Brazil is the greatest football nation in the world. There are 170 million Brazilians. How many of them are football fans? 100 million! All of them think that they know all about football. This makes life very difficult for the Brazilian team managers. When things go bad for the Brazilian team, the newspapers would demand that the team manager should leave his job. “If we win, they put me in heaven,” a manager once said. “If we lose, they put me in hell (地狱).”
You can’t escape football in Brazil. There are football matches on every street and beach. On television, the results of football matches come before the main news programs. There are six television channels (频道) in Rio de Janeiro. On Sundays each channel shows a different football match.
Brazil is not the richest country in the world, but the government spends lots of money on football. It cost more than one billion pounds to prepare for the 1978 World Cup. That’s 10 pounds for every Brazilian man, woman, and child. And many Brazilians don’t earn as much as 10 pounds a week. Is it worth it?
“Brazil must have a great football team,” says one journalist. “If it costs one billion pounds, that’s all right. If the government doesn’t give us a good team, then it will become unpopular. Football is more than a game in Brazil.”
Football is more than a game in Brazil. This is certainly true in its largest city, San Paulo. The most popular team is Corinthians. Corinthians’ fans are the most loyal and emotional in Brazil. When Corinthians win, production in the Sao Paulo car factories increases by fifteen per cent. When they lose, it drops. At one time Corinthians won the national championship for the first time. For four days fans danced and sang in the streets.
Why are people so loyal to one football team? What makes a football fan? One man says, “Without Corinthians my life would be sad. Corinthians bring some joy and excitement into my life. We all need that, don’t we?”
1. In paragraph 1, what the manager said means _______.A.he is respected by newspapers | B.he will probably be killed by fans |
C.he is judged on his team’s results | D.it’s difficult for him to get good scores |
A.all the Brazilians know all about football |
B.football has an influence on politics(政治) in Brazil |
C.the Brazilians spend a lot of money on football |
D.Corinthians’ fans are always supporting their team |
A.production in the Sao Paulo car factories increased |
B.Corinthians won a national football championship |
C.Corinthians won the World Cup |
D.the newspapers put a team manager in heaven |
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【推荐1】Skateboarding can be traced back to the 1950s in America, where West Coast surfers started attaching wheels to wooden boards in order to “surf” on land. It became popular in the 1960s, with stars from Clint Eastwood to Katharine Hepburn pictured trying their hand at the sport. In 1965, ABC televised the National Skateboard Championships, which saw international skaters battled it out for a prize of $500.
In Japan, the All Japan Skateboard Association, founded in 1982, helped to gradually introduce the activity through surfing centers. Skater Taiichiro Nakamura, better known as “Chopper”, got his start in skateboarding in the late 1980s at the age of 15. When he was young, Chopper’s father always encouraged him to pursue an unconventional career, so Chopper practiced skating hard, eventually turning his hobby into a profession.
With his slight build, Chopper never thought he’d reach the same level as international skaters. So with many of his American counterparts(对手)pursuing bigger “air” and increasingly ambitious aerial(空中的) tricks, Chopper stuck close to the ground and pursued original street skating instead. He involved himself in his tricks with a sense of fun, inventing moves like the “potato roll”.
“Chopper made people realize that skateboarding isn’t just about copying other people’s styles,” says Hayate Kamimura, who skates with the Osaka Daggers and works as an instructor at a nearby skate park. “It’s about how you bring out your own creativity and invent a style that nobody else has.”
In the past, Chopper didn’t have many people to skate with. Now the sport has come to mainstream acceptance in Japan thanks to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, in which skating was included. However, there still aren’t enough skate parks where people can skate without disturbing others. If you skate on the street, you have to share that space with people walking by, who will get the impression that skateboarding is noisy, dangerous or scary.
1. What made skateboarding become popular in the 1960s in America?A.The large number of advertisements for it. |
B.The fancy wheels of the skateboard. |
C.The big award of the competitions. |
D.The influence of some celebrities. |
A.His desire to follow in his father’s footsteps. |
B.His plan to become a professional skater. |
C.His admiration for a famous skater. |
D.His ambition to promote it in Japan. |
A.How to create his own style. | B.How to increase aerial tricks. |
C.How to be an instructive coach. | D.How to catch up with international skaters. |
A.It promotes the awareness of having a shared space. |
B.It calls for improvements to skateboards. |
C.It needs better management. |
D.It becomes a sport for all |
【推荐2】A recent study by University of Delaware researchers suggests exercise can help kids to learn and remember vocabulary. The article, published in the Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research, details one of the first studies on the effect of exercise on vocabulary learning in children.
Children ages 6 to 12 were taught new words before doing one of three things- swimming , taking part in CrossFit exercises or completing a coloring sheet. The children who swam were 13% more accurate in follow-up tests of the vocabulary words.
It makes sense to the lead researcher, Maddy Pruitt, herself a former college swimmer. “Motor movement helps in learning new words,” she said, explaining that exercise is known to increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(脑衍生神经营养因子).Then why did swimming make a difference while CrossFit did not? Pruitt attributes(归因) it to the amount of energy each exercise demands of the brain. Swimming is an activity the kids could complete without much thought or instruction. It was more automatic, while the CrossFit exercises were new to them. The children needed to learn the moves, which required mental energy.
Pruitt conducted the research as part of her Master s Capstone Project and graduated in 2020. She now works as a speech-language pathologist (病理学家) at a primary school in South Carolina, where she puts her findings into practice.
“My sessions are very rarely at a table,” she said. “I’ll take my kids out to the playground or we’ll take a walk around the school.”
Pruitt’s adviser and coauthor Giovanna Morini is building on the findings in her lab. Morini said most research into exercise examined it from the angle of a healthy lifestyle, not much entering the area of language acquisition.
“We are so excited about this study because it applies to clinicians, caregivers and educators who can put it into practice, Morini said.” It’s simple stuff, nothing out of the ordinary. But it could help boost the outcomes.
1. What were all the children asked to do in the study?A.Complete vocabulary tests. | B.Teach others new words. |
C.Identify different colors. | D.Share swimming skills. |
A.The way of the study. | B.The subject of the study. |
C.The applications of the findings. | D.The reasons for the study result. |
A.By setting up clinics with other researchers. |
B.By training the students to swim regularly. |
C.By adding physical exercise to her sessions. |
D.By asking the students to learn complex words. |
A.Kids Are Supposed to Exercise Before Studying |
B.Exercise Contributes to Kids’ Vocabulary Growth |
C.Swimming Does Good to People’s Physical Health |
D.Research Should Be Done on Language Acquisition |
【推荐3】"Tennis is as good for the mind as it is for the body," says Dan Bloxham, head coach at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
Family fun
Tennis is the perfect sport for the whole family to enjoy together. When playing with children, use red or orange tennis balls as these are softer than the classic yellow ones used at Wimbledon and will make the game easier and slower to play.
Super social
Instead of going to the pub, why not grab a bat and catch up with friends over a game of tennis? It’s one of the most social sports around and a great way to meet people.
Tennis is a huge challenge when it comes to fitness and uses all the muscles in your body as you run across the court, jump to reach high shots and race to the net.
Unlike cycling, which puts emphasis on the muscles in your legs, tennis uses the arms, legs, shoulders, and core, providing a total body workout.
Digital Detox(脱瘾)
A.Wonder workout |
B.Huge Outdoor Challenge |
C.And as it is a universal game |
D.Playing tennis provides a real break from technology |
E.Playing is so great a good calorie burner for getting in shape |
F.Here he explains why taking up tennis is a good idea for everyone |
G.If you can’t find a group, search Facebook or ask the front desk at your gym |
【推荐1】Imagine the sound of a dog walking across a tile floor, the “click, click, click” of its claws tapping against the ground. Now, imagine a cat walking across the same floor — the difference is the cat moves in total silence. Cats can fully retract (缩回) their claws, giving them superior ability to remain silence.
But why do cats have retractable claws, whereas dogs do not?
It all comes down to how cats and dogs use their claws. Cats use their claws primarily to attack their target, said Anthony Russell, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. They use their front claws to grab and hold on to their target and their back claws to cut open the target’s belly.
Cats need to keep their claws sharp to secure that next meal. Extended all the time, their claws would get less sharp as they scrape the ground, much like how a nail file deals with sharp points on a human fingernail.
Dogs, on the other hand, are social hunters. They work in groups to take down larger animals, wearing their target out over longer distances. For dogs, “if you’re hunting a moose or something, you wander along for kilometres and bite it until it is fatigued, and then you all jump on it,” Russell said. “Whereas cats essentially have a short burst, and then it’s over. Either the target gets away, or the target is captured.”
With more hunters working together, it’s less important for dogs to be able to grab and hold onto their target, so they don’t have to keep their claws as sharp. Sheer numbers are enough to give them the advantage.
But dogs’ claws aren’t completely useless. Dogs’ claws help them stand firmly on the earth and change directions quickly — a useful adaptation for pursuing target over long distances.
In nature’s silent dance, cats’ retractable claws are knives for quick attacks, while dogs’ strong claws make them good chasers. Each claw tells a tale of adaptation made to their unique hunting styles.
1. Where is the text most probably taken from?A.An animal novel. | B.A scientific report. | C.A zoology magazine. | D.A pet keeping guide. |
A.Hungry. | B.Scared. | C.Wounded. | D.Exhausted. |
A.Cats use front claws to grab and kill the target. |
B.Dogs use claws to attack and wear their targets out. |
C.Cats stop hunting if the target escapes from the first attack. |
D.Dogs work together to capture their targets in a shorter time. |
A.Cats are better adapted to hunting than dogs. |
B.Claws are more important for cats than for dogs. |
C.The sharper the claws, the more efficient the hunt. |
D.Cats and dogs find different ways to survive in nature. |
【推荐2】Nostalgia (怀旧) has become increasingly common in our current climate of unexpected, fast-paced change. More and more people are turning back with longing for what feels like simpler, sweeter times. They collect cassette tapes, manual typewriters even decades-old video games.
Is it a mistake to get too obsessed with the past? Some psychologists warn that too much devotion to the so-called good old days is an escape from reality; it can indicate loneliness or that a person is having a difficult time coping in the present. Psychologist Stephanie Coontz argues that nostalgia distracts us from addressing the problems of modern life and contributes to anxiety, depression, insomnia etc.
But new studies suggest that a modest dose of nostalgia is not only harmless, but actually beneficial. They suggest it helps strengthen our sense of identity and makes us feel more optimistic and inspired. It is also a tool for self-discovery and memories are a psychological immune response that is triggered when you want to take a break from negativity. Interestingly, those happy memories can be particularly beneficial both to kids in their teens and to society’s elders. Recalling our childhood reminds us of “the times when we were accented and loved unconditionally,” says Krystine Batcho, a psychologist. “That is such a powerfully comforting phenomenon, knowing that there was a time in life when we didn’t have to earn our love.” Nostalgia can transform even the most ordinary past into legends which warms the heart and the body. Let’s not forget that nostalgia has been a source of inspiration to innumerable American writers. Mark Twain recalled his boyhood, writing, “after all these years, I can picture that old time to myself now, just as it was then: The white town drowsing in the sunshine of a summer’s morning.”
So go ahead, daydream a little about your best childhood friend, your first car, a long-gone family pet. As Dr. Sedikidessays, “Nostalgia is absolutely central to human experience.” But at the same time, keep these words of wisdom from the great inventor Charles Kettering in mind as well: “You can’t have a better tomorrow if you are thinking about yesterday all the time.”
1. What did some psychologists in paragraph 2 probably agree?A.Nostalgia can cause some mental problems. |
B.Nostalgia makes us devoted to the present life. |
C.Nostalgia shows you are trying to get rid of loneliness. |
D.Nostalgia helps us cope with the difficult time we are going through. |
A.It can enable us to know ourselves better |
B.It can bring us some comfort when we recall |
C.We are likely to gain attention if we recall the happy childhood |
D.We can sometimes break away from negativity with happy memories |
A.The reasons why we should avoid nostalgia. |
B.The great changes nostalgia will bring to you. |
C.The bad memories that always stick around you. |
D.The bad influence of too much devotion to nostalgia. |
A.People tend to be lost in nostalgia. |
B.People actually benefit from nostalgia. |
C.Childhood memories influence present life. |
D.There are some periods when people look back. |
【推荐3】Peru is a South American country and it has 1.2 million square kilometres, 32 million people. Peru has a variety of climates, cultures, customs, a splendid history, etc. It is divided into 25 regions. Some regions still continue to suffer poverty because of mismanagement of the country’s resources by the government.
However, in urban areas the job opportunities are very rich. The economic growth and private investments have risen over the years: it has created more jobs and a better lifestyle for Peruvian people. In some regions of Peru, tourism is the first source of income. There are many opportunities for those who want to work by doing handicrafts, painting, traditional jewelry and other art jobs.
Peru has very friendly, warm and attentive people. You will find plenty of touristic attractions throughout the country as well as diverse climates. The Peruvian food is known for its good taste and variety. Peru is an old and traditional country. Throughout the year Peruvians celebrate many festivals like the Corpus Christy, Easter, Fest of San Juan and many others.
To move in, you should hire a moving company. Remember, Peruvian moving companies know what to do; your belongings will arrive in good conditions. They usually use trucks and the moving costs vary according to the number of workers, and the amount of fuel and boxes used. So you need to provide information to the movers about the number, size and fragility of your belongings. Talk with the moving company. Ask them about the packing process. Also, ask them if they offer some type of insurance in case an object is damaged during the trip.
Moving to Peru can be a great experience. Once you have finished the whole moving process, you can plan to visit each region of this country where you can find many different touristic attractions.
1. Which is supposed to be the chief cause for poverty in some regions?A.The government’s mismanagement. | B.The places’ having no travellers. |
C.The local people’s laziness. | D.The areas’ lack of resources. |
A.The tourism industry in Peru. | B.The traditional art in Peru. |
C.The economic growth in Peru. | D.The job opportunities in Peru. |
A.To get the rate of insurance. | B.To work out the moving costs. |
C.To prevent them from being stolen. | D.To make them arrive in time. |
A.Students in Peru. | B.Peruvian citizens. |
C.Foreigners living in Peru. | D.Those moving to Peru. |
【推荐1】A disastrous fire surrounded Notre Dame(巴黎圣母院)completely and destroyed large parts of the Gothic(哥特式的) architecture on Monday.
“Notre Dame is our history, our literature; part of our spirit, the place of all our great events, our wars, our liberations, the center of our lives" French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters in front of the still burning Paris landmark and promised to rebuild Notre Dame Cathedral.
“Notre Dame is burning, and know the sadness and this tremble felt by so many fellow French people. But tonight, I’d like to speak of hope too, "he said, announcing the launch of a fundraising campaign.
“Let’s be proud, because we built this cathedral more than 800 years ago, we’ve built it and, throughout the centuries, let it grow and improve it. So I gravely say tonight: we will rebuild it together, ”he added.
The disastrous fire engulfed(吞没) the upper reaches of Paris’ towering Notre Dame Cathedral as it was undergoing renovations(翻新)。
Tourists and Parisians looked on horrified from the streets below. France’s Interior Ministry said firefighters might not be able to save the structure.
The fire collapsed the cathedrals’ spire(尖顶) and spread to one of its landmark towers "Everything is burning; nothing will remain from the frame, "Notre Dame spokesman Andre Finot told French media. The 12th-century cathedral is home to incalculable works of art and is one of the world’s most famous tourist attractions, immortalized by Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
The cause of the fire was not known, but French media quoted the Paris fire brigade(消防队) as saying the fire is “potentially linked" to a 6 million—euro($6. 88 million)renovation project on the church’s spire and its 250 tons of lead. Officials opened an investigation as Paris police said there were no reported deaths. Some 400 firefighters were battling the fire well into the night.
1. What Emmanuel Macron said mainly shows that____________A.Notre Dame was the symbol of Paris in history. |
B.The French government are going to rebuild Notre Dame. |
C.It took more than 800 years to build Notre Dame. |
D.He was desperate when he made the announcement. |
A.Notre Dame Cathedral was burnt down entirely. |
B.The structure was well saved by the firefighters. |
C.People who were killed in the fire are some firefighters. |
D.The fire was likely caused by a renovation project on the church’s spire. |
A.The novel made the cathedral famous. |
B.The cathedral is repeatedly mentioned in the novel. |
C.The novel became a bestseller thanks to the cathedral. |
D.The novel became more mysterious due to the cathedral. |
A.Disappointed. | B.Humorous. |
C.Matter-of-fact. | D.Critical. |
【推荐2】In a hot summer, there's no better place than a UK beach-but even in more typical weather these shores offer walks, wildlife and picnics.
Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire
A jumble of whitewashed cottages overlook a curl of golden sand and the open sea in this former herring-fishing village. Many of the homes are now holiday accommodation and locate one on top of the other, linked by paths and walkways rather than streets.
Stay Castle House (sleeps six, three nights from £500) at the top of the village has sweeping views of the bay from a comfortable window seat.
Blakeney Point, Morston, Norfolk
For the best chance of seeing grey seals, arrive at Blakeney Point by ferry, or book a seal-spotting trip with one of the local ferry companies at Morston Quay. Grey seal pups are born during the winter and spend warmer months basking on sandbanks around the Point.
Stay The White Horse on the river's edge in Blakeney (family suite from £129).
Forelands, Bembridge, Isle of Wight
The substantial village of Bembridge has three beaches, each with its own character. Pick up a crab sandwich to take with you at the Beach Hut Beachside Bar & Seafood Kitchen, or build up an appetite and feast on local lobster at the Crab & Lobster Inn.
Stay The Spinnaker Houseboat (sleeps six, three nights from £647. 50, seven from £925) looks out across Bembridge harbor.
Kingsgate Bay, Broadstairs, Kent
The lack of a convenient car park means that Kingsgate Bay, between Margate and Broadstairs, is quieter than other beaches on the Thanet coast. A short walk from the car park at neighbouring Joss Bay (popular with surfers), however, will take you to this sheltered sandy cove with its sea caves and chalk stacks.
Stay The Botany Bay Hotel (family rooms from £80) has some dog-friendly rooms.
1. If you prefer to spend your holiday on a quiet beach, where are you most likely to go?A.Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire |
B.Blakeney Point, Morston, Norfolk |
C.Forelands, Bembridge, Isle of Wight |
D.Kingsgate Bay, Broadstairs, Kent |
A.Seaside cottages. | B.Water sports. |
C.Tasty seafood. | D.Sea seals. |
【推荐3】People in Brazil mark Carnival(狂欢节)every year and it is considered to be one of the most important national holidays. It is not about a big moment in history or a famous person, but it is important for the people because it is a time of friendship, freedom, and many days without work. People can choose between parties and rest. Most people choose parties, day after day, night after night.
Carnival is celebrated forty days earlier than Easter,but it is not recognized by the church.It lasts four days and four nights.People put on their holiday clothes and go out into the streets or to clubs to enjoy themselves together.
There are also some celebration activities.For instance,samba schools make a parade showing their music and beautiful cars.They are followed by people.Every year the parade tells a different story,and each city has one or more schools like this.
In the south the celebration of Carnival comes back to normal by Wednesday.The problem is that it is not recognized by the church in the northwest where the Carnival is more traditional.There,people do not respect its end and continue to party until the next Sunday.
Carnival is my favorite holiday,but I do not agree that the party should keep going.Like at other popular parties,people drink,dance and have fun.Unfortunately,some people are not very responsible and give it a bad name,leaving a bad impression of this holiday,but it is the only national holiday that brings the whole country and its different people and cultures together.
1. Which of the following statements is true?A.The Carnival is the most interesting holiday in Brazil. |
B.The Carnival is celebrated to honor a famous person. |
C.All of the people enjoy themselves in public places during the Carnival. |
D.People do not need to work during the Carnival in Brazil. |
A.is a favored holiday in Brazil | B.has a religious origin |
C.is when people miss their ancestors | D.is when people present gifts to each other |
A.Objective. | B.Negative. | C.Positive. | D.Indifferent. |
【推荐1】Children have their own rules in playing games. They seldom need a referee and rarely trouble to keep scores. They don't care much about who wins or loses, and it doesn't seem to worry them if the game is not finished. Yet, they like games that depend a lot on luck, so that their personal abilities cannot be directly compared. They also enjoy games that move in stages, in which each stage, the choosing of leaders, the picking-up of sides, or the determining of which side shall start, is almost a game in itself.
Grown-ups can hardly find children's games exciting, and they often feel puzzled at why their kids play such simple games again and again. However, it is found that a child plays games for very important reasons. He can be a good player without having to think whether he is a popular person, and he can find himself being a useful partner to someone of whom he is ordinarily afraid. He becomes a leader when it comes to his turn. He can be confident, too, in particular games, that it is his place to give orders, to pretend to be dead, to throw a ball actually at someone, or to kiss someone he has caught.
It appears to us that when children play a game they imagine a situation under their control. Everyone knows the rules, and more importantly, everyone plays according to the rules. Those rules may be childish, but they make sure that every child has a chance to win.
1. What is true about children when they play games?A.They can stop playing any time they like. |
B.They can test their personal abilities. |
C.They want to pick up a better team. |
D.They don't need rules. |
A.play well | B.wait for his turn |
C.be confident in himself | D.be popular among his playmates |
A.They are not interested in games. |
B.They find children's games too easy. |
C.They don't need a reason to play games. |
D.They don't understand children's games. |
A.Because he can be someone other than himself. |
B.Because he can become popular among friends. |
C.Because he finds he is always lucky in games. |
D.Because he likes the place where he plays a game. |
Like some animals, dolphins use sound to help them find their way around. They also use these sounds to talk to each other and to help them find food. We now know they do not use their ears to receive these sounds, but the lower part of the mouth, called the jaw.
Strangely, dolphins seem to like man, and for thousands of years there have been stories about the dolphin and its friendship with people.
There is a story about sailors in the 19th century. In a dangerous part of the sea off the coast of New Zealand, they learnt to look for a dolphin called Jack. From 1871 to 1903 Jack met every boat in the area and showed it the way. Then in 1903 a passenger on a boat called The Penguin shot and wounded Jack. He recovered and for nine years more continued to guide all ships through the area-except for The Penguin.
Today, some people continue to kill dolphins, but many countries of the world now protect them and in these places it is against the law to kill them.
1. Dolphins are different from many other animals in that they _____.
A.live in groups | B.have their own language |
C.are warm-blooded | D.have large brains |
A.Its jaw. | B.Its ears |
C.Its nose. | D.Its eyes. |
A.people are cruel to animals |
B.Jack is different from other dolphins |
C.dolphins are friendly and clever |
D.dolphins should be protected by law |
A.They wanted his help. |
B.They enjoyed playing with him. |
C.He was lonely and liked to be with people. |
D.He was seriously wounded. |
【推荐3】A quick look at Instagram will show you thousands of girls sharing their clothing of the day. Many of these girls are sharing completely new clothes every day. And they’re feeling the pressure to never repeat clothes. This attitude of not being able to wear something again after sharing it on Instagram is far too common. It is a sad thing when some girls feel sorry for appearing in the same clothes more than once on Instagram.
Clothes businesses push new “must –haves” every week, which adds to the pressure to keep up. Clothes have been so cheap because of the competition between clothes businesses that it’s shockingly easy to buy new clothes every day. These clothes businesses have made it possible for a normal person to never be seen in the same clothes twice. Often the quality of these clothes is so low that they don’t even survive the wash so there is no chance of that second wear.
Consider everything that goes into making a single piece of clothing-for example: plenty of water, energy and petrochemicals, finishing and labor of each worker throughout making it. It’s shocking to think after all this, a piece of clothing might be worn once, maybe twice, and then thrown away so that they can follow fast fashion.
The fashion of throwing clothes away after use needs to change. Proudly post the same clothes you’ve worn before online. Get creative with mixing and matching, and borrow from friends for special times. The possibilities are endless so there’s no need to shop frequently.
1. What is a sad thing according to the first paragraph?A.Some girls like showing off on the Internet. |
B.Some girls spend too much time on social media. |
C.Some girls care too little about their appearances. |
D.Some girls feel ashamed to post the same clothes online again. |
A.Online shopping. | B.Parents’ pressure. |
C.Clothes businesses. | D.Laziness to wash clothes. |
A.To show fast fashion’s great effect. |
B.To tell us we should treasure clothes. |
C.To show the development of the clothes industry. |
D.To tell us we should have our own dressing styles. |
A.Offer reasons. | B.Give suggestions. |
C.Give encouragement. | D.Promote a fashion brand. |