安徽省芜湖市2020-2021学年高一下学期英语期中联考试卷

My First Marathon（马拉松）

    A month before my first marathon, one of my ankles was injured and this meant not running for two weeks, leaving me only two weeks to train. Yet, I was determined to go ahead.

    I remember back to my 7th year in school. In my first P.E. class, the teacher required us to run laps and then hit a softball. I didn't do either well. He later informed me that I was "not athletic".

    The idea that I was "not athletic" stuck with me for years. When I started running in my 30s, I realized running was a battle against myself, not about competition or whether or not I was athletic. It was all about the battle against my own body and mind. A test of wills!

    The night before my marathon, I dreamt that I couldn't even find the finish line. I woke up sweating and nervous, but ready to prove something to myself.

    Shortly after crossing the start line, my shoe laces(鞋带) became untied. So I stopped to readjust. Not the start I wanted!

    At mile 3, I passed a sign: "GO FOR IT, RUNNERS!"

    By mile 17, I became out of breath and the once injured ankle hurt badly. Despite the pain, I stayed the course walking a bit and then running again.

    By mile 21, I was starving!

    As I approached mile 23, I could see my wife waving a sign. She is my biggest fan. She never minded the alarm clock sounding at 4 a.m. or questioned my expenses on running.

    I was one of the final runners to finish. But I finished! And I got a medal. In fact, I got the same medal as the one that the guy who came in first place had.

    Determined to be myself, move forward, free of shame and worldly labels(世俗标签), I can now call myself a "marathon winner".

Love to write? Want to see your work published and win some cash along the way? Then read on. The national Spark a Story writing contest is calling in all young storytellers!

Who can participate?

The contest is open to students in grades 9, 10, 11 or 12, or those who are being home-schooled in the United States.

Deadline and requirements

You're able to send your short story up to October 7th. It will be judged on creativity, originality and overall quality of writing. Your story must be original works and should be no longer than 5000 words. There is no minimum length requirements.

How can I send my short story?

There are three easy ways to send your short story:

*Online at // learn.hmhco.com/hmhsparkamind

*Send your short story as a PDF or Microsoft word document to Sparkahmhco.com

*Send your short story via US Mail to: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

222 Berkeley Street Boston, MA 02116

What will I win?

The best stories will be published next year. Winners will receive a free copy of the book and cash price of $100.

A flock of wild mandarin ducks(鸳鸯) are the biggest draw in the West Lake scenic area in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, with tourists flocking from around the country to see them. However, some of the tourists have been feeding the ducks, even pulling them by the neck to force-feed them. On Monday, a video claiming that some of the ducks had died from over-feeding went viral on social networking sites.

Although there are prominent signboards warning people against feeding them, tourists just cannot hold back. Some even believe the ducks are underfed and they are doing them a favor, little realizing that their action can be detrimental to the birds' health.

Human food does not always go down well with ducks, particularly potato chips, as the oily snack can damage the health of mandarin ducks. However, tourists can frequently be seen feeding the ducks food that the birds cannot digest. Besides, feeding the ducks could stop them from competing in the wild to find their food. If they become dependent on food provided by humans, they will lose their survival skills. Also, by giving food to them, the tourists are polluting the environment. Especially, food thrown into the water could harm the ecosystem there.

However, the tourists know little about the harm they cause to the environment and there is a need to create awareness about it. Meanwhile, the number of mandarin ducks at West Lake has dropped from 336 last year to 260 this year. Maybe the declining numbers will wake the tourists up to this reality.

Today we know Antarctica as an extreme environment containing ice and snow. But new research provides evidence that the area had a rainforest in the past.

The researchers collected a piece of Earth sediment (沉淀物) from under the seafloor off the coast of Antarctica. In the sediment they discovered forest material that was estimated to be about 90 million years old. This would have been in the Cretaceous Period, when dinosaurs were the main land animals. The sediment was removed by scientists on the research icebreaker RV Polarstern in the Amundsen Sea near Pine Island Glacier.

Johann Klages is a geologist with the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research in Germany. He was the lead writer of a study on the findings, published in the journal Nature. He said the sediment was collected from a depth of about 30 meters below the ocean floor. Klages said an examination showed that the material didn't form in the ocean.

The researchers estimate that the area—about 900 kilometers from the South Pole—had average yearly temperatures of about 12 to 13 degrees Celsius. During the warmest summer months, average temperatures likely reached between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. The soil included fine dirt particles (颗粒) and hard clay, as well as substances linked to at least 65 different kinds of plants, the study found. Klages added that the plants included trees, ferns and flowering plants. While no animal remains were found, Klages said there were likely dinosaurs, flying reptiles (爬行动物) and many insects in the environment.

The research represents new evidence of the major climate changes Earth has experienced in the past—and is currently undergoing today. The soil in the sediment dates back to the planet's warmest period of the past 140 million years, with sea level about 170 meters higher than today. The researchers said that the rainforest environment in Antarctica was especially surprising because each year, the area experiences a four-month polar night when there is no sunlight to fuel plant life. Klages said no ice sheets were present during the time, but seasonal snowfall was likely.

Earthquakes strike without warning and are among the most destructive natural disasters. Keeping calm and proper reaction can sometimes save your life. To ride out an earthquake, remember the phrase “drop, cover, and hold on.”

⒈ Move away from buildings, street lights, power lines, and bridges.

  As soon as the ground begins shaking, try to get as far away as possible from any nearby structures. Do not seek shelter under a bridge or overpass.

⒉ Crouch down low in a wide open area until the shaking stops.

Once you've made your way away from nearby structures, get on your hands and knees and cover your head. See if there are any objects nearby to use as a shield (遮蔽物）, such as a trash can lid.  

⒊  

As you go out after the earthquake, be careful of broken glass, rubble, downed power lines, fallen trees, and any other potential danger. Check yourself and anyone nearby for injuries. If necessary, perform first aid and call emergency services.

⒋ Get to higher ground if you're on the shore or near a dam.

Earth quakes can cause tsunamis, so put distance between yourself and the coast. If a shaking lasts more than 20 seconds,   Get to ground that's at least 100 ft (30 m)above sea level or 2 miles (3.2 km)from the shore.

A. Drop to your hands and knees under a table or desk.

B. Watch out for danger as you observe your surroundings.

C. If possible, grab a pillow, sofa cushion, or another object to cover your face and head.

D. Here are four tips helping you survive an earthquake if you are outdoors.

E. Don't wait for an alarm or warning to escape.

F. The most dangerous locations during an earthquake are areas immediately around buildings.

G. If none are available, cover your head and neck with your hands and arms.

One morning in early fall, I spotted a pair of wild geese on our pond. The beautiful sight caught me by1because we'd never seen geese there before. Thinking they would soon leave, I2the chance to get close to them. I wondered where they came from and why they'd chosen our pond.

The next morning, the geese were still my3. I walked round to the mailbox, showing them I meant no harm.4, I couldn't resist getting a 5 look. I hid behind some trees and 6 the handsome pair quietly through the branches. I was surprised to see they were staring at me, too!

As days passed, I started 7 to them on my trips to the mailbox. They craned their necks and raised their heads8, but seemed to realize I was their friend. By then, my curiosity about 9 they were staying so long on the pond changed to 10. As they were feeling in the grass the other day, I discovered the reason for their 11: the male had a broken left wing. He couldn't12, and his faithful mate wouldn't leave him behind.

I asked a biologist what to do. He explained that sometimes a 13 wing would heal by itself and suggested letting nature take its course.

On the first day of November, I was working in the neighborhood of the geese with my tractor. As I bent to fasten a chain from the tractor, I 14 some movement from the corner of my eye. Both geese were running towards the pond. Their wing were 15 like crazy, struggling for take-off. Gradually, they flew over the pond. They16 enough altitude to fly past a neighbor's house, and then circled back towards me, flying no more than 50 feet over my head as if to say goodbye. Then they were out of 17.

The season's first snowflake fell the very next day. The birds must have18that winter was coming, and it was time to go. I became fond of them during their 19visit to our pond, and now I miss them. I'll never forget their 20 to each other.