Playing a musical instrument is a great hobby. I started playing the piano when I was five years old and I still 1 it now: it is a perfect way to relax and can cheer me up when I'm feeling 2. When 1 lived at home with my parents, we had a brown piano in the 3 and I had piano lessons every week. However, when I went to university, I had to 4 my family and my piano behind.
I enjoyed playing the piano so much that I 5 all the money I got for my birthday on a new electric piano. It was quite 6 to get it from the music shop: I had to ask a friend to help 7 get the piano into a taxi and then move it to the door. I was able to play 8 I wanted, using earphones so that I wouldn't disturb (打扰) my roommates. When I got tired of studying or writing an essay, I would take a 9 by playing something energetic. It really helped me feel relaxed and happy! 10 I was feeling a bit homesick (想家的) , playing music that I learned on my old piano made me feel 11.
Now I am studying abroad and I don't have a 12 with me. When I'm listening to a tune that I can 13 , I feel nostalgic (怀旧的) about the piano keyboard. I wish that pianos were as portable (轻便的) as guitars 14 I really want to spend time on my hobby. Luckily, there are other activities that I 15 do to relax, like drawing or writing stories.
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Compass |
It was a great gift to the world from ancient China. Before it was invented, sailors had to depend on the stars to find directions. After it was invented, the oceans were open to travel. And many new discoveries were made with the help of it. |
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Gunpowder |
It was one of the greatest inventions. It is said that in the 3rd century a Chinese man wrote about how to make it. At first, it was used for making fireworks. At the end of the Tang Dynasty, people began to use it in wars. The method of making it was spread throughout most parts of Eurasia by the end of 13th century. |
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Paper making |
China was the first country in the world to make paper. During the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC一9 AD), paper was made in some places in China, It was developed in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 AD- 220 AD) by Cai Lun. He made paper with bark, ropes, rags and so on. Before it was invented, the ancient Chinese carved characters on animal bones and stones. They also wrote them on bamboo and wooden sticks. |
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Printing |
It was developed in 1041~1048 in the Song Dynasty. A man named Bi Sheng carved characters on pieces of clay and wood. Then he put ink on them. After the characters were printed on paper, the pieces of clay or wood could be used again. This technology then spread to Korea, Japan and Europe. It was the basic method at that time. |
Fiona likes to listen to music. She likes to listen to classical music. Now she is listening to Beethoven's Symphony (交响曲) No. 5. The music is about fate knocking on the door. Fate is the unseen power of life. Fate changes our lives. Fate designs our lives. Fiona likes this music. She feels the power of music.
Suddenly, somebody knocks on her door. She goes to the door and opens it. There is a man at the door. The man is old. He has grey hair and a grey beard (胡须). She doesn't know who the person is. The man says he is her father. She closes the door in front of the man. She stays at the door and thinks. She has a father. But he is dead. She doesn't know the man at the door. She doesn't understand why he says he is her father. She wants to call the police. Just then she can see a photo under the door. The man is giving her a photo. She looks at the photo. She can see herself with a man she doesn't know. It is her because she took many photos when she was a young girl. Is the man who is standing in front of her door her father? She must find the answer.
She opens the door. She asks the man whether he is lying or not. The man tells her he is telling the truth. She invites him for a cup of coffee. They sit down and drink coffee. They start talking about life. He tells her everything that he knows. She listens. Sometimes she is surprised. Sometimes she cries. Sometimes she laughs. They are listening to Beethoven. This time it is not fate, but her father who is knocking on the door.
This August, we'll welcome guests from all over the world. Some of them follow their own special cultural traditions. It's important for us to know about them.
In many countries, such as Thailand, India and Malaysia, people believe that the left hand is unclean. So, it's not proper to use one's left hand to hold food, touch others or pass objects. Doing so may offend some guests.
Some Westerners may be offended if you touch them or their personal things-even by accident. If this happens, say sorry politely.
Some elderly Westerners may be offended if you try to help them without their agreement.
People think numbers can be lucky or unlucky. Some Westerners avoid the number 13 because they believe it is unlucky.
Muslims(穆斯林)do not eat pork, and words like pigs are not considered proper.
People from Brazil, Italy and Pakistan do not give handkerchiefs(手帕)as gifts. They believe a handkerchief is closely connected with unhappy feelings.
Wine is not sent as a gift in many parts of western and middle Asia, where most Muslims live.
Stonehenge means "hanging stones". They stood in a circle, with 30 more stones lying on top to form a ring of rocks. There was also an inner circle built with similar stones. The stones set up in a trilithon(巨石牌坊) pattern.
A trilithon is made of two stone pillars with a stab of rock laid across the top. The stones weigh up to 20 tons each. People wonder how the huge rocks were placed that way.
Historians agree that Stonehenge was built in three different stages. The first stage took place about 5, 000 years ago. At that time, a large circular earth wall was made. Historians believe the wall was dug and cut with tools made form anglers(鹿角) of red deer. The earth wall was about 98m in diameter(直径) a 5-meter-tall stone was placed near the center. Then, they had to transport the large blue stones (up to 4 tons) 384 kilometers to Stonehenge. Experts think they might be moved across ice and snow. The ground in winter in this area is usually full of ice and snow, making it easier to move the rocks. The next task was to stand the stones up. The most difficult task was putting the top stones in place. Each one of these tasks took a lot of planning and a lot of strength, but the workers of Stonehenge were excellent builders.
Why was the monument built? Some scientists think it's a burial ground. There are over 400 graves (burial sits) nearby. A man was buried with two gold earrings which are the oldest gold ever found in Britain (dated to 2470 BC). Others think Stonehenge was built by early astronomers. Scientists believe that when a person stands in the center of the monument, the changing of seasons can be seen. Certain stones mark the location of the rising and setting moon in midwinter. Other stones mark the rising and setting sun in midsummer. The ancient people held religious ceremonies on these days. These ceremonies probably asked the gods to bring good weather for crops and to protect the people from bad weather.
Stonehenge is an engineering success. Thousands of years later, it still stands. As a calendar, Stonehenge is very accurate. It shows that early people had a deep understanding of the movements to the sun and the moon. They didn't have machines or computers, but Stonehenge shows people could do many things using only their muscles and their brains.
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electricity new if beautiful invent |
A: What's that, Nick?
B: Oh, it's my , Come and look at it, Bob.
A: Is it a model(模型) car?
B: Yes, and it's a "clean car".
A: It's , How does it go?
B: It uses sunlight or .
A: That's great. The air would be clean all the cars were like it.
B: You're right, Bob.
A: Could you make one for me, Nick?
B: Sure. You'll have a one next Monday.
A: Thank you.
Most people think that only a genius(天才) can invent. That is not true, Many of the tools and products we use in our daily life were (发明) by ordinary people by accident.
William Kamkwamba grew up on a farm in a small village in Malawi, Africa. When he was 14, he had to drop out of school (因为) his parents couldn't earn enough money to send him to school anymore.
One day, when William felt the wind, he began to think (怎样) it could be used. He (借) a book from the library called Using Energy, which had (图画) of windmills(风车) in it. Although the book didn't talk about using wind to produce (电能), it gave him his idea.
William started (工作) on a model of a windmill and he used it to power a radio! He then built a much (大的) windmill with old pieces of junk. The villagers were amazed when they saw he used it to power four light bulbs and to charge(使充电) their mobile phones !
William's windmill drew a lot of (注意) and he even wrote a book about his story. Now he travels around the world, speaking about his (项目) and developing other inventions to help people.
How are American families different from Chinese ones?
In some ways American families are very different from Chinese ones, and in other ways they are same. For example, American families enjoy family dinners. They support and love each other just Chinese families do. The (different) come from culture, however. Many Chinese students are surprised to learn that American teenagers are (allow) to make many decisions their own, and the parents want their children to leave home at eighteen.
In most American families, children are encouraged to make their own (choose) at a young age. They start with small choices and gradually larger ones until they graduate from high school. That is when they face (big) decision of their lives: what to do next. Parents and family will help with the choice, but the children themselves make the (finally) decision.
Americans seldom move back into family homes they get older. , they prefer to have their own lives for as long as possible. It is important to remember that these are cultural differences, and that Americans see this as part of the culture.
Do you like winter? It's the c oldest season of a year. Here are some things everyone should know about winter.
Winter is the season when the temperature drops and slow covers the ground. When the temperature is below zero, water freezes and ice forms.
After a heavy snowfall, children play in the snow. They build snow houses, make snowmen and have snowball fights. People also enjoy skiing, skating, and sledding in winter.
The cold weather can also be dangerous; people slip on the ice and cars slide down hills knocking into each other. Some people also catch a cold when they stay out in the cold.
Because winter is so cold, people have to find ways to keep warm. People wear heavy coats, scarves for their necks, gloves for their hands, and boots on their feet.
Children drink hot chocolate when they c come in from the cold. And families sit around the fire at night and talk about what they did during the day.
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A. Winter Dangers B. Winter Weather C. Keeping Warm D. Winter Fun |
提示：
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Manners |
shake hands; for the first time |
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say Mr. and Mrs. ; talk with older people |
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Eating habits |
drink tea at a tea party; not coffee or juice |
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Notices |
Don't talk loudly in public; stand in a line |
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(请再列举1~2点) |
要求：1）词数90左右；
2）短文的开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数；
3）文中须包括所有写作要点,但不要逐字翻译，可适当加入过渡语句，使短文通顺、连贯。
Before we go to another country, it is necessary for us to learn something about its customs and history. Take Britain as an example. …
The golden rule is: Watch the other people. Do as they do.
