I. Fill in the blanks.
Canadian scientists studying f 1 frogs believe these frogs hold the secret for safer o 2 t 3 . Hearts, for example, could be safely frozen and then t 4 ed when needed.
These Canadian scientists aren’t the only ones looking/ look/ looked for/ to/ from nature for/ to/ from i 8 . More and more i 9 are also d 10 that the natural world contains many u 11 d 12 . They are not looking for/ to/ from what they can take, but rather what they can learn, for/ to/ from nature.
Inventions b 15 on/ to/ with nature are nothing new. Over a century ago, the Wright brothers, the inventors of the airplane, studied how birds fly. They watched d 17 such as how flying birds a 18 their wings to turn. By a 19 their o 20 on/ to/ with their new invention, the Wright brothers were able to fly like a bird.
In the 1940s, a Swiss e 22 , George de Mestral, noticed b 23 sticking on/ to/ with his pants. He examined one of these things under his m 25 and found tiny h 26 on the end of it. Based on this c 27 , Mestral invented Velcro.
Today, inventors are still finding great ideas in nature’s designs. Take, for/ to/ from example, the lotus. This plant often grows in m 29 e 30 , but remains dry and clean. G 31 scientists discovered that its leaves are covered on/ to/ with tiny n 33 . D 34 and d 35 fall on the needle tips and readily wash away when it rains. Lotusan, a German company, used this idea to make “self-cleaning” house paint. When dried, the paint s 36 r 37 b 38 on a lotus leaf.
Imagine a s 39 as thick in/ to/ as a pencil stopping a flying j 41 No, it's not a c 42 . In/ To/ As theory, it could work. Spider s 44 is five times stronger than steel.
Spiders, however, can't be f 45 . They'd eat each other. So scientists put spider genes inside goats. Then they c 46 and p 47 the goat's milk. The r 48 ? Spider silk from milk! Its uses may include stronger b 49 v 50 and safer bridges.
Learn from nature. You'll be s 51 by its great designs.
II. Finish the sentence with something, nothing, anything.
52. Their conversation is not important.
>> Their conversation is (important)
53. I don’t eat weird food, such as chicken feet, bugs and stuff like that.
>> I don’t eat (weird).
54. Many people found the article inspirational.
>> There is (inspiring) about the article.
III. Sentence Combination
55. This computer is NT 24,000 dollars.
This camera is NT 8,000 dollars.
>> The computer is the camara.
56. Lisa studies 6 hours every day.
I only study 2 hours every day.
>> Lisa studies I do every day.
IV. Complete the sentences with vocabulary provided below
rather, apply, look, base
57. The child to his parents for toys.
58. The reason why he is not hired is not that he was not good enough, but he was too full of himself.
59. Most of her research was on her father's work.
60. You should what you learn in school to your life.
Stop and review your answers before you check the answer key.
----------------------------------------
Answers:
1. frozen
2. organ
3. transplants
4. thawed
5. looking
6. to
7. for
8. inspiration
9. inventors
10. discovering
11. useful
12. designs
13. for
14. from
15. based
16. on
17. details
18. adjusted
19. applying
20. observations
21. to
22. engineer
23. burs
24. to
25. microscope
26. hooks
27. concept
28. for
29. muddy
30. environments
31. German
32. with
33. needles
34. Dust
35. dirt
36. surface
37. resembles
38. bumps
39. string
40. as
41. jet
42. cartoon
43. In
44. silk
45. farmed
46. collected
47. processed
48. results
49. bulletproof
50. vests
51. surprised
52. nothing important
53. anything weird
54. something inspiring
55. three times more expensive than/ three times the price of
56. three times more than
57. looked
58. rather
59. based
60. apply
Read more!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008
Asking Nature for Advice
originally published in The English Reader for Senior High School: Book Three by The Far East Books Co., Ltd. 原文引自遠東高中英文第三冊課文。
Some frogs naturally freeze solid in winter, then thaw and hop away in the spring. In Ottawa, Canada, scientists are studying these frozen frogs. They believe these frogs hold the secret for safer organ transplants. Hearts, for example, could be safely frozen and then thawed when needed.
These Canadian scientists aren’t the only ones looking to nature for inspiration. More and more inventors are also discovering that the natural world contains many useful designs. These inventors are not looking for what they can take, but rather what they can learn, from nature.
Inventions based on nature are nothing new. Over a century ago, the Wright brothers, the inventors of the airplane, studied how birds fly. They watched details such as how flying birds adjusted their wings to turn. By applying their observations to their new invention, the Wright brothers were able to fly like a bird.
In the 1940s, a Swiss engineer, George de Mestral, noticed burs sticking to his pants. He examined one of these burs under his microscope and found tiny hooks on the end of it. Based on this concept, Mestral invented Velcro.
Today, inventors are still finding great ideas in nature’s designs. Take, for example, the lotus. This plant often grows in muddy environments, but remains dry and clean. German scientists discovered that its leaves are covered with tiny needles. Dust and dirt fall on the needle tips and readily wash away when it rains. Lotusan, a German company , used this same concept to make “self-cleaning” house paint. When dried, the paint surface resembles bumps on a lotus leaf. Scientists are now hoping to create a similar paint for cars.
Imagine a string as thick as a pencil stopping a flying jet. No, it's not a cartoon. In theory, it could work. Spider silk is five times stronger than steel. It's even stronner than Kevlar---the toughest man-made material.
Spiders, however, can't be farmed. They'd eat each other. So scientists put spider genes inside goats. Then they collected and processed the goat's milk. The result? Spider silk from milk! Its uses may include stronger bulletproof vests and safer bridges.
Learn from nature. You'll be surprised by its great designs.
Read more!
Some frogs naturally freeze solid in winter, then thaw and hop away in the spring. In Ottawa, Canada, scientists are studying these frozen frogs. They believe these frogs hold the secret for safer organ transplants. Hearts, for example, could be safely frozen and then thawed when needed.
These Canadian scientists aren’t the only ones looking to nature for inspiration. More and more inventors are also discovering that the natural world contains many useful designs. These inventors are not looking for what they can take, but rather what they can learn, from nature.
Inventions based on nature are nothing new. Over a century ago, the Wright brothers, the inventors of the airplane, studied how birds fly. They watched details such as how flying birds adjusted their wings to turn. By applying their observations to their new invention, the Wright brothers were able to fly like a bird.
In the 1940s, a Swiss engineer, George de Mestral, noticed burs sticking to his pants. He examined one of these burs under his microscope and found tiny hooks on the end of it. Based on this concept, Mestral invented Velcro.
Today, inventors are still finding great ideas in nature’s designs. Take, for example, the lotus. This plant often grows in muddy environments, but remains dry and clean. German scientists discovered that its leaves are covered with tiny needles. Dust and dirt fall on the needle tips and readily wash away when it rains. Lotusan, a German company , used this same concept to make “self-cleaning” house paint. When dried, the paint surface resembles bumps on a lotus leaf. Scientists are now hoping to create a similar paint for cars.
Imagine a string as thick as a pencil stopping a flying jet. No, it's not a cartoon. In theory, it could work. Spider silk is five times stronger than steel. It's even stronner than Kevlar---the toughest man-made material.
Spiders, however, can't be farmed. They'd eat each other. So scientists put spider genes inside goats. Then they collected and processed the goat's milk. The result? Spider silk from milk! Its uses may include stronger bulletproof vests and safer bridges.
Learn from nature. You'll be surprised by its great designs.
Read more!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Test: The Owl Who Was God
I. Fill in the blanks
Once upon/ in/ at a starless midnight there was an owl who sat on the b 2 of an oak tree. Two ground moles tried to slip quietly by/ in/ out, unnoticed. "You!"said the owl. "Who?" they q 4 , in fear and a 5 , for they could not believe it was possible for anyone to see them in that thick darkness. The moles h 6 back to the other c 7 of the f 8 and forest r 9 that the owl was the greatest and wisest of all animals because he could see in the dark and because he could answer any question. "I’ll see about that," said a secretary bird, and he called on/ in/ at the owl one night when it was again very dark. "How many c 11 am I holding up?"
"Can he see in the d 12 , too?" asked a red fox. "Yes," answered a dormouse and a French poodle. "Can he see in the daytime, too?" All the other creatures laughed loudly at/ in/ on this silly question, and they set up/ upon/ out the red fox and his friends and drove them out of the forest. They sent a m 15 to the owl and asked him to be their leader.
When the owl a 16 among the animals it was high noon and the sun was shining brightly. He walked very slowly, which gave him an appearance of great d 17 , and he p 18 about him with large, staring eyes, which gave him an air of t 19 importance. "He’s God!" screamed a Plymouth rock hen. And the others took at/ in/ up the cry "He’s God!" So they followed him wherever he went and when he b 21 into things they began to do that, too. Finally he came to a c 22 h 23 and he started up the middle of it and all the other creatures followed him. They were still crying "He’s God" when the truck hit them and ran them d 24 . Some of the animals were m 25 i 26 , but most of them, including the owl, were killed.
II. Combine sentences with ..., for...; ..., so...; or ..., which...
27. The final exam is next week. We can't party all day. (so/ for)
28. He kept looking at his watch. His girlfriend is late. (so/ for)
29. Mrs. White threw all her hudsband's luggages out of the window. That scared their children. (which)
30. Mr. Henderson is handsome. He is very popular. (which)
31. She doesn't want to stay at home. She doesn't want to be alone. (so/ for)
IV. Combine or rewrite the sentences using the hints provided.
32. Mike is my friend, but he is more like a brother to me. (... not so much... as...)
33. Lisa is more friendly than helpful. (Lisa is not so much ... as ...)
34. I love American fastfood. My favorite is fried chicken wings with barbeque sauce. (One of... )
35. Both Sally and Billy love to play basketball. (Like Billy, Sally...)
36. Both Indians and Koreans enjoy spicy food. (Like ..., ...)
37. His dream came true because of his hard work. (His hard work made ...)
38. Other creatures in the forest thought the owl is God because of his ability to answer all questions. (... make ...)
39. To study all day long is tiring. (It is...)
40. Leanring different languages is useful. (It is...)
Stop and review your answers before you check the answer key.
----------------------------------------
Answers:
1. upon
2. branch
3. by
4. quavered
5. astonishment
6. hastened
7. creatures
8. field
9. region
10. on
11. claws
12. daytime
13. at
14. upon
15. messenger
16. appeared
17. dignity
18. peered
19. trememdous
20. up
21. bumped
22. concrete
23. highway
24. down
25. merely
26. injured
27. The final exam is next week, so we can't party all day.
We can't party all day, for the final exam is next week.
28. His girlfriend is late, so he kept looking at his watch.
He kept looking at his watch for his girlfriend is late.
29. Mrs White threw all her hudsband's luggages out of the window, which scared their children.
30. Mr. Henderson is handsome, which makes him very popular.
31. She doesn't want to be alone, so she doesn't want to stay at home.
She doesn't want to stay at home, for she doesn't want to be alone.
32. Mike is not so much a friend as a brother to me.
33. Lisa is not so much helpful as friendly.
34. One of my favorite American fastfood is fried chicken wings with barbeque sauce.
35. Like Billy, Sally loves to play basketball.
36. Like Koreans, Indians enjoy spicy food.
37. His hard work made his dream came true.
38. His ability of answer all questions made other creatures thought the owl is God.
39. It is tiring to study all day.
40. It is useful to learn different languages.
Read more!
Once upon/ in/ at a starless midnight there was an owl who sat on the b 2 of an oak tree. Two ground moles tried to slip quietly by/ in/ out, unnoticed. "You!"said the owl. "Who?" they q 4 , in fear and a 5 , for they could not believe it was possible for anyone to see them in that thick darkness. The moles h 6 back to the other c 7 of the f 8 and forest r 9 that the owl was the greatest and wisest of all animals because he could see in the dark and because he could answer any question. "I’ll see about that," said a secretary bird, and he called on/ in/ at the owl one night when it was again very dark. "How many c 11 am I holding up?"
"Can he see in the d 12 , too?" asked a red fox. "Yes," answered a dormouse and a French poodle. "Can he see in the daytime, too?" All the other creatures laughed loudly at/ in/ on this silly question, and they set up/ upon/ out the red fox and his friends and drove them out of the forest. They sent a m 15 to the owl and asked him to be their leader.
When the owl a 16 among the animals it was high noon and the sun was shining brightly. He walked very slowly, which gave him an appearance of great d 17 , and he p 18 about him with large, staring eyes, which gave him an air of t 19 importance. "He’s God!" screamed a Plymouth rock hen. And the others took at/ in/ up the cry "He’s God!" So they followed him wherever he went and when he b 21 into things they began to do that, too. Finally he came to a c 22 h 23 and he started up the middle of it and all the other creatures followed him. They were still crying "He’s God" when the truck hit them and ran them d 24 . Some of the animals were m 25 i 26 , but most of them, including the owl, were killed.
II. Combine sentences with ..., for...; ..., so...; or ..., which...
27. The final exam is next week. We can't party all day. (so/ for)
28. He kept looking at his watch. His girlfriend is late. (so/ for)
29. Mrs. White threw all her hudsband's luggages out of the window. That scared their children. (which)
30. Mr. Henderson is handsome. He is very popular. (which)
31. She doesn't want to stay at home. She doesn't want to be alone. (so/ for)
IV. Combine or rewrite the sentences using the hints provided.
32. Mike is my friend, but he is more like a brother to me. (... not so much... as...)
33. Lisa is more friendly than helpful. (Lisa is not so much ... as ...)
34. I love American fastfood. My favorite is fried chicken wings with barbeque sauce. (One of... )
35. Both Sally and Billy love to play basketball. (Like Billy, Sally...)
36. Both Indians and Koreans enjoy spicy food. (Like ..., ...)
37. His dream came true because of his hard work. (His hard work made ...)
38. Other creatures in the forest thought the owl is God because of his ability to answer all questions. (... make ...)
39. To study all day long is tiring. (It is...)
40. Leanring different languages is useful. (It is...)
Stop and review your answers before you check the answer key.
----------------------------------------
Answers:
1. upon
2. branch
3. by
4. quavered
5. astonishment
6. hastened
7. creatures
8. field
9. region
10. on
11. claws
12. daytime
13. at
14. upon
15. messenger
16. appeared
17. dignity
18. peered
19. trememdous
20. up
21. bumped
22. concrete
23. highway
24. down
25. merely
26. injured
27. The final exam is next week, so we can't party all day.
We can't party all day, for the final exam is next week.
28. His girlfriend is late, so he kept looking at his watch.
He kept looking at his watch for his girlfriend is late.
29. Mrs White threw all her hudsband's luggages out of the window, which scared their children.
30. Mr. Henderson is handsome, which makes him very popular.
31. She doesn't want to be alone, so she doesn't want to stay at home.
She doesn't want to stay at home, for she doesn't want to be alone.
32. Mike is not so much a friend as a brother to me.
33. Lisa is not so much helpful as friendly.
34. One of my favorite American fastfood is fried chicken wings with barbeque sauce.
35. Like Billy, Sally loves to play basketball.
36. Like Koreans, Indians enjoy spicy food.
37. His hard work made his dream came true.
38. His ability of answer all questions made other creatures thought the owl is God.
39. It is tiring to study all day.
40. It is useful to learn different languages.
Read more!
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