If you are currently learning English, 1 highly recommend you check out the apps below.
Quizlet
When learning English, you probably have to memorize a lot of words. If you want to grow your vocabulary as fast as possible, a flashcard app like Quizlet is a great shortcut. With Quizlet, you can create a set of flashcards with new English words you are trying to learn, and practice typing them out until you know them by heart. It's a simple concept, but it's highly effective.
Spotify
Spotify is not a language learning app. But chances are that you already use it or a similar app for listening to music or podcasts (播客), and one of the effective ways to study is combining something you already use into your existing habits. If Spotify is already on your phone, you can subscribe to some podcasts for English learners or download playlists of songs for learning English, or make your own.
Beelinguapp
Beelinguapp makes reading in English as convenient as possible. It shows you a text in your own language with the English translation side-by-side. Texts are short enough so that you can really dig into every word. They cover topics from fairytales, to science, to current news articles. There's even a "karaoke" feature where you can read along to audio, which helps you match up the English pronunciation with the English spellings.
Tandem
Tandem is a language exchange app which connects learners from all over the world. It can help you find a native English speaker who is trying to learn your native language, so you can swap language skills. If you only have five minutes to spare, you can simply exchange messages with a native English speaker. If you have more time, you can have a longer, digital language exchange by sharing voice notes, or using video chat. It's a great way to test your English skills out with real people.
Ma Long has had a good student image since childhood Ma, born in Anshan, Liaoning, the "hone of table tennis", was sent by his father to practice table tennis when he was 5 years old, and he went to Shenyang at the age of 11. At 15, Ma Long joined the national team. Although he was the least talkative boy of the players, his perseverance (坚持不懈) was as great as his overall strength in table tennis. In 2006, at 18, Ma Long, together with his teammates, won a team world championship.
Behind early fame of the genius is Ma Long's almost paranoid (偏执的) strictness towards himself. His daily routine throughout four seasons was a two—point line between the dormitory and the training hall, and he was the first to arrive and the last to leave on a daily basis. He had been doing so for ten years, monotonously and repetitively. His coach Liu Guoliang once said, "I went to the table tennis hall on a Sunday morning for an unannounced inspection to see how many players were training on Sunday. Only one person in the men's first team was there… A genius is not your fear, but your fear is that a genius works harder than you do." Such a genius is Ma Long.
However, after joining the team for nearly a decade, he suffered various types of failure, and thus was questioned by everyone. At that time, Zhang Jike, another top player, returned to the national team. From then on, Zhang was so invincible that he achieved the personal Grand Slam (大满贯) within only 445 days, which was done in the shortest time in record. Seeing Zhang's achievements, Ma Long, at the lowest point, had the idea of retiring. But he was unwilling to just "disappear".
Then came the Suzhou 2015 World Championship, Ma Long crowned his career, winning the singles champion, and it had been ten years since he won a world championship last time. This title seemed to give him new prospect and all of his efforts paid off.
We all have an idea about the common types of environmental problems. However, light pollution may be a new term to many of us. But, the fact is, it does affect mankind, other living forms and the environment as a whole.
What is light pollution? It presents all forms of misused man-made light. The obvious cause of light pollution is the use of outdoor lighting products improperly. It can be office lighting, car headlights, station lights, streetlights and many more.
Light pollution is harmful to both animals and plants. Upon studies, it is found that obvious effects are observed in the behaviour of nocturnal animals. Needless to mention, bright light at night makes it difficult for these animals to hunt, wander and perform their regular activities. Light pollution is directly or indirectly responsible for causing several diseases. Its effects are related to disturbance in the physical rhythm. It contributes to risks of developing cancerous cells. So, it's nothing less than a threat to human health.
You have already seen the negative effects of light pollution on animals and human health. Apart from this, the actual cost of misused light is about millions of dollars every year. It also leads to the release of greenhouse gases and global warming. After all, fuels are used for producing electricity.
While outdoor lighting and using man-made lighting products are part of our modern lifestyle, some simple ways will surely help in reducing light pollution. For example, while installing outdoor lighting, make sure that they are pointed downwards. Also, use only the required lighting equipment for both home and offices. Believe it or not, many people living in the urban areas cannot view clear sky and stars at night. Let's contribute our part in reducing the pollution.
Due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP), people all over the world are wearing masks to reduce the risk of infection. It's a very simple but incredibly effective method to protect oneself from a variety of harmful things. In fact, masks have been helping mankind for centuries. Let's take a look at some mask-related history.
1st century
In that era, many people in Roman Empire worked underground in mines to support their families. But most of them suffered from and even eventually died of respiratory (呼吸的) illnesses. To address this problem, Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD), a Roman philosopher and naturalist, recommended the use of animal bladder (膀胱) skins to stop dust from being inhaled (吸入). Although primitive, his idea was considered the very first recorded mask invention.
16th century
Early inventions did not stop with Pliny. Many centuries later, Italian artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), proposed using a woven cloth dipped in water over the face to protect against the toxic (有毒的) chemicals.
19th century
The design of the mask took a big step forward in the 19th century.
In 1848, American Lewis Hassley became the first person to patent (注册专利) a protective mask for miners, which was a milestone in face mask history. Masks at this stage were similar to gas masks. Later, in 1897, Polish-Austrian doctor Johann von Mikulicz-Radecki designed a simple mask composed of one layer of gauze (纱布), recommending medical workers to wear it to prevent infection. That was the first recorded use of a surgical mask.
20th century
In 1910, an epidemic broke out in Northeast China. Chinese doctor Wu Liande designed a cheap face mask called "Wu's mask". Made of two layers of surgical gauze, it could be wrapped around the back of the head and tied in a knot. This mask was praised by experts around the world, as it was simple to manufacture (制作) and had a low production cost.
Modern exploration
With several outbreaks of infectious diseases and the flu, and the rise of pollution caused by industrial waste, the materials in masks have continued to evolve(进化) to better protect its wearer. For example, in 2012 when China suffered from smog, mask models such as N95 and KN90, which can filter out this fine particulate (微粒) matter, became highly popular. In the future, masks will continue to improve, hopefully so will the habits of humans.
Shyness is normal and it is not considered as a mental problem. All people have been shy at one time or another. Even the most confident people experienced being shy. .
You probably are wondering why you are shy. It may be because of the environment you were used to or the way you were brought up. Certain events or incidents in the past may also lead to the reason why you are shy now. Most shy people have shy parents and relatives and it is not surprising to find out that they too have become shy persons.
One of the negative sides of being shy is having the tendency to be passive. Most of the time shy people can't stand up for themselves and what they believe is right. This apparently influences their social life as well as work, family and other aspects of their life.
While shyness has negative aspects, it has positive sides. Shy people are usually good observers and do not get themselves into too much trouble because they try to observe their environment or any situation before they act. They can also make great friends. Since they have difficulties in social scenes, making friends seems to be a must. Therefore, they value their friends wholeheartedly and have proven to be loyal and thoughtful friends.
Some of them born with shy parents have successfully battled against being shy. This contributes to their constant self-improvement, developing self-esteem and trying to be exposed to new environments.
A. But in most cases, shyness proves to be genetic.
B. They are sensitive and accustomed to getting suspicious.
C. Because some people are born to be shy, they let it go hang.
D. So if you're feeling shy, don't worry because you are not alone.
E. They are not hot-headed and think twice before making any decisions.
F. Although shyness is something from birth, it can be improved over time.
G. They avoid crowds by nature and stay away from groups and social interactions.
On a Friday evening in December, two weeks before Christmas, I lost my job. I hadn't seen it coming. I was excited for the weekend, when my daughter, Kristil, and I planned to get our Christmas 1. Then I listened to my voicemail: "We're sorry but your 2 has ended as of today." My heart 3.
I was the only parent. My paycheck(薪水) was survival, without which we couldn't 4. The next day we searched for our tree and I struggled to be 5 as I eyed each price tag.
Monday morning, I set off on my 6 way. I headed to the pawnshop(典当铺) and 7 the day with $ 220 richer.
Over the next week, I 8 applied for jobs as my bank account grew smaller.
One afternoon, my old professor, Sister Esther 9. Just her appearance gave me 10 that things would be all right. I 11 her a cup of tea, and we talked. As she got up to 12, she handed me a Christmas card. When I opened her card, I breathed 13. Hundred-dollar bills 14 onto the table. Grateful tears welled(涌入) into my eyes as I 15. Sister Esther had given me $1,000
On Christmas morning, Kristil and I 16 around our tree, and I joyfully watched as she opened her gifts. I silently 17 Sister Esther in my heart.
It has been 14 years 18 that Christmas. Sister Esther has passed away, but the love she gave during her life 19 in the hearts of many. I am 20 to be one of them.
A recent study shows that the world's coral reefs have been showing strong bleaching(漂白) due to global warming.
In the 1980s bleaching (be) rare, occurring about once every 25 years. Now the rate has risen to about once every five years. Environmentalists predict that by 2050 bleaching will happen (annual).
Bleaching is caused when warm water breaks down the algae (海藻) inside the reefs. They provide food for the corals and keep them (health). When algae fall off, corals lose (they) color and can die within a short period of time. Even if the water (surround) the reefs gets colder again it may take years for the damaged reefs (recover) completely.
Coral reefs, are endangered by pollution and overfishing, are really important ecosystem. They are home to 25% of all marine species and provide a habitat for countless types of fish. Reefs protect coastal regions flooding and tidal waves. In addition, coral reefs are tourist (attraction) that attract millions of people every year. The tourist industry around the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, for example, is worth about 5 billion dollars a year.
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1．每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2．只允许修改 10处, 多者（从第 11处起）不计分。
I am an actor, who likes being independently, living on my own. I enjoy going to parties and meet people. Which is quite funny is that they can't remember the names of any of my films when I meet some people for the first time but they recognize myself. They get embarrassed, so I don't mind. The last one was quite a few year ago after all. I lived here in New York for nearly thirty years, but I feel I need for a change. So maybe next year I would do something excited like traveling around the world.
