阅读理解CharlotteHollinsknowsshefacesabattle.The23-year-oldBritishfarmerandher21-year-oldbrotherBenarefightingtosavethefarmfromthecitydevelopersthattheirfatherhasworkedonsincehewas14.Whilesheisconfidenttheywillsucceed,shelistsfarmingsmanychallenges.Youdontoftengetadayoff.Supermarketsputalotofpressureonfarmerstokeeppricesdown.Withfewerpeopleworkingonfarmsitcanbeisolating,shesaid.Thereisahighrateofsuicideandfarmingwillnevermakeyourich!OliverRobinson,25,grewuponafarminYorkshire.Butheneverconsideredstayingonhisfatherandgrandfathersland.ImsureDadhopedIdstay,hesaid.Iguessitsanice,straightforwardlife,butitdoesntappeal.Foryoungambitiouspeople,farmlifewouldbeahardworld.”ForRobinson,farmingdoesntoffermuchintermsofmoneyorlifestyle.Hollinsagreesthateconomicsstopspeoplefrompursuingfarmingrewards:providingforavitalhumanneed,whileworkingoutdoorswithnature.FarmingisabigpoliticalissueintheUK.BuyBritishcampaignsencourageconsumersnottobuycheaperimportedfoods.The2001footandmouthcrisisclosedthousandsoffarms,stoppedmeatexports,andraisedpublicconsciousnessoftroublesinBritishfarming.JamieOlivers2005campaigntogetchildrentoeathealthilyalsohighlightedtheissue.Thisnationalconcernbringshopeforfarmerscompetingwithpowerfulsupermarkets.Whilemostpeoplebuyfoodfromthebigsupermarkets,hundredsofindependentFarmersMarketsarebecomingpopular.
阅读理解In todays world, sleep experts often say that for a better nights rest, Americans shouldturn off their smartphones or iPads before sleeping. Such electronic products make the brain 21 ______ , and then influence their sleep. But according to a latest survey, more than 90% ofAmericans 22 ______ use a computer, a mobile phone or some other kinds of electronic products inthe hour before bedtime.Researchers found that man-made light from some electronic products at night may reducethe brain chemicals that can 23 ______ sleep. The research showed that 24 ______ in the light fromcomputer screens clearly lowered the level of the chemicals which manages our body clocks andplays a(n) 25 ______ in the sleep cycle. In the study, the researchers let volunteers read,playgames and watch movies on a tablet computer in different time periods while measuring howmuch light their eyes 26 ______ . They found that two hours of sitting before a bright tablet screenat night 27 ______ the sleep chemical level by about 22%.Then the researchers studied the college students who often used computers at night. Theygot the similar results. And researchers say that may not only cause 28 ______ , but also raise therisk of obesity(肥胖),diabetes(糖尿病)and other 29 ______ .To be on the safe side, the researchers suggest that we use computers 30 ______ than before orturn down the screen brightness as much as possible before sleeping.
阅读理解Uponseeinganapplefallwhilewalking,IsaacNewtonwasstruckwithanidea.Hisnewconceptwasthatthesameforcethatpulledtheappletothegroundguidesthemoon.ThissimplestoryaboutNewton1_____whatmakesagreatmind.GreatmindslikeNewtonsjustseemtobealwaysopentonewideas.Itisalmostautomaticforthem.Abrightideaoften2_____tothemevenwhenitseemsveryodd.Theyunderstandwith3_____thatthereislogictobefoundevenwithinthemostunusualidea.Thentheyholdontotheidea.Theyturnitoverandoverintheirminduntilthatelementoflogic4_____itself.Thisprocessinvolves5_____whatyouknowwithwhatyouexperienceintheworldaroundyou.Incontrast,manyverysmartpeoplehave6_____overonegreatideathroughouttheirlives.Intheendthough,theyareunabletounlockthe7_____ofwhatittakestobeagenius.Whatisitthattheyhaveomittedintheirsearch?Theyhavesimplyforgottento8_____thenewcombinationsbeingformedintheunconscious.Theyhave9_____onlytheirconsciousmindwithoutgivingtimefortheirunconsciousmindtoprovidetheanswers.Thisis10_____trueofthosewhoworktoohard.Theymightbewelladvisedtotakealittlewalkeveryonceinawhile.
阅读理解Have you ever seen guide dogs? Guide dogs are
阅读理解Passage2EachyearonFeb.21,UNESCOholdsInternationalMotherLanguageDay(IMLD).Theeventistohelppeopletopayattentiontothedisappearanceoftheworldslanguages:manyofthemaredisappearingeachyear.UNESCOseesthisasaterriblefact.Whatwillhappenwhenalanguagediesout?Somethinggreatislost—notjustsoundsandmarksbutthewaythatpeopleunderstandtheworldandcommunicatewitheachother.Wekeepdiferentculturesandtraditionsthroughlanguages.Killalanguageandallthesearekilledtoo.ThroughIMLD,moreandmorepeoplebeginrealizingtheterriblesituationandtrytostopit.Googles2018EndangeredLanguagesProjectisagoodexample.Manyspeakersandprotectorsofendangeredlanguagesuploadtext,audioandvideostotheprojectwebsite.Theywanttointroducethewaythatpeoplecommunicateandexpressthemselvestotheworld.TheMyaamiaProjectisthesamekindofefforttorevivethelanguagespokenbytheMiamitribeoftheUnitedStates.Projectmembersworktoencouragepeopletostudyandcommunicateinthislanguage,whichdiedoutinthe1960s.Theseactivitiesgivelifetothoseendangeredlanguages.Manyyoungpeopledesignappsandusesocialmediatosupporttheiractivities.Theyspreadthewordtosavetheword.So,whiletheproblemofdisappearinglanguagesremainsaveryseriousone,thereishope.Weallhavespecialfeelingsforourmotherlanguage.ThisiswhyweshouldrememberthewisewordsofNelsonMandela:Ifyoutalktoamaninalanguageheunderstands,thatgoestohishead.Ifyoutalktohiminhislanguage,thatgoestohisheart.”
阅读理解A.我们公司主要经营手工艺品。 B.在过去的五年中,我们与贵公司进行了大量的贸易。
阅读理解Shoppingforclothesisnotthesameexperienceforamanasitisforawoman.Amangoesshoppingbecauseheneedssomething.Hispurposeissettledanddecidedinadvance.Heknowswhathewants,andhisobjectiveistofinditandbuyit;thepriceisasecondaryconsideration.Allmensimplywalkintoashopandasktheassistantforwhattheywant.Iftheshophasitinstock,thesalesmanpromptlyproducesit,andthebusinessoftryingitonproceedsatonce.Allbeingwell,thedealcanbeandisoftencompletedinlessthanfiveminutes,withhardlyanychatandtoeveryonessatisfaction.Foraman,slightproblemsmaybeginwhentheshopdoesnothavewhathewants,ordoesnothaveexactlywhathewants.Inthatcasethesalesman,asthenameimplies,triestosellthecustomersomethingelse;heoffersthenearesthecantothearticlerequired.Nogoodsalesmanbringsoutsuchasubstitutebluntly;hedoessowithskillandpolish:Iknowthisjacketisnotthestyleyouwant,sir,butwouldyouliketotryitforsize.Ithappenstobethecoloryoumentioned.Fewmenhavepatiencewiththistreatment,andtheusualresponseis:Thisistherightcolorandmaybetherightsize,butIshouldbewastingmytimeandyoursbytryingiton.”Nowhowdoesawomangoaboutbuyingclothes?Inalmosteveryrespectshedoessointheoppositeway.Hershoppingisnotoftenbasedonneed.Shehasneverfullymadeuphermindwhatshewants,andsheisonlyhavingalookround.Sheisalwaysopentopersuasion;indeedshesetsgreatstorebywhatthesaleswomantellsher,evenbywhatcompanionstellher.Shewilltryonanynumberofthings.Uppermostinhermindisthethoughtoffindingsomethingthateveryonethinkssuitsher.Contrarytoalotofjokes,mostwomenhaveanexcellentsenseofvaluewhentheybuyclothes.Theyarealwaysonthelookoutfortheunexpectedbargain.Facedwitharoomfulofdressesawomanmayeasilyspendanhourgoingfromonerailtoanother,toandfro,oftenretracinghersteps,beforeselectingthedressesshewantstotryon.Itisalaboriousprocess,butapparentlyanenjoyableone.Mostdressshopsprovidechairsforthewaitinghusbands.
阅读理解Passage2Questions16—20arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Pre-schoolchildrenwhospendtimetogethertakeononeanotherspersonalities,anewresearchhasfound.Thestudyshowsthatenvironmentplaysakeyroleinshapingpeoplespersonalities.Whilegeneticsstillformsthecentralpartofthehumanpsyche(心灵),theresearchfindsthatpersonalitytraits(特征)arecontagious”(传染的)amongchildren.Ourfindingfliesinthefaceofcommonassumptionsthatpersonalitycantbechanged,saidDr.JenniferNeal,co-authorofthestudy.Theresearchersstudiedthepersonalitiesandsocialnetworksoftwopre-schoolclassesforafullschoolyear.Oneoftheclasseswasasetofthree-year-olds,andtheotherasetoffour-year-olds.Childrenwhosefriendswerehard-workingoroutgoinggraduallytookonthesepersonalitytraitsovertime.PsychologyexpertDr.EmilyDublinsaidkidsarehavingafarbiggereffectoneachotherthanpeoplemayrealize.Thenewstudyisnotthefirsttoexplorethecontagiouseffectsofpersonalitytraits.A2015psychologystudyfoundthatrudenessatworkcanbecontagiousasittravelsfrompersontopersonlikeadisease.Thestudyfoundthatseeingabossbeingrudetoanemployeewasenoughtocausepeopletoberudetothosearoundthem.Theresearchersquestioned6,000peopleonthesocialclimateintheirworkplaces,whichincludedoffices,hotelsandrestaurants.Theyfound75percentofthosewhotookpartsaidtheyhadbeentreatedrudelyatleastonceinthepastyear.Andthestudyalsosuggeststhatmerelyseeingotherpeoplebeingsubjectedtorudenessmadeitmorelikelythatapersonwouldtreattheircolleaguesinthesameway.Rudenesscouldincludeleavingsomeoneoffaninvitetoacompanyevent,sendingunkindemails,findingfaultwithothersorfailingtogivepraise.Dr.Torkelsonbelievescompaniesneedtobemoreawareoftheharmthatrudenessintheworkplacecandoasitcandamagetheworkingenvironment.Shesaidbettertrainingcouldhelptofightagainsttheproblem.
阅读理解Passage1WolfgangAmadeusMozart,aworld-famousmusicalgenius,wasborninSalzburg,Austria.Hediedwhenhewasyoung.Butduringhisshortlife,hewrotemorethan600piecesofmusic.Mozartlovedmusicwhenhewasababy.Attheageof3,heusedtoattendhiseldersistersmusiclessons.Whenhewasfive,hecouldmakeuphisownmusic.Hisfather,whowasamusician,tookthechildrenthroughmanydifferentcountries.Theyplayedmusicforkingsandqueens.Wherevertheywent,theywerewelcomed.Somepeopledidntbelievethatsuchayoungboycouldwritebeautifulmusic.Theythoughtthatitmusthavebeenwrittenbyhisfatherorsomeoneelse.SotheyaskedMozarttostayinaroombyhimselfforaweek.Someonewatchedtheroomallthetimetomakesurethatnoonecouldtalkwithhim.Attheendoftheweek,hefinishedthemusicforthechurchchoir.Mozartlovedmusicsomuchthathewaslivingwithitalldayandallnight.Thoughheworkedhard,hecouldntmakemuchmoney.Sometimesheborrowedmoneyfromhisfriends.
阅读理解The temperature is sharply rising with each
阅读理解To be a good manager, you must be careful to
阅读理解Passage1Questions11—15arebasedonthefollowingpassage.ResearchersatGeorgiaTechhavebeenworkingtoimproveamusicalrobotcalledShimon.Shimonisafour-armedrobotwithaball-likehead.Heholdssmallmallets(toolslikehammers)inhishandstoplayakindofxylophone(木琴).AsShimonplays,hisheadmovesaroundintimetothemusic.Shimonhasbeenaroundforquiteawhileasamusicalrobot.Evenbackin2015,heplayedwithothermusiciansattheKennedyCenterinNewYork.WhatShimoncoulddobackthenwasalreadyprettycool.Shimonwastaughttowritehisownmusicbyusingdeeplearning.Deeplearning,alsoknownasArtificialIntelligence(AI),meansthatcomputerprogramssortdeeplythroughhugeamountsofinformation.Thisallowsthemtofindpatternshumansmaynothavenoticed.Theprogramscanthenusethosepatternsinnewandsurprisingways.ForShimon,thatmeanthecouldnotonlymakeuphisownmusic,butalsodoitinrealtimewhileplayingwithothermusicians.Thisiscalledimprovising.NowShimonisbackwithawholebunchofnewtricks.Hecanwritethewordstohisownsongs,andsingthem.Shimonlearnedtowritethewordsforthesongsinthesamewayhelearnedtowritemusic.ProfessorGilWeinberginGeorgiaTech,wholeadstheShimonproject,getsShimongoingwithastartingidea.Shimonthenwritesthelyricsbasedaroundthatidea.TogiveShimonavoice,theGeorgiaTechteamworkedwithexpertsatPompeuFabraUniversityinSpain.ThevoicewascreatedbyAIandsoundslikeamanverymuch.Shimonsfacehasalsogottennewfeatures.Shimonsmouthnowmovessmoothlyintimeashesings.Healsohaseyebrows,whichallowhisfacetoshowmoreemotions.ForMr.Weinberg,thatsthemaingoalbehindtheShimonproject—nottohaverobotstakeover,buttohaverobotsandhumansmakesomethingbeautifultogether.
阅读理解Passage2Televisionhasnowcometonearlyeveryfamily.Ithasplayedaveryimportantroleinpeopleslife.School-agechildrenintheUSwatchTVabout25hoursaweek.Somepeoplefeelthattelevisionisgoodforchildrenbecauseithelpsthemlearnabouttheircountryandtheworld.Withthehelpofeducationalprograms,childrendobetterinschools.OtherpeoplefeelthattherearetoomanyprogramsaboutloveandcrimeonTV,andthateveneducationalprogramsdonthelpchildrenalot.Childrensimplywatchtoomuchtelevision,sotheydonthavetimetodoalotofotherthingsimportanttotheireducation.Childrenaged3to6learntospeaktheirlanguageandtalkwithpeople.WhentheyarewatchingTV,theyareonlylisteningtothelanguage,andtheyarenttalkingwithanyone.Whenschool-agechildrenwatchTV,theyreadless.Becauseofthis,theycantlearntoreadorwritequicklyinschools.Allchildrenlearnbydoing,andtheyneedtimetoplayinordertolearnabouttheworld.WhentheywatchTV,theyplayless.Theyhavelesstimetocommunicatewiththeirparentsandfriends,andtheyalsohavelesstimeforsports.Recently,fifteenfamiliesinDenverhavedecidedtostopwatchingTVforamonth.Atfirstitwasdifficult,butthereweresoonalotofgoodchanges.Thechildrenread,playedandexercisedmore,andthefamilybecamefullofjoy.ButattheendofthemonthallthefamiliesbegantowatchTVasmuchasbefore.NofamilywasabletogiveupwatchingTVcompletely.
阅读理解The pollution of the earth' s soil and water
阅读理解Passage2Questions16—20arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Shouldwefocusonourgoal,orontheprocess?WhathappenedtoBrendaMartinez,aUSOlympicrunner,mayprovideuswiththeanswer.Shelostherbalanceinthe800mraceandfailedtoqualifyfortheOlympics.Focusingoneverythingthatwouldgiveheranotherchance,shequicklyletgoofwhathappenedinthe800mraceandgotbacktoherroutine.Aweeklater,shewonthethirdplaceinthe1500mracetoqualifyfortheOlympicsinRio.InsteadofattachingherselftothegoalofmakingtheOlympicteam,sheconcentratedontheprocess.Generally,overemphasizinggoalsbasedonultimateoutcomesoftenleadstorisk-taking,unethical(不道德的)behaviorandreducedmotivation.Weseethishappenintherealworldallthetime:someonebecomesdrivenbytheexternalrewardsandrecognitionthathehopesaccomplishinghisgoalwillbring,and,intheworstcase,hellgotoanyextremetoachieveitsuchastakingharmfuldietpillstoloseweightorusingbanneddrugsinacompetition.Theseareallpredictablesideeffectsofoveremphasizinggoals.Anotherdangerofonlyfocusingongoalsisgivingupallthemeritsaftercompletingthem.Forexample,somemarathonrunnersexperiencewhatscalledthepost-raceblues.Achievingtheirgoalmaycausethemtodropthegoodhabitsthatgotthemthere.Dietersoftenexperiencethisinwhatscalledyo-yodieting-gainingalltheweightbackwhileresumingtheirbadhabitsaftertheydropdowntoadesiredweight.However,focusingontheprocesswillhelpyoutoachievelittlevictoriesonyourwaytoachievinglong-termgoalsandleaveyouwithasenseofsatisfactionandaccomplishment,regardlessoftheultimateoutcome.Itmeansbreakingdownagoalintolittlepartsandconcentratingonthoseparts.ForMartinez,thismeantnotworryingaboutherbadluckinthe800mrace,butratherensuringshegotintherightnutrition,sleepandworkoutstogiveherselfthebestchancetorunagoodraceinthe1500mrace.Therefore,afteryousetagoal,itsbesttoshiftyourfocusfromthegoalitselftotheprocessthatgivesyouthebestchanceofachievingthegoal,andtojudgeyourselfbasedonhowwellyoudointheprocess.
阅读理解Whensomethinggoeswrong,itcanbeverysatisfyingtosay,Well,itsso-and-sosfault.orIknowImlate,butitsnotmyfault;thecarbrokedown.Itisprobablynotyourfault,butonceyouformthehabitofblamingsomebodyorsomethingelseforabadsituation,youarealoser.Youhavenopowerandcoulddonothingthathelpschangethesituation.However.youcanhavegreatpoweroverwhathappenstoyouifyoustopfocusingonwhomtoblameandstartfocusingonhowtoremedy.thesituation.Thisisthewinnerskeytosuccess.Winnersaregreatatovercomingproblems.Forexample,ifyouwerelatebecauseyourcarbrokedown,maybeyouhaveyourcarexamined.Or,youmightstarttocarryalongwithyoutheusefulphonenumbers,soyoucouldcallforhelpwheninneed.Foranotherexample,ifyourcolleaguecausesyouproblemsonthejobforlackofresponsibilityorability,findwaysofdealingwithhisirresponsibilityorinabilityratherthansimplyblametheperson.Asktoworkwithadifferentperson,ordontrelyonthisperson.Youshouldacceptthatthepersonisnotreliableandfindcreativewaystoworksuccessfullyregardlessofhowyourcolleaguefailstodohisjobwell.Thisiswhatbeingawinnerisallabout—restivelyusingyourskillsandtalentssothatyouaresuccessfulnomatterwhathappens.Winnersdonthavefewerproblemsintheirlives;theyhavejustasmanydifficultsituationstofaceasanybodyelse.Theyarejustbetteratseeingthoseproblemsaschallengesandopportunitiestodeveloptheirowntalents.So,stopfocusingonwhosemistakeitis.Onceyouareconfidentaboutyourpoweroverbadsituations,problemsarejustthestepsontheroadtosuccess.
阅读理解Shopping in the United States changes a lot.
阅读理解Dear Dad, Today I was at the shopping mall
阅读理解Concerningmoneyoranythingelse,conflictsbetweenhusbandandwifeusuallyreflectapowerstruggle.Conflictsbetweenparentandchildoftencenteraroundthesameissue.Aschildrenenteradolescence(青春期),theybegintodemandgreater1______togowheretheyplease,dowhattheyplease,andmake2______withoutparentalinterference.ManyAmericanparentsdonotknowhowtodealwiththeirteenagersand3______advicefrombooks,lectures,andparent-trainingcourses.Parentswantto4______afriendlyrelationshipwiththeirteenagersandalsowanttoguidethemsothattheirbehaviorwillbewhatevertheparentsconsider5______andconstructive.Butinasocietyofrapidlychangingsocialandmoralvalues,parentsandchildrenoften6______aboutwhatisimportantandwhatisright.Argumentsmayconcernsuchunimportantmattersasstylesofdressorhairdos.But7______mayalsoconcernschoolwork,afterschooljobs,decisions,useofthefamilycar,dating,andsexualbehavior.Somefamilieshaveseriousproblemswithteenagerswhodropoutofschool,runawayfromhome,oruseillegaldrugs.Becausesomuchpublicityisgiventotheproblemteenager,onegetstheimpressionthatallteenagersaretroublemakers.Actually,8______fewadolescentsdoanythingwrong,andnearlyallgrowupintosolidcitizenswho9______mostoftheirparentsexpectations.Infact,recentstudiesshowthatthegenerationgapisnarrowing,Thevast10______ofteenagerssharemostoftheirparentsvaluesandideas.Manyparentsfeelthattheygetalongwiththeiradolescentsquitewell.
阅读理解Passage1Thesedays,peopleinBritainandtheU.S.,donotwearveryformalclothes.Butsometimesitisimportanttoweartherightclothes.ManyAmericanpeopledontthinkaboutclothesverymuch.Theyjustliketobecomfortable.Whentheygoouttoenjoythemselves,theycanwearwhattheylike.Attheaters,cinemasandconcertstheycanputonwhatevertheylike:fromelegantsuitsanddressestojeansandsweaters.Theycanwearanything,aslongastheylookcleanandtidy.ButinBritainandtheU.S.,meninofficesusuallywearsuitsandties,andwomenweardressesorskirts.Doctors,lawyersandbusinesspeoplewearquiteformalclothes.Andinsomehotels,menhavetoweartiesandwomenwearsmartdresses.Inmanyways,AmericansaremorerelaxedthantheBritishpeople,buttheyaremorecarefulwiththeirclothes.Athome,oronholiday,mostAmericanswearinformalorsportsclothes.Butwhentheygooutintheevening,theyliketolookelegant.Ingoodhotelsandrestaurants,menhavetowearjacketsandties,andwomenwearprettyclothesandsmarthairstyles.ItisverydifficulttosaywhatexactlypeopleshouldwearinBritainandtheU.S.,becauseeveryoneisdifferent.Ifyouarenotsurewhattowear,watchwhatotherpeopledoandthendothesame.Youllfeelmorerelaxedifyoudontlooktoodifferentfromothers.
