Unit 1Food for thoughtⅠ.阅读理解AThe Mogao Grottoes were a center of Buddhist life and some of the world’s great cultures for hundreds of years.However,by the late Qing Dynasty they had been abandoned and nearly forgotten and many of the caves had become damaged by the elements.Around 1900,with the discovery of a library of thousands of ancient documents,the caves received new interest from Chinese and foreign researchers.Unfortunately,this resulted in tens of thousands of items from the caves being taken to foreign museums.In the 1940s,many researchers and artists visited the area to study traditional Chinese art.Copies of some of the artwork painted by respected artists such as Zhang Daqian and Guan Shanyue helped people all over the country learn about Dunhuang.These artists were also inspired by the artwork they saw in the caves and it began to influence their painting styles.Others staved in the desert for much longer.Chang Shuhong stayed for the rest of his life—struggling to record the cultural treasures and protect them from the weather.As a result of their efforts the Dunhuang Academy was formed to protect and study the Mogao Grottoes.In 1987,the Mogao Grottoes were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.While the caves are open to the public,access is now limited in order to protect the artwork.However,the caves can be seen online in digital form so that people around the world can study and enjoy them.Despite its remoteness,the Mogao Grottoes continue to draw visitors.And just as the sand and desert have survived largely unchanged through the centuries,this small art gallery in the desert has also survived largely unchanged providing an amazing look at a world long ago past.1.When did the Mogao Grottoes regain the world’s attention?A.Hundreds of years ago.B.In the late Qing Dynasty.C.In the late eighties of the 20th century.D.Around the beginning of the 20th century.2.What is the author’s purpose in mentioning the artists in the 1940s?A.To learn about their works.B.To show how hard they worked.C.To compare their different styles.D.To appreciate their contributions.3.When people have no access to visiting the caves,.A.they can do researches onlineB.they can enjoy the digital versionsC.they can watch copies in art galleriesD.they can study them in foreign museums4.Which of the following can be a suitable title for the text?A.The Mogao Grottoes—Center of Buddhist LifeB.The Mogao Grottoes—Art Gallery in the DesertC.Respected Artists—Protectors of the Mogao GrottoesD.An Amazing Tourist Attraction—The Mogao GrottoesBThe Roman Colosseum(罗马圆形大剧场),built around two thousand years ago,survived a 14th century earthquake and most of the 150-some foot high building is still standing.It has seen the rise and fall of enormous structures as well as the Roman Empire.Why could the ancient structure stand the test of time while many modern constructions fall apart after a few decades?Scientists believe the ancient Romans used a specific concrete which may account for its super-long existence.Previous discoveries have confirmed the components of the Roman concrete:volcanicmaterial,limestone(石灰石) and water.Architects suppose the volcanic material is what makes the building strong.But this is not enough to explain the architecture’s durability.A team of researchers recently discovered a magical power of the Roman concrete:self-healing.And the key actually lies in the tiny pieces of limestone.Worth mentioning is that researchers had taken them as impurities(杂质) due to the limitation of ancient technology.But it turned out that ancient Romans seemed to have discovered the secret.When the Romans made the mixture,they heated up the limestone to turn it into quicklime,a very reactive chemical.Quicklime reacted with water and produced heat that set up a chemical foundation to strengthen the building material.Meanwhile,it would “wear” a hard “shell”,forming limestone pieces.It was these pieces that stopped the cracks(裂缝) from becoming bigger.When there was rain,the pieces reacted with water again,quickly filling the cracks.For material scientist Ainissa Ramirez,this new understanding of ancient Roman concrete is a welcome discovery.“This is one way that the material can be greener,” says Ramirez,“The Romans made the material.We had to kind of figure out how they did it so that we can make better materials—and then,you know,in turn,be better guards of our environment.”5.Why could Roman Colosseum still exist according to the text?A.It was rebuilt constantly.B.It met few natural disasters.C.It contained a special material.D.Its shape increased the stability.6.What is the function of the limestone pieces?A.To purify the concrete.B.To react with volcanic material.C.To make the structure water-proof.D.To enable the building to repair itself.7.What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 3 refer to?A.The rainwater.B.The foundation.C.The quicklime.D.The limestone.8.What can be inferred from Ainissa Ramirez’s words?A.Architects can get inspiration from ancient structures.B.The Romans’ building method remains a secret till now.C.Romans’ wisdom throws light on eco-friendly architecture.D.Scientists are exploring how to guard the ancient civilization.Ⅱ.七选五New animalsIn northern Vietnam,in thick forests in the North Annamite Mountains,there is a wildlife park called Vu Quang.In 1986,the area was made an official forest reserve.In 2002,550 square kilometers of the area were declared a National Park.1.It is in an area that is hard to get to,for one thing.And it’s an area that’s difficult to walk through because the rocks are covered with algae and are very slippery.2.In the last twenty years,several new species of animals that have never been seen anywhere in the world before have been discovered there.Some of them are so new that scientists haven’t given them official names yet!The new animals discovered at the park include the Vu Quang ox or Saola,a “slow” deer,a giant muntjac (the world’s largest,in fact),a black deer and a “holy” goat.3,as well as two species of amphibians and 15 species of reptiles.The Saola was the first new species of large mammal to be discovered in more than fifty years,so it caused a lot of excitement in the scientific world.It is a strange goat-like creature that looks as if it is somehow related to cattle.It has horns that can be between one and two feet long,and that seem to come out of the animal’s head at slightly different angles.4.The creature had hidden safely for generations in the Vu Quang area.But once it was discovered,it was in danger.5.Sadly,the Saola is now being hunted and may well end up as another endangered species.A.That’s why it attracts huntersB.Vu Quang is no ordinary park,thoughC.Hunters have no respect for new speciesD.But that’s not all that is unusual about Vu QuangE.Five new species of fish have also been found thereF.This was the first time so many new species had been found in this areaG.That’s why it is called “Saola”,meaning “spinning wheel posts” in VietnameseⅢ.语法填空Huizhou enjoys a time-honored history.In 2000,Xidi and the nearby Hongcun village were declared World Heritage sites by UNESCO for their outstanding preservation of rural architecture 1.(date) back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.Huizhou houses are often wooden structures with brick walls,which require a lot of maintenance.Moreover,daylight is valued in Huizhou houses,which is reflected in the building of open interior courtyards,2.(allow) sunshine to enter the rooms.Now,walking along the bluestone streets there,visitors can appreciate the distinctive Huizhou-style houses featuring white walls,dark tiles(瓦片) and layered horse-head roofs,3. feel like they are immersed in a traditional Chinese ink painting.The tourism boom helps to protect and breathe life into the ancient village.A 4.(symbol) paifang,standing at the entrance to Xidi,5.(build) in the 16th century in memory of Hu Wenguang,6. Ming Dynasty official born in the village who made great 7.(contribute) to local education and livelihoods.It is the local people’s desire to protect the local historical characteristics that leads to the buildings 8.(preserve) to this day.Besides ancient dwellings and paifang,there stand some ancestral halls 9. clans(宗族,家族) will gather to make sacrifices to their ancestors.With their own unique and marketable value,all these old Huizhou buildings are giving full play 10. their distinctive cultural charm.Ⅳ.应用文写作你校英文广播站需要招聘一名广播主持人。
