Ecofriendly Vauban, lied in the southwest part of Germany, has everything—treelined streets, perfect houses—but it's missing one urban feature of the last 100 years or so: the car. And Vauban residents don't mind one bit. Vauban doesn't ban cars entirely. Rather, it just tries to reduce the use of cars by creating "parkingfree" and "carfree" living. In Vauban, parking spots are a nono private property. Cars can only be parked in public parking lots, so living without a car saves residents the cost of parking in the public lot. Cars also are prevented from using certain roads and must stick to strict speed limits. With these limitations, fewer than 20 percent of residents own cars. And now, with a population of 5,500, it's attracting attention from around the world. Can an ecofriendly city like Vauban be a model for Americans to stop their over reliance on the cars?
Sometimes when I watch a news report what's in the back of my mind is what isn't being reported or stressed. While this ecofriendly city is inspiring in that it shows residents getting exercise and fresh air through the majority use of bicycles, as well as good oldfashioned walking, common sense would tell you that even for a place like Vauban, Germany, it owes its existence to the cars.
Do you think that bicycles were able to transport all the construction materials that were needed to build and maintain the ecofriendly homes and businesses in Vauban? It took cars to help build this city. It's one of the paradoxes of life that sometimes in order to get away from relying on something like the car, you actually have to rely on that very thing at the beginning and into the foreseeable future to some degree.
I myself haven't owned a car for more than 14 years, and mostly get around town running, walking, or using public transportation. There are times I wish I had one, since it would make many things easier, but overall I'm glad not to have to deal with the headaches of owning a car, which caused me to get rid of it in the first place. And all the walking and running has helped to keep me fit and healthy. To get even close to being like ecofriendly Vauban, Americans will need to absolutely change the way they live. Commuting (乘车上下班) patterns will have to change, public transportation will have to be invested in, and so on. And though ending our love affair with the car will be impossible during my lifetime, we may at least start to see more Vaubanlike areas in the USA.
We can hope that Americans will consider using their feet more to get around, cutting down on pollution, and giving themselves some more exercise.
1. Why don't over 80% of the residents in Vauban own car?| A．The streets there are very narrow. |
| B．There are many limitations on the use of cars. |
| C．The government limits the number of cars. |
| D．Most cars belong to their public property. |
| A．opposite things |
| B．big shortcomings |
| C．great strengths |
| D．firm bases |
| A．Curious. |
| B．Proud. |
| C．Grateful. |
| D．Regretful. |
| A．Not mentioned. |
| B．They are not ecofriendly. |
| C．They have too many cars. |
| D．They work hard. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】The number of fin-less porpoise, a protected species living in the Yangtze River, has seen growth compared with the 1,012 that were seen in 2017. A previous survey carried out on Oct. 25 said more mother-child pairs were seen and some were seen in places that had never reported them earlier.
Fin-less porpoise, also called Smiling Angels, have become a natural indicator of the health of the Yangtze River ecosystem, especially after the Lipotes vexillifer, a species of the freshwater dolphin commonly known as Baiji, became extinct in 2007. Despite efforts to protect the fin-less porpoise for over 40 years, its numbers continued to fall. Finally, there is some good news.
The turnaround would not have been possible without the three earlier scientific surveys and the ongoing one. Add to that a 10-yearfishing ban on the Yangtze River carried out on Jan. 1 last year, followed by the fin-less porpoise being upgraded to a level protected species on the national list on Feb. 5,2021,and the Yangtze River Protection Law coming into effect on March 1,2021.
Because of these measures, the provincial-level regions along the Yangtze River relocated their chemical plants, closed down illegal docklands, mended wetlands and adjusted sailing lanes. All these efforts ultimately improved the river’s ecological environment, helping breathe life into the fin-less porpoise species. The results show that China has chosen the right path in protecting not only the fin-less porpoise, but also the river’s ecosystem.
The story of the revival of the fin-less porpoise is only part of the bigger story of the Yangtze River’s protection as a whole. And protecting the river is part of the larger picture of the country’s ecological civilization. Fixing the Yangtze River’s ecology can benefit hundreds of generations, and a good ecology is a fortune of the Chinese nation as a whole.
1. What do we know about the Lipotes vexillifer?| A．It was extinct about 15 years ago. | B．Its favourite habitat is ocean. |
| C．Its population is falling rapidly. | D．It has been a protected species. |
| A．Ban on fishing industry forever. | B．The earlier and ongoing scientific surveys. |
| C．Relocation of the wetlands. | D．Improvement of the chemical plants. |
| A．Skeptical. | B．Worried. | C．Conservative. | D．Positive. |
| A．Fin-less Porpoise—a Protected Species | B．Making the “Smiling Angels” Smile Again |
| C．The Yangtze River—Origin of Chinese People | D．Fixing the Yangtze River’s Ecology Is Urgent |
THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD
How would you like to spend six months living on an island and looking after the Great Barrier Reef? The working hours are flexible and accommodation is provided. Key duties include exploring the islands of the reef and finding out what the area has to offer. You’ll need to report back via weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates. You’ll also be asked to promote the islands through newspapers, magazines and TV interviews.
It was actually a very clever means to highlight the importance of the Great Barrier Reef and the need to protect it.
About the size of Japan, it even can be seen from outer space. More than 25 million years old, the Great Barrier Reef is made up of living coral growing on dead coral. It is host to many species of birds and sea creatures. But this unique and delicate place is now under threat from pollution and climate change.
To get this job, the candidates had to make a short video showing how much they knew about the reef. They also needed to prove why they were the best person to do the job. Out of the thousands of applicants, eleven were selected, including a young woman from China. Eventually, the job was offered to Ben Southall from the UK.
In addition to blogging, taking photos and writing articles about the reef, he made a number of appearances on television to argue in favour of its defence. He also worked as a presenter for the National Geographic Channel, before going on to write a book about his experiences. Ben later joked that the job should have been advertised not as the “best”, but the “busiest job in the world”!
The most important thing was that people all over the world became aware of the beauty of the ocean in the area. What’s more, they came to understand the delicate balance that the environment exists in and what can, and must, be done to protect the reef. That way, it will remain a safe habitat for wildlife, as well as a dream destination for the millions of tourists who visit it each year.
1. What’s the purpose of the job advertisement?| A．To protect the Great Barrier Reef. | B．To build the Great Barrier Reef more beautifully. |
| C．To attract more candidates. | D．To attract more tourists to travel in Australia. |
| A．Lack of tourists. | B．Natural disasters. |
| C．Pollution and climate change. | D．Disappearing of the islands. |
| A．He took photos and wrote articles about the reef. | B．He appeared on television many times. |
| C．He worked as a host for one channel. | D．He told jokes on TV. |
【推荐3】Rather than continue living a comfortable urban life, this British family has sold their London home in favor of launching the world's smallest nature reserve to save a nation's coral reef system. Karolina and Barry Seath— along with their two young daughters—are preparing to move to an island in the Seychelles（非洲塞舌尔群岛） measuring just 1,300 feet long by 980 feet wide（400 by 300 meters）.
They've launched a charity and teamed up with（与.....合作）local biologists in an effort to bring the coral reefs back to life in the smallest African country, which have been almost wiped out by rising sea temperatures. Their land-based coral farm will be only the second of its kind in the world, the other being on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, to specialize in regrowing coral to restore the reefs.
47-year-old Barry, who is a former policeman, said, “We are just a normal husband, wife and two kids, living the sort of life that most others do, but we felt the need to make a positive change for ourselves, our children, and the world we had largely taken for granted.”
Over the course of several vacations to the Seychelles, the Seaths witnessed the gradual deterioration（恶化） of the reefs. "Every time we visited, we noticed the coral was getting worse and worse," said Barry. "All the tourists say the same thing. They love the beaches but are really disappointed with the coral. "
Barry felt it was time to make a change and show his daughters an alternative way of eco-friendly living. He then teamed up with experts at the Marine Conservation Society Seychelles in order to develop the facility. Once it is complete, it will be the first large-scale, land-based coral farm in the Indian Ocean. The eco-warriors hope to use the facility to grow around 10,000 corals per year. Barry said, "Our long-term goal is to show everyone that—with just a relatively small investment—you can have a big positive influence on the marine （海的） environment."
1. Why have Karolina and Barry Seath sold their house?| A．They need to collect enough money to set up a charity. |
| B．They will move to an island in the Seychelles to save coral. |
| C．They think suburban life near the sea will be more comfortable. |
| D．They want to have a sea farm to grow coral for their daughters. |
| A．They often take other people's deeds for granted. |
| B．They have visited the Seychelles only once. |
| C．There are altogether six family members. |
| D．Barry Seath used to be a policeman. |
| A．It will be 1,300 meters long and 980 meters wide. |
| B．It will be the first of its kind in the Indian Ocean. |
| C．It will focus on fighting with rising sea temperatures. |
| D．It will be larger than the one on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. |
| A．To show everyone they can make a difference to the sea environment. |
| B．To make sure no one is disappointed with the coral in the Seychelles. |
| C．To try to grow around 10,000 corals per year on their coral farm. |
| D．To show his daughters a better life of eco-friendly living. |
【推荐1】We have all heard that if you talk to yourself, you’re crazy,
My first exposure to positive self-talk was reading The Little Engine That Could. Do you remember that book from your childhood? While trying to make it up a big hill, the little engine keeps saying to himself, “I think I can, I think I can.” And of course, he makes it.
Positive self-talk is one of the most valuable tools you can use to keep yourself physically and mentally balanced. Many Olympic and professional athletes use it every time they practice or compete.
Positive self-talk can also help you calm down from anxiety and feel less sad. There was a period of time when I felt upset. Every morning, I woke up and said to myself, “Hi, Barton. You’re going to have a good day today.”
| A．In fact, that’s not always the case. |
| B．Much to my surprise, I was just fine |
| C．It’s a valuable lesson for us to learn and remember. |
| D．Instead, there are several different types of self-talk. |
| E．You know, I was programming my brain to feel good. |
| F．When it comes to positive self-talk, the simpler, the better. |
| G．That was an opportunity for me to try something challenging. |
【推荐2】It is a long time since I took up teaching. During my teaching career, I often ask my students to read the text until they can recite them, and I tell them that recitation is an important part of their homework. However, some of my students are tired of doing so, thinking that it is both hard and useless. They argue that it takes a long time to recite a text from memory and text itself never appears in a test paper.
In my opinion, it does take time to recite a text, but it is worth doing so. When you are able to recite a text, you are sure to be familiar with the words and expressions. When you need them in reading or writing or doing exercises, they will come to your mind quickly, and so you will give quick response to all kinds of language situation. How can we say that it is useless?
Besides, many students complain that they soon forget what they were once able to recite. This is true, but you don't need to worry. While you are reading and forgetting the texts, your language level is being raised. Sure you don't remember your Chinese texts that you once read in the primary school, but now you are able to read novels and newspaper. So , recitation of the texts will help you improve your language ability．
1. What do the students think about the teacher's advice? ______| A．The English teacher asks them to do something useless． |
| B．The English teacher is very kind to them． |
| C．The English teacher should let them study on their own． |
| D．The English teacher tries his best to help them with English． |
| A．The teacher thinks the students are too naughty to learn English well． |
| B．The students think they spend a lot of time in reciting the texts and get nothing． |
| C．The students say that they often forget the words． |
| D．The students take no interest in English． |
| A．often criticizes them |
| B．wants to give up his idea |
| C．patiently explains to them why they should recite the texts |
| D．is afraid that he is criticized by the headmaster． |
| A．Reciting the texts can greatly improve the classroom teaching． |
| B．Reciting the texts is the best way of learning English． |
| C．The students should remember all the texts that the teacher has taught them． |
| D．Reciting the texts can improve the ability of applying (应用)English． |
【推荐3】“Have you checked the oil in the car, Ted?” my father used to say to me. Sometimes our phone calls would begin and end with an only inquiry(询问)about the oil, without asking anything else. Fathers have lots of love to give, but it’s often provided through useful advice. In my experience, it’s mostly about the car.
Why can’t fathers just say “I love you” or “It’s great to see you”? Why can’t the sentences “I care about you” and “You made my life better from the moment you were born” be heard? Because fathers tend to express their true feelings indirectly. You just have to understand the language—Fatherlish(父亲式语言).
When I was 17 years old, I went on my first road trip in that old car. My father stood on the corner on a cold early morning to say goodbye. “Roads are dangerous,” he said, “so don’t try driving faster than a horse. And remember to take a break every two hours. And every time you stop for gas, you really should check the oil. ” At the time I thought his speech was pretty funny and old.
Dad’s long gone now. But after all these years, I realize that if I had owned a copy of the Fatherlish-to-English dictionary, I would have understood that the speech that I always laughed at was simply Dad’s way to express love and care.
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?| A．The author wanted to buy a new car badly. |
| B．The author forgot to check the oil regularly. |
| C．The author’s father expressed his love differently. |
| D．The author’s father preferred to make phone calls. |
| A．To show the danger of the trip. | B．To present his father’s hidden love. |
| C．To explain the rules of driving. | D．To tell a very exciting experience. |
| A．Funny. | B．Traditional. | C．Caring. | D．Old. |
| A．Checking the Oil | B．Making Phone Calls |
| C．Taking Helpful Advice | D．Speaking Fatherlish |
【推荐1】Being a teenager is hard, which is why there are many amazing teen movies documenting （记录)the experience. Some are so good that they will become classics in a few years. Here is a list for you.
Mean Girls
"You go, Glen Coco!" "It's not going to happen!” "On Wednesdays we wear pink!" "You can’ t sit with us!" If you rank teen movies by how many lines of dialogues will live on forever, Mean Girls will certainly be on top. So many classic lines!
Eighth Grade
This movie will take you back to the eighth grade and remind you of all the good and bad times you had at that age. Kayla, a shy girl, feels the most connected to the world through social media. It's Kayla's final week in the eighth grade and she promises to make it as great as possible before she moves on to high school.
13 Going on 30
This classic follows Jenna Rink, a girl whose wish on her 13th birthday is to grow up and escape from high school. The next day her wish comes true. She wakes up in her 30-year-old body only to find that she's an editor of a major magazine in America. Although she loves her new life at first, she quickly finds out that being grown-up isn't that much easier than being 13.
Shazam!
Shazam! is about a kid named Billy Batson, who suddenly gets magic powers from the Wizard Shazam. By calling Shazam's name, Billy can be changed into a hero with powers like strength, speed and flight. Like in all the other movies of this kind, in Shazam! Billy is tasked with defeating his enemy who warns to steal all his powers.
1. What is special about Mean Girls?| A．It is about girls' adventures. | B．It ranks first on the movie list. |
| C．It is aimed at amusing the audience. | D．It contains lots of classic dialogues. |
| A．Eighth Grade. | B．13 Going on 30. |
| C．Mean Girls. | D．Shazam!. |
| A．A superhero film. | B．A documentary. |
| C．A tragedy. | D．A love story. |
【推荐2】Love to write? Want to see your work published and win some cash along the way? Then read on. The national Spark a Story writing contest is calling in all young storytellers!
Who can participate?
The contest is open to students in grades 9, 10, 11 or 12, or those who are being home-schooled in the United States.
Deadline and requirements
You’re able to send your short story up to October 7th. It will be judged on creativity, originality and overall quality of writing. Your story must be original works and should be no longer than 5000 words. There is no minimum length requirements.
How can I send my short story?
There are three easy ways to send your short story:
*Online at http: // learn.hmhco.com/hmhsparkamind
*Send your short story as a PDF or Microsoft word document to Sparkahmhco.com
*Send your short story via US Mail to: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
222 Berkeley Street Boston, MA 02116
What will I win?
The best stories will be published next year. Winners will receive a free copy of the book and cash price of $100.
1. Which of the following children can take part in the contest?| A．Maria, grade 7, from New York. |
| B．Justin, grade 9, from London. |
| C．Catherine, grade 11, from Washington. |
| D．C.D. Bastian, home-schooled from Paris. |
| A．longer than 5,000 words. |
| B．shorter than 5,000 words. |
| C．an original work. |
| D．sent before October 7th. |
| A．Sending it online. |
| B．Sending it by email. |
| C．Sending it by US Mail. |
| D．Sending it by fax. |
【推荐3】If you like shopping and you are crazy about fashion,London is a good place for you.In London you can buy not only the most expensive clothes,but also beautiful clothes which are inexpensive.
Many of the world’s most famous fashion designers have their shops in London.And every year in February and September,there is an important fashion event.It is called London Fashion Week and people all over the world come here and enjoy England’s wonderful new clothes.Usually the clothes are sold at a high price.The clothes are always in style.In the 1960s,a fashion designer Mary Quant invented the mini-skirt.It made her famous all around the world.Later,in the 1970s,came “punk” fashion.
Outside of London there are some shopping centers as well.In the shopping streets of most towns have a Market Day.On that day,some of the streets are filled with stalls selling food,flowers, dresses, hats, bags, and many other different things. The clothes there are always at a low price.Nearly everybody can afford them.
1. When did “punk” fashion become popular?| A．In the 1950s. | B．In the 1960s. |
| C．In the 1970s. | D．In the 1980s. |
| A．can not buy food from the stalls | B．can’t find the stalls which sell flowers |
| C．can buy some clothes at a high price | D．can buy flowers,hats and bags from stalls |
| A．货摊 | B．水果店 |
| C．菜市场 | D．超市 |
| A．London Fashion Week | B．Shopping in London |
| C．Clothes in Fashion | D．Stalls Selling Clothes |
【推荐1】When I worked as a global media coordinator(协调员)for the United Nations several years ago, I organized biweekly conference calls,during which I would ask my colleagues around the world to provide information by particular deadlines. My colleagues almost always responded with a yes. but all too often, the deadlines came and went without the requested material. Finally, my South African boss had to explain what would never have occurred to me: in many cultures, it is rude lo say no. So some people would say yes to anything I asked, regardless of whether they had any intention of delivering.
If communicating internally at the UN was challenging, interacting with the outside world was much harder. How would we reach people in places where newspapers are televisions are still not widely available? How could we generate media coverage there? Communicating globally may require changing the way you interviewing senior communication professionals in 31 countries about how they help clients modify their messages and strategies for particular cultures. I have found that some of the biggest factors to consider when communicating in a new culture involve emotion, context and social expectations.
As an example of emotional differences, if I were to do a media interview in the US and become visibly angry at a reporter’s question, I would be seen as unstable. By contrast, in the Middle East (an area including the countries of Southwest Asia and Northeast Africa),when people are talking about a heated issue, they tend to display powerful feelings—those who stay cool and calm while discussing such a problem may be viewed as untrustworthy.
Another big cultural difference revolves around the level of “context” provided in a conversation. As an American, I am what is known as a low-context communicator (who communicates information in a direct manner that relies mainly on words rather than contextual elements such as tones and body language), so if I want something done, I say so frankly. In high-context cultures, as in Asia, people may do the opposite. You have to pick up on body language, tones, and other contextual cues to realize that your colleague who just said yes to you has actually communicated that she does not agree to your plan.
1. How did the author probably feel about those colleagues according to Paragraph 1?| A．Confused and upset. | B．Ashamed and guilty. |
| C．Satisfied and delighted. | D．Doubtful and uncertain. |
| A．Mild curiosity. | B．Remarkable ease. |
| C．Emotional responses. | D．Confident calmness. |
| A．She may be€ from the United States. |
| B．She may prefer to speak in a direct way. |
| C．She may be a high-context communicator. |
| D．She may he influenced by low-context cultures. |
| A．The main content of the author's book. |
| B．Cultural differences of social expectations. |
| C．Different meanings of yes in different cultures. |
| D．Important skills of communicating with colleagues. |
【推荐2】Everyone has got two personalities—the one that is shown to the world and the other that is secret and real.You don’t show your secret personality when you’re awake because you can control yourself,but when you’re asleep,your sleeping position shows the real you.In a normal night,of course,you often change your sleeping positions.The important position that best shows your secret personality is the one that you fall asleep with.
If you go to sleep on your back,you’re a very open person.You normally trust people and you are easily influenced by fashion or new ideas.You don’t like to upset people.So you never express your real feelings.You’re quite shy and you aren’t very confident.
If you sleep on your stomach,you are a person who likes to keep secrets.You worry a lot and you’re always easily becoming sad.You never want to change your ideas,but you are satisfied with your life the way it is.You usually live for today not tomorrow.
If you sleep curled up(卷曲),you are probably a very nervous person.You have a low opinion of yourself and often protect yourself from being hurt,so you are very defensive.You’re shy and you don’t usually like meeting people.You prefer to be on your own.You’re easily hurt.
If you sleep on your side,you have usually got a well-balanced personality.You know your strengths and weaknesses.You’re usually careful.You believe in yourself.You sometimes feel anxious,but you don’t often get unhappy.You always say what you think,even if it makes people rather angry.
1. You may find the passage in a _______.| A．storybook | B．guide book |
| C．sports newspaper | D．science magazine |
| A．curled up | B．on her back |
| C．on her stomach | D．on her side |
| A．Sleeping positions show people’s secret personalities. |
| B．Sleeping on your side is the best way of sleeping. |
| C．Changing positions will cause sleeping problems. |
| D．Enough sleep makes people look better and healthier. |
I joined a crowd that ran from terminal to terminal in search of a flight out. Eventually, I found six strangers willing to rent a van with me. We drove through the night to Washington, where I took a train the rest of the way to Providence.
The real problem, of course, is that incidents like this happen every day, to everyone who flies, more and more often. It really gets to me, though, because for eight years I was on the other side, as a flight attendant for Trans-World Airlines(TWA).
I know the days are gone when attendants could be written up if we did not put the lines napkins with the TWA logo in the lower right-hand corner of the first-class diners’ trays. As are the days when there were three dinner options on flights from Boston to Los Angeles in economy class. When, once, stuck on a tarmac (机场停机坪) in Newark for four hours, a planeload of passengers got McDonald’s hamburgers and fries by thoughtfulness of the airline.
I have experienced the decline of service along with the rest of the flying public. But I believe everything will change little by little, because I remember the days when to fly was to soar (翱翔). The airlines, and their employees, took pride in how their passengers were treated. And I think the days are sure to come back one day in the near future.
1. Many people crowded the terminal because ________.| A．they were ready to board on the planes |
| B．something was wrong with the terminal |
| C．the flights to the Northeast were canceled |
| D．the gate agent wouldn’t help the passengers |
| A．by air | B．by van | C．by train | D．by underground |
| A．Incidents happened to those who fly quite often. |
| B．The writer used to be a flight attendant for Trans-World Airlines. |
| C．Even a small mistake might cause complaints from passengers in the past. |
| D．McDonald’s hamburgers and fries were among regular dinner options. |
| A．The writer lived in Charlotte, North Carolina. |
| B．The writer thought the service was not as good as it used to be. |
| C．The writer with other passengers waited to be picked up patiently. |
| D．Passengers would feel proud of how they were treated on the plane. |
