World's loneliest marathon
Many of us know about Russia's Lake Baikal from our textbooks, or by listening to Chinese singer Li Jian's hit song, Lake Baikal. But over the past decade, the world's deepest freshwater lake has been in the spotlight for an extreme sport.
Each March since 2005, about 150 people from around the world sign up for the Baikal Ice Marathon. They come to explore the lake's breathtaking beauty and challenge themselves in unpredictable conditions.
The 26-mile (41. 84-kilometer) journey starts on the lake's eastern shore. In March, the ice is a meter thick and iron-hard. Runners cross this frozen surface, finishing on the western side of the lake.
Known as the "blue eye of Siberia"，Lake Baikal has exceptionally clear waters. This means its ice is almost perfectly transparent. "Seen from above, a runner on the ice looks as if he or she were jogging through space," The New York Times noted.
The landscape might be beautiful, but it's also harsh. Strong winds blast across the lake and frostbite(冻伤) can occur within half an hour. Runners say the cold climate is what draws them. They want to test their limits.
"When you are in such an environment, you don't have cars around you, and you don't have the noise around. I think these extreme races allow you to be alone with nature," Alicja Barahona, a 64-year-old runner from the US, told ABC News.
The location offers some strange and unique characteristics for this marathon. The finish line is visible from the start, but the endless white offers no progress markers. The race also ends with little fanfare(喧闹)。Tourists crowding the ice are mostly addicted to snapping themselves and just ignore the runners.
For some runners, the absence of spectators(观众)makes the race more challenging, because it's lonely. They must fight with themselves. "You are alone on Baikal. It is your race. You are alone with yourself. All you need to do is defeat yourself," Veronique Messina, a French runner, told The Telegraph.
As an oceanographer（海洋学家）, I've spent many years developing robots to explore the ocean, and now we're putting that technology to use in our JASON Project, a program that's designed to inspire students and get them interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. In theaters throughout the country, we bring kids together and send back to them on large screens our live explorations of large areas of the globe. Not only are the kids observers, but they can operate robots moving across the area while broadcasting images back to them. The kids have the sensation（感受） of really being at the site with us.
I believe advances in robot technology will one day be the key to a new kind of travel. In the next 10 or 15 years, people will have rooms in their houses that will be able to simulate (模拟) other environment. I like to call this rooms “home domes” -- small theaters with screens and advanced equipment that can reproduce the sights, sounds, smells, and feel of a desert, or a forest. Hand in hand with these rooms, I can see a market for travel robots located in countries around the world. You could rent (租)a robot working in a rain forest, then go into your home dome, where you yourself operate the robot's movements. The equipment in the room will receive the sensations in the robot's environment and simulate them for you.
Today, much of the world's population never travels more than 50 or 60 miles from home. And even a person with enough time can see only a part of the earth's sights. But this new way of travel will cost so much less in both time and money and allow people to see a lot more of the globe. And simulated travel will also help protect our planet. You can't take large groups of tourists to look at Dian Fossey's gorillas（大猩猩）. But a small robot, with no animal smell, can get very close to a gorilla and send the sights, sounds, and smells back to a million people.
When we think of holidays, we think of traveling, beaches, fun, and adventure. Smartphones have taken the world by storm, influencing the manner we interact with each other. Does this sound like you? If so, it sounds like you need a digital detox (数码产品戒毒期).
Whether you are a businessman or a student, everyone needs some time away from technology.
Having a tech-free holiday is becoming increasingly popular especially among families. The reason is obvious. While it may seem that sending a quick text message or uploading a photo to WeChat doesn't take so much time, these things eventually add up without us even knowing it.
Whether to give yourself a digital detox is a difficult decision to make. To help you along, it is probably a good idea to choose a remote area, somewhere close to nature, where you can truly immerse (沉浸其中) yourself.
Taking a tech-free holiday would be a good time to pick up something new, or return to hobbies which you never had time for. If you're going with friends or family, perhaps bring along some board games to spend time rekindling (重新点燃) tired relationships.
In today's fast paced world, it's important to find time to stop and smell the roses — without taking a selfie at the same time, that is.
A. You could sketch (描述) the view of the coast, or take photos with your old film camera.
B. One of the best things about a digital detox is the fact that anyone can do it.
C. But the reality is, we spend most of our holidays on our personal digital products.
D. Nothing in this world can compare a holiday like this.
E. However, it may be just the thing you need to cleanse (清洗) your mind, body, and soul.
F. It enables them to spend quality time with together without being distracted by social media.
G People tend to keep connected with smartphones and never feel bored with them.
Door-to-door food delivery service has become increasingly popular in cities due to the fast development of e-commerce and the fast-paced life in China. As food delivery is extremely 1 in China, it creates large amounts of waste due to the plastic containers, bags, and chopsticks that come with each order. This in turn has 2 great environmental concerns for the waste packaging materials. We have therefore estimated and predicted the volume of food delivery packaging waste in China. The results show that the total amount of packaging waste 3 from 0.2 million metric tons in 2015 to 1.5 million metric tons in 2017.
Over packaging is also a concern. The food delivery packaging is not the 4, the better. Instead, it is the more environmental friendly, the better. Therefore, it is high time that regulations were 5 to stop restaurants and companies from spending too much on unnecessary packaging and wrapping. Also, smart policy suggestions should be provided to 6 the pressing issues, particularly using the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle environmental friendly practices.
As the largest city in China, Shanghai has an important role in innovating and contributing to a global solution to the problem of waste. With over 24 million people living in Shanghai, materials sustainability, particularly that of plastics, is a great issue. 7, delivery companies like Saucepan have begun to 8 the plastic usage of the food delivery in Shanghai by using biodegradable(可降解的) packaging in the delivery process. 9, it encourages consumers to both recycle their plastic bags and stay in the business by rewarding customers for every 10 used bags that they return to the company.
The more delivery services that promote sustainability(可持续性), the more suppliers will see that there is a market for environmentally-friendly products. The food delivery service plays a role in the creation of waste in China, and innovating in this specific context can make a big 10 in the new plastics economy.
他终于还清了透支款。
It you to have noticed the slight difference.
If you enjoy canoeing(皮划艇运动), you can paddle for free in Denmark, Ireland, Germany, Sweden and Norway, but you also have to be willing to pick up trash.
(organize) by Greenkayak, free trips in the group's two-person kayaks(皮艇) are offered in return for collecting waste from water surface. The project began in Denmark in April, 2017. With the help of a thousand kayak (voluntary), three tons of trash (collect) from Copenhagen harbor that year. You can easily book a kayak for the time being works for you. Life jackets and equipment—like a paddle, a waste picker, a bucket for the trash— (provide): just bring yourself. You can have two hours of free kayak time.
Greenkayak believes that kayaks are highly effective at collecting waste because they can get close to areas that are hard (reach).
"In Denmark, people love to hang out on canals, but (fortunate) they see waste (float) by," one of Greenkayak's co-founders speaks of the program's origin. "You can't take your shirt off and jump in. However, you can get in on the Greenkayak and make difference."
If you want to take advantage the free kayak, tour a city from its river and do your part to control water pollution.
Though he is old, he runs faster than many young men.
= He is old, ________ he runs faster than many young men.
汉译英
76.面对面地 .77.在…中扮演角色 .78.改变主意
79．事实上 80.质量，品质 81.在午夜
82.因为，由于 83.与...相处
84．关心 85即便，即使
strong A. comb B. obvious C. freedom D. front
One morning in early fall, I saw a pair of wild geese on our pond. The beautiful sight caught me by surprise, 41 we’d never seen geese there before. I 42 where they came from and why they’d chosen our pond.
The next morning, they were 43 there, so I took a roundabout way to the mailbox to show them I meant no 44 . Still, I couldn’t 45 getting a closer look. I stopped by some trees near the water’s edge and quietly looked through the branches at this handsome pair. I was 46 to see that they were staring at me! As the days passed, I started talking to the geese on my trips to the mailbox and they seemed to 47 I was a friend.
By then, my 48 about why they were staying so long at the pond changed to 49 . It wouldn’t be long before the 50 Michigan winter set in and the pond froze over.
One day as they were feeding in the grass, I discovered the reason for their 51 — the male had a broken left 52 . He was unable to 53 , and his lifelong mate would not leave him behind. I was amazed at the 54 between them.
I asked a wildlife biologist friend what I should do. He explained that sometimes a broken wing will 55 itself and suggested letting nature take its course.
On the first day of November, when I was gardening near the pond, I caught some 56 out of the corner of my eye. Both geese were running toward the pond, wings beating violently. Gradually, both flew into the 57 and circled back toward me, flying no more than 50 feet over my head 58
to say goodbye. Then they were out of sight.
I grew fond of them during their stay at our pond, and I 59 them. I’ll never forget their 60
to each other. We could all learn a lesson or two from this pair.
41. A. because B. if C. though D. unless
42. A. explored B. wondered C. doubted D. found
43. A. still B. rather C. never D. thus
44. A. violence B. pain C. harm D. punishment
45. A. bear B. stop C. risk D. resist
46. A. frightened B. surprised C. confused D. annoyed
47. A. realize B. expect C. prove D. imagine
48. A. worry B. hesitation C. claim D. curiosity
49. A. anger B. interest C. concern D. fear
50. A. short B. cold C. mild D. early
51. A. love B. plan C. journey D. visit
52. A. wing B. foot C. leg D. eye
53. A. walk B. run C. fly D. swim
54. A. promise B. bond C. difference D. cooperation
55. A. test B. appear C. renew D. cure
56. A. noise B. movement C. voice D. behavior
57. A. sky B. room C. garden D. forest
58. A. even if B. in case C. as if D. so that
59. A. trust B. envy C. lose D. miss
60. A. advice B. respect C. devotion D. attention
--Look! The light in the room is still on.
--Sorry, I forgot __ it off.
A .turning B turn C turned D totum
The end of my sophomore year was approaching．Mom called me at the dorm one evening during the last week of May．My summer break would be spent with grandma and grandpa, helping out around their farm．The arrangement made good sense to all the family．I wasn’t fully convinced of that myself but guessed it was just one summer．Next year would be my little brother’s turn．
I arrived late that afternoon．Grandma had fixed more food than the three of us could possibly eat．She loved me entirely too much．The next morning, Grandpa fixed breakfast for the two of us． He told me Grandma had tired herself out yesterday and was going to rest in bed a little longer．I made a mental note to myself to not ask her to do things for me while I was there．I was there to help, not be a burden．
Weeks passed．I gradually settled into a routine of daily work with Grandpa．In the evenings I usually read or talked with Grandma．She never grew tired of hearing about college or anything I was involved in．She told me stories about her childhood, family and the early years after she and Grandpa had married．
The last Saturday in June, Grandpa suggested going fishing．We hadn’t expected what we saw when we got to the pond that morning: One of the swans was dead．Grandpa had given the pair of swans to Grandma on their 50th anniversary．“Why don’t we see about buying another one,” I suggested, hoping the situation could somehow be righted．Grandpa thought for a few moments before answering．
He finally said, “no．．．it’s not that easy, Bruce．You see, swans mate for life．” He raised his finger to point, holding the fishing pole in his other hand．“There’s nothing we can do for the one that’s left．He has to work it out for himself．”
A few days later, we drove by the pond while doing our morning check on the cows．We found the other swan lying near the same spot we had found the first one．It, too, was dead．
The month of July started with me and Grandpa putting up a new stretch of fence．Then July 12 came．That was the day Grandma passed away．Grandma had died suddenly that morning of a stroke．By the afternoon, my parents were there．The old house was soon crowded with relatives and Grandpa’s friends．
The funeral was held the next day．Grandpa had insisted on having it as soon as possible．On the second day after the funeral, Grandpa announced at the breakfast table, “This is a working farm． We have a lot of things to do．The rest of you should get back to your own lives．” Most of the family had already left, but this was Grandpa’s way of telling the rest it was time for them to go home．My parents were the last to leave after lunch．
Grandpa was not a man who could outwardly express his grief around others, and we all worried about him．The rest of the summer flowed by．We stayed busy working．I thought there was something different about Grandpa but couldn’t quite put my finger on it．
September was nearing, and part of me did not want to leave．I thought of skipping the fall semester and staying around a few more months．When I mentioned it, grandpa quickly told me that my place was back at college．
The day finally came for me to pack my car and leave. I shock his hand and chanced a hug. As Idrove down the driveway, I saw him in the rearview mirror．He waved to me and then walked to the pasture gate to start the morning livestock check．
Mom called me at school on a stormy October day to tell me Grandpa had died．A neighbor had stopped by that morning for coffee and found him in the kitchen．He died of a stroke, the same as Grandma．At that moment, I understood what he’d clumsily tried to explain to me about the swan on that morning we fished together by the pond．
55．We can learn from Paragraph 1 that ．
A．Bruce regarded working on the farm as a rare chance
B．Bruce longed to enjoy himself freely on the farm
C．the brothers took turns to attend their grandparents
D．Bruce was not happy with his parents’ arrangement
56．What did the writer think at the sight of the first dead swan?
A．Another swan should be bought in place of the dead one．
B．The other was bound to die since swans mate for life．
C．Grandma would be in deep sorrow over its death．
D．The living can do nothing for the dead．
57．Grandpa quickly dismissed the family after the funeral because ．
A．he wanted to carry on with his farm work
B．he tended to deal with grief in life by himself
C．he didn’t want his normal life disturbed
D．he took for granted the matter of life and death
58．By “I couldn’t put my fingers on it”, the writer means that ．
A．I could do nothing to help him out of grief
B．I was so busy that I couldn’t give a hand to Grandpa
C．I couldn’t tell exactly what was different about my Grandpa
D．I stayed busy working and couldn’t keep Grandpa’s company
59．Which of the following best describes Grandpa’s character?
A．Outgoing, clumsy and considerate． B．Loyal, considerate and independent．
C．Talkative, clumsy and independent． D．Romantic, outgoing and loyal．
60．Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
A．Mate For Life B．Unforgettable Summer Break
C．Death of Swans D．Everlasting Love Story
