While the presence of rats in homes may cause anxiety and annoyance,they rarely result in driving out the residents.But that is exactly what happened to the inhabitants of the 10-square-mile Hawadax Island off the coast of Alaska,almost 230 years ago.Now thanks to a five-year effort by scientists,the terribly silent “Rat Island” as it had been called for many years has been returned to its rightful owners—birds!

Hawadax Island is part of a chain of volcanic islands in the Bering Sea called the Aleutian Islands.The rats that arrived there in 1780,when a Japanese ship carrying them broke down nearby,completely destroyed the native population because the environment of the island was not built to defend its animals from these predators.There isn't any tree on the island,which meant that the birds were accustomed to building their nests low in the ground,giving the rodents(啮齿动物) easy access to both eggs and baby chicks.As years passed,the birds that had called the island home for thousands of years became endangered and eventually,disappeared completely.

In 2007,the US FWS(Fish and Wildlife Service) started a serious plan to rid the island of the rats and try bringing back the beautiful birds that had once called it home.Given that there were an estimated 10,000 rodents inhabiting “Rat Island” and the fact that they reproduce rapidly,it was not an easy task.But by 2009,the island was officially declared rat free!

Then slowly but surely,the birds began to return. Unfortunately,some of the pioneers were unintentionally killed from the leavings of the raticide,a poison that had been used to wipe out the rodents.But now it seems things are becoming more stable and the island is starting to increasingly look like its former self.Before the transformation,“Hawadax”,also known as “Rat Island”,was a silent and ghostly place with bird bones,snail remains and rocks covered in rat feces(粪便).

Today,birds' singing and flying in and out is a common sight.Tufted puffins and song sparrows,which had long disappeared,are gradually making their way back.Scientists have also been observing an increase in ground nesting and shore birds.Though the island is still not back to its full glory,the signs are encouraging and things can only get better,as time passes.

1.The underlined word “that” in Paragraph 1 probably refers to ________.

A.birds' being driven out

B.the presence of rats

C.birds' returning to the island

D.residents' worrying about rats

2.Birds on Hawadax Island became an easy target because ________.

A.their chicks were extremely weak

B.they nested randomly

C.they reproduced too rapidly

D.this island was treeless

3.From the passage,we can know the plan of US FWS ________.

A.has helped the island fully recovered

B.cost little but benefited greatly

C.involved poisoning the rats on a large scale

D.accomplished its goal after exactly 24 months

4.Which would be the best title for the passage?

A.FWS help get rare birds back to alaska island

B.Japanese changed a bird paradise into rat island

C.Alaska's rat island returns to a bird paradise

D.FWS plan to drive rats out of rat Island

I was 20 years old when my mother passed away. It was the first real blow that life had dealt me, and I thought I would never recover. Then, by the time the following spring came, the pain was almost bearable and again I could find pleasure in the miraculous reward of nature.

At first, I went to the cemetery with trepidation. But then, amazingly, by tending her grave and decorating it with flowers, I was ridding myself of the painful memories.

The years passed. I moved from Kaposvar, Hungary, the town where I had been born and had spent my youth. So did my siblings. We only came together on feast days, especially on All Souls’ Day in the cemetery.

Father lived with me for many years, to a ripe old age. Now that he, too, rests beneath the white marble stone, I go even more eagerly to the cemetery. While I tend my parents’ grave site, again I am with them in thought.

One day I noticed a modest grave site behind my parents’ plot. It lay among the magnificent granite and marble markers of the other graves, its very simplicity calling attention to itself. Ivy(长春藤) had covered the site and its only decoration was a simple wooden cross on which was written in copper letters a name, and that she lived 22 years. Whenever I went by, the plot and its surroundings looked cared for and neat, and each time I felt curious about this mysterious woman who had lived all of 22 years.

Once I saw an elderly man leaving from there. I concluded that perhaps he had come to visit his wife. In 1996 I was preparing for All Souls’ Day in the cemetery when again I caught sight of him, tending the grave. Tall, somewhat bent, he was well passed middle age. We nodded to each other and continued our work. Occasionally I stole a glance at my neighbor. When I noticed that he hadn’t got the tools for a proper cleanup, I offered him mine, which he gratefully accepted. After this, it seemed only natural to engage him in conversation. I asked him whose grave it was. This was his answer:

“My mother’s. She died young, in 1912 when I was only a year-and-a half old. I really never knew her. I made her that cross and the copper letters.”

Then he went on:“No one comes to visit this grave but me because I was her only child. She died of pneumonia. My father remarried and my stepmother only cared for her own children. So then I always came here to my mother, whether in sadness or in joy. Later, life took me far afield, but I never forgot this grave. For me it was the same as the family home is for others. I always came home here.”

“With the years passing, it is getting more difficult for me to come, but as long as my legs will carry me, at least twice a year I visit my mother. I’m in my 80s. so who knows how long I can still make it.“

In stunned silence I listened. Tears clouded my eyes as I realized that I had never seen such boundless love. How much easier is my lot, I thought, for at any moment I can reach into my storehouse of memories and draw out the joyful or sad vignettes(小插图) that bind me to my parents with a thousand threads. What memories might this kindly old gentleman harbor? Perhaps a face from an ancient faded photograph of his mother.

What a great attachment throughout his long life must have led him back again and again to the resting place of that young woman whose motherly love he could never truly savor(尝到), only forever feels its enormous lack.

We said good-bye. I was deeply moved because I knew that I had been given a great gift. I had been allowed a glimpse of the royal and long-lasting affection that bound a simple and noble-hearted man to his mother. I decided I would tend the grave together with that of my parents, where, finally, the aged child will have met his youthful mother.

1.All Souls’ Day is a feast day ________.

A. to visit the cemetery and memorize the dead

B. for families to get together in the cemetery

C. to give gifts to family members

D. for daughters and sons to memorize their parents

2.From the passage, we know ________.

A. the author’s mother died young and her father, too

B. the author’s mother is dead while her father enjoys a long life

C. the man’s mother died very young before he was born

D. the author’s father lived long while the man’s mother died very young

3.The underlined words “calling attention to itself” in the 5th paragraph means ________.

A. desiring to be paid attention to

B. making it easily noticed

C. too modest to be noticed

D. calling itself to draw others’ attention

4.The author stole a glance at her neighbor because ________.

A. they were living in the same neighborhood

B. the man was tall and straight, well passed middle age

C. she was wondering about the dead young lady’s story

D. she knew the dead in the grave was the man’s mother

5.From Paragraph 10 we can conclude that ________.

A. the author lived near the cemetery and can visit her parents at any time

B. the poor gentleman had hardly any memory of his dear mother’s love

C. the author is bound to her parents with threads

D. the gentleman comes back “home” whenever he wants to

6.What message is conveyed in the passage?

A. Love is a length of thread to bind mother and children together.

B. Mother needs love from her children even if she is dead.

C. Parents’ love is always royal and long-lasting to children.

D. Mother’s love can be a boundless gift to their children.

阅读下面短文,从短文后面各题的四个选项(A、B、C 和D)中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

I used to hate being called upon in class mainly because I didn’t like attention drawn to myself. And ________ otherwise assigned (指定) a seat by the teacher, I always ________ to sit at the back of the classroom.

All this ________ after I joined a sports team. It began when a teacher suggested I try out for the basketball team. At first I thought it was a crazy ________ because I didn’t have a good sense of balance, nor did I have the ________ to keep pace (跟上) with the others on the team and they would make fun of me. But for the teacher who kept insisting on my “________ for it”, I wouldn’t have decided to give a try.

Getting up the courage to go to the tryouts was only the ________ of it! When I first started ________ the practice sessions, I didn’t even know the rules of the game, much ________ what I was doing. Sometimes I’d get ________ and take a shot at the wrong direction — which made me feel really stupid. ________, I wasn’t the only one “new” at the game, so I decided to ________ on learning the game, do my best at each practice session, and not be too hard on myself for the things I didn’t ________ “just yet”.

I practiced and practiced. Soon I knew the ________ and the “moves”. Being part of a team was fun and motivating. Very soon the competitive ________ in me was winning over my lack of confidence. With time, I learned how to play and made friends in the ________ — friends who respect my efforts to work hard and be a team player. I never had so much fun!

With my ________ self-confidence comes more praise from teachers and classmates. I have gone from ________ in the back of the classroom and not wanting to call attention to myself, ________ raising my hand — even when I sometimes wasn’t and not 100 percent ________ I had the right answer. Now I have more self-confidence in myself.

1.A. asB. untilC. unlessD. though

2.A. hopedB. agreedC. meantD. chose

3.A. continuedB. changedC. settledD. started

4.A. ideaB. planC. beliefD. saying

5.A. rightB. chanceC. abilityD. patience

6.A. goingB. lookingC. cheeringD. applying

7.A. pointB. halfC. restD. basis

8.A. enjoyingB. preparingC. attendingD. watching

9.A. lessB. laterC. worseD. further

10.A. committedB. motivatedC. embarrassedD. confused

11.A. InterestinglyB. Fortunately

C. ObviouslyD. Hopefully

12.A. focusB. actC. relyD. try

13.A. wantB. doC. supportD. know

14.A. stepsB. ordersC. rulesD. games

15.A. rolesB. partC. mindD. value

16.A. processB. operationC. movementD. situation

17.A. expressedB. improvedC. preservedD. recognized

18.A. dreamingB. playingC. relaxingD. hiding

19.A. byB. forC. withD. to

20.A. luckyB. happyC. sureD. satisfied

What’s the weather like today? Harmful rays are dangerous even on cold, cloudy days. Sunscreen is important year-round protection no matter where you are.

Remember, you’re being struck by the sun’s powerful rays when you are

*walking on the street

*playing on the ground

*relaxing on the beach or pool

*taking part in outdoor activities

Sun Veil Sunscreen can reduce the harmful effects of the sun.

Sun Veil Sunscreen is guaranteed 100% effective or you will get a full refund. Sun Veil Sunscreen provides long-lasting waterproof protection from the sun’s burning rays that will last for a full 6 hours in or out of water.

Instructions:

Apply Sun Veil’s disappearing blue-colored sunscreen to all exposed skin. The blue color disappears as you rub Sun Veil Sunscreen onto the skin. The coloring is safe and easily washes from most clothing. For best results, allow Sun Veil Sunscreen to dry for 15-30 minutes before exposure to the sun.

Warning:

Discontinue use immediately, if the skin becomes painful or there are some red spots.

Sun Veil Sunscreen is not recommended for pregnant women and babies under the age of six months.

If you’re interested in our product, just order now! $20.00 for one bottle. There will be a 10% discount if you buy two at a time, and a 15% discount for three or more!

1.Different activities are mentioned to show that Sun Veil Sunscreen is ________.

A. popular with all the ages

B. available wherever you are

C. better than others on the market

D. necessary whatever you do

2.Sun Veil Sunscreen is a product which ________.

A. is suitable for people of all ages

B. provides long-lasting waterproof protection

C. can protect the skin for a whole day

D. can be bought only online

3.Which of the following statements is true about Sun Veil Sunscreen?

A. When you apply this sunscreen to your skin, the blue color will disappear.

B. If this sunscreen is ineffective, you can get half of your money back.

C. It must be dry for one hour before you go outdoors.

D. It’s popular with all colored people.

4.How much should you pay for Sun Veil Sunscreen in all, four bottles of it at first and one more bottle a week later?

A. $51.00.B. $100.00.C. $69.00.D. $88.00.

违法和不良信息举报电话:027-86699610 举报邮箱:58377363@163.com

精英家教网