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Directions: In this section, there are three passages. Each passage is followed by five questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You should choose the best choice.
Do you use soap every day? Do you know when people started using soap and how it is made? The word “soap” comes from the Celtic word “saipo”, which means “fat”, the material that soap is made from. The oldest soap dates back to 3000 BC, when people in Mesopotamia used it for cleaning the wool. Over the following centuries, soap continued to be used to clean everything but the human body.
In the second century, a Greek doctor who was called Galen wrote about the practice of using soap to clean the body. However, bathing with soap was still not popular. It wasn't until the seventeenth century that soap was used for bathing in Europe, but only the rich people could afford it. In the nineteenth century, the soap became available to most people. As a result, cleanliness standards improved in many places.
One reason that soap has been so popular throughout history is that it isn't hard to make. To make it, take some alkali (碱) and mix it with fat or oil. Once everything is mixed, leave the soap in a mold (模具) until it becomes hard. After 24 hours, it's ready to cut into pieces. But please remember, you must be patient. Because the soap still needs around two to three weeks to become hard enough before you can use it.
Being easy to make, soap has helped humans stay clean all the way to the modern age. You could even say it's one of the most important inventions in human history.
1. What was the original purpose of soap in Mesopotamia?
A. To wash faces.
B. To wash dishes.
C. To clean the wool.
D. To clean the wood.
2. When did soap become available to most people?
A. In the second century.
B. In the third century.
C. In the seventeenth century.
D. In the nineteenth century.
3. How long does it need for the soap to become hard before you can use it?
A. 1~2 days.
B. 3~4 days.
C. 1~2 weeks.
D. 2~3 weeks.
4. Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
A. It's very difficult to make soap.
B. Soap is an important invention.
C. Soap is extremely useful in life.
D. Soap plays a crucial role in people's life.
5. Where is the passage most probably from?
A. A recipe book.
B. A health magazine.
C. A science fiction.
D. A political report.
For many blind people and those with vision difficulties, life can be made easier with a guide dog. However, making a good guide dog takes much work. For many, the long road begins when the dog is a puppy (幼犬).
Take, for example, the five 8-week-old puppies that arrived at the Tipton Airport in Maryland early in February. They were loving, playful animals—like all puppies. Now, however, these puppies are on the road to becoming useful members of society. If they prove themselves able, they could become guide dogs. They will help to improve the lives of people with vision loss and vision impairment . These faithful-friends-to-be are part of a training program of an organization called the Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Born in New York, these puppies spent the first two months of their lives with their mothers. They were bred (饲养) for health and the way they respond to their environment.
However, breeding alone will not be enough to turn these puppies into guide dogs. The puppies flew from the organization's head office in New York to Maryland. They will need training from dog training experts. They will also need to be looked after by volunteers (志愿者) called the Puppy Raisers. The goal of this caring by the Puppy Raisers and their families is to turn the dynamic, playful puppies into well-behaved dogs. These are the qualities needed for a successful guide dog: well-bred, well-trained, and well-behaved.
The process will take about 14 to 16 months of weekly classes and testing. Training starts with the basics: name recognition, behavior, and commands such as “sit” and “down”. The trainers then move on to more complex commands. After that, the puppies are given to the Puppy Raisers. The raisers and their families will show the puppies the world and how to act in it .
Cindy Tait, the Puppy Program manager of the Guiding Eyes for the Blind, said that other experts would keep a watchful eye on the training and help with any problems the raisers may have along the way. Once a solid, loving foundation is in place, puppies must leave their raisers and return to the training center of the Guiding Eyes for the Blind in New York for official guide dog training. Formal training is where the dogs demonstrate whether they will become a guide dog for the blind.
6. The phrase “the long road” in Paragraph 1 probably refers to ______.
A. the journey from New York to Maryland
B. the process of turning puppies into guide dogs
C. the journey from Maryland to the Tipton Airport
D. the process of transforming volunteers into puppy raisers
7. The word “impairment” in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. damage
B. danger
C. impatience
D. imitation
8. Puppies will be trained by the Puppy Raisers to be ______.
A. well-behaved
B. passive
C. violent
D. well-shaped
9. What does the word “it” in Paragraph 4 refer to?
A. The program.
B. The world.
C. The testing.
D. The class.
10. Where will the puppies receive their official guide dog training?
A. In the manager's office.
B. In the Puppy Raisers’ homes.
C. In the training center in Maryland.
D. In the training center in New York.
By Cheng Si in Aksu, Xinjiang | China Daily | Updated: 2023-09-09 07:02
Aksu in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region is making efforts to optimize the use of water resources by building a world-class reservoir project, which aims to reduce droughts and floods and reduce their influence on local economic development and people's livelihoods, as well as generate power.
Located at the junction of Wensu and Wushi counties of Aksu, the Dashixia water reservoir project started construction in December 2017, and is expected to test its water-holding function in October 2025 and finish all construction around October 2026.
“This area has a very harsh climate and complicated geological conditions, posing great challenges to our work,” said Huang Jin, vice-general manager of Xinjiang Gezhouba Dashixia Reservoir Development Co—the company in charge of construction.
He said that the project requires high-quality construction because of the height of the dam, with its highest point designed to reach 247 meters, in addition to its high flow rate of floodwater release and higher-level resistance to earthquakes.
To better monitor the quality of construction work and collect construction data, the company channeled around 30 million yuan ($4.1 million) to build a smart monitoring system in late 2021.
“The application of the system can not only help us save human resources, but reduce the risk of human errors. We can monitor the construction work during the whole process,” said Li Jiandong, the company's director of technology management department.
“For example, we can trace the whole process of dam material from the original mining, transportation and its placement through the system.” He added that the system is in trial operation so far, and will be put into service around October to December.
Seeing the project in smooth operation, the 45-year-old Xu Shumei, a senior technician from the company, feels her efforts and contributions are rewarded.
“I've worked in Xinjiang since 1999 after finishing my education in Chongqing, my hometown. And l started to work for the project around four years ago,” she said.
She is responsible for quality control, laboratory management and energy saving and emission reduction for the project.
“I've never regretted serving in this industry, and it may be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get involved in such a world-class project. But I owe a lot to my daughter and parents who need my care because of my work,” she said.
11. Which is not the purpose of building a world-class reservoir project in Aksu?
A. To reduce droughts.
B. To reduce floods.
C. To generate power.
D. To protect wildlife.
12. When is the Dashixia water reservoir expected to finish all construction?
A. Around December 2013.
B. Around late 2024.
C. Around October 2025.
D. Around October 2026.
13. How did the company better monitor the quality of construction work?
A. To manage laboratory energy.
B. To build a smart monitoring system.
C. To protect the rights of laborers.
D. To prohibit the risk of human errors.
14. What can you infer from this passage?
A. Xu Shumei is a junior technician in charge of quality.
B. Xu Shumei take less care of his daughter and parents.
C. Xu Shumei is a workaholic in the eyes of her relatives.
D. Xu Shumei has been the company director for 4 years.
15. What is the passage mainly about?
A. The Dashixia water reservoir can generate power.
B. The Dashixia water reservoir can reduce drought.
C. The Xinjiang reservoir can reduce energy and emission.
D. The Xinjiang reservoir is trying to optimize water resources.
Directions: Read the passage and complete the outline below it. You should write your answers in NO MORE THAN 3 words.
Charles Darwin (1809~1882) was one of the most influential scientists of all time. His theory of evolution by natural selection explained how life on Earth developed, and is the basic concept upon which the life sciences are built.
Darwin's father was a doctor. On leaving school, Darwin followed in his father's footsteps and went to Edinburgh University to study medicine. However, he gave up because he hated the sight of blood. He then went to the University of Cambridge, intending to work in a church.
Darwin discovered his love of natural history at Cambridge, where he spent much of his time collecting insects. He graduated in 1831 and accepted a place as a naturalist on board the Beagle. The ship's five-year voyage proved to be the most important period in Darwin's life, providing the basis for his future ideas and writings.
He returned to England in 1836 and published an account of his travels, which made him famous. He began to develop his theory of natural selection and published his revolutionary book On the Origin of Species in 1859. This was followed by The Descent of Man in 1871, in which he applied his ideas to explaining the evolution of humans.
Charles Darwin
His theory of evolution by 16 is a basic concept of the life sciences.
He studied 17 at Edinburgh University after leaving school.
He discovered his love of 18 at Cambridge.
The five-year voyage provided the 19 for his future ideas and writings.
He applied his ideas in The Descent of Man to explaining the 20 of humans.