As winter approached, retailers (零售商) ordered clothes for cold weather, arranged their stores for cold weather and then just started hoping for cold weather. Winter is here, but the cold weather by and large is not. Nationally, last month was one of the warmest Decembers on record, and so far January temperatures are above average. The relatively warm weather is erasing a lot of demand for winter hats, coats, and gloves—and making some retailers sweat the bottom line. On Saturday, the outdoors store REI took the unusual step of making artificial snow in a Manhattan park, hoping to encourage people to buy snowshoes and winter jackets. Home Depot has cut down on items like salt for de-icing, and many of its stores have replaced snow removal equipment with storage products in storefront displays. Even drugstores are being affected because flu (流感)infections are down. Though some winter resorts received a small amount of snow over the weekend, and Seattle is having a snowstorm, those pockets of cold have not provided much of arelief for retailers, who are running out of time to sell their winter inventory . Kevin Scott, senior vice president for merchandising services at Home Depot, said there has been an upside to the warmer weather—outdoor paint, outdoor lights and windows are selling well—but "we'll take a little more snow, I think, as anybody would." Scott Jaeger, an analyst with the Leisure Trends Group, a market research firm, said that while overall sales in 2011 had riseneight percent, sales of outdoor gear in December felltwo percent from the previous December. "This year they can get outside and enjoy things without having to buy the thick coat," he said of shoppers. "They didn't need hats. They didn't have to update the wardrobe or update the skis, because they were not necessarily going skiing." On Saturday, REI spread artificial snow over a Manhattan park so passers-by could try cross-country skiing. Luckily, Saturday was one of the few days this winter that reached freezing in the city. "We plan for a solid winter," said Tim Spangler, senior vice president for retail at REI. "We often joke that planners in our business are paid to be wrong: you either bought too little, because the winter overperforms, or you bought too much, because it's warm ."1. The problem those retailers face derives from __________.A) the worsening environmentB) the insufficient stocks of itemsC) the relatively high temperature D) the change of people's outdoor activities2. The outdoors store REI made artificial snow in the park to ________.A) encourage people to enjoy a warm winterB) stimulate customers to buy its commodities C) display the splendid effects of its productsD) express its anger to the changeable weather3. The word "inventory" (Para. 5) is closest in meaning to _______.A) stock B) wreckC) creationD) promotion4. What does Tim Spangler mean by saying "you either bought too little, because the winter overperforms, or you bought too much, because it's warm" (last paragraph)?A) His business is winter is always a mess.B) Cold weather counts little in his winter business.C) People's shopping habits tend to change in winter.D) Winter weather has a great impact on his business. 5. What is the message the author intends to convey?A) Warm winter brings a dim prospect for retailers. B) Artificial snow facilitates the sale of outdoor equipment.C) People dislike participating in outdoor activities in winter.D) Salespersons can never take advantage of weather for promotion.
exposeA. 探讨,探究B. 爆炸sqrt C. 使暴露,使曝光D. 期待;预计
We were completely______when we finally reached the destination.A. worn offB. worn downC. worn outD. worn away
[音频]Questions1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.______1. A) Ship traffic in the Atlantic. B) Warm currents in the ocean. C) Exhaust from cars in Europe. D) Particles emitted by power plants.______2. A.) They need to be taken seriously. B.) They have a huge effect on fishery. C.) They might be causing trouble to air fights. D.) They may be affecting the world’s climate.
For thousands of years, people have known that the best way to understand a concept is to explain it to someone else. "While we teach, we learn, " said Roman philosopher Seneca. Now scientists are bringing this ancient wisdom up-to-date. They're documenting why teaching is such a fruitful way to learn, and designing innovative ways for young people to engage in instruction.Researchers have found that students who sign up to tutor others work harder to understand the material, recall it more accurately and apply it more effectively. Student teachers score higher on tests than pupils who're learning only for their own sake. But how can children, still learning themselves, teach others? One answer: They can tutor younger kids. Some studies have found that first-born children are more intelligent than their later-born siblings. This suggests their higher IQs result from the time they spend teaching their siblings. Now educators are experimenting with ways to apply this models to academic subjects. They engage college undergraduates to teach computer science to high school students, who in turn instruct middle school students on the topic.But the most cutting-edge tool under development is the "teachable agent"—a computerized character who learns, tries, makes mistakes and asks questions just like a real-world pupil. Computer scientists have created an animated figure called Betty's Brain, who has been "taught" about environmental science by hundreds of middle school students. Student teachers are motivated to help Betty master certain materials. While preparing to teach, they organize their knowledge and improve their own understanding. And as they explain the information to it, they identify problems in their own thinking.Feedback from the teachable agents further enhances the tutors' learning. The agents' questions compel student tutors to think and explain the materials in different ways, and watching the agent solve problems allows them to see their knowledge put into action.Above all, it's the emotions one experiences in teaching that facilitate learning. Student tutors feel upset when their teachable agents fail, but happy when these virtual pupils succeed as they derive(获得)pride and satisfaction from someone else's accomplishment.What are researchers rediscovering through their studies? A.Human intelligence tends to grow with age.B.Better learners will become better teachers.C.Seneca's thinking is still applicable today.D.Philosophical thinking improved instruction.What do we learn about Betty's Brain? A.It is a character in a popular animation.B.It is a tutor for computer science students.C.It is a cutting-edge app in digital games.D.It is a teaching tool under development.How does teaching others benefit student tutors? A.It helps them learn their academic subjects better.B.It motivate them to try novel ways of teaching.C.It makes them aware of what they are strong at.D.It enabled them to better understand their teachers.What do students do to teach their teachable agents? A.They motivate them to think independently.B.They use various ways to explain the materials.C.They encourage them to give prompt feedback.D.They ask them to design their own questions.
stationA. 车站;所,站B. 声明;陈述C. 公寓D. 国家;州
In the town of Marmet, which is just south of Charleston, residents line upin their cars for free bottled water. Schools and most restaurants and businessesremain closed.Marmet’s Fire Chief Jerry McGhee says responding to the wateremergency has brought out the best in the community.The crisis began when a chemical known as MCHM, used to clean uselesssubstances from coal, leaked from a storage tank owned by a company calledFreedom Industries. The chemical got into the Elk River, which suppliesdrinking water to the region. Residents say the contaminated water smells likelicorice. Officials warned people not to drink it, or even wash with it.Dustin White with the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition and otherenvironmentalists are critical of what they say is the lack of regulation of thepowerful chemical and coal industries in West Virginia. But for now they arefocusing on the crisis at hand, bringing water to rural areas.1.What is urgently needed in the town of Marmet now?A) Thick clothes.B) Gas and coal.C) Drinking water. D) Storage tank.2.What can we learn from the news?A) Jerry McGhee is the chief of Freedom Industries.B) A chemical contaminated water in the Elk River.C) People can still wash with water in the Elk River.D) The rural areas have an adequate supply of water.
A: What can I do for you?A. You can buy me a drink.B. I need a pair of pants.C. I'm looking for a sports shirt.D. please show me that tiethe dark one with white dots.
二、结合上下文,根据语法规则在空格处填入适当的词汇。-|||-Robot,it is a word that seems very modern,a word that creates a strong mental-|||-picture,a picture of something(1) __ looks and acts like a human.Robots are not-|||-humans,of course,they are machines.-|||-The word robot,and robots themselves,are less than 100 years old.But humans-|||-(2) __ (dream)of real and imaginary copies of themselves for thousands of years.-|||-Early people made little human statues out of clay.And they cut wood and stone-|||-(3) __ (look)like humans.-|||-What is the future of robots?The goal of scientists is(4) __ (create)a true-|||-human-like robot.Some experts have described this robot of the future (5) __ one-|||-that can act independently with the physical world through its own senses and actions.-|||-Humans have the ability to see,hear,speak and solve problems. Engineers have built-|||-robots that have one or two of these abilities.But it takes a number of big expensive-|||-computers (6) __ (make) the robots work.-|||-The(7) __ (big)problem in creating a human-like robot is copying human-|||-intelligence. The way the human mind works is almost impossible to copy.A simple-|||-computer (8) __ do mathematical problems far beyond the ability of even the-|||-smartest human mind.But the human mind is better than a thousand supercomputers-|||-(9) __ speaking, hearing andproblem-solving. Several American and Japanese-|||-companies are working (10) __ (develop)the senses of sight and touch for robots.-|||-The development of these senses will make robots much more useful.-|||-However,the most important human ability -the most difficult to copy - is-|||-promem-somen an methern gro mot must be able to change the way it acts-|||-(11) __ it faces an unexpected sination. Huma do it all the time. Computers-|||-must do it for robots. This means computers must have a huge base of information about-|||-many things. They must be able to find quickly the(12) __ (need)information in-|||-their systems. And they must make choices about how to act. So far,this is beyond the-|||-ability of computers.
Section A-|||-Directions: In this section,there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each-|||-blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully-|||-before making your choices.Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter.Please mark the corresponding-|||-letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.You may not use any of the-|||-words in the bank more than once.-|||-There`re three main types of financial stress people encounter.The first type is apparent in people-|||-being stressed about the 26 ups and downs of investment markets-actually not so much the ups,-|||-but 27 the downs.These people are usually unable or unprepared to endure the long haul.-|||-The next common type of financial stress is that caused by debt.In a 28 percentage of cases of-|||-debt-induced financial stress,credit cards and loans will be a central element.Often there `ll be a car loan-|||-and perhaps a mortgage,but credit cards often seem to be the gateway to debt-related financial difficulties-|||-for many.-|||-The third type of stress and 29 the least known is inherited financial stress,which is the most-|||-destructive.It is experienced by those who have grown up in households where their parents regularly-|||- 30 and fought about money.Money therefore becomes a stressful topic,and so the thought of-|||-sitting down and planning is an unattractive 31 .-|||-Those suffering inherited financial anxiety 32 to follow one of two patterns.Either they put-|||-their head in the sand: they would 33 examining their financial statements,budgeting,and-|||-discussing financial matt with those closest to them.Alternatively,they would go to the other-|||- 34 -ana1yze cverythig, to the point of complete 35 They`re convinced that-|||-whatever decision they make will be the wrong one-|||-A)appearance F) extreme K)proposition-|||-B)argued G)inaction L)rebelled-|||-C)avoid H)incredibly M)statement-|||-D)considerable I) normal N) tend-|||-E)definitely J) possibly O)traditionalSection A Directions: In this section,there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage.Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter.Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once. There're three main types of financial stress people encounter.The first type is apparent in people being stressed about the_ 26 ups and downs of investment markets-actually not so much the ups, but_ 27 the downs. These people are usually unable or unprepared to endure the long haul. The next common type of financial stress is that caused by debt. In a28 percentage _of cases of debt-induced financial stress, credit cards and loans will be a central element. Often there'll be a car loan and perhaps a mortgage, but credit cards often seem to be the gateway to debt-related financial difficulties for many. The third type of stress and 29_ the least known is inherited financial stress, which is the most destructive. It is experienced by those who have grown up in households where their parents regularly _30 and fought about money. Money therefore becomes a stressful topic,and so the thought of sitting down and planning is an unattractive_ 31 Those suffering inherited financial anxiety_ 32 to follow one of two patterns. Either they put their head in the sand:they would_ 33 examining their financial statements, budgeting, and discussing financial matters with those closest to them. Alternatively, they would go to the other _34 ,and micro-analyze everything,to the point of complete_ 35. They're convinced that whatever decision they make will be the wrong one. A) appearance F)extreme K) proposition B)argued G)inaction L)rebelled C)avoid H)incredibly M) statement D)considerable D normal N)tend E)definitely J)possibly O)traditional
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Americans experience more food recalls (召回) today than they did five years ago, especially when it comes to meat and poultry (家禽). Meat and poultry recalls increased by two-thirds from 2013 to 2018, while food recalls overall went up 10%, according to the report recently published by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates (估计) 48 million people get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die from food-borne disease each year in the U.S. "We are looking for the farm-to-fork preventative solutions," said Adam Garber, the research group's consumer watchdog. "By doing that, we can protect people's health."Over the five-year period, poultry posted the most recalls (168), followed by beef (137) and pork (128). The report shows the most serious meat recalls are on the rise. Among meat and poultry, the number of Class I recalls has increased by 83%, nearly doubling. Class I, the most serious of the recalls, is issued when there is a reasonable probability that the food will cause health problems or death.53. When would Class I recalls be issued?A. When the food is likely to cause health problems or death.B. When there are too many complaints from customers.C. When the food problem lasts for five years.D. When the product quality is below standard.
If you_________in a job for several years, you may be able to accumulate a lot of work experience and skills that would be beneficial to your future career development.A. have workedB. had workedC. have been workingD. had been working
The Harry Potter series, written by J.K. Rowling, is perhaps the most popular set of novels of the modern era. With seven books and many successful films to its name, the series has gathered about 15 billion dollars in sales. How did the series become so popular? The reason can be broken down into several areas.The first book in the series was rejected 12 times before it was picked up by Bloomsbury—a small publisher in England. So receiving this contract was Rowling's first step to success. However, getting a book contract does not ensure the success of a book. The story was soon loved by children and adults alike. In light of this, Bloomsbury Publishing published a second version of the books with “adult” (less colorful and more boring) book covers. This made it easier for a full range of ages to enjoy the series.Another factor that worked like a charm was that the publisher and Rowling herself, through the books, conducted midnight releases, promotions, and pre-ordering more readers. Customers who feared that their local bookstore would run out of copies responded by pre-ordering over 700,000 copies before the July 8, 2000 release.What does the underlined word “releases” (Para. 3) mean?A. The activity that frees or expresses energy or emotion.B. The announcement about the book’s publishing information.C. The sales of books that is available only at midnight.
26)Could she picture him ___ politics with her father in the drawing-room at her home ?A. discussingB. to discussC. as to discussD. that discusses
The increase in international business and in foreign investment has created a need for executives with knowledge of foreign languages and skills in cross-cultural communication. Americans, however, have not been well trained in either area and, consequently, have not enjoyed the same level of success in negotiation in an international arena as have their foreign counterparts. Negotiating is the process of communicating back and forth for the purpose of reaching an agreement. It involves persuasion and compromise, but in order to participate in either one, the negotiators must understand the ways in which people are persuaded and how compromise is reached within the culture of the negotiation. In many international business negotiations abroad, Americans are perceived as wealthy and impersonal. It often appears to the foreign negotiator that the American represents a large multi-million-dollar corporation that can afford to pay the price without bargaining further. The American negotiator’s role becomes that of an impersonal supplier of information and cash. In studies of American negotiators abroad, several traits have been identified that may serve to confirm this stereotypical perception, while undermining the negotiator’s position. Two traits in particular that cause cross-cultural misunderstanding are directness and impatience on the part of the American negotiator. Furthermore, American negotiators often insist on realizing short-term goals. Foreign negotiators, on the other hand, may value the relationship established between negotiators and may be willing to invest time in it for long-term benefits. In order to solidify the relationship, they may opt for indirect interactions without regard for the time involved in getting to know the other negotiator. Clearly, perceptions and differences in values affect the outcomes of negotiations and the success of negotiators. For Americans to play a more effective role in international business negotiations, they must put forth more effort to improve cross-cultural understanding. [共5题](1)What kind of manager is needed in present international business and foreign investment? [本题2分]A. The man who represents a large multi-million-dollar corporation. B. The man with knowledge of foreign languages and skills in cross-cultural communication. C. The man who is wealthy and impersonal. D. The man who can negotiate with his foreign counterparts.
We were always encouraged to focus on constructing the most out of the situation ______. A. at hand B. on hand C. in hand D. by hand
These drugs are available over-the-counter without a(n)__________. （）A. infectionB. dosageC. prescription
The coming of the railways in the 1830s ________ our society and economic life.A. transferredB. transformedC. transportedD. transmitted
Never before in my career _ _ of an assignment A have l frightened B had I frightened C had I been frightened D have I been frightened
Responsibilities ______becoming a father.A. charge forB. go withC. save forD. go through
6. The children will now play some pieces of music that they ______ themselves. A.were taught posed C.accomplished D.worked7. While she waited,she tried to ______ her mind with pleasant thoughts of the vacation. A.occupy pose C.think D.intensify8. In the film,the peaceful life of a monk ______ the violent life of a murderer. A.is compared with B.is compared to C.is contrasted to D.is contrasted with9. ______ to pay for an order is simplicity itself. A.Use plastic B.Using plastics C.Using plastic D.Used plastic10. Additional time is required for cooking or ______ homemade dishes. A.chill B.to chill C.chilled D.chilling
Whenever I have trouble ( ) many problems, I ask Jack for help.A. dealing withB. to deal withC. on dealing withD. deal with
Most children with healthy appetites are ready to eat almost anything that is offered them and a child rarely dislikes food (51) it is badly cooked. The way a meal is cooked and served is most important and an (52) served meal will often improve a child’s appetite. Never ask a child whether he likes or dislikes a food and never (53) likes and dislikes in front of him or allow anybody else to do so. If the father says he hates fat meat or the mother refuses vegetables in the child’s hearing he is (54) to copy this procedure. Take it (55) granted that he likes everything and he probably will. Nothing healthful should be omitted from the meal because of a (56) dislike. At meal times it is a good idea to give a child a small portion and let him (57) back for a second helping rather than give him as much as he is likely to eat all at once. Do not talk too much to the child (58) meal times, but let him get on with his food, and do not allow him to leave the table immediately after a meal or he will soon learn to swallow his food (59) he can hurry back to his toys. Under (60) circumstances must a child be coaxed or forced to eat.55（）。A. withB. asC. overD. for
Dreams can be a rich source of ___________ for an artist. (inspire)
1.A:Here is my business card.-|||-B: __-|||-A.Yes,the heat is killing me. B.Wonderful.Is it between-|||-school teams?-|||-C.Thank you for the nice party D.Thanks.This is mine.-|||-2.Alice:Is there any typical Chinese festival you celebrate every year?-|||-Bob: __-|||-A.Yes,the heat is killing me. B. I bet it will.-|||-C.It`s so stuffy and no wind at all. D.Yes,there are many.The-|||-Dragon Boat Festival is one of them.
23．有一串钥匙在沙发上。Aset of keys _______on the sofa./ There is _________on the sofa.24．问李老师要你的书吧。________Ms. Li ________yourbook!25．请给老赵打电话。_________Old Zhao ______13096935553..26．这条蓝色的裤子是他的吗？Isthis pair of trousers _________?27．我的父母在第一张照片里。_______________are in the first photo.28．谢谢你帮助我。Thankyou for ________________./ Thank you for _____________.29．那个女孩姓王。Thegirl’s __________is Wang./ The girl’s ______________is Wang.30．那只小狗叫什么名字？What’s__________the dog? / What’s ____________name?31．今天玩得开心点！___________today! / Have a good time today!32．这有两张漂亮的她家的全家福。Here_______two nice photos of her family.
Elder and weaker Mr. Mag paid_visits to his old friends.A. scarceB. rare()C. insufficientD. inadequate
Fill in the blanks with the words given below.Change the form where necessary.Each word can be used only once. budget defy dilemma diverseloyalty manipulate objectivePerspective tackle urge （1）The ____ of the "upright"message is to ask people to save，while the "permissive"message asks people to spend.（2）If you find yourself in a（n） ____ about what is the right decision for your career，speak to a career counselor.（3）It is important for parents to listen to their children's opinion because they may have a very different ____ on the things they've seen.（4）To cater for the different tastes of athletes from all over the world，the organizers of the Beijing Winter Olympics prepared ____ dishes.（5）If you want to save money for a rainy day making a（n） ____ is the first step you may want to take because it gives you a clear plan.（6）The Chinese legend goes that Yue Fei's mother tattooed four Chinese characters on his back to remind him of the importance of ____ to the nation.（7）When children are addicted to online games，they would often ____ their parents and stay online for hours every day.（8）The report goes on to ____ the technicians to take a more active role in developing the standards of artificial intelligence.
In some families,new adults and kids seem to slip in effortlessly, ____ they have been there all along.A. whileB. thoughC. becauseD. as though