Put your car keys away and forget about your travel pass-it's time to do a bit of walking. National Walking Month is organized every May by Living Streets, an organization that campaigns for the rights and the needs of pedestrians, so the organization is previously known as the Pedestrians' Association. The association's aim is to make streets safe, attractive and enjoyable spaces for people to live, work, shop and play. By putting people (rather than vehicles) first, Living Streets wants to create streets and spaces where people feel happier, healthier and more sociable.
The annual campaign gives participants a great opportunity to experience the many virtues of walking. These include the physical health benefits of becoming fitter, he environmental advantages of not using vehicles: the delight of local discoveries-seeing more of your local areas on foot; the enjoyment of walking with other people, whether family, friends or work colleagues and finally the stress relief that comes from walking -walking can clear your head.
Walk to School Week, 18 to 22 May, is part of the month’s activities and its aim is to encourage parents to send children to school on foot, rather than take them in the car or let them use public transport. The movement was started in 1995 with only five participating schools and now two decades later, more than one million children take part.
Similarly, there is Walk to Work Week, 11to 15 May, where grown-ups are encouraged to walk. In the morning, getting off the bus a stop early or parking a few streets away is a good way to add more steps to the daily total. And during the working day, after having lunch at the desks or in the canteen, take a walk and get some fresh air. Walk home with your workmates and chat away about everything under the sun but work!
1. What's the purpose of Living Streets?| A．To let people keep away from vehicles. |
| B．To build safer walkways for pedestrians. |
| C．To help people enjoy walking in the street and enjoy life. |
| D．To make people aware of environmental pollution. |
| A．It is organized by the government. |
| B．It is held before Walk to Work Week. |
| C．It encourages students to walk to school alone. |
| D．It has developed rapidly over the last 20 years |
| A．An introduction to Walk to Work Week. |
| B．A nationwide health movement. |
| C．The influence of working day. |
| D．National Walking Month’s history. |
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【推荐1】When it comes to the benefit of volunteering, a lot of people think it’s all about the warm feeling after helping someone.
Teaches you new skills.
From helping making websites to teaching immigrant kids your native language, or to arranging events for charity, volunteering can really be almost anything. It means that when you get involved charity work, a lot of the time you will face challenges.
Can teach you what truly matters.
It’s a great way to find new perspectives (角度) on life. When you’ve been at it for a while, you just might find yourself re-evaluating your advantages.
Maybe it is not surprising, but what might surprise you is how genuine these friends are. Some of my long-term friends are people I’ve met through volunteering. I’m not that kind of guy that makes friends purely for connections, but sometimes it’s very convenient to have a broad network.
Summed up in one line: volunteering helps you grow.
| A．You might even decide on a completely new path to take in life. |
| B．Helps you make new friends. |
| C．As it turns out, that’s far from the only benefit. |
| D．Volunteering helps you look outside yourself and your problems. |
| E．Through overcoming the challenges, you learn completely new skills. |
| F．Not only as a person, but it helps you develop your skill as well. |
| G．Can help improve social skills. |
【推荐2】Last year, I went WWOOFing (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) at a beautiful organic farm in the south of La Reunion. With WOOFing, volunteers exchange their time and work for food and board. I slept in a cabin in the woods with hedgehogs (刺猬) digging about in the bushes, all different coloured birds singing in the morning and endless rows of palm trees offering shade from the sun.
For me, one of the best ways to get to know a new place is to work with the land, live with the locals and share meals together. It has got to be one of the best ways to travel. It is a mutually beneficial exchange where everyone involved prioritizes people and our planet above profit. You get the time and space to deepen a connection with local communities and nature.
There is a lot to learn and each farm has its own unique way of doing things, depending on the environment, climate and soil. At the farm in La Reunion we planted palm trees to harvest the core of the trunk which can be eaten in salads. Before staying with the farm I had only eaten heart of palm from cans which were nothing in comparison to the real thing, fresh from the ground. When potting up the very beginnings of the palm trees, I felt grateful to be a part of the start of the trees’ cycle. I was filled with awe that something so small could grow into something so big and strong.
Of course, not everyone is able to travel far afield, due to various restrictions or responsibilities back home. The great thing about the skill-share philosophy behind WWOOFing, which prioritizes people above profit, is that it’s something we can all do from our own backyard. That can be swapping French lessons with a neighbour for babysitting, or cooking a meal in exchange for a yoga class. The focus shifts from money to how we can best support each other in our communities. A fair exchange can make a big difference in the world.
1. The author loves WWOOFing mainly because .| A．he can get to know new places and people |
| B．it is one of the best ways to travel |
| C．he can make profits at the beautiful organic farm |
| D．he can connect with local communities and nature |
| A．Take something more seriously. |
| B．Treat something more carefully. |
| C．Consider something more important. |
| D．Take something for granted. |
| A．To show that he learns a lot by volunteering on the farm. |
| B．To introduce the growing process of palm trees. |
| C．To express his interest in growing plants on the farm. |
| D．To show his amazement at the growth of palm trees. |
| A．We should exchange what we have with our neighbors. |
| B．We can save money by swapping labor with our neighbors. |
| C．We can benefit each other by exchanging our time and work. |
| D．We should volunteer to work on a farm to experience nature. |
【推荐3】Qi Haoran, a Junior 1 student, was quite busy over the past winter vacation-and not just with homework. Qi, together with 10 other classmates made a volunteer group to call on people to join the Clean Your Plate Campaign (光盘行动).
The 11 students went to many restaurants and told people the importance of saving food. “Excuse me, do you know that 950 million people around the world still haven't got enough to eat？Please don't waste food. ” They would say this kind of thing hundreds of times every day.
The Clean Your Plate Campaign began on the Internet in January. It calls on people to reduce food waste.
China in these years had serious problems with wasted food. CCTV reported in January that the food Chinese people waste every year is enough to feed 200 million people for a year.
Chinese people are well known for being hospitable (好客的)and generous (大方的).Many even feel that they lose face if their guests have eaten all the food.
Luckily, the campaign has got the support of many. In a restaurant in Xinjiang, the owner give the guests who have eaten all that they ordered a sticker (贴花).People can enjoy a free meal when they have 10 stickers. More than 750 restaurants in Beijing have begun to offer smaller dishes and encourage their guests to take leftovers(剩饭剩菜)home.
To reduce food waste is a big task, and it needs time. It’s important that everyone does their bit, just like Qi. Did you finish your meals today？
1. What did the 11 students do in the winter vacation？| A．The helped each other with homework. |
| B．They opened a restaurant together. |
| C．They volunteered for a campaign. |
| D．They collected money from customers in restaurants. |
| A．打电话 | B．号召 |
| C．拜访 | D．叫喊 |
| A．do volunteer work | B．work part time in restaurants |
| C．cut down on food waste | D．wash your plates after dinner |
| A．wasting food is a serious problem in China |
| B．Chinese people waste the most food in the world |
| C．Chinese people want to show off that they are rich |
| D．most Chinese people are afraid of losing face at the table |
| A．The owner would have dinner with those who had eaten up their food. |
| B．It offered a free meal to the guests who had finished all their food ten times. |
| C．It gave stickers to the guests who ordered small dishes. |
| D．It encouraged customers to take leftovers home. |
【推荐1】Looking great in photos is an art form in itself. The angle, the lighting, the position of your head can determine that picture-perfect moment. And whether you’re eight years old or 80, you can usually count on one classic command before the camera clicks: “Say cheese!” You will respond with a smile and the word, “Cheese!”
The idea of “cheesing” in photos first appeared around the 1940s. The Big Spring Herald, a local Texas newspaper, printed an article that referenced the phrase in 1943. While no one knows for certain who came up with it or why, most believe the word itself makes you smile. The “ch” sound causes you to clench(咬紧) your teeth, and the long “ee” sound parts your lips, making a facial expression that looks like a smile.
Actually, we haven’t always shown our teeth for the camera. Back in the 19th century, only children, farmers, and drunks smiled in photographs; everyone else kept their faces still, which was considered attractive and dignified(庄重的) at that time.
That’s not the only reason people didn’t smile for photos, though. For one, it took several hours for cameras to take the photograph in the first place. As you can imagine, it’s tough to stay still for that long, let alone hold a smile. What’s more, dental hygiene(口腔卫生) was not valued back in the day, and most people didn’t want to show off a mouth full of missing or broken teeth.
Photographs were also expensive, meaning the average person only sat for one or two photos in their lifetime. Because this was such an important occasion, each person was on his or her best behavior—the somber expressions.
No matter the original reason for these straight-faced photos, the trend didn’t last for long. The invention of Kodak’s $1 camera in the 1900s, along with the rise of the Hollywood movie industry, allowed more and more “everyday” moments to be captured on film. Thus, smiling in photographs became standard—and so did saying “cheese”.
1. Which of the following is unknown to us?| A．Who actually invented the phrase “say cheese”. |
| B．When the phrase “say cheese” first appeared in print. |
| C．How the word “cheese” forces people to wear a smile. |
| D．Why people say the word “cheese” while taking photos. |
| A．They were too proud to show off their teeth. |
| B．They might have some problems with their teeth. |
| C．They wanted to give photographers more dignity. |
| D．They disliked sitting still and smiling for a long time. |
| A．Funny. | B．Unique. |
| C．Serious. | D．Creative. |
| A．What Is the Standard Camera Pose |
| B．Why We Say “Cheese” When Taking Pictures |
| C．The Meaning of the Word “Cheese” |
| D．What Expressions Were Fit for Photos in the Past |
【推荐2】Want to live in a perfectly clean environment and make it shine brightly?
Clean the toilet with Coke. It’s amazing how powerful Coke might be as a toilet cleaner.
Remove stains with orange peels. You’ve just eaten an orange.
Use banana peels to polish leather furniture. Experts claim that banana peels are great for polishing leather sofas and armchairs. Banana skins are rich in oils and have the right texture to do the task.
| A．Wait a minute! |
| B．Make your own glass cleaner. |
| C．Follow the steps given below. |
| D．Of course your answer is “yes”. |
| E．They leave no marks or scratches. |
| F．Instead of drinking it, use it to clean the toilet bowl. |
| G．They are economical and safe to use on all of furniture. |
Charlie Vansant, a college student of Athens, Ohio who reported that his car was stolen, got a surprise when he learned a woman had mistaken it for her daughter's car and taken it－using her key.
Kate Anderson became an accidental car thief when picking up her daughter's car near an Ohio University building last week. Anderson spotted the Toyota Camry（丰田凯美瑞）and used her daughter's key to unlock the car, start the engine and drive home-without realizing that the car wasn't her daughter's.
When Charlie Vansant left class a short time later, he found only an empty parking spot. He first assumed the car had been towed, but when the police couldn't find a record of it, they took a theft report.
The morning after Anderson took the car, her daughter discovered the Camry in the driveway wasn't hers. Anderson said she was able to find Vansant's name on paperwork in the glove compartment and look up his phone number on the website for the university.
When Anderson told Charlie the car was in her driveway, "It sounded real suspicious at first, as she wanted to hold the thing for ransom（赎金）,” said Vansant. He eventually went to the house with a police officer, where he was reunited with his car. According to the police report, the case was closed "because of mistaken car identity", Anderson wasn't charged.
Vansant seemed to blame the car company more than the "thief". "Her key fit not only my lock, but my ignition（点火装置） as well - so high-five for Toyota. I guess." he said.
1. What does the underlined word "towed" mean in paragraph 3?
| A．removed. | B．damaged. |
| C．stolen. | D．sold. |
| A．Mrs. Anderson's daughter discovered the car her mother drove was not hers. |
| B．Mrs. Anderson stole Charlie's car at the request of her daughter. |
| C．Charlie had thought he had to give Anderson money to get his car back. |
| D．Mrs. Anderson used her daughter's key to unlock Charlie's car and drive home. |
| A．He is blaming Toyota for the poor quality of car keys. |
| B．He should thank Toyota for returning his car. |
| C．He wants to celebrate with Toyota for getting his car back. |
| D．He thinks highly of Toyota for producing large quantities of cars. |
| A．Mrs. Anderson was charged with stealing a car. |
| B．Charlie blamed Mrs. Anderson for mistakenly taking his car. |
| C．Charlie would ask the Toyota Company to give him an explanation. |
| D．The Toyota Company would give Charlie a new car as compensation. |
【推荐1】A knight (骑士) was a mounted warrior of medieval Europe who served a king or other feudal superior, usually in return for land. Knighthood was taken quite seriously and had to be earned.
At about the age of eight, a boy would begin training in preparation for knighthood. This young trainee, known as a page (学习骑士),would train with mentors to learn about horses, armor, and weapons. Pages practiced fighting with a sword against a wooden stake and learned to skillfully use a bow and arrow. The lady of the castle taught a young page about manners and social graces, as well as how to sing, play instruments, and dance. A priest might give a page religious training and teach him to read and write. By the age of fourteen, the page would become a squire (骑士的随从). A squire was responsible for dressing a knight for battles and tournaments and taking care of the knight armor and weapons. He would even follow his master on the battlefield to protect him if the knight fell.
A squire had to gain skill in using a lance (长矛), spear, or sword, so he would practice against a wooden dummy called a quintain(矛靶). The quintain and a shield were hung on a wooden pole, and when hit, the whole structure would spin. The squire would learn to ride up and hit the shield’s center, but then quickly move out of the way without getting hit and knocked off his horse by the quintain.
At about age twenty, a squire was finally prepared to be called a knight, which involved an extended ceremony. On the evening before becoming a knight the squire confessed his sins to a priest, was given a symbolic bath, and then fasted in order to cleanse his soul. The squire would dress all in white and stay in a chapel all night praying and watching over his weapons and armor.
In the morning, the squire would dress in symbolically-colored clothing: red for his blood, white for purity, and brown for his return to the earth after death. At this ceremony, the knight wore a code of chivalry, which required him always to be brave, loyal, courteous, and to protect the defenseless. Knighthood was granted by the overlord (领主) and the new knight was tapped on the shoulders or neck with the flat side of the sword.
If this new knight ever broke his promise or acted dishonorably, he would be stripped of his knighthood in another ceremony, in which he was 14 buried. In the Middle Ages, a knight without honor was considered as good as dead.
1. What were the responsibilities of a squire?| A．Practicing fighting with a sword and using a bow and arrow skillfully. |
| B．Looking after weapons and learning manners from the Lady of the castle. |
| C．Confessing his sin and praying for his mentors. |
| D．Dressing a knight for fighting and protecting him. |
| A．The noble spirit a knight possesses. | B．The tough task a knight has to finish. |
| C．The high goal a knight must achieve. | D．The military discipline a knight should obey. |
| A．He would be sentenced to death. | B．He would be robbed of his title. |
| C．He would be forced to leave Court. | D．His land would be returned to the King. |
| A．Why people wanted to be knights. | B．How one became a knight. |
| C．When knighthood started. | D．Who knights had to serve. |
【推荐2】A common theme running in fiction and mythology is the idea of orphan (孤儿) heroes and superheroes. Fairytales introduce us to children of absent fathers and cruel caretakers, like Cinderella and Snow White. Fiction makes much of the parentage of David Copperfield and Jane Eyre. Comic books offer orphaned heroes like Batman, Spiderman, or you’ll notice characters in more modern fiction from films and books like Harry Potter and Leia Skywalker.
Why are so many heroes and superheroes orphans?
Lacking parents, orphan heroes and superheroes are considered “children of the world”. Having raised themselves, and having been freed from much of the complex relationship of child to parent, ophan heroes and superheroes are at much greater liberty to interact with the world, and they may look at the world as parent and all its inhabitants as family.
Some orphans seek only a home and a family. David Copperfield finds this with his aunt. Cinderella and Snow White escape evil stepmothers by marrying. Others, especially of the superhero “cast” are never really given family in the traditional sense. In fact, though they may have strong bonds with friends, or with caretakers, they are constantly attempting to prove worthiness to the world, and are desperate to save the people they do care about.
You can also evaluate orphan heroes and superheroes as a means by which anxiety, loneliness, and independence are emphasized. The comic book type superhero is usually one who suffers always, or at least most of the time. Loss of even one parent can be intensely upsetting and forever change a child’s life, and superheroes may do all in their power to prevent this fate for other children. Empathy for suffering and a desire to end or prevent it for others are increased.
It’s a good idea to consider why we see this theme expressed so commonly. Perhaps we ⅵew these orphans or poorly parented children as ultimately our own. They may not just be children of the world, but may belong to each reader.
1. Why does the author mention some famous characters in Paragraph 1?| A．To clarify the writing purpose. | B．To advertise classic fiction. |
| C．To support a statement. | D．To make an overall outline. |
| A．Intention to escape a family. | B．Desire to prove their value to the world. |
| C．Strong bonds with their family. | D．Wishes for freedom to explore the world. |
| A．Childish. | B．Dependent. | C．Cheerful. | D．Sympathetic. |
| A．Ophans’ ultimte fate is pitiful |
| B．Readers have a preference for tragedies. |
| C．Orphan characters are reflections of the readers. |
| D．Readers may regard orphan characters as their own kids. |
【推荐3】
The day starts early for Tang Shengli, a bird protection volunteer in Lanshan county, Yongzhou, Hunan province. At about 5 am, the 60-year-old is in uniform and ready to start his day’s work protecting and recording migratory (迁徙的) birds. Located on the northern side of the Nanling Mountains, Lanshan is an important passageway for migratory birds. From September to December every year, more than 240 species of migratory birds fly from Siberia to Australia via Hunan. In the past 10 years, Tang has recorded more than 120 species of such birds with his camera. “The flight calls of the migratory birds at night attract me so much that I cannot sleep. All I want to do is get up and record them,” Tang says.
When Tang joined the Hunan provincial bird protection organization in 2013, he knew he faced a tough task. Numerous migratory birds were lost each year as a result of killing and illegal trade. At that time, poachers (偷猎者) lit up the hillside to attract the birds there and hunt them. Some nights hundreds of birds would be killed or caught, remembers Liao Changgui, an official with the local forestry bureau.
By day, Tang distributes brochures to villagers in Lanshan to raise public awareness of bird protection, while at night, he goes deep into the wilderness to tackle illegal hunting. “Many villagers didn’t think bird hunting was illegal, and some made a living from it. Our work has affected their business,” Tang explains, adding his wife was threatened at their home in order to stop him doing his work.
To stop poaching, in October 2012, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration issued a notice to prevent the illegal hunting of migratory birds. In December that year, the Hunan provincial government promised to fight against poaching and establish a bird monitoring and protection system. So far, 43 migratory bird protection stations have been built across the province, covering almost all key points on the passageway. In 2020, a “lights out” program started in Lanshan county to prevent the birds from being distracted (使分心).
On Nov 1, the Hunan provincial government issued a ban on hunting migratory birds and other wildlife listed under national and provincial protection. Nationwide, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration is carrying out a two-month special action plan to strengthen patrols and remove illegal hunting equipment in national parks, nature reserves and bird migration routes across the country.
1. Why did poachers light up the hillside according to paragraph 2?| A．To find their way around the hill. |
| B．To search for birds’ nests and catch them. |
| C．To draw the birds’ attention to catch them. |
| D．To lead the birds to fly safely and in the correct direction. |
| A．Give up. | B．Put off. | C．Call for. | D．Deal with. |
| A．Ways to punish bird poachers. |
| B．Routes migratory birds fly along. |
| C．Measures to protect migratory birds. |
| D．Reasons why poachers try to capture birds. |
| A．Ensuring birds have a safe passage |
| B．Important passageway for migratory birds |
| C．Flight calls of migratory birds at night attract Tang |
| D．Tang records more than 120 species of migratory birds |
