The stomach is an extremely strong organ, full of acid to break down each meal. In order to prevent this acid from burning a hole in our stomachs and damaging other organs, our stomach lining is specially adapted to contain the acid safely.
H. pylori are able to live in the stomach by living in the lining, safe from harsh stomach acid. These bacteria are actually pretty common in people, approximately a third of Australians have H. pylori in their bodies, but not all have symptoms.
The bacteria can eventually create infection in stomach lining, a condition known as gastritis (胃炎）, by wearing away the lining and allowing stomach acid to burn away stomach tissue, causing painful ulcers (溃疡）。
Up until the 1980s, it was thought that bacteria could not survive in stomach acid. The cause of stomach ulcers was due to lifestyle choices: stress, smoking, spicy foods; the stomach acid was breaking through the lining on its own.
This belief was first questioned in 1979 by Robin Warren, an Australian pathologist, who found bacteria on a microscope slide containing the stomach lining of a patient with gastritis. In the years that followed Warren continued his research.
Warren then teamed up with Barry Marshall in 1981 and the two continued with the research, trying to separate the mystery bacteria and find a cure. Over the next three years, they tested their theories with some positive results, however the idea that bacteria could be the cause of gastritis was not widely accepted or even acknowledged.
Finally, fed up with being ignored and confident in his findings, Barry Marshall decided to test on himself. He infected himself with H. pylori and soon developed gastritis and terrible stomach ulcers. Marshall then began to cure himself by taking a dose of antibiotics (抗生素）. This once and for all proved not only that bacteria could grow in stomach acid, but it could also cause gastritis and stomach ulcers.
Eventually, the world fully acknowledged Warren and Marshall's huge contribution to science and medicine and the two were awarded the Nobel prize in Medicine in 2005. Twenty-six years after Robin Warren first began his research.
1. Why did the academics initially refuse to accept that H. pylori caused gastritis?| A．Lifestyle choices caused stomach ulcers. |
| B．Stomach acid could break through the lining on its own. |
| C．They thought that bacteria couldn't survive in the stomach. |
| D．The Australian pathologist Robin Warren provided no evidence. |
| A．Choosing unhealthy lifestyles. | B．Introducing H. pylori to his own stomach. |
| C．Finding the bacteria on stomach lining. | D．Growing H. pylori in the lab. |
| A．Scientific progress takes time. | B．Science guides medical practices. |
| C．Warren is not a productive scientist. | D．Only Marshall deserves the prize. |
| A．Chemists | B．Patients | C．Researchers | D．The general public |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Do you love food? Whether you’re a foodie or someone who just likes eating, there is so much to choose from. We know that too much of the wrong kind of food can be bad for our health, but for some people having a food allergy means eating certain things can actually be harmful — and now, it seems, this is affecting more and more of us.
An allergy is caused by the immune system fighting substances in the environment, known as allergens(过敏原), which should be seen as harmless. Food allergies can cause life-threatening reactions, which means people have to spend their lives following strict dietary restrictions and worrying about the ingredients of everything they consume. Allergy specialist Dr Adam Fox says, “If you look back over, say, 30 or 40 years… there are much more allergic problems around now than there were.”
We often hear about people having allergies to dairy products and to peanuts. Last year a young girl died after suffering a deadly allergic reaction from eating a baguette containing sesame seeds. This led to a call for better food-labelling laws.
Research has found that this problem is particularly affecting children. More and more of them are having allergic reactions to certain foodstuffs. Dr Alexandra Santos from King’s College London says “food allergy now affects about 7 percent of children in the UK and 9 percent of those in Australia. Across Europe, 2 percent of adults have food allergies”.
So what might be the cause? Dr Santos says the increase in allergies is not simply the effect of society becoming more aware of them and better at diagnosing them; it seems to be more environmental. She says possible factors are “pollution, dietary changes and less exposure to microbes (微生物), which change how our immune systems respond”.
A lot of work is being done to try and find a cure, but that’s not easy. So for now allergy sufferers must watch what they eat and they must rely on clear and accurate labelling.
1. What does the underlined word “this” in paragraph 1 refer to?| A．Having an imbalanced diet. |
| B．Being allergic to some certain food. |
| C．Consuming too much of harmful food. |
| D．Fighting substances in the environment. |
| A．Giving a definition. | B．Making a comparison. |
| C．Offering an example. | D．Presenting specific data. |
| A．Dairy products are to blame for most food allergies. |
| B．Kids don’t suffer from food allergies as much as adults. |
| C．Allergies unknown in the past may be diagnosed now. |
| D．More exposure to microbes can reduce food allergies. |
| A．Never try new food. | B．Make efforts to find a cure. |
| C．Have a balanced diet. | D．Read labels before eating. |
【推荐2】Early data from Israel suggests Covid-19 infection rates began to decrease among a group of vaccine (疫苗) recipients two weeks after they received the first shot of Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE's vaccine, offering important insights to other countries as they roll out their own campaigns.
The small country — whose roughly nine million population is about the size of New York City's — has vaccinated nearly a fourth of its population in just under a month,the first country to hit that mark as it fights an upsurge (激增) in new infections.
Israel's largest health-care provider, Clalit Health Services, compared test positivity rates among 200,000 people over 60 who received the vaccine with 200,000 that didn't. Until day 14, there was little difference between the two groups. But after that, the data showed a 33% fall in infection rates among those who had already been vaccinated compared with those who hadn't. Clalit noted that the number of people infected was statistically significant, but said it wouldn't release final numbers until its study is published.
Pfizer says people must receive both doses of the vaccine for it to be fully effective. In Pfizer's trials, the vaccine was shown to take about 12 days before it started to protect people. The Clalit study suggests that the first dose could reduce infections among those vaccinated as early as two weeks after injection.
Israel, like many other countries, has given priority to those over 60 in the first stage of its vaccination drive,making the group the best fit for study. Nearly three out of four people in this age group have received the first dose of the vaccine since Israel's campaign began on Dec.20.
Israel has committed to providing Pfizer with real-time data about their vaccine,from effectiveness to side effects,which Israeli officials said helped it obtain early supply from the vaccine maker. Separately,Israel's Health Ministry published data about side effects from the vaccine, saying they were similar in frequency and character to other vaccinations given to its people.
1. What does the underlined part "hit that mark" refer to?| A．Winning the intense battle against Covid-19. |
| B．Getting most Israelis vaccinated in the shortest time. |
| C．Vaccinating one quarter of Israelis in less than one month. |
| D．Ensuring 25% of Israelis are given both doses of the vaccine. |
| A．It has been perfectly satisfactory. |
| B．It should be released to the public. |
| C．It will play a decisive role in further study. |
| D．It is of great importance in terms of statistics. |
| A．Israel provides timely feedback |
| B．Israel vaccinates its seniors first |
| C．Israel reports side effects regularly |
| D．Israel publishes its data as instructed |
| A．The Pfizer Vaccine Proves Safe |
| B．Old People Get Vaccinated in Israel |
| C．Data Suggests Vaccine Effective |
| D．Israel Succeeds in Fighting Covid-19 |
【推荐3】An inability to stand on one leg for 10 seconds in later life is linked to nearly double the risk of death from any cause within the next decade, according to a new study. The simple balance test may be useful to be included in routine physical exams for people in middle and old age, the research, which was published in British Journal of Sports Medicine, suggested.
While aging leads to a decline in physical fitness, muscle strength and flexibility, balance tends to be reasonably well-preserved until a person’s 50s, when it starts to decline relatively rapidly, the research noted. Previous research has linked the inability to stand on one leg to a greater risk of falls and to cognitive decline.
The study involved 1,702 people aged 51 to 75 living in Brazil, who were asked to balance unsupported on one leg during an initial check. Researchers told the participants to place the front of the free foot behind the standing leg, keep their arms by their sides and eyes. Fixed straight ahead. Up to three attempts on either foot were permitted.
The study participants had an average age of 61 and two-thirds of them were men. Around 1 in 5 failed to balance on one leg for 10 seconds at the initial checkup. Researchers monitored the participants after the initial checkup for a period of seven years, during which 7% of the people died. The proportion (比例)of deaths among those who failed the test (17.5%) was significantly higher than deaths among those who were able to balance for 10 seconds(4.5%).
The research was observational and didn’t reveal cause and effect. The study didn’t look at any possible biological mechanisms that might explain the link between poor balance and longevity.
The study noted that, overall, those who failed the test were in poorer health, with greater proportion of suffering from obesity, heart disease and high blood pressure. Diabetes was also more common among those who failed to complete the test.
1. What did the participants take during the research?| A．Vision examinations. | B．Medical examinations. |
| C．Flexibility tests. | D．Balance tests. |
| A．By calculating the participant numbers. |
| B．By comparing the participants’ lifetime. |
| C．By identifying the participants’ diseases. |
| D．By monitoring the participants’ pressure. |
| A．It had few participants. |
| B．It didn’t last very long. |
| C．It lacked in-depth study. |
| D．It was the first research on balance. |
| A．Balance determines a person’s lifetime |
| B．The balance test should be promoted to people |
| C．The ability to stand on one leg can reflect health levels |
| D．Being able to stand for 10 seconds means being healthy |
【推荐1】In the 19th century, doctors tried to transfuse blood (输血)to patients who had lost blood in accidents or to try to save them. However, in most cases there would be a horrible reaction. When the donated blood mixed with the patient's own blood，it clotted (凝结)almost immediately. That stopped the circulation (循环)and the patient would die. Born on 14th June 1868，Karl Landsteiner，a doctor in Vienna, was very concerned about this. He knew there was something in the blood that caused reactions, but some people did manage to escape. Perhaps different people had different kinds of blood? He got a lot of blood samples (标本)from people, and mixed and matched them. Blood has two parts，the blood cells and the liquid serum(血清).You take blood cells from one person and mix them with the serum of another. If they react, the cells will clot and form a big lump. That means it is not safe to transfuse blood between these people. Landsteiner matched hundreds of samples like this，to find out who was safe for whom and who wasn’t. In fact, there were blood groups now called A, B, AB and O.
So what was going on in the blood? All our red blood cells have sugar molecules(糖分子) that are stuck on their surfaces. The red blood cells of people with group A have one kind of sugar, while those with B have another. People with AB have both of these while people with O have none.
People with the A blood group have a chemical substance called anti-B, while those of B blood group have anti-A in their serum. People with AB group have neither anti-A nor anti-B, while people with O have both. If you were B group and got blood from an A person,the anti- A in your blood would cause all the cells with A-sugar on them to clot immediately, stopping the circulation of blood.
In 1907, Dr. Reuben Outenberg carried out the first safe blood transfusion by matching blood groups. Blood transfusion became quite common from then on. And it helped saved thousands of lives in the First World War.
1. What does the passage mainly talk about?| A．Accidents in blood transfusion. |
| B．The discovery of blood groups. |
| C．Who Karl Landsteiner is. |
| D．The success of Dr. Reuben Otlenberg. |
| A．Some doctors in the 19th century. |
| B．The cause of some patient deaths. |
| C．Many medical accidents that he came across. |
| D．Certain successful cases of blood Iransrusion. |
| A．Only in the A blood group. |
| B．Only in the B blood group. |
| C．Only in the AB blood group. |
| D．In blood groups of B and O. |
| A．The first successful blood transfusion done by Ottenberg. |
| B．The time when blood groups were named by Landsteiner. |
| C．The year when the First World War broke out. |
| D．The blood transfusion by matching blood groups. |
【推荐2】Imagine your body is like the house you live in. Every day, your family creates rubbish. The rubbish builds up until it is put out for the weekly garbage collection.
Now, say you put three bags of garbage out, but because one of the collectors was away sick, only two bags are collected. You take the leftover bag inside to be put out again next week. The following week you put on another three bags, plus the leftover bag from last week. But again, only two bags are collected. Imagine this cycle is repeated over the following weeks.
This is a simple description of what happens to your body when your kidneys (肾脏) don’t work efficiently. Your body is not thoroughly emptied of waste products. Other areas of the body such as blood pressure and red blood cell production are affected and the insidious process that may lead to kidney failure begins.
It’s not uncommon for people to lose up to 90% of their kidney function before developing any symptoms. There may be no warning signs. This makes early detection (诊查)difficult.
Kidney ’s main job is to remove toxins (毒素) and unwanted water from our blood.Every day our kidneys clean an average of 200 litres of blood. Kidney failure may be a gradual and silent process, going unnoticed because there is no obvious pain.
Research shows that more than 35% of the patients requiring dialysis (透析) do not see a kidney specialist before they have to do so. Some risk factors for kidney disease such as age and genetic make-up are out of our control; however, some changes in lifestyle may help prevent kidney damage. Two major risk factors for kidney disease, diabetes (糖尿病) and high blood pressure, have been on the rise over the last few decades. Both conditions are chiefly affected by being overweight and not getting enough exercises, which are the potential (潜在的) risk factors for the kidney disease.
1. The author gives the example of the house we live in to indicate that ______.| A．it doesn’t matter much if the waste in our body is not emptied in time |
| B．our body will not produce any waste if our kidneys work efficiently |
| C．it’s important for our body to empty the waste in time every day |
| D．it’s safe and harmless for our body to keep some waste |
| A．smooth and safe | B．clear and fast |
| C．gradual and unnoticed | D．long and painful |
| A．the kidney failure begins | B．the kidneys can still work properly |
| C．we have lost about 10% of kidney function | D．the kidneys may have been seriously damaged |
| A．Six. | B．Five. | C．Four. | D．Two. |
| A．Go to see a kidney specialist shortly before dialysis starts. |
| B．Take enough exercise and make early detection of kidney disease. |
| C．Try to keep low blood pressure and a stable lifestyle. |
| D．Go to hospital whenever you find any warning signs. |
【推荐3】If your job requires a lot of sitting,you could be putting your health at danger.
The American Journal of Epidemiology（流行病学）did a study in 2010 on the connection between sitting and an individual's physical health.In the study,53,440 working men and 69,776 working women were surveyed on their time spent sitting.The subjects were all disease free when employed.The researchers identified 11,307 deaths in men and 7,923 deaths in women during the 14-year follow-up.
The findings: Women who reported sitting for more than six hours per day had an approximately 40 higher all-cause death rate than those who reported less than three hour a day,and men had an approximately 20 higher death rate.
Well,now is a fine time to get this information.But why didn't they tell me this years ago?I would have planned on taking a more active job instead of the sedentary（坐着的）job of an editor.
So what can you do if you have to work for a living at a job that requires a lot of sitting?Here are some ideas:
Take frequent breaks.It is recommended that workers vary activities,change their position,and take short breaks every 20 minutes to rest muscles and increase blood circulation.Get a standing desk.Some studies have shown that working from an upright position may be better for health.The serious fitness people can even purchase a treadmill （跑步机）desk.It only goes about one mile per hour.Have a walking meeting.If your group is kind of small,going for a walk while discussing topics is a good alternative.
1. According to the text,the study in 2010 .| A．found men reporting shorter sitting time than women |
| B．surveyed more men than women on their daily sitting time |
| C．identified fewer deaths in men than in women during the 14-year follow-up |
| D．discovered connection between sitting and physical health in men and in women |
| A．using a standing desk | B．resting one’s muscles |
| C．quitting sedentary jobs | D．taking a walk while discussing |
| A．Things being discussed. | B．People being studied. |
| C．Areas of knowledge being learned. | D．Objects being painted. |
| A．Working out leads to health risks. |
| B．Your long-sitting job could be killing you. |
| C．Long time sitting is positively associated with health. |
| D．A study on sitting time and physical health was completed. |
【推荐1】For those in search of safe, non-medicine sleep aids (助手), sound machines are a popular choice. The National Sleep Foundation recently found that 5% of Americans sleep with a “sound conditioner”. It can be a fan, phone app, or other noise-producing machines.
Michael Grandner, director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona, says a sound conditioner is a lifesaver if you live where loud nighttime noise is common. But even if your bedroom is very quiet, sound machines can still be helpful if you’re the type of person unsettled by a total absence of noise, or if you’re a light sleeper who wakes from even the softest sound.
Research supports the idea that a little background sound can help people fall asleep. For a study in the journal Sleep Medicine, the researchers asked sleepers to listen to recorded hospital sounds either with or without a white noise machine. They found that those who slept with the white noise machine were hardly affected by the hospital sounds, while others who slept without white noise were easily awakened.
There’s also so-called “pink noise” and “brown noise”, which can sound similar to white noise. “I don’t think there’s enough evidence yet to say one type is better than another,” says Michelle Drerup, a sleep psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic. “I know from talking with my patients that some people prefer natural sounds, like a rainstorm. But others don’t want a sound at all when they sleep,” she says. “It all comes down to the individual (个人).”
For some, the best sound might be none. “Biologically (生物学上), you don’t need this sound to sleep,” says Michael Grandner, “and if you use it every night, you can get so used to it that you can’t sleep without it.” Most sleep experts agree. “I wouldn’t suggest people use sound machines to sleep unless they’re reporting difficulties with outside noises,” an expert says.
1. According to the text, who should sleep with a sound conditioner?| A．Those who fall asleep fast. |
| B．Those who wake up easily. |
| C．Those who live in a quiet street. |
| D．Those who are afraid to sleep alone. |
| A．Pink noise and brown noise are better. |
| B．Sleeping without any noise is the best. |
| C．It all depends on personal preferences. |
| D．Natural sounds are the best for people. |
| A．To use sound machines as little as possible. |
| B．To see a doctor with your sleeping problems. |
| C．To find a very quiet place to treat sleeping problems. |
| D．To break the habits of sleeping with sound machines. |
| A．Most Americans have a bad sleep. |
| B．White noises are good for humans. |
| C．Sound conditioners are a safe, non-medicine sleep aid. |
| D．Not everyone should sleep with white noise machine. |
【推荐2】Close your eyes for a minute and imagine what life would be like if you had a hundred dollars less. Also imagine what it would be like spending the rest of your life with your eyes closed. Imagine having to read this page, not with your eyes but with your fingertips.
With existing medical knowledge and skills, two thirds of the world’s 42 million blind should not have to suffer. Unfortunately, rich countries possess most of this knowledge, while developing countries do not.
ORBIS is an international nonprofit organization which operates the world’s only flying teaching eye hospital. ORBIS intends to help fight blindness worldwide. Inside a DC8 aircraft, there is a fullyequipped teaching hospital with television studio and classroom. Doctors are taught the latest techniques of bringing sight back to people there. Project ORBIS also aims at promoting peaceful cooperation (合作) among countries.
ORBIS tries to help developing countries by providing training during three-week medical programs. ORBIS has taught sightsaving techniques to over 35,000 doctors and nurses, who continue to cure tens of thousands of blind people every year. ORBIS has conducted 17 plane programs in China so far. For the seven to ten million blind in China ORBIS is planning to do more for them. At the moment an ORBIS is working on a longterm plan to develop a training center and to provide eye care service to Shanxi Province. ORBIS needs your help to continue their work and free people from blindness.
For just $ 38, you can help one person see; for $ 380 you can bring sight to 10 people; $ 1,300 helps teach a doctor new skills; and for $ 13,000 you can provide a training programme for a group of doctors who can make thousands of blind people see again. Your money can open their eyes to the world. Please help ORBIS improve the quality of life for so many people less fortunate than ourselves.
1. What do we learn about existing medical knowledge and skills in the world?| A．They are adequate. |
| B．They have not been updated. |
| C．They are not equally distributed. |
| D．They have benefited most of the blind. |
| A．teaching medical students |
| B．training doctors and nurses |
| C．running flying hospitals globally |
| D．setting up nonprofit organization |
| A．ORBIS in China |
| B．Fighting Blindness |
| C．ORBIS Flying Hospital |
| D．Sightseeing Techniques |
| A．introduce a new way of reading |
| B．advise the public to lead a simple life |
| C．direct the public’s attention to the blind |
| D．Encourage the public to use imagination |
【推荐3】According to a recent report, people aged between 16 and 24 make up about 15 percent of the population but only 10 percent of museum-goers. Similarly, people aged over 35 go half as much as you would expect from their population size. We have reached the point of recognizing the disconnection between art and the audience but haven’t yet determined how to bridge the gap. Two answers to dealing with this challenge lie in telling a greater diversity of art histories and communicating these stories in much easier ways.
In 2022, a radio program called Art Matters was started with the aim of discussing art from a pop-culture viewpoint with topics that would attract younger and more diverse audience. It offers an access to art history with conversations on different topics. Art history is about storytelling; art content shines when there is an effort to bring audience along for the discussion.
More traditional organizations are paying attention. Recently the Getty Museum issued a social-media challenge for people to recreate paintings using items they had at home. To their amazement, users displayed incredible creativity and involvement. This reaction set an example for other museums and galleries, proving that there is a potential desire for the audience to connect with art topics if the type of activity is appealing. Since many people feel intimidated and think that it requires a base level of understanding to join the conversation, the Getty Museum serves as a reminder that there are many pathways to engaging with it.
Social media have offered a platform for people who have not traditionally had a seat at the table. Anyone can recognize a gap in the field and address it. Accounts have gathered tens of thousands of followers, which proves that there is hunger to hear these art histories, and these themes work brilliantly for museum programming.
1. What challenge is the author trying to deal with?| A．People doubt a great diversity of artworks. |
| B．Fewer and fewer young people go to museums. |
| C．Art appears too distant from common audience. |
| D．Adult audience has a different understanding of art. |
| A．They should recognize the disconnection between art and the audience. |
| B．They should make the art history stories accessible in a traditional way. |
| C．They should change meaningfully for activities like the Getty challenge. |
| D．They should limit the number of storytellers both in and out of organizations. |
| A．Tired. | B．Annoyed. | C．Surprised. | D．Worried. |
| A．They feel satisfied with current museums and galleries. |
| B．They lack the channels to understand and talk about art history. |
| C．They refuse to engage with diverse art topics and art history stories. |
| D．They would rather view artworks and hear art stories on social media. |
【推荐1】Your next Saturday night takeaway could be brought to you by a robot after a major food delivery company announced plans to use automated vehicles to transport meals. Europe’s biggest online takeaway food company Just Eat has partnered with Starship Technologies to deliver food with robots on the streets of London later this month. “Nobody has ever done deliveries with land-based robots,” said Allan Martinson, the chief operating officer of Starship.
The robot courier can travel up to 4 miles per hour for about 10 miles. It uses a GPS signal and nine cameras to navigate (确定方向). Instead of a person arriving at their door, customers could find themselves receiving a notification on their phone that says a robot is on its way and a code to unlock the automated courier. “Put the code in, the robot opens up, and there’s your food,” said David Buttress, chief manager of Just Eat.
The robot, which has so far been tested in Greenwich, Milton Keynes and Glastonbury, costs £ 1 to transport within 3 miles, compared with the £3 to £6 it costs for a human courier. To date 30 robots have driven nearly 5,000 miles without getting into an accident or finding themselves picked on by passers-by. They have driven in more than 40 cities around the world, including London and Tallinn, Estonia.
An initial worry was how the public would react to robots. But Martinson said the public has been calm when passing the delivery machine on the streets. “The most surprising reaction has been the lack of reaction,” said Martinson.
Another significant fear was that people would disrupt (扰乱) the robots, or try to steal them and their contents. To prevent this, the robot is fitted with nine cameras, two way audio, and movement sensors that send a warning if it is lifted off the ground. And it opens only with a passcode provided to the customer via a notification. “It’s much easier to shoplift than it is to steal a robot,” said Martinson.
1. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “courier” in Paragraph 2?| A．deliverer | B．collector |
| C．provider | D．guide |
| A．opens up upon hearing the code |
| B．travels 10 miles per hour at most |
| C．finds its way by means of GPS and cameras |
| D．sends a message to the customer upon arrival |
| A．Safety of the robot delivery. |
| B．Accuracy of the robot delivery |
| C．Peoples indifference to the robots. |
| D．People’s concern about public traffic. |
| A．Great Improvement of Just Eat |
| B．Global Trend of Food Companies |
| C．New Robots to Move on the road |
| D．Delivery Robots to Replace Takeaway Drivers |
【推荐2】100-Word-Story Competition 2018
Our annual short-story competition is back for its eighth year. As ever, we look forward to reading yours!
The Rules
Please make sure that stories are new, not previously published and exactly 100 words long (not including the title). We may use entries in all print and electronic media.
Entry is open only to people living in the UK. It is not open to employees of Reader’s Digest and all others associated with this competition, their immediate families and relatives living in an employee’s household.
Terms and Conditions
There are three categories-one for adults and two for schools: one for children aged 12-18 and one for children under 12.
In the adults category, the winner will receive￡1,000 and two runners-up will each receive￡250. In the 12-18s and under-12s categories, the winners will each receive a Fire HD 8 Tablet and a selection of STAEDTLER products worth￡50, plus two STAEDTLER classpacks of pencils for their school. The two runners-up in both categories will each receive a Kindle E-Reader.
Please submit your stories by 5 pm on February 19.
The editorial team will pick a shortlist of entries, which this year will be published by our partner nicereading.com. Winners of the categories will have an opportunity to write a longer version of their stories for inclusion in the book.
The three best stories in each category will be posted on-line at readersdigest.co.uk on February 27. You can vote for your favourite, and the one with the most votes wins the top prize. Voting will close at 5 pm on March 19 and the winning list will be published in our June issue (六月刊) .
1. Who is allowed to take part in the story competition?| A．A British man of 20. | B．A staff of Reader’s Digest. |
| C．One of the organizers. | D．A brother of the staff. |
| A．A Fire HD 8 Tablet. | B．A Kindle E-Reader. |
| C．￡50. | D．￡250. |
| A．On TV. | B．In a magazine. |
| C．On a website. | D．In a book. |
【推荐3】Music festivals in Europe
Visiting a festival abroad can be a great reason to travel and a way to experience different cultures. These days there is such a number of choices that it’s possible to spend the whole summer watching live music in exciting places. Of course, it’s also a chance to meet people from across the world.
Melt! Festival, Germany
This festival takes place on the site of an open air museum for industrial machinery. There’s also a lake which can be used for swimming when it’s hot. This year’s line-up has over 120 different bands (乐队). Around 90% of the people attending the festival are German providing a perfect chance to practise speaking the language.
Exit Festival, Serbia
Set on the banks of the Danube in an old fortress (城堡), the festival began as a way to show people’s dissatisfaction with the government. These days it’s less political (政治的) but still worries about people who are poor, ill, old, etc and tries to help them. This year’s festival will host many famous bands. From electronic music and dance music to hard rock, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, Scotland
Set on a Scottish estate (庄园) near Inverness, this year Belladrum will welcome artists from around the world. The most enjoyable part of the weekend is the ceilidh(traditional Scottish dance and party) which is always a lively event. It doesn’t even matter if you’re a beginner because the band teaches you each dance.
Open’er Festival, Poland
Held in an airfield near the northern city of Gdansk, each year Open’er has a seriously good selection (精选品) of bands. This year is no exception, with many famous bands set to play. Not only are there amazing artists, but both Poland and the festival itself also provide very excellent value for money.
1. What is special about Melt! Festival?| A．It provides German lessons. | B．It is held by a local museum. |
| C．The bands are from 120 countries. | D．Most of the festival goers are German. |
| A．For political reasons. | B．For personal reasons. |
| C．To help stop a fight. | D．To offer help to the poor. |
| A．It falls in summer. | B．It is a live music festival. |
| C．It teaches people Scottish dance. | D．It invites the most famous bands. |
