题型：阅读选择 题类：常考题 难易度：困难
上海本地版（五四制）九年级下册初中英语Module 2 Unit 4同步练习
Benjamin Banneker was born a few months before another great American—George Washington. Benjamin was black, but he was not a slave (奴隶). He and his mother and his grandmother were free. Benjamin's grandmother came from England. In America she got a job and worked for many years to pay for her boat trip across the ocean. After working many years, she saved enough money to buy a farm. Benjamin lived with her for a while. She taught him to read, write and do arithmetic (算术).
Benjamin's neighbours knew that he was clever. They were not surprised when he built a large wooden clock. He made each piece after studying a small pocket watch. The clock made him famous, for it was one of the first clocks built in America. People from other places began to send hard problems of all kinds to Benjamin to settle.
Thomas Jefferson heard of Benjamin Banneker's ability to settle hard problems. He asked Banneker to help build the city that was to be the capital of the United States—Washington, D.C. Banneker worked hard on the plans for the city. He marked where the streets and buildings—the Capitol (美国国会大厦), the White House, and many other places should be built.
Later, L' Enfant, the Frenchman who had designed the new city, had a quarrel, and went back to France in anger. He took all of the plans away. The workmen couldn't build without any plans to follow.
For a while it seemed that the plans for the capital might have to be changed, but Benjamin Banneker remembered the plans he had helped draw. He drew each again as he had built each piece of his clock.
If it weren't for Benjamin Banneker, Washington,
D.C might look very different from the way it does today.
By 2050, nearly 70%% of the world's population will live in cities. Many of them will become large cities with a population of more than 10 million. Moving people around each large city will he different. The traffic speed in Landon will fall about 7 miles per hour. Around the same speed it was 150 years ago, in the days of the horse and cart . But city planners are working on ways to solve the problem.
Self-driving taxis or robot taxis will play a part. There will be more than 30 million self-driving cars on the road by 2040. People don't need to drive by themselves. By 2050 there will be robot taxis in the city streets. We can call the taxis very quickly. |
Public transport like buses will be highly personalized.People don't need to look through the timetable. Buses will be connected on the Internet and make the way by themselves according to where the people need to go. |
Bikes will be helpful and safe, too. Cities could build special roads for them high above city streets.Xiamen in southeast China already has an 8-kilometer bicycle way to protect riders like that.That may be another kind of transport in 2050. It will be wonderful. |
Volunteering is a great way to help others. Whether it's a child who has difficulty finishing his or her homework, or an elderly person who feels lonely. When somebody volunteers, they are doing something good for others or the world around them without being paid. Volunteering comes in all shapes and sizes. It can be organized, such as working for an organization, like helping your neighbors with their food shopping. Many people volunteer to help the environment by picking up rubbish or planting trees. Helping others can actually help yourself, too. Research has shown that volunteering improves your well- being. It can be give you a sense of purpose--A meaningful goal work towards-- and then help build your self- trust and make you feel active. This is true if you match volunteering to your interests. " Volunteering also offers you a chance to meet and connect(连接) with others. Which is good for your mental(心理) health." said Doctor Wang. Volunteering can influence(影响) your health. By giving something to others, you feel happier and this is good for your health." Volunteering has also been shown to reduce your personal worries. That's because you pay some attention to others' need." said Professor Yang who had a speech about volunteering in our school last Friday afternoon. So, what are you waiting for? Go volunteering and make a difference. Not only for yourself, but also for the world. |
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