 75 percent drop. But are the supposed ex-stutters completely free of their stuttering past? Actually, though the severity of my stutter has decreased with age, it has shaped my identity and affected my life tremendously, informing the way that I speak, interact and move around in the world.

Some define stutter as a disability because it is as constant and out of control as blindness or other disabilities. There's no pill, no surgery, no way to get rid of it, no "recovering" from it. But there is recovering from the shame and self-hatred that result from it. Some researchers have begun to argue that treatment for stutter shouldn't be centered around removing a person's stutter, but rather on reducing one's negative thoughts and behaviors surrounding it.

As for me, I'd say that my stutter has not "magically disappeared" because I've simply found ways to conceal (隐藏) it. But I have a better therapy now-I will grow alongside it, an identity inseparable from the way that I speak. Thinking about this, I decided to tell the man, who was still looking at me hopefully: "______."

Getting Started

To begin using the device, make sure it is fully charged. You can do this by connecting it to a power source with the included charging cable. Once the device is charged, press the power button to turn it on.

Using the Touchscreen

The device features a high-resolution touchscreen that allows you to easily navigate through menus and access different features. To interact with the touchscreen, simply tap or swipe your finger on the screen.

Navigation

To navigate through menus and apps, use your finger to swipe left or right. To select an option, simply tap on it. You can also use the on-screen back button to return to the previous screen.

Features

The device includes a variety of features that can help you accomplish a wide range of tasks. Here are some of the most useful features:

Email: Use the built-in email app to send and receive email messages.

Calendar: Keep track of your schedule with the included calendar app.

Camera: Capture photos and videos with the high-quality built-in camera.

Music: Play your favorite songs and playlists with the built-in music player.

Customization

You can customize the device to suit your preferences by changing settings such as the wallpaper, language, and sound effects. To access the settings menu, swipe down from the top of the screen and tap on the gear icon.

Conclusion

We hope this manual has been helpful in getting you started with your new electronic gadget. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact our customer support team for assistance.

Over the past decade, campaigners, supported by environmental studies, (encourage) us to buy local foods. This reduces "food miles," refers to the distance food travels from producer to retailer. They argue that the higher the food miles, the greater the carbon emissions. Therefore, buying local food has a (low) carbon footprint and is more environmentally friendly. However, the truth is more complex. We trust consider the entire farming process, including factors like fertilization and irrigation, not merely transportation.

In the quiet corner of the animal clinic, Dr. Emily Carter knelt beside Thunder, a rescue dog with a badly injured leg. (ease) his pain, she reached for a small jar containing a thick paste — a mixture made from Angelica sinensis (当归). "This is ancient wisdom meets modern care," she murmured, carefully applying the herbal remedy Thunder's wound. Day by day, her coworkers, (shock) by Thunder's rapid recovery, fell silent. Their initial skepticism was drowned by the amazing results.

My wallet tells the whole story of China's payment revolution. When I left the U. S. for Beijing in late 2008, my wallet (pack) with cash and credit cards. Back then, hailing a taxi or buying groceries meant counting bills or swiping cards. Today, my smartphone (handle) everything — from scanning QR codes at street markets to sharing restaurant bills, even (pay) rent. China's transformation into a cashless society hasn't just altered daily life here; it's redefining global standards for digital payments.

If I hadn't been a struggling violinist, I might have never become a writer. In fourth grade, my school had an orchestra program, and I eagerly signed up to learn the violin. I loved the idea of being in the orchestra and went to the music lessons every week.

The orchestra teacher, Mr. Black, was strict. He told us that if we damaged our instruments, we'd be kicked out of the program because the school couldn't afford the expensive pieces of the instrument. Unfortunately, I wasn't very good at the violin. One day, while practicing, the bridge of my violin flew off and the strings broke.

Scared of Mr. Black's reaction, I tried to fix it myself with some glue. But when he saw my crooked bridge, he told me I couldn't be in the orchestra anymore. Instead, he suggested I join the singing club.

I did switch to the chorus club, where I stayed, thinking I had found my place. I enjoyed singing with others, even though I didn't have a great voice. And as luck would have it, the elementary school sing club automatically fed into the junior high chorus. We had lots of chances to give performances. Instead of a violinist, I became a singer in an orchestra. Don't be confused. My singing was not outstanding, but in the midst of so many others, I could blend (融合).

One Monday after a big performance, my English teacher Ms. Rose asked if anyone was interested in writing an article about his or her singing experience.

注意：

1.续写词数应为150左右；

2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Paragraph 1. For some reason, I raised my hand instantly.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph 2. The following year I became the editor of the school newspaper, considering that I had found my calling.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1.活动内容；

2.活动反响。

注意：写作词数应为80左右。

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Million Pound Bank Note is a famous story by Mark Twain, one of the greatest figures in American literature, kwown as his humor and social criticism. The story is ironic masterpiece on Wealth and Human Nature, (explore) the absurd power of money through the journey of Henry Adams, a penniless American (stick) in London.

Two wealthy brothers, Roderick and Oliver, had an (argue) on whether a man can survive for a month only with a million-pound note. Henry, landing in Britain(accident) was chosen as their "experiment subject". He received the note but was forbidden to open the accompanying letter explaining its purpose.

In Act 1, Scene 3, Henry's despair contrasts with the brothers' amusement. His honesty about having no money (delight) them, and the letter's secrecy means society's blind faith wealth. Act 2, Scene 1 brilliantly illustrates the irony. When Henry visits a tailor shop, the clerks ignore him because his coat is (wear). But when he shows the million-pound note, their attitudes change completely. This scene makes fun of how people judge others by their wealth instead of their character.

Money doesn't always indicate a person's true value. We should respect people not because of what they own because of who they are. Through Henry's adventure, Twain helps us look beyond money and challenges readers (reflect) on what truly defines a person's worth.

Recently, my 13-year-old daughter asked me to buy her a $28 phone case (手机壳). Her old one wasn't broken; she was just bored of it. For me, it was a3 no. However, saying "no" in moments like this isn't easy. The request felt4, but I know there was a bigger lesson to teach. It's about teaching our children to think5 about their spending. At the same time, we don't want to6 overly strict or dismissive of their feelings.

In this case, I realized my daughter's request wasn't just about the phone case; it was about her7 for something new, trendy, and exciting. After all, to a 13-year-old, a new phone case might feel like a big8, a way to express themselves or9 in with their friends. So how do we find the middle ground?

Instead of shutting down the conversation, I used it as an opportunity to talk about wants and10. I explained that we must11 what's essential over impulse (冲动) purchases. But I also12 her feelings. "I get it," I told her. Sometimes we just want something new because it feels exciting. This13 the conversation and made her more willing to listen. Instead of a flat-out "no", I suggested a compromise (妥协). I offered her three14: Earn it, wait it out or explore alternatives.

That conversation wasn't just about a phone case. It was about guiding my daughter toward better15 without damaging our relationship.

Why do others not respect you and even try to take advantage of you? Usually, it's more about them than you. Maybe they are fearful. Fear can do a number on people. . The "self-protection" forces them to prevent anyone from doing, basically, anything.

Then they may have low self-esteem. Deep down, many people don't believe that they actually deserve kindness. . Or they might have unresolved pain. When people are in pain, they may feel the need to blow up at others. And it may be casier to attack someone who is kind than someone who is mean.

. Some people are genuine 100% all-natural, bad people. They can subscribe to the "it's all about me, all the time" philosophy that ranks kindness somewhere below belly button lint in their list of things to be respected.

All these are actually reasons why exhibiting genuine kindness is a sign of strength. It means you are able to overcome any type of fear, inferiority (自卑), or internal pain that you may have. . And you know you have the strength to overcome such thing. Helping others is not as easy but, frankly, is a lot more fulfilling. So, why not be more kind, genuinely kind?

A. The fact is the opposite

B. Actually, to be truly kind takes strength and power

C. Another case is that they are actually self-centered guys

D. It means you are willing to risk being taken advantage of

E. It means you are driven by an internal compass but not an external one

F. This feeling motivates them to wrap themselves in layers of defense mechanisms

G. If you are acting kind to them, they may think there must be something wrong with you

The Grimms were linguists, not novelists; their aim was protection, not entertainment. As narrative naturalists, they wanted to pick Germany's native species of story from its fields and press them between the pages of their books before such tales went extinct under the background of industrialiasation.

The aim might have been scholarly, but the result was an unexpected children's bestseller. But not everyone approved: early readers complained about the darkness. The famous "happily ever after" ending changed into the glummer "And if they haven't died, they're still alive." The Grimms replied quickly: Take the dark bits away from children's books and you may as well "blindfold" youngsters so they cannot see at all.

A look at the bestseller chart shows that books that sell sweetness do well. One ever-popular title is "Guess How Much I Love You", in which Little Nutbrown Rabit spends his days trying to tell Big Nutbrown Rabit how much he loves him and does not experience a painful death. What's more, in America in a recent decade, silly, scatological (粪便的) books, such as "The Fart (屁) that Changed the World", also become more popular.

Children's literature has never been just for children. Adults happily read "Harry Potter". All good children's writers know that they are "writing for a double audience", says Cressida Cowell, a former children's laureate in Britain. The very best children's books work on both levels. Children's books are certainly not as dark as they were in the Grimms' time, nor do they need to be. But perhaps more parents long for books for their children that better balance dark and light, and motivate happiness ever with big bad wolves.

In recent years, drones have become increasingly popular, with more and more people taking them to explore more unknown areas and research wildlife. However, drones can pose a threat to birds, especially if flown too close to their nests, as birds may view them as predators or threats and attack them or abandon their nests, leading to a decline in bird populations in some areas. In some cases, drones have been reported to cause direct harm to birds by interfering with their flight patterns. Additionally, drones cause noise pollution and disrupt birds' natural habitats and behavior.

Weston, the professor of wildlife conservation at Deakin University says birds attacking drones is also not rare. "Deakin releases a study of 275 drone pilots showing that almost 20% reported physical contact between their drone and a bird. So it's a problem." he says.

Birdlife Australia's Sean Dooley says it's hard to be sure if birds mistake drones for other birds, or simply recognise them as a threat. It's about drone delivery companies having a sustainable business model without losing too many drones. Dooley is keen to stress what a favor drones are for conservationists. "When properly used, they' re great to accurately count colonies of endangered birds in inaccessible areas." he says.

Prof Weston says a centralised recording of all wildlife and drone interactions will help inform solutions. Weston calls for standardised protocols, agreed no-fly zones and better training for drone operators on what to do when an aggressive encounter happens.

However, as the manager explained the steps, I couldn't help but notice the teller's lack of engagement. Instead of absorbing the guidance, he occupied himself with something else. What struck me most was the manager's passive response to this behavior. Rather than encouraging the teller to focus on his instruction attentively, he simply completed the task himself and returned to his office.

On my way home, reflecting on the situation, I realized that the manager failed to use a preventive method. This might lead to the teller's asking for help again in the future, causing the manager to repeatedly leave his desk to manage the same issues. This would definitely interrupt the manager's routine work and waste his precious time, which could otherwise be better spent on his core duties. Obviously, if the root cause of the problem is not solved, such situation will happen more than once again, and it will potentially affect customer satisfaction.

This experience reveals a fundamental truth: It is a must to enable people to handle tasks independent of external assistance. We shouldn't emphasize the significance of having a clear vision too much. It involves predicting future needs and making the right moves to solve them. Thus, we should begin with the end in mind, planning for long-term success. After all, sustainable success begins not with fixing today's issues, but with preventing tomorrow's.

Origins

Dating back over 2,000 years to the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE), Shangsi Festival (Double Third Festival) is celebrated on the third day of the third lunar month.

The Festival originated from ancient purification ceremony called "Fúxi" and river god worship customs. People washed themselves to rid bad luck and illness, and also worshipped the river god, praying for favorable weather, abundant rainfall, and good harvests.

Different celebrations in different ethnics

In modern times, the spirit of embracing nature and pursuing physical and mental health, as well as customs like spring outings and water-related activities, is still passed down and experienced by certain groups of people in various forms.

·She Ethnic Group: For the She people, it is the Black Rice Festival which is as important as their Lunar New Year celebration. They prepare black-colored rice, a practice believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune.

·Dong Ethnic Group: The Dong people celebrate with a unique "Flower Cannon (炮)" competition. Young men compete to catch the special iron cannon, as capturing the ring is believed to bring happiness and good luck to their community.

·Zhuang Ethnic Group: Known as the Song Festival, this day serves as the Zhuang people's oldest Valentine's Day. Young people participate in antiphonal (应答的) singing, expressing feelings, showcasing talents, and searching for life-mates.

·Yao Ethnic Group: Yao community celebrates "Gan Ba Festival" by hunting and making gan ba (dried meat strips).

More information about other Asian festivals, click here.

1. 给出建议；2. 说明理由。

注意：

1. 词数80-100左右；2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯

Dear Chris,

I'm glad you asked for my advice.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua

I asked Joe what he wanted to see. I would never6 his response: "I would not mind finding a swing set (秋千)." That's when it7 me that while I thought I knew every inch of my college town, I had no idea8 to look.

9, I remembered the Venable Elementary School, something I'd10 countless times but never really noticed. We parked in the lot, empty on a Saturday, and I11 my son and watched him delightedly swing back and forth.

What did I learn on that trip? First, travel is great fun and often leads to12. But maybe greater happiness is just around the corner. Second, do not rely too much on your13. Do your best but stay14, and always remember what John Lennon said: Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans. Third, there is always a new way to15 things, no matter how much you think you know.

Some psychological theories suggest that bracing should help. For example, "decision affect theory" proposes that how we feel about a situation is determined partly by comparing what actually happened with what could have happened. Based on this, people should be happy when an event goes beyond their expectations, and disappointed when an event falls behind. Therefore, by anticipating the worst, one can safeguard themselves against future disappointment, as any result is likely to surpass their expectations.

Other psychological theories, nevertheless, undermine the idea that bracing will be helpful. It has been theorized and scientifically established that expectations can powerfully influence reality. There are two key ways that expectations can shape reality.

First, people may behave in ways that fit with their expectations. If you expect to fail an upcoming test or interview, then you might not invest efforts in preparation, which in turn reduces your chances of doing well. Second, people may interpret a situation in line with their expectations. Imagine you believe you are insufficiently qualified for a job you've applied for. During the job interview, you're likely to interpret blank expressions from the interviewer in line with this belief, which could negatively affect your performance. In fact, the interviewer did not want to give anything away.

Drawing together the scientific studies, it seems that expecting the worst is anything but a wise way to prepare for upcoming news or results. It might be more sensible to hold positive expectations than to brace for the worst.