段落大意题 知识点题库

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    Joy Mangano was 33 and divorced. She had three kids under age 7, and was barely keeping up payments on her small two-bedroom home by working extra hours as a waitress. “There were times when I would lie in bed and think, I don't know how I'm going to pay that bill,” Mangano says.

    But he had a special ability for seeing the obvious thing. She knew how hard it was to mop the floor. “I was tired of bending down, putting my hands in dirty water, wringing (拧) out a mop,” Mangano says. “So, There's gotta be a better way.

    How about a “self-wringing” mop? She designed a special tool you could twist in two directions at once, and still keep your hands clean and dry. She set out to sell it, first a few at flea markers.

    Then Mangano met with the media. But would couch potatoes (电视迷)buy a mop? The experts on shopping TV were less than certain. They gave it a try, and it failed. Mangano was sure it would sell if they'd let her do the on-camera display. She said, “Get me on that stage, and I will sell this mop because it's a great item.”

    So QVC, a multinational corporation specializing in televised home shopping, took a chance on her. “ I got onstage and the phones went crazy. We sold every mop in minutes.”

    Today she's president of Ingenious Designs, a multimillion-dollar company, and one of the stars of HSN, the Home Shopping Network. Talking about the household invention, Mangano says, “It is as natural for me as it is for a parent to talk about their child.”

  1. (1) What is the first paragraph mainly about?
    A . Mangano's small home. B . Mangano's work experience. C . Mangano's unhappy marriage. D . Mangano's hard living conditions.
  2. (2) The mop can be sold successfully with the help of        .
    A . HSN B . QVC C . couch potatoes D . experts on shopping TV
  3. (3) What does Mangano think of her invention?
    A . Special. B . Normal. C . Dissatisfied D . Unbelievable.
  4. (4) What can we learn from the text?
    A . HSN is an Internet organization that helps such women in trouble as Manganot. B . The experts on shopping TV were confident about Mangano's mop. C . Mangano got the idea of self-wringing mop from her own experience. D . Mangano once had to work seven days a week to support her family.
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    Over the past 10 years, developments in technology have moved the dream of personal fling vehicles closer to reality. The British company Malloy Aeronautics has developed a model of its flying bicycle. The company says its Hoverbike will be a truly personal flying vehicle.

    The company's marketing sales director Grant Stapleton says the Hoverbike is able to get in and out of small spaces very quickly and can be moved across continents very quickly because it can be folded and packed.

    Safety was the company's main concern when developing the Hoverbike. The designers solved this problem by using overlapping rotors(重叠旋翼) to power the vehicle. With adducted rotors(内转旋翼) the rider immediately not only protects people and belongings if he were to hit them, but if the rider ever were to crash into somebody or something, it's going to bring the flying vehicle out of the air. The company is testing two models of the Hoverbike.

    In New Zealand, the Martin Aircraft Company is also testing a full-size model of its personal flying device, called Jetpack. It can fly for more than 30 minutes, up to 1,000 meters high and reach a speed of 74 kilometers per hour.

    Peter Coker, one officer from the company said Jetpack “is built around safety from the start.” In his words, “Reliability(可靠性) is the most important part of it. We have safety built into the actual structure itself, very similar to a Formula One racing car.”

    Jetpack uses a petrol-powered engine. It also has a parachute(降落伞) that can be used if there should be an emergency(突发事件). It opens at very low altitude(纬度) and actually saves both the flying vehicle and the pilot in an emergency.

    Mr. Coker says Jetpack will be ready for sale to the public by the end of 2019. He adds it'll have a price of about $200,000.

  1. (1) According to the text, the Hoverbike         .
    A . is ready for sale B . is difficult to control C . is easy to carry D . is popular in England
  2. (2) What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?
    A . How the Hoverbike flies. B . How models of the Hoverbike were tested. C . How the Hoverbike was powered. D . How the designers solved the Hoverbike's problem of safety.
  3. (3) The underlined word “It” in the sixth paragraph refers to         .
    A . the petrol-powered engine B . the parachute C . the vehicle D . the overlapping rotor
  4. (4) Peter Coker attaches great importance to Jetpack's         .
    A . safety B . speed C . market D . power
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EP Portable Heater

    We all know that the cost of heating our homes will continue to be a significant burden on the family budget. Now millions of people are saving on their heating bills with the EP Portable Heater. With over one million satisfied customers around the world, the new EP heats better and faster, saves more on heating bills, and runs almost silent.

    The EP has no exposed heating parts that can cause a fire. The outside of EP only gets warm to the touch so that it will not burn children or pets.

    The EP will not reduce oxygen in the room. With other heaters, you'll notice that you get sleepy when the heat comes on because they are burning up oxygen.

    The advanced EP also heats the room evenly, wall to wall and floor to ceiling. it comfortably covers an area up to 350 square feet. Other heaters heat rooms unevenly with most of the heat concentrated to the center of the room. And they only heat an area a few feet around the heater. With the EP, the temperature will not vary in any part of the room.

    The EP comes with a 3-year warranty(保修) and a 60-day, no questions asked. Satisfaction guarantee. If you are not totally satisfied, return it to our expertise and your money will be given back to you.

    Now, we have a special offer for 10 days, during which you can enjoy a half price discount and a free delivery, if you order that, we reserve the right to either accept or reject order requests at the discounted price.

    Take action right now!

  1. (1) What is mainly discussed in paragraph 2?
    A . the heat of the EP B . the safety of the EP C . the appearance of the EP D . the material of the EP
  2. (2) From the passage, we can learn that the EP_____.
    A . doesn't burn up oxygen B . runs without any noise C . makes people get sleepy D . is unsuitable for children and pets
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    A new study warns that about thirty percent of the world's people may not have enough water by the year 2025.

    A private American organization called Population Action International did the new study. It says more than 335 million people lack enough water now. The people live in 28 countries. Most of the countries are in Africa or the Middle East.

    P-A-I researcher Robert Engelman says by the year 2025, about 3,000 million people may lack water. At least 18 more countries are expected to have severe water problems. The demand for water keeps increasing. Yet the amount of water on the earth stays the same.

    Mr. Engelman says the population in countries that lack water is growing faster than in other parts of the world. He says population growth in these countries will continue to increase.

    The report says lack of water in the future may result in several problems. It may increase health problems. Lack of water often means drinking water is not safe. Mr Engelman says there are problems all over the world because of diseases, such as cholera, which are carried in water. Lack of water may also result in more international conflict. Countries may have to compete for water in the future. Some countries now get sixty percent of their fresh water from other countries. This is true of Egypt, the Netherlands, Cambodia, Syria, Sudan, and Iraq. And the report says lack of water would affect the ability of developing to improve their economies. This is because new industries often need a large amount of water when they are beginning.

    The Population Action International study gives several solutions to the water problem. One way, it says, is to find ways to use water for more than one purpose. Another way is to teach people to be careful not to waste water. A third way is to use less water of agriculture.

    The report also says long-term solutions to the water problem must include controls on population growth. It says countries cannot provide clean water unless they slow population growth by limiting the number of children people have.

  1. (1) The first four paragraphs mainly tell us         .
    A . the study of the global water condition B . the fact of the global lack of water C . the seriousness of water shortage D . the importance of water resources
  2. (2) Which of the following problems is NOT true about lack of water according to the passage?
    A . It may influence the development of the economics. B . It may bring about a lot of health problems. C . It may result in more international conflict. D . It may lead to the improvement of new industries.
  3. (3) Which of the following is the best way to solve water problem in the long run?
    A . To use water in a variety of ways. B . To become aware of the water problem. C . To reduce the use of agricultural water. D . To limit the rising birthrate of the earth.
  4. (4) Which of the following shows the structure of the passage?
    A . B . C . D .
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    The deadliest Ebola(埃博拉病毒) outbreak in recorded history is happening right now. The outbreak is unprecedented(空前的) both in the number of people who have gotten sick and in the geographic scope. And so far it's been a long battle that doesn't appear to be slowing down.

    Ebola is both rare and very deadly. Since the first outbreak in 1976, Ebola viruses have infected thousands of people and killed roughly 60 percent of them. Symptoms can come on quickly and kill fast.

    The current outbreak started in Guinea sometime in late 2013 or early 2014. It has since spread to Sierra Leone and Liberia, including some capital cities. And one infected patient traveled on a plane to Nigeria, where he spread the disease to several others and then died. Cases have also popped up in various other countries throughout the world, including in Dallas and New York City in the United States.

    The Ebola virus has now hit many countries, including Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Senegal, and the United States. The virus, which starts off with flu-like symptoms and sometimes ends with bleeding, has infected about 6,500 people and killed more than 3,000 since this winter, according to the World Health Organization on September 30, 2014.

    There are some social and political factors contributing to the current disaster. Because this is the first major Ebola outbreak in West Africa, many of the region's health workers didn't have experience or training in how to protect themselves or care for patients with this disease.

    Journalist David Quammen put it well in a recent New York Times article, "Ebola is more dangerous to humans than perhaps any known virus on Earth, except rabies(狂犬病) and HIV. And it does its damage much faster than either."

Hopefully, researchers are working to find drugs, including a recent $50 million push at the National Institutes of Health. And scientists are working on vaccines(疫苗), including looking into ones that might be able to help wild chimpanzees, which are also susceptible to the disease. The first human Ebola vaccine trial is scheduled to start in the spring of 2015.

  1. (1) According to the passage, which of the following about Ebola is true?
    A . The Ebola outbreak now is the biggest one in history. B . Ebola breaks out quickly but it is under control now. C . Ebola is deadly and common so it kills a lot of people. D . Ebola killed about 60 thousand people quickly in 1976.
  2. (2) The Ebola virus was brought to Nigeria by         .
    A . a flying bird B . an infected passenger C . hot African weather D . a health organization
  3. (3) The symptoms of Ebola at the beginning are more like those of         .
    A . flu B . rabies C . HIV/AIDS D . internal bleeding
  4. (4) The last paragraph mainly tells us that         .
    A . it will be a huge waste when researchers spend lots of money finding a cure B . the vaccines can be effective to wild chimpanzees but not to the humans C . there will be an optimistic future in which we can defeat the disease D . we can use the vaccine to cure the patients completely in 2015's spring
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    You've heard of the fat suit and the pregnancy suit; now meet AGNES—the old person suit.

    AGNES stands for "Age Gain Now Empathy(换位体验)System" and was designed by researchers at MIT's AgeLab to let you know what it feels like—physically—to be 75 years old. "The business of old age demands new tools," said Joseph Coughlin, director of the AgeLab. "While focus groups and observations and surveys can help you understand what the older consumer needs and wants, young marketers never get that ‘Ah ha!' moment of having difficulty opening a jar, or getting in and out of a car. That's what AGNES provides. "

    Coughlin and his team carefully adjusted the suit to make the wearer just as uncomfortable as an old person who has spent a lifetime eating poorly and not doing much exercise. Special shoes provide a feeling of imbalance, while braces on the knees and elbows limit joint mobility. Gloves give the feeling of decreased strength and mobility in the hands and wrists, and earplugs make it difficult to hear high-pitched sounds and soft tones. A helmet with straps(带)attached to it presses the spine(脊柱).

    VAGNES has been used most recently by a group of students working on a design of an updated walker. By wearing the suit they could see for themselves what design and materials would make the most sense for a physically limited older person. Coughlin said the suit has also been used by clothing companies, car companies and retail goods companies to help them understand the limitations of an older consumer. An unexpected benefit they've found with AGNES is that it has become a powerful tool to get younger people to invest in their long-term health.

  1. (1) AGNES has been developed mainly to _______.
    A . make the users more comfortable B . help old people move more quickly C . let people understand the old better D . remind the young to take care of their health
  2. (2) According to the article, young marketers never _______.
    A . ask what old people need and want B . see the efforts old people make to put on clothes C . feel the same way as old people do D . say "Ah ha!" when they meet with difficulty
  3. (3) The third paragraph mainly talks about _______.
    A . how researchers feel wearing AGNES B . how AGNES has been developed C . how people act when they are old D . how AGNES works
  4. (4) The underlined phrase "an updated walker" in the last paragraph most likely refers to _______.
    A . someone who travels a lot B . a physically limited old person C . some equipment that helps old people walk D . a company providing service to the old
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    Competitive eating has become big business. The International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE) holds events for competitive eating all around the world. One of the most popular contests (竞赛) is held every 4th of July on Coney Island in New York. Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest started in 1916 and the event has been dominated (占据优势) by Takeru Kobayashi. The Japanese competitor set his first record in 2001, when he ate 50 hot dogs in 12 minutes and has won the contest six years in a row.

    The main types of food eaten in the contests are fast food. Hot dogs, chicken wings, pickles, corndogs and pizza are main foods of the contests. The contests usually last from around 8 to 12 minutes. Now most of the competitors are men, but there are also women who take part in competitive eating.

    Being large and overweight isn't necessarily an advantage in competitive eating. The biggest advantage a competitor can have is the ability to actually stretch (扩张) their stomach. Many competitors will drink plenty of water over a period of time in order to achieve this. Apart from having an unusually stretchable stomach, another important thing seems to be hand to mouth speed.

    The IFOCE has very strict safety guidelines laid out regarding competitive eating. Competitions must take place in a controlled area and only competitors over the age of 18 are allowed to enter. They also advise against any type of home training. There has been much talk regarding the inclusion of competitive eating as an Olympic sport. Although the IFOCE has talked about that with the Olympic committee, it seems that they will not agree to it at present.

  1. (1) Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest _____.
    A . has a history of over 200 years B . takes place once a year in Japan C . is becoming less popular than before D . has made Takeru Kobayashi famous
  2. (2) What do we know about eating contests?
    A . Fast food is the only type of food. B . They usually last ten minutes or so. C . Only men are allowed to enter a contest. D . They are open to competitors of all ages.
  3. (3) What is the third paragraph mainly about?
    A . How to win an eating contest. B . The history of competitive eating. C . Safety guidelines from the IFOCE. D . The disadvantages of eating too much.
  4. (4) What's the main purpose of the text?
    A . To report. B . To advertise. C . To introduce. D . To warn.
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    Back in freshman year, I found myself wondering whether it should really be called "volunteering" if students only do it because they have to.

    I ended up volunteering at Weyrich Health Center, helping elderly patients with daily tasks. The more I did these tasks, the more disconnected I felt from the seniors. Though I felt bad for them, I did not want to interact with them.

    Then one rainy day, I met Colonel Hems worth. He invited me to his table and asked for some company. I regarded this as another boring task. However, when I listened to his stories, I learned that he was a brilliant war veteran(老兵), and I found his tales interesting.

    After my brief talk with Colonel, I realized that I shared common characters with all the seniors. I felt like an oxygen molecule(分子)ready to form a relationshiprather than an isolated gas.

    I met with many learned senior citizens who shared their experiences and wisdom. No longer did I walk aimlessly down the hallways. I found myself enjoying talking with these people as I learned their histories. Why hadn't I realized sooner that volunteer work could enlighten me?

    Some people argue that volunteering and working for change does not help. However, they fail to realize that the world is constantly changing and humans must adapt. My experience at Weyrich Health Center has taught me that refusing to change one's views and accept new ones leads to short-term goals that finally disappear. Communication with others is an important part of life. Volunteering is not just a requirement or a way to improve your resume; it is a time for service and personal growth.

    Now I enjoy volunteering my time surrounded by seniors who bring history alive for me. By communicating with them, I have developed into a more dynamic person.

  1. (1) What's the author's initial attitude towards volunteering?
    A . Positive. B . Satisfied. C . Doubtful. D . Unwilling.
  2. (2) Why did Colonel Hemsworth invite the author to his table?
    A . He liked the author very much. B . He wanted the author to accompany him. C . He wanted to work with the author. D . He planned to teach the author something.
  3. (3) What can we infer from the underlined sentence in Para. 4?
    A . The author had desire to communicate with the seniors. B . the author wanted to do a chemical experiment with gas. C . The author imagined himself to be part of isolated gas. D . The author would like to be an oxygen molecule.
  4. (4) What does the sixth paragraph mainly tell us?
    A . Other people's attitude towards volunteering. B . The importance of communicating with others. C . The important meaning of adapting to changes. D . The lessons the author has learned from volunteering.
阅读理解

    Facebook lets friends connect. They can give each other updates, share photos and post comments. But that's not all. Facebook might also stress users out.

    In a new study, 88 volunteers how much time they spent on Facebook and the types of Facebook posts and comments that they made. In addition, they answered questions about their feelings and state of mind. They also offered saliva. Researchers tested it for cortisol. This chemical is a stress hormone. Levels of it vary throughout the day.

    In this study, people with the most Facebook friends, more than 300, had somewhat higher cortisol levels. Additionally, the more Facebook friends that users had, the more likely they were to feel anxious. On the other hand, youths who gave lots of "likes" and supportive comments on Facebook had lower cortisol levels. "The more social support you give to others, the lower your stress hormone levels will be," says Lupien.

    "This research decidedly combines the social science approach and the medical science approach on an important question in our social-media age," says Wenhong Chen, a sociologist at the University of Texas at Austin. "It's ready pleasantly new to see Lupien's team study cortisol levels-along with questionnaire data."

    One finding from Lupien's work surprised Chen. Teens who felt they got a lot of support from others also had higher cortisol levels. Usually, she says, those feelings should protect people from stress. "There are many potential dangers of social media use among young people," Chen notes. So, she says, enjoy Facebook, but be aware of the risks.

    Lupien suggests that teen Facebook users share information with and support their friends on the site. They shouldn't just stay silent. "if anyone is more stressed, it's the watchers, not the sharers," she says. Also, she recommends that people who use social media heavily should find time to take active walks, to run or to do other activities. Cortisol increases a person's energy. "The best way to reduce stress hormones is to use the energy," she says.

  1. (1) Paragraph 2 shows us the ________.
    A . research proposes B . research methods C . research contents D . research results
  2. (2) What should we do if we want to feel less stressed?
    A . Share as many nine photos as possible. B . Give more positive comments to others. C . Listen to music frequently on social media. D . Communicate less with others on Facebook.
  3. (3) What is Wenhong Chen's attitude towards Lupien's study?
    A . Cautious. B . Critical. C . Doubtful. D . Approving.
  4. (4) What can be learned from Lupien's suggestion?
    A . There are many dangers on social media. B . Getting support from e-friends makes us healthier. C . Sharers on Facebook live a happier life than watchers. D . Doing physical exercise helps reduce the levels of cortisol.
阅读理解

    Plants are very important living things. Life could not go on if there were no plants. This is because plants can make food from air, water and sunlight.

    Animals and man cannot make food from air, water and sunlight. Animals get their food by eating plants and other animals. Therefore animals and man need plants in order to live. This is why we find that there are so many plants around us. If you look carefully at the plants around you, you will find that there are two kinds of plants: flowering plants and nonflowering plants. Flowering plants can make seeds. The seeds are protected by the fruits. Some fruits have one seed, some have two, three or four, and some have many seeds. But a few fruits have no seeds at all. An example of a fruit without seeds is the banana fruit. Most non-flowering plants do not grow from seeds. They grow from spores (胚芽) , Spores are very small. Some spores are so small and light that they can float in the air. We may say that spores are quite the same as seeds. When these spores are all on wet and shady places, they usually grow into new plants.

  1. (1) The main idea of the first paragraph is that ________.
    A . plants are important for life B . plants cannot grow without air C . there are many plants in the world D . we can not live without water
  2. (2) Plants can make food from ________.
    A . flower, water and air B . water, sunlight and air C . air, water and soil D . air, sun and light
  3. (3) What can we infer (推断) from the passage?
    A . Of all living things animals are most important. B . Spores are seeds. C . All fruits of flowering plants have seeds. D . Without plants, man will die out.
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Many young people would like to make a booth (货摊) to do business on the street in the name of entrepreneurship (创业精神) and sell lemon. It might seem like an easy sell-kids offering cool drinks. Some entrepreneurs offer their tips on how to make money from this.

Joe Mansueto, founder of the investment company Morningstar, sold lemonade as a kid. "You should always pay attention to customers," he said. "When somebody's walking down the street, get out from behind the booth, greet them, talk to them and just make friends with them to attract more customers."

However, his two sons decided to sell a different drink. When they were 8 and 10, his boys sold cocoa outside their home. The great thing about business is that there are really no rules. You can be creative and try something different, Mansueto said.

But it wasn't enough for US representative Mike Quigley and his older brother to sell drinks. They sold old books at the booth and would rent them out for customers to read while they enjoyed their drinks.

Adam Ochstein, founder of StratEx Partners, a human resources service company, gave frequent visitors cards which were printed with a lemon. Every five drinks, customers got one card which allowed them to pay less than half of the next drink. However, they didn't price the drinks. "If you want to give nothing, give nothing. If you want to give $2, give $2. I think we had let the adults give more money than they probably would like to, "Today, he suggests kids use social media for marketing. He said, "It can tell people where the booth is going to be and what unique specials you're running."

  1. (1) What is paragraph 2 mainly about?
    A . How to set up a big company. B . How to attract more customers. C . How to make friends with others. D . How to tell apart rich customers.
  2. (2) How did Mike Quigley make his booth different from the others?
    A . By selling cocoa outside their home. B . By renting used books to the customers. C . By making friends with his customers. D . By lending new books to his customers.
  3. (3) What advice about the booth does Ochstein give to kids?
    A . Giving visitors free drinks B . Giving visitors cards with a lemon C . Taking advantage of social media D . Allowing customers to pay less money
  4. (4) What is the best title for the text?
    A . Street business B . Marketing fashion C . Service culture D . Social activities
阅读理解

Ensley made me a poet.

When I was one, my parents and I moved into a tiny apartment off 20th Street. I wrote my first poem sitting in the corner of my bedroom, surrounded by toys. I was 7 or 8 and the poem was for my best friend who had moved away. I was angry with him for being willing to leave me, and when I get angry, I get mean. I figured his leaving would be easier to face, if I pushed him away first. But as soon as the moving truck pulled away, I realized how foolish I'd been.

So I wrote him a poem to apologize. The poem was terrible, of course, but with it, a lifelong love affair began — not with the boy who moved away, but with the written word. As an adult, I'd write poems about playing kickball in the parking lot of those Ensley apartment blocks, and poems about trips to see the candy lady and to the corner store.

When people ask me where in Birmingham I grew up, I sometimes say "Everywhere". We moved around a lot and the neighborhoods of Birmingham find their way into so much of what I write.

I had to leave Birmingham to learn how to tell true stories in prose (散文). After college in Alabama and graduate school in Berkeley, California, I moved to Kentucky to be a newspaper reporter. My skill at writing personal essays landed me my own column(专栏) and the chance to be included in a collection of essays published by Seal Press.

Then I came home.

In her book Writing Down the Bones, Natalie Goldberg writes, "It is very important to go home if you want your work to be whole...you must claim where you come from and look deep into it. Come to honor and embrace it, or at the least, accept it."

Now in Birmingham, I get to share my story in local magazines and on my blog. And I build my story through every friendship formed in this city of steel, sweat, and sweet tea.

  1. (1) Ensley is the name of a_____________.
    A . toy B . boy C . place D . store
  2. (2) What does Para. 4 tell us about the author?
    A . She enjoys traveling very much. B . She prefers poetry to news reports. C . She gave up writing poems after college. D . She made some achievements in writing.
  3. (3) Why does the author mention Natalie Goldberg's words?
    A . To prove they had similar interests. B . To show her love for Natalie Goldberg. C . To explain why she returned to Birmingham. D . To introduce Natalie Goldberg's book to readers.
  4. (4) What is the text mainly about?
    A . Writing changes my life. B . Home is where your story is. C . Moving around makes me a poet. D . Childhood friendship is a source of writing.
阅读理解

The "30 by 30" campaign to protect 30% of the world's oceans by 2030, supported by more than 70 nations, is known mostly for ambition and few achievements so far. Just 7% of the seas are protected and only 2.7% are highly protected.

Setting aside nearly a third of the oceans, the fishers say, is an idea developing nations in South America and elsewhere can hardly afford. That argument against a large expansion of sea protected areas is heard around the world, and the gap between conservationists and fishers has grown wider as fish population declines and the appetite for seafood grows along with the global population.

Research published recently aims to dramatically change that situation. The study suggests that protecting 30% of the oceans not only could restore biodiversity to ocean habitats, it could also increase the annual global catch by eight million tons about 10% of the catch today. After all, the only way to get more food from the ocean is to protect more. And, as a bonus, it would provide a "cheap, natural solution" to climate change by reducing the amount of seafloor carbon emitted (排放) into the seas by fishing trawlers (拖网渔船).

In the study, an international team of 26 scientists analyzed the world's unprotected ocean waters to calculate which are threatened by overfishing, habitat destruction, and release of carbon. The team then mapped locations globally where protections would provide the greatest benefits to fish resources, biodiversity and climate.

The findings can be used by nations to address the three related aspects separately or in combination. Fully addressing all three will require that at least 30% of the oceans be protected, but nations can still realize significant protections by focusing on key areas, and global cooperation to strategically locate protected areas can be nearly twice as effective as individual nations working alone.

  1. (1) What are the first two paragraphs mainly about?
    A . The wide support for the campaign. B . The challenges of protecting the oceans. C . The worldwide efforts to resist illegal fishing. D . The achievements in reducing ocean pollution.
  2. (2) Which is not the benefit of restoring oceans?
    A . It keeps sea species stable. B . It improves the global climate. C . It helps to increase fish population. D . It removes carbon from the seafloor.
  3. (3) What is the purpose of the text?
    A . To discuss the methods of fishing sustainably. B . To stress the importance of biological balance. C . To appeal for building ocean protected areas globally. D . To introduce the background of the "30 by 30" campaign.
  4. (4) In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?
    A . Environment. B . Geography. C . Travel. D . Economy.
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Some Americans celebrate the Christian holiday of Easter, while others observe the Jewish holiday of Passover. They just look forward to the coming of spring.

Easter is when Christians celebrate the life of Jesus and what they believe was his return from the dead. For most Christians. Easter this year is on Sunday, April 4. For Eastern Orthodox Christians, May 2 is Orthodox Easter Sunday.

You may wonder why the date for Easter changes every year. It is one of the "movable feasts" that change each year. In English, the word "feast" can mean a religious festival as well as a large dinner. We have both of these on Easter and Passover.

In the early days of Christianity, leaders decided to set the date of Easter for the first Sunday following the first full moon of the spring season. It usually happens on or shortly after the vernal equinox(春分),or spring equinox The equinox is a date when day and night are the same length.

Many Christians in America attend religious services on Easter Sunday. Some of these services take place at sunrise. Children are often told stories about the Easter Bunny(兔子)who is said to hide eggs, chocolates and other sweet treats, for children to find on Easter morning. The Easter Bunny tradition probably developed from a German celebration of spring. Germans first settled in North America in the eighteenth century.

Individual families and groups also organize Easter egg hunts for children. The best-known egg hunt in America is the event called the White House Easter Egg Roll. The president and the first family usually join children in hunting for eggs, playing games, and reading stories.

  1. (1) What does Easter mean for Americans?
    A . The end of April. B . The death of Jesus. C . The arrival of spring. D . The coming of the full moon.
  2. (2) What can be learned about Easter?
    A . Its date may be different yearly. B . It is celebrated only by Christians. C . It happens before the vernal equinox. D . Its name comes from the word "feast".
  3. (3) What is paragraph 5 mainly about?
    A . The religious belief in Germany. B . The old services at sunrise in spring. C . The religious tradition of Easter in America, D . The brief introduction of Easter activities in Europe.
  4. (4) In which part of a newspaper does the text probably appear?
    A . Culture. B . Family. C . Diet. D . Education
阅读理解

For centuries, tea has been used for far more than quenching thirst. Around the world people drink it to relax, reinvigorate and relieve, and it's something we need now more than ever.

Even in the United States, a long coffee-dominated country, tea drinking is growing in popularity, with the country consuming 0. 4 kilograms (14 ounces) of tea leaves per person a year compared with 0. 36 kilograms(12. 7 ounces) in 2007 according to the United Nations, as people switch away from soda, milk and fruit drinks.

Scientists are beginning to look into just how tea might affect mood and cognition. Specifically, they're investigating whether its relaxing and refreshing effects are a direct biological outcome of the compounds in tea or whether they come from the context in which the drink is consumed—preparing your tea, choosing your favorite cup and sitting down for a brief break from the world. Or both.

Drinking green tea has been found to improve brain function in healthy people, said Stefan Borgward, chair and director of the department of psychiatry and psychotherapy at the University of Lubeck, Germany.

In a 2014 study, he gave one or two cups of green tea to 12 healthy volunteers and imaged their brains to analyze changes in connectivity inside certain brain regions.

"We noticed an increased connectivity in regions of the brain associated with working memory," he said via email.

And a 2017 review of more than 100 studies he coauthored found that green tea can impact the brain in three ways: It can influence psychopathological state such as reducing anxiety; cognition by benefiting memory and attention; and brain function, specifically memory.

That review concluded that "it would be desirable" for more Westerners to consume at least 100 milliliters (3. 3 fluid ounces) of green tea each day "to protect neurocognitive function. "

However, Borgward, cautioned that the effects aren't large, and the evidence is mainly provided by small-scale studies.

  1. (1) How does the author introduce the tendency of drinking in the U. S.?
    A . By showing examples. B . By explaining reasons. C . By making a comparison. D . By checking existing facts.
  2. (2) What is paragraph 3 mainly about?
    A . Scientists are looking into why tea makes people relaxed and refreshed. B . The context in which the drink is consumed is very important. C . People's relaxation is the direct biological outcome of the ingredients in tea. D . Preparing tea, choosing a cup and sitting down for a brief rest is amazing.
  3. (3) What can we conclude from Stefan's research?
    A . Tea is a cure for a neurocognitive disease. B . Green tea is particularly beneficial to our memory. C . Drinking tea every day can prevent us from getting ill. D . Westerners drink less than 100 milliliters of green tea.
  4. (4) What is the researcher's attitude towards the finding?
    A . Supportive B . Doubtful. C . Unclear. D . Objective.
阅读理解

The connection between people and plants has long been the subject of scientific research. Recent studies have found positive effects. A study conducted in Youngstown, Ohio, for example, discovered that greener areas of the city experienced less crime. In another, employees were shown to be 15% more productive when their workplaces were decorated with houseplants.

The engineers at MIT have taken it a step further – changing the actual composition of plants in order to get them to perform diverse, even unusual functions. These include plants that have sensors printed onto their leaves to show when they're short of water and a plant that can detect harmful chemicals in groundwater. "We're thinking about how we can engineer plants to replace functions of the things that we use every day," explained Michael Strano, a professor of chemical engineering at MIT.

One of his latest projects has been to make plants glow in experiments using some common vegetables. Strano's team found that they could create a faint light for three-and-a-half hours. The light, about one-thousandth of the amount needed to read by, is just a start. The technology, Strano said, could one day be used to light the rooms or even to turn trees into self-powered street lamps.

In the future, the team hopes to develop a version of the technology that can be sprayed onto plant leaves in a one-off treatment that would last the plant's lifetime. The engineers are also trying to develop an on and off "switch" where the glow would fade when exposed to daylight.

Lighting accounts for about 7% of the total electricity consumed in the US. Since lighting is often far removed from the power source – such as the distance from a power plant to street lamps on a remote highway - a lot of energy is lost during transmission. Glowing plants could reduce this distance and therefore help save energy.

  1. (1) The first paragraph is mainly about _____.
    A . A new study of different plants B . A big fall in crime rates C . Employees from various workplaces D . Benefits from green plants
  2. (2) The function of the sensors printed on plant leaves by MIT engineers is _____.
    A . to detect plants' lack of water B . to change compositions of plants C . to make the life of plants longer D . to test chemicals in plants
  3. (3) What can we expect of the glowing plants in the future?
    A . They will speed up energy production. B . They may transmit electricity to the home. C . They might help reduce energy consumption. D . They could take the place of power plants.
  4. (4) Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
    A . The more plants, the less crime in the city. B . The composition of plants will be changed to perform unusual functions. C . The vegetables are expected to be used to light the room in the future. D . The engineers will switch off the plants when they are exposed to daylight.
阅读理解

The way of greeting someone comes in different forms. Kissing and hugging are normal in some European and Arab countries. Maoris in New Zealand greet each other by rubbing against their noses. However, the most common physical way of greeting people nowadays is handshake. It has become so ubiquitous that you may never have thought about its origins. It's like a part of human nature.

The modern handshake as a form of greeting is hard to trace. The Quakers are traditionally seen as originators. But as Dutch sociologist Herman Roodenburg——the chief authority for the history of handshaking一wrote in his publication A Cultural History of Gesture, "More than in any other field, the study of gesture is one in which the historian has to make the most of only a few clues. " Another well-known evidence of the early tradition of shaking hands took place in the early 17th century. A Scotsman living in England, named James Cleland, suggested that the practice of the u good old Scottish shaking of the two right hands" should be observed, instead of things like bowing down to everyone's shoes and kissing hands.

If you ask why shaking hands is the most preferred way of greeting over other gestures, the most well-known explanation is that handshaking prevents the right hand from holding a weapon. In the 19th century it was argued that shaking hands without removing gloves was quite rude and required an immediate apology.

Shaking hands seems like a gesture that has been around forever. However, in 1880's France, a society had been formed to abolish the handshake as a ''vulgar" English novelty. And now in the US that gesture may fall away in favor of the fist hump. While the fist bump is a cooler way to greet someone, the reason may have been more practical. According to survey participants, they did not want to shake hands because they were afraid of catching and spreading bacteria.

  1. (1) Which of the following can best explain "ubiquitous" underlined in paragraph 1?
    A . Curious. B . Obvious. C . Common. D . Shallow.
  2. (2) What does paragraph 2 mainly discuss about the modern handshake?
    A . The importance. B . The history. C . The feature. D . The classification.
  3. (3) Why did people shake hands using right hands according to the most famous explanation?
    A . For convenience. B . For politeness. C . For enjoyment. D . For safety.
  4. (4) What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
    A . Everyone doesn't fall in love with the handshake. B . The root of handshake is lost in the sands of time. C . It might seem like shaking hands is an ancient custom. D . A handshake is among the most common ways to greet others.
阅读理解

What if you could give your children everything they wanted without them having to take any effort at all to get it?Would  they appreciate what they now have?Would they know how to even maintain the lifestyle or how to keep the business moving forward and not downward?

There is some debate among parents of this new generation about the question of whether our children have been given so much that they now expect everything all at once. A case in point is a friend of mine who has a son in his late twenties. It is not that he doesn't have a good paying job and a really nice house. Actually his house is a lot better and bigger than I ever had at his age. But, he is not satisfied with what he has;he wants everything else right now, not tomorrow, but right now.

What he wants is a bigger house, a fancier car, and all the newest gadgets(小玩意) that come on the market. He never thinks he should work a little longer and save his money or that he shouldn't have it all. Maybe we have spoiled our children to expect more than what they should normally expect and then expect all of these worldly possessions to keep coming their way.

Now, the situation with my friend's son is one where his son calls him and complains that life is difficult and that he is having a hard time getting what he wants. The discussion usually then turns to waiting a little longer and working to save money but this discussion usually ends with his son still being disappointed with his life.

Each life must come from work, sacrifice and satisfaction of being able to provide for your family, but there is little room for just wanting when waiting, working and patience could get it done.

All of us need a bit of hardship, struggle, learning to overcome obstacles, understanding perseverance, and developing an attitude that speaks loudly about accepting responsibility for one's own destiny.

  1. (1) The writing method of the passage is         .
    A . listing facts B . giving an example C . explaining reasons D . making comparisons
  2. (2) When given so much by his parents, the boy may         .
    A . live a happier life B . learn to be independent C . never be satisfied with it D . be grateful for his parents
  3. (3) The fourth paragraph mainly shows us         .
    A . the result of parents' spoiling their children B . the way for parents to prepare for a better life C . the advice for parents on how to raise their children D . the solution for parents to solving their family issues
  4. (4) What can we know from the last paragraph?
    A . What our life offers us. B . What we should do for our family. C . How we should gain what we desire. D . How we should prepare for our destiny.
阅读下列短文, 从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中, 选出最佳选项。

Shenyang—The remains of 117 Chinese People's Volunteers soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War returned to China on Sunday before the Commemorative Day of Martyrs.

This is the seventh annual repatriation ( 遣送 ), following a handover agreement signed between China and the Republic of Korea. and also the largest since the initial (最初的) return of 437 soldiers in 2014. Between 2014 and 2019, the remains of 599 soldiers were returned.

Earlier on Sunday, the ROK handed over the remains at a ceremony at Incheon airport outside Seoul. A Chinese military transport plane, escorted (护卫) by two Chinese fighter jets, carried the remains and belongings of the fallen soldiers back and landed at Taoxian International Airport at 1l:18 am in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang near the border of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Y-20 aircraft, the largest and most advanced domestically developed transport aircraft, carried out the task for the first time. It was labeled (贴标签于……) with the serial number 01, as a mark of high respect for the martyrs.

Vice Premier Sun Chunlan attended the ceremony along with CPV soldiers and citizens. China has never forgotten its fallen heroes and the contribution they made, Sun said in a speech.

Chinese people always remember the fighting spirit of defending the motherland, and China will remember the past and cherish peaceful international environment, Sun said.

Wang Guobin, a 92 year old CPV veteran, said. I'm both happy and sad. I'm glad that after 70 years, they finally came home. And I am sad that they died in the 1950-53 Korean war and couldn't come back until 70 years later.

Many local residents lined the roads to welcome the martyrs home and show their respect.

The remains will be buried in a martyrs' park in Shenyang on Monday. It is the resting place of all soldiers' remains returned by the ROK since 2014.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the CPV'S participation in the 1950-53 Korean War. A total of 2.9 million CPV soldiers entered the battlefield, and 197,653 of them were killed in the war.

  1. (1) How many remains of CPV soldiers were initially returned to China by the Republic of Korea in 2014?
    A . 117. B . 197. C . 437. D . 599.
  2. (2) What is the main idea of paragraph 3?
    A . Where the ROK handed over the remains at a ceremony. B . Why Y-20 aircraft was labeled with the serial number 01. C . When Chinese military transport plane landed at Taoxian International Airport. D . How the remains and belongings of the fallen soldiers were carried back.
  3. (3) Where does the passage probably come from?
    A . A literary journal. B . A news report. C . A history textbook. D . An autobiography.
  4. (4) What can be the best title for the passage?
    A . Remains of 117 Chinese Soldiers Return to Homeland B . 117 Remains Will Be Buried in a Martyrs' Park in Shenyang C . Many Local Residents Line the Roads to Welcome the Martyrs Home D . 70th Anniversary of the CPV's Participation in the 1950-53 Korean War
阅读理解

Two high school students have identified four new planets in distant space about 200-light-years from Earth, making them "the youngest astronomers" to make such a discovery.

Kartik Pingle, 16, and Jasmine Wright, 18, who both attend schools in Massachusetts, participating in the Student Research Mentoring Program (SRMP). Along with the help of Tansu Daylan, an MIT doctor for Astrophysics and Space Research, the students studied and analyzed data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). Together they focused on Tess Object of Interest (TOI) 1233, a nearby, bright sun-like star and here they found four planets rotating (旋转) around the star. "We were looking to see changes in light over time," Pingle explained. "The idea is that if the planet transits the star, or passes in front of it, it would periodically cover up the star and decrease its brightness. "

While studying 1233, Pinglé and Wright had at least hoped to find one planet, but were overwhelmed with joy when a total of four were spotted. "I was very excited and very shocked. " Wright said. "We knew this was the goal of Daylan's research, but to actually find a multiplanetary system, and be part of the discovering team, was really cool. "

Three of the newly discovered planets are considered as "sub-Neptunes", which are gaseous (气态的), but smaller to the Neptune that lives in our solar system. While observing the planets, the team determined each one completes their orbit around 1233 every six to 19. 5 days. However, the fourth planet is labeled a "super-Earth" for its large size and rockiness-this one orbits around the star in just under four days.

"We have long been studying planets beyond our solar system and with multi-planetary systems, the two young students are kind of hitting the jackpot. They are really blessed." Daylan said. "The planets originated from the same disk of matter around the same star, but they ended up being different planets with different atmospheres and different climates due to their different orbits. So, we would like to understand the fundamental processes of planet formation and evolution using this planetary system. "

Daylan added that it was a "win-win" to work with Pinglé and Wright on the study. "As a researcher, I really enjoy interacting with young brains that are open to experimentation and learning and have minimal bias." he said. "I also think it is very beneficial to high school students, since they get exposure to cutting-edge research and this prepares them quickly for a research career."

  1. (1) How did the two students identify the four planets?
    A . By interacting with other young brains. B . By helping professor Tansu Daylan with the data. C . By studying Neptune that lives in our solar system. D . By analyzing the change of brightness of star 1233.
  2. (2) What is the main idea of paragraph 4?
    A . The features of the newly-discovered planets. B . The great efforts made by the two students. C . The comparison between the two star systems. D . The significance of the discovery of the planet.
  3. (3) Which of the following is closest in meaning to hitting the jackpot in paragraph 5?
    A . Succeeding in something luckily. B . Achieving the goal easily. C . Making a discovery difficultly. D . Performing a task carefully.