【推荐1】The Master Gardener Foundation

Aim

The Master Gardener Foundation provides free information to the public on environmentally safe gardening practices and water conservation. The information is research-based and encourages limited use of farm chemicals and fertilizers.

Donation Activities

The master gardeners here did much donation work. They donated over 35,000 volunteer hours, serving 40,000 adults and more than 5,200 children. They did this through about 35 plant clinics, 6 demonstration gardens, 4 youth gardens, as well as a classroom program and dozens of workshops. The Master Gardener Foundation provides roughly two-thirds of the financial support for all these valuable activities.

Washington State University currently provides the salary and benefits of the Master Gardener Program. The foundation funds office space and supplies, as well as a part-time program assistant.

The Master Gardener Program

Safe and green gardening and water use practices are vital to preserving our environment. The Master Gardener Program seeks to provide this kind of education and information to the citizens for free. It is a highly successful example of cooperation between a foundation and volunteers.

Waiting for Your Donations

The Master Gardener Foundation is a non-profit organization, and all donations are allowed by law and support the Master Gardener Program and activities.

Please consider a donation to the Master Gardener Foundation and help keep our environment green!
1. What does the underlined word “this” in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A．Science research.	B．Adopting children.
C．Donation work.	D．Contributing money.

2. What do we know about the Master Gardener Program?

A．It’s very expensive.

B．It proves to be unsuccessful.

C．It provides education just in producing farm chemicals.

D．It’s a bridge between the foundation and volunteers.

3. What is the main purpose of the text?

A．To encourage donations.

B．To describe volunteer work.

C．To spread the agricultural knowledge.

D．To give some suggestions to gardeners.

【推荐2】Visiting During Coronavirus

Take time to walk in Shakespeare's footsteps, without the usual crowds. Your visit to Shakespeare's Birthplace will help us to ensure that Shakespeare's heritage survives this difficult period for future visitors to enjoy.

To keep our visitors and staff safe, we have introduced a timed ticket system. All tickets must be booked in advance, even if you have a pre-existing ticket. Groups larger than 6 are not allowed to book, meet, or interact at our site unless they are part of the same household. Sec below for more details and read about the extra safety measures we've put in place.

Please note that Anne Hathaway's Cottage. Shakespeare's New Place, Mary Arden's Farm and Hall's Croft will remain closed until at least spring 2021.

Pre-booking is essential

Online booking is essential to secure your time slot. We'll be unable to grant you entry without a pre-booked, tinted entry ticket. Tickets will be released every Friday, with availability up to 2 weeks in advance.

Before your visit

Please bear the following things in mind, and check our website and social media for updates before travelling.

● If showing COVID-19 symptoms please stay at home.

● Wear a face covering in indoor spaces (unless exempt).

● We may conduct temperature checks.

● Bag searches are in operation.

● We do not offer cloakroom/baggage store facilities.

● Be ready for cashless payments.

NHS Covid-19 Test and Trace app

Visitors are encouraged to download the NIIS Covid-19 Test and Trace app prior to arrival at Shakespeare's Birthplace and "check-in" by scanning the QR code available at the ticket desk and entrance to the shop.

1. Which of the following can you visit before spring 2021?

A．Shakespeare's Birthplace.	B．Anne Hathaway's Cottage.
C． Mary Arden's Farm.	D．Hall's Croft.

2. Which kind of ticket can ensure your entry during Coronavirus?

A．A ticket released on Friday.	B．An online booked annual ticket.
C．A pre-bought season ticket.	D．A pre-booked, timed entry ticket.

3. What is required before visiting?

A．You must stay at home for 14 days.	B．Your bag will be searched.
C．You should take enough cash with you.	D．You must have your face covered.

【推荐3】If you’ve ever dreamed of building a rocket and sending it skyward, dream no more! Maybe just dream a little smaller. Scientific American Custom Media and our partners at Bayer are hosting the BUILD — YOUR — OWN ALKA ROCKET COMPETITION for backyard craft powered by water and effervescent tablets (泡腾片). The winner will become famous overnight and walk away with a $1,000 prize. So pick up some effervescent tablets and get busy building. History awaits you.

Entry: Going for the prize is easy. Build an Alka Rocket. Send it skyward with fuel made only of effervescent tablets and water. And record it all in a video, which you share over social media with the Alka Rocket Challenge. So we can keep track. Please also email the links to your social media posts to alkarocket@sciam. com.

Entry Period: From November 1st, 2020 until December 31st, 2020.

Rocket Requirements: Rockets must be less than one foot in height and six inches in width. They must use only effervescent tablets and water as fuel.For more on how to build a basic Alka Rocket, you can watch the handy video.

Judging Criteria; The judges will award the winner and two runners-up on the basis of creativity of rocket design, the launch and video submission.

Safety (super important!!!): Rockets can be dangerous—even ones powered by effervescent tablets. Any project considered remotely dangerous to humans or the environment will be immediately disqualified.

Notes: Competitors must be American citizens and aged 13 or older. And any competitor under the age of 18 needs to email us a signed parental permission form when he or his team sends us the links to social posts.

If you have questions, submit them to alkarocket@sciarn.com and we’ll do our best to get back to you. Enter and reach for the stars!

1. What is required for the competition?

A．Sharing the rocket launch video over social media.

B．Building Alka Rockets less than one meter high.

C．Launching Alka Rockets in front of the judges.

D．Emailing signed parental permission

2. What is the advantage of Alka Rockets over other rockets?

A．They are heavier.	B．They are riskier.
C．They are faster.	D．They are safer.

3. Who can enter the competition?

A．A 12-year-old American.	B．An American teenager.
C．An English engineer.	D．An English parent.

【推荐1】Choose Your One-Day Tours

Tour A—Bath & Stonehenge including entrance fees to the ancient Roman bathrooms and Stonehenge (巨石阵) —￡37 until 26 March and ￡39 thereafter (从那以后).

Visit the city with over 2,000 years of history and Bath Abbey, the Royal Crescent and the Costume Museum. Stonehenge is one of the world’s most famous prehistoric (史前的) monuments (纪念碑) dating back over 5,000 years.

Tour B—Oxford & Stratford including entrance fees to the University St Mary’s Church Tower and Anne Hathaway's house —￡32 until 12 March and￡ 36 thereafter.

Oxford:

Includes a guided of England’s oldest university city and colleges.

Look over the “city of dreaming spires (尖顶)” form St Mary’s Church Tower.

Stratford:

Includes a guided tour exploring much of the Shakespeare wonder.

Tour C—Windsor Castle & Hampton Court including entrance fees to Hampton Court Palace —￡34 until 11 March and ￡37 thereafter.

Includes a guided tour of Windsor and Hampton Court, Henry VIII’s favourite palace. Free time to visit Windsor Castle (entrance fees not included). With 500 years of history, Hampton Court was once the home of four Kings and one Queen. Now this former royal palace is open to the public as a major tourist attraction. Visit the palace and its various historic gardens, which include the famous maze (迷宫) where it is easy to get lost!

Tour D—Cambridge including entrance fees to the Tower of Saint Mary the Great —￡33 until 18 March and ￡37 thereafter.

Includes a guided tour of Cambridge, the famous university town, and the gardens of the 18th century.

1. Which tour will you choose if you are interested in prehistoric monuments?

A．Tour A.	B．Tour B.
C．Tour C.	D．Tour D.

2. Which of the following tours charges the lowest fee on 17 March?

A．Bath & Stonehenge.

B．Oxford & Stratford.

C．Windsor Castle& Hampton Court.

D．Cambridge.

3. Where does the passage probably come from?

A．A textbook.	B．A study.
C．A tour guide.	D．A map.

【推荐2】Winter is a very special time in Northern Norway. Winter also means skiing, and Narvik can offer some of the best skiing in Norway. The view and light change frequently and no two days are the same. For many people, the northern lights are an unforgettable sight, and in Narvik the sky is especially clear and great for watching at night.

The tourist season lasts from February to April, although May can be fascinating too, often with fantastic dry snow and an unbelievable light lasting well into the evening.

Ski hire

It is possible for adults and children to hire skiing equipment such as snowboards. All equipment is prepared for use. If you would like to book your equipment, please go to www.narvikfjellet.com.

Cross­country skiing

There are 12 kilometres of cross­country ski run in Narvik. You need to bring your own skis as there is no cross­country hire. However, equipment can be bought at local sports shops in and around Narvik.

Off­piste skiing(非滑雪场地滑雪)

In order to explore Narvik’s off­piste opportunities, you need to know the dangers when choosing routes. It is suggested that you bring necessary equipment such as a shovel and a GPS locator. Ask www.narvikfjellet.com for an experienced guide. With a guide you can explore Narvik’s special off­piste areas in a safe manner.

Sometimes it is nice to do something different and not everybody enjoys skiing. Then you can go horse­riding, or visit the local museums.

Price examples for the 2018/2019 season

Time	Children (8­15 years)	Adults
1 day	NOK 230	NOK 325
3 days	NOK 590	NOK 835
5 days	NOK 815	NOK 1,170
7 days	NOK 970	NOK 1,375
Children 0-7 years can enjoy the service for free.

1. If you go to Narvik, you will be deeply impressed with .

A．the service

B．the northern light

C．the tourists

D．the skiing equipment

2. In Northern Norway, the tourists season may last .

A．one month

B．two months

C．three months

D．four months

3. What can we know from the passage?

A．You can book skiing equipment through the Internet.	B．You are provided with skiing equipment for free.
C．Narvik is located in the south of Norway.	D．Narvik is open to adults and children over eight.

4. If Mr. and Mrs. Smith stay in Narvik with their six­year­old daughter for three days in 2019, they should pay .

A．NOK 1,160

B．NOK 1,425

C．NOK 1,670

D．NOK 2,260

【推荐3】Summer Boarding Courses

Summer Boarding Courses(SBC)is an award-winning UK summer school provider for international students aged 11-17. Please join the students from over 100 countries.

SBC Canford Summer School(Ages 11-15)is located at Canford School,Tatler School   Awards Public School of the Year 2019. It is within easy reach of the coastal town of Bournemouth and is one of the most popular UK destinations for English language learning outside of London.

Dates:Monday 6 July-Monday 10 August 2020 nam stt

Teaching Hours:15 Hours Per Week

Courses:General English,English Literature,Introduction to Business

Headington Oxford Summer School(Ages 13-16)is located in the beautiful city of Oxford, just a 30-minute walk from the city centre.It provides students with a wonderful setting in which to study and meet other students from around the world.

Dates:Saturday 4th July-Saturday 18th July 2020

Teaching Hours:20 Hours Per Week

Courses:General English,Summer Study,Global Young Leaders

SBC at Eton College(Ages 11-16),only 34 kilometers from London,provides students with the opportunity to study at one of the world’s most famous schools.Founded in 1440 by King Henry VI,Eton College has educated 20 British Prime Ministers as well as many authors,scientists,actors and explorers.

Dates:Monday 13 July-Monday 24 August 2020

Teaching Hours:15 Hours Per Week

Courses:General English,Mathematics,STEM(Science,Technology,Engineering,Maths)

Oxford College Summer School(Ages 15-17)gives students the chance to experience the very best of what Oxford has to offer.Students live and study in the famous university city of Oxford.For over 800 years it has been home to the leading academic minds in scientific and   cultural studies.

Dates:Monday 6 July-Monday 17 August 2020./

Teaching Hours:15 Hours Per Week

Courses:Business&Leadership,Engineering,Medicine

1. Which school doesn’t provide General English?

A．SBC Canford Summer School.

B．Headington Oxford Summer School.

C．SBC at Eton College.

D．Oxford College Summer School.

2. What makes SBC at Eton College different from the others?

A．It has produced many heads of government.

B．It has educated some leading academic minds.

C．It has invited authors and scientists as educators.

D．It has become a winner of Tatler School Awards.

3. Which age range is Headington Oxford Summer School for?

A．Ages 11-15.

B．Ages 13-16.

C．Ages 11-16.

D．Ages 15-17.

【推荐1】

Keep Shower Doors Spotless Longer Water­repelling sprays (such as Rain­X) aren't just great for your car. Applying a coat to your shower doors will prevent the buildup of mildew(霉菌) and other residue.
Pick Up Glass Fragments Easily Collecting the larger pieces of a broken glass or dish is usually easy enough, but picking up those tiny slivers and shards can be tricky. One way to do it is to press a slice of soft bread over the area. Just be careful not to cut yourself when you toss the bread in the garbage.
Sweeten Your Yogurt Without Sugar Flavored yogurts often contain dozens of grams of sugar, but plain yogurt can be pretty blah. Add flavor without many calories with a few drops of vanilla, mint, or almond extract. You can also microwave your favourite into a compote(蜜饯) and, once it's cool, swirl it into the yogurt.
Spend Less on Hotel Rooms Weekend bookers tend to luck out when it comes to snagging the best rate. Prices are lowest on Fridays and Saturdays, according to the most recent data from travel site kayak.com. Absolutely avoid booking on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, when prices are highest.

1. We can learn from the passage that ________.

A．covering the shower door with your coat keeps it spotless longer

B．soft bread can be used to pick up tiny glass fragments

C．yogurt can be made sweeter if you add your favourite fruit and microwave it

D．prices of hotel rooms are the lowest on Fridays and Saturdays

2. In which newspaper column can the article most probably be found?

A．Drama in real life.	B．Everyday miracles.
C．Tell your stories.	D．We found a fix.

【推荐2】Are you an optimist（乐观主义者）or a pessimist（悲观主义者）? It seems that young people in China are more optimistic than youth in other countries.

Varkey Foundation, a UK non-profit organization, did a survey between last September and October. It asked 20,000 young people in 20 counties including China, the United States and the United Kingdom how they think and feel about the world. The survey found that 53 percent of those questioned in China think the world is becoming a better place, the highest percentage among the countries surveyed.

When asked why they felt hopeful for the future, 93 percent of Chinese youth think it's because of advances in technology. Medicine, renewable energy and computing may make life in the future easier. Some 64 percent of Chinese youth also think China is a good place to live. The biggest reason（29 percent）is that China is "a country in which anyone is able to get on if they work hard".

The survey also found young people in emerging economies are more hopeful about the future than those in developed countries. Following Chia, Indian youth were the second most optimistic（49 percent）. Those in France, Italy and Turkey are the most pessimistic. The rise of global terrorism worries them most.

However, Chinese young people seem to worry about something else. As much as 82 percent of them worry about climate change. China is the only country out of the 20 in which climate change was the biggest cause of fear for future.

Vikas Pota of the Varkey Foundation took this as a good thing. Chinese youths are more aware than anyone of how serious the climate problem is and will be pressing for change, he told the South China Morning Post.

1. In the survey, about ___________ felt hopeful about the world.

A．20 countries	B．10, 600 Chinese youth
C．20, 000 young people	D．53 percent of Chinese youth questioned

2. Which is NOT the reason why Chinese young felt hopeful for the future?

A．Technology advances quickly in China.	B．They have more abilities.
C．China is a good place to live.	D．Working hard always helps in China.

3. What else did the survey find?

A．Young people in developed countries are more optimistic.

B．The Indian youth is the most pessimistic in the survey.

C．Global terrorism worries the young in countries like Italy.

D．About 80 percent of Chinese youth care most about jobs.

4. The main idea of this passage is to tell us that ___________

A．Chinese young people are more optimistic.

B．The life in the future in China is easier.

C．Chinese young people worry climate change most.

D．The young people in developed countries are worried about terrorism.

【推荐3】The Milky Way is full of habitable (宜居) places, with roughly half of all sunlike stars hosting Earth-size worlds that could be friendly to life.

Here’s a good sign for alien hunters: More than 300 million worlds with similar   conditions to Earth are spread throughout the Milky Way galaxy. A new analysis concludes that roughly half of the galaxy’s sunlike stars host rocky worlds in habitable zones where liquid water could pool or flow over the planets’ surfaces.

Astronomers estimated the number of these planets using data from NASA’s planet-hunting Kepler spacecraft. For nine years, Kepler stared at the stars and watched for the brief twinkles produced when orbiting planets block a portion of their star’s light. By the end of its mission in 2018, Kepler had spotted some 2,800 exoplanets (外星行星) — many of them nothing like the worlds orbiting our sun.

But Kepler’s primary goal was always to determine how common planets like Earth are. The calculation required help from the European Space Agency’s Gaia spacecraft, which monitors stars across the galaxy. With Gaia’s observations in hand, scientists were finally able to determine that the Milky Way is populated by hundreds of millions of Earth-size planets orbiting sunlike stars — and that the nearest one is probably within 20 light-years of the solar system.

It took more than half a century for scientists to start pinning down how many planets could possibly host life. In 1961, astronomers knew of no worlds orbiting stars other than the sun — and although planetary formation theories suggested exoplanets should be common, we had no observational evidence that they existed. But over the past decade, it’s become clear that planets are extremely common, outnumbering stars in the Milky Way. On average, nearly every star is home to at least one orbiting world.

Early estimates suggested that perhaps 20 percent of sunlike stars hosted a world that   met those criteria. We now know that the number is closer to 50 percent, if not more.

Of course, many factors determine whether a world in the habitable zone is truly friendly for life. Planetary characteristics such as magnetic fields, atmospheres, and plate tectonics all play a role, and those are difficult to observe on small, faraway worlds.

1. When the author says, “Here’s a good sign for alien hunters”, he probably means____.

A．that’s good news for hunters

B．we will find aliens soon

C．there is a clear signal from alien

D．many sunlike stars have been found that may be habitable

2. How did Kepler work to find exoplanets?

A．By observing the brief flicker that occurs when orbiting planets block some of the star’s light.

B．By using the data from the European Space Agency’s Gaia spacecraft.

C．By calculating the stars in the galaxy.

D．Through its own calculation.

3. What can we infer from paragraph 4?

A．Kepler’s primary goal was to make sure that the Earth is a common planet.

B．Kepler helped Gaia to calculate the planets.

C．Gaia is only 20 light-years away from the solar system.

D．Kepler monitors stars across the Milky Way.

4. What does paragraph 5 mainly talk about?

A．The importance of planetary formation theories.

B．Exoplanets are common.

C．Scientists spent more than half a century to find out how many planets host life.

D．Astronomers have known of no worlds orbiting stars other than the sun since 1961.

5. Many factors determine whether a world in the habitable zone is truly friendly for life EXCEPT____.

A．oxygen

B．atmospheres

C．magnetic fields

D．plate tectonics

【推荐1】If you frequently travel for business，Staybridge Suites offer you a range of home comforts．Four recent visitors to Staybridge Suites explain why they booked，what they enjoyed and what made them want to return．

Claire Metcalf

“The concept is great，but the staff are the ones who really make it．”she says．“It takes a lot of discipline to always be friendly，but the staff at Staybridge Suites do that. They genuinely care about you．”

Andrew Roberts

“One of the best things is having my own kitchen．I often end up working late and I don’t fancy eating in a restaurant on my own，so cooking for myself is a big drawcard．”

“The main thing for me is being able to cook and have my own little flat．The staff are amazing．It is great to be recognized by them，”he says．

Pauline Robinson

“What I love about it is the way that you are treated by the staff,”she says．“Some of the staff have been there all that time and they do look after you well．As a woman staying on my own，it is reassuring that they look out for you，and recently when I was poorly depressed they even brought things I needed to my room．”

Ryan Ruckledge

“The fully-equipped kitchen is great．I always have a one-bed apartment so I have a separate kitchen and dining room and I’m able to relax and cook some meals．Eating out can feel a bit much when you do it day in and day out—it makes you hate what you do—and I don’t want that．”

1. What attracts visitors to Staybridge Suites?

A．A separate dining room.	B．A one-bed apartment.
C．A home away from home.	D．A lot of discipline.

2. What does the underlined word“drawcard”in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Barrier.	B．attraction.
C．Honour.	D．difficulty.

3. Why does the author write the article?

A．To advertise Staybridge Suites.	B．To introduce four recent visitors.
C．To inform us of a new service.	D．To sing high praise for the staff.

【推荐2】Did you know that women’s brains are smaller than men’s? The average women’s brain weighs 10% less than men’s. Since research has shown that the bigger the brain, the cleverer the animal, men must be more intelligent(聪明的) than women. Right? Wrong. Men and women always score similarly on intelligence tests, despite the difference in brain size. Why? After years of study, researchers have concluded that it’s what’s inside that matters, not just the size of the brain. The brain consists of   “grey matter” and
It has been suggested that smaller brain appears to work faster, perhaps because the two sides of the brain are better connected in women. This means that little girls tend to learn to speak earlier, and that women can understand sorts of information from different sources at the same time. When it comes to talking to the boss on the phone, cooking dinner and keeping an eye on the baby all at the same time, it’s women who come out on top every time.
There are other important differences between two sexes. As white matter is the key to spatial(空间的) tasks, men know better where things are in relation to other things. “A great footballer always knows where he is in relation to the other players, and he knows where to go,” says one researcher. That may explain one of life’s great mysteries: why men refuse to ask for directions … and women often need to!
The differences begin when fetuses(胎儿) are about mine weeks old, which can be seen in the action of children ad young as one. A boy would try to climb a barrier (障碍物) before him or push it down while a girl would attract help from others. These brain differences also explain the fact that more men take up jobs that require good spatial skills, while more women speech skills. It may all go back to our ancestors(祖先) ,among whom women needed speech skills to take care of their babies and men needed spatial skills to hunt, according to one research.
If all this disappoints you, it shouldn’t. “The brain changes throughout our lives according to what we do with it.” says a biologist.
1. Which of the following is true according to the first paragraph?

A．Women’s brain is 10% less than men’s

B．Grey matter plays the same role as white matter.

C．Grey matter controls thinking in the brain.

D．Both sexes have the same amount of white matter.

2. What can we infer from the second and third paragraphs?

A．Women prefer doing many things at a time.

B．Men do better dealing with one job at a time.

C．Women do not need to tell directions.

D．Men have weaker spatial abilities.

3. Which of the following do you agree with according to the fourth paragraph?

A．Young boys may be stronger than young girls.

B．More women take up jobs requiring speech skills

C．Women may have stronger feelings than men.

D．Our ancestors needed more spatial skills.

4. What is the writer’s attitude in writing this passage?

A．Defensive.

B．Persuasive.

C．Supportive.

D．Objective.

【推荐3】There was a gardener who looked after his garden with great care. To water his flowers，he used two buckets(水桶).One was a shiny and new bucket. The other was a very old and dilapidated one，which had seen many years of service，but was now past its best.

Every morning，the gardener would fill up the two buckets. Then he would carry them along the path，one on each side，to the flowerbeds. The new bucket was very proud of itself. It could carry a full bucket of water without a single drop spilled. The old bucket felt very ashamed(惭愧的)because of its holes: before it reached the flowerbeds，much water had leaked(渗漏)along the path.

Sometimes the new bucket would say，"See how capable I am! How good it is that the gardener has me water the flowers every day! I don’t know why he still uses you. What a waste of space you are!"

And all that the old bucket could say was，"I know I am not very useful，but I can only do my best. I am happy that the gardener still finds a little bit of use in me ，at least.’’

One day，the gardener heard that kind of conversation. After watering the flowers as usual，he said，"You both have done your work very well. Now I am going to carry you back，and I want you to look carefully along the path."

Then the two buckets did so. All along the path, they noticed，on the side where the new bucket was carried，there was just bare earth；on the other side where the old bucket was carried，there was a joyous row of wild flowers，leading all the way to the garden.

1. What was the old bucket ashamed of?

A．Its   past.

B．Its aging.

C．Its   manner.

D．Its leaking.

2. What does the underlined word "dilapidated" probably mean?

A．Dirty.

B．Dark.

C．Worn out.

D．Ordinary-looking.

3. The new bucket made conversations with the old one mainly to________.

A．take pity on the old one	B．laugh at the old one
C．show off its good look	D．praise the gardener's kindness

4. Why was the old bucket still kept by the gardener?

A．Because it was used to keep a balance.

B．Because it stayed in its best condition.

C．Because it had its own advantage.

D．Because it was thought of as a treasure.