Salt,shells or metals are still used as money in out-of-the-way parts of the world today. Salt may seem rather a strange (1) to use as money. (2) in countries where the food of the people is mainly vegetable,it is often an (3) necessity.Cakes of salt,stamped to show their (4) ,were used as money in some countties until recent (5) ,and cakes of salt (6) buy goods in Borneo and parts of Africa. Sea shells (7) as money at some time (8) another over the greater part of the Old World。These were (9) mainly from the beaches of the Maldives Islands in the Indian Ocean,and were traded to India and China.In Africa,shells were traded right across the (10) from East to West. Metal,valued by weight, (11) coins in many parts of the world.Iron,in lumps,bars or rings,is still used in many countries (12) paper money.It can either be exchanged (13) goods,or made into tools,weapons,or ornaments.The early money of China,apart from shells,was of bronze, (14) in flat,round pieces with a hole in the middle.called“cash”.The (15) of these are between three thousand and four thousand years old—older than the earliest coins of the eastern Mediterranean. Nowadays,coins and notes have (16) nearly all the more picturesque (17) of money,and (18) in one or two of the more remote countries people still keep it for future use on ceremonial (19) such as weddings and funerals,examples of (20) money will soon be found only in museums.
A. against B. as
B. in
C. for
Scientists around the world are racing to learn how to rapidly diagnose,treat and stop the spread of a new,deadly disease.SARS—Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome—was (1) for the first time in February 2003 in Hanoi, (2) since then has infected more than 1,600 people in 15 countries,killing 63.At this (3) ,there are more questions than answers surrounding the disease. Symptoms start (4) a fever over 100.4 degrees F,chills,headache or body (5) .Within a week,the patient has a dry cough,which might (6) to shortness of breath.In 10% to 20% of cases,patients require (7) ventilation to breathe.About 3.5% die from the disease.Symptoms (8) begin in two to seven days,but some reports suggest it (9) take as long as 10 days.Scientists are close to (10) a lab test to diagnose SARS.In the meantime,it is diagnosed by its symptoms.There is no evidence (11) antibiotics or antiviral medicines help, (12) 至doctors can offer only supportive care.Patients with SARS arekept in isolation to reduce the risk of (13) .Scientists aren’t sure yet,but some researchers think it’s a (14) discovered coronavirus,the family of viruses that cause some common colds. Most cases appear to have been passed (15) droplets expelled when infected patients cough or sneeze.Family members of infected people and medical workers who care (16) them have been most likely to (17) the illness.But recent developments in Hong Kong suggest that the (18) might spread through air,or that the virus might (19) for two to three hours on doorknobs or other (20) .Health experts say it is unlikely,though,that sharing an elevator briefly with an infected person would be enough to pass the virus.
A. acquire
B. receive
C. obtain
D. contract
How men first learned to invent words is unknown; (1) , the origin of language is a mystery. All we really know is that men, unlike animals, somehow invented certain (2) to express thoughts and feelings, actions and things, (3) they could communicate with each other; and that later they agreed (4) certain signs, called letters, which could be (5) to represent those sounds, and which could be (6) .Those sounds, whether spoken, (7) written in letters, we call words. The power of words, then, lies in their (8) —the things they bring up before our minds. Words become (9) with meaning for us by experience; (10) the longer we live, the more certain words (11) to us the happy and sad events of our past: and the more we (12) , the more the number of words that mean something to us (13) . Great writers are those who not only have great thoughts but also express these thoughts in words which appeal (14) to our minds and emotions. This (15) and telling use of words is what we call (16) style. Above all, the real poet is a master of (17) . He can convey his meaning in words which sing like music, and which (18) their position and association can (19) men to tears. We should, therefore, learn to choose our words carefully and use them accurately, or they will (20) our speech or writing silly and vulgar.
A. charming
B. academic
C. conventional
D. common