【推荐1】Away from the bright lights of the city, if you look up at the night sky you will see an ocean of bright stars. But in the illuminated concrete jungles we humans have built ourselves, it’s a different story.

This year, Earth Hour was observed on March 26. The annual tradition, started by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, was created to raise awareness for climate change. Those celebrating turn off all their electrical appliances for one hour. It also draws attention to another serious problem that the world is currently facing — the threat of light pollution.

Light pollution happens when too much man-made light harms nature. Scientists have found that it is especially harmful to nocturnal animals. These creatures rely on the natural light cycle provided by the movement of the sun to help coordinate their sleep cycles. When this is disturbed by constant bright lights from man-made structures, it can seriously disorientate the animals and harm their physical health. “Wildlife species have evolved on this planet with biological rhythms — changing that has profound effects,” said Travis Longcore, a biogeographer with the Urban Wildlands Group in Los Angeles, US. A lack of darkness at night can also cause difficulties for animals in other ways.

Newly hatched (孵化) baby sea turtles rely on the brighter horizon over the ocean to guide them from the beach to the sea. However, with artificial lights next to the oceans, the small animals are easily led away from the right path. “Hatchlings are attracted to lights and crawl inland, or crawl aimlessly down the beach, sometimes until dawn, when predators or birds get them,” said Michael Salmon, a biologist at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida.

Artificial light has caused a “drastic change” to the natural environment of animals, research scientist Christopher Kyba told the International Dark-Sky Association. “Predators use light to hunt, and prey (猎物) species use darkness as cover,” Kyba explained. If a predator has such an extra advantage in hunting its prey, this can lead to an imbalance in the ecosystem as the hunted species are no longer able to maintain their population when they become over-hunted.

1. Why was Earth Hour created?

A．To raise awareness of air pollution.

B．To call on people to get closer to nature.

C．To draw public attention to environmental issues.

D．To reconsider the necessity of electrical devices.

2. How does light pollution affect nocturnal animals?

A．It slows their growth.	B．It changes their sleep cycles.
C．It lessens their dependence on the sun.	D．It reduces their difficulties caused by darkness.

3. What trouble does artificial lighting cause baby sea turtles?

A．It can prevent them from reaching the ocean.	B．It can affect their biological rhythms.
C．It makes them lose their way to the beach.	D．It exposes them to predators in the sea.

4. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A．The argument over artificial lights.	B．Animals that benefit from artificial lights.
C．The impact of artificial lights on environment.	D．The dangers of an imbalance in the ecosystem.

【推荐3】.
Millions of people visit Yosemite National Park every year to see the tall waterfalls and mountains. The mountains are a splendid sight when viewed from the valley floor. Lots of stores, hotels, and restaurants are needed to handle the crowds. Also, water, roads, and other service systems are part of the infrastructure(基础设施)that must be maintained.
Unfortunately, these systems are starting to break down. It’s not just in Yosemite but in national parks around the nation.
Yosemite is thirty years old according to Dennis Galvin, a National Park Service worker. The park is not only old but worn out. Two or three times as many visitors come every year. That is too many visitors for the park to deal with.
Four years ago a storm washed out a water pipeline in the Grand Canyon. The National Park service had to send water trucks to provide water for the visitors. Last month pipes almost broke again and roads had to be closed for a while.
Why hasn’t the National Park Service kept up the park repairs? There is a lack of money. The United States has 378 monuments, parks, and wilderness areas. Between three and four billion dollars are needed for repairs.
Yosemite is one national park that does have money for repairs. It has two hundred million dollars but cannot spend it any way it chooses. When the park workers started widening the road, they were forced to stop by the Sierra Club. The club claimed that the road work was damaging the Merced River that runs through the park.
A Sierra Club lawyer, Julia Olson, feels that the infrastructure needs to be moved out of Yosemite. That way less pressure will be put on the already crowded park.
1. According to the text, the mountains in Yosemite look most splendid when they are appreciated from _______.

A．the bottom of the valleys	B．the top of the mountains
C．the side of the mountains	D．the edge of the valleys

2. National parks like Yosemite in the U.S. find it increasingly difficult to meet the need of visitors because ________.

A．the transport management needs improving

B．they spend too much on their service systems

C．their service systems frequently go out of order

D．they need help from environmental organizations

3. The main problem of Yosemite National Park is its _______.

A．rundown water pipes

B．overcrowdedness

C．lack of money

D．narrow roads

4. According to the text, the Sierra Club is most likely to be ______.

A．an environmental group	B．an information center
C．a travel service	D．a law firm

【推荐1】If you have plans to run, then the first thing that you have to purchase is a good pair of running shoes. Put simply, how can you possibly run without running shoes, right? There are many ways about how to choose the right running shoes but these ways differ from one person to another. That is why first-hand experience is greatly recommended. By this we mean that you have to go to the store yourself to check and try on a pair of running shoes that you are looking at to see whether or not they are good for your feet and comfortable.

No matter what else you take into consideration, the most important thing is for you to be able to start choosing the right running shoes because there are a lot of options out there. These options might make you feel confused as to which pair to actually buy. But when you begin your search, you will have enough time to see which pair is best for you.

In the end, whatever you choose to buy should not require you to spend too much. That is to say, you have to make sure that what you buy is just right for your budget and the kind of activity you plan to take part in. This is to ensure as well that whatever you buy can be used for a long time.

So what more are you waiting for? Get up and start running by going to the different stores that sell running shoes and then see which pair is the best one for you. When you find the right pair, buy it immediately and start your new and far more active lifestyle now.

1. At the beginning of the text, the author ___________.

A．recommends several kinds of running shoes

B．introduces the importance of doing exercise

C．stresses the necessity of choosing the right running shoes

D．suggests a couple of ways of choosing the right running shoes

2. The underlined part “first-hand experience” in Paragraph 1 probably means “___________”.

A．past experience	B．professional advice
C．advice from people older than you	D．experience gained by doing something yourself

3. What does the author advise us to consider in Paragraph 3?

A．The variety of running shoes.	B．The price of running shoes.
C．The style of running shoes.	D．The size of running shoes.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．How to Choose the Right Running Shoes	B．What Kind of Store You Should Visit
C．How to Save More Money on Shoes	D．How to Start Running

【推荐2】Ecuador may have a new tourism jingle, but people there don’t want anyone to actually sing it. Indeed, the country’s latest national park is built on the belief that silence is golden. The South American country has become the first in the world to build a “quiet park” across the Zabalo River where silence is protected like a natural resource.

There are no transport routes here or residential and commercial developments. You can’t even hear the sound of power lines.

Named as Wilderness Quiet Park, the land is owned by the Cofán people of Ecuador. But hopes are high that the unique space in the world increasingly affected by noise will start tourism in the region — quiet tourism, that is.

These days, it’s almost impossible to escape the human noise. And it’s a serious effect on the health of animals and humans. “Science has made it clear that noise pollution is not just an annoyance, it causes health risk and impacts wildlife’s ability to survive.” By recognizing the Zabalo River as the world’s first “quiet park”, we are paving the way for many more such parks around the globe,” says Gordon Hempton, an ecologist and co-founder of Quiet Parks International, an organization which aims to spread quiet across the globe.

So, what’s it actually like when nature is the only soundtrack? Here’s how Sam Goldman, a journalist, describes “The monkeys roar; insects buzz; and birdsong cackles...”

But the park not only gives nature a chance to find its voice. The people who own the land — the Cofán people — have long regarded themselves as caretakers of the rivers and rainforests in the region but their numbers have decreased to fewer than 2,000. Quiet Parks International will help the Cofán people “defend their lands and preserve their culture”.

1. What’s the purpose of this text?

A．To introduce a special park.	B．To explain a new living concept.
C．To warn people of noise pollution.	D．To recommend a travel destination.

2. What do we know about the Wilderness Quiet Park?

A．It develops rapidly in business.	B．It values natural quiet very much.
C．It can easily get rid of the human noise.	D．It provides tourists with various transport routes.

3. What can we know from Gordon Hempton’s words?

A．Wildlife in Ecuador is in danger of extinction.

B．Noise pollution has become a serious problem.

C．There are already many quiet parks around the globe now.

D．The Wilderness Quiet Park is the best quiet park in the world.

4. What can we infer about the Cofán people from the last paragraph?

A．They care little about environmental protection.

B．They are in need of help to protect their safety.

C．Their numbers have decreased due to noise pollution.

D．They have long been protecting their living surroundings.

【推荐3】

Know how much to tip New rules of gratuities
The pandemic has been particularly hard on people who work for tips. Some haven’t been able to do their jobs at all, while others don’t interact with customers the same way. In either case, tips dried up, causing a lot of people to suffer. Meanwhile, many customers felt the need to tip more because of the new risks and hardships that essential service workers suddenly faced. Just as many services have changed, so should tipping. Some old standards no longer seem fair, and several newer ones will apply long after the pandemic is over. Some new rules of tipping that are likely here to stay:
Give more if you can. It’s common for tips to be divided between all the workers at a store or restaurant, not just those who interact directly with customers. So giving generously ensures a fairer tip for all.	Think outside the (cash) box.    You can also “tip” with a thank-you note or a homemade gift when a business (or your budget) doesn’t permit gratuities. Consider writing a review online, making sure to name names.	Treat business owners differently. A practice of the past, tipping the boss separately is no longer necessary. But if she serves you, tip her as you would any of her workers.
As for specific situations, here’s what the experts recommend: FOOD AND DRINKS Restaurant workers Old rule: Leave a tip only when you dine in. New rule: Always tip, even for takeout. Tip: 15 to 20 percent when you dine in, and 10 to 15 percent on takeout or delivery orders. Personal shoppers Old rule: N/A (Not applicable). Many of these services, such as grocery pickup, are newer. New rule: Tip, and do it in the app, since you are unlikely to interact directly with your shopper. Tip: 10 to 15 percent. If a tip is already included, add a few dollars extra. HOME DELIVERIES Package delivery drivers Old rule: Don’t tip. New rule: Show appreciation if you get deliveries more than once a week. Tip: Drinks, snacks, or $5 to $20 if a package is particularly heavy or large. Postal workers cannot accept cash or gifts worth more than $50 per year. UPS tells drivers to decline tips unless a customer insists. And FedEx prohibits employees from accepting cash or cash equivalents (such as gift cards). Flower delivery drivers Old rule: The person who places the order tips those who deliver flowers (and other specialty items). New rule: You can’t assume the gift giver already tipped, so if you’re lucky enough to get such a delivery, pass the goodwill along in the form of a tip. Tip: $5 to $10. PERSONAL SERVICES Ride-share drivers Old rule: Tip in cash. New rule: Ask your driver. The Lyft and Uber apps let you add gratuities, but some drivers prefer cash. Tip: 15 to 20 percent.

1. New rules of tipping are recommended because           .

A．the pandemic has driven many businesses to financial ruin

B．some people have to work from home without interaction

C．customers dismiss the old standards as unfair to themselves

D．some old tipping standards can’t help some service workers out now

2. Which of the following is TRUE?

A．Tip every worker fairly in case some may keep the money to himself.

B．The more you tip, the better service you will receive.

C．Writing a review online is highly recommended to express gratitude.

D．There is no need to tip the boss because he doesn’t provide any service.

3.           did best in tipping according to the recommended rules.

Name	Situation	Tip
Ginna	order a roast goose ($50) at Kam’s Roasts for takeout	$0 for the waiter
Joan	take a delivery of a package from FedEx (bottled water, 500ml, 24-pack)	$10 for the FedEx delivery man
Susan	receive a bunch of flowers delivered by a Flower Plus driver	$5 (cash) for the gardener
Linn	take a Uber ($15) from St Vincent’s Hospital to the Central Library	$3 (cash) for the driver

A．Ginna

B．Joan

C．Susan

D．Linn

【推荐1】Trees don’t look at the calendar to see when spring arrives, but they seem to know when spring is here better than we do. The annual shift from winter to spring is a breathtaking event to watch as leaves become green and a lush (苍翠的) environment reveals itself. Recently a research takes a look at why trees in cities are turning green earlier than expected.

Scientists use satellite imagery to see when plants turn green. By comparing spring green-ups in the 85 largest US cities, scientists found that on average trees start to turn green nine days earlier in cities due to the combined effect of artificial lights and urban heat effect, According to the findings-one of the reasons is the artificial light. City lights brightening the night skies, billboard signs lit up on roadways and car headlights all contribute to shifting the regular day to night cycle that plants and trees rely on. In order to stay alive during cruel winters trees hit the pause button on their growth. Since temperatures can vary dramatically throughout the winter, the length of daylight is the signal trees look for to safely start growing again and turn green.

On average cities are typically 1.8 to 5.4F warmer than rural areas. This is known as the urban heat island effect. The changes in city environments may affect seasonal changes even more than climate warming and can affect the allergy and mosquito season, water cycles, and also affect pollinators (授粉媒介).

Despite the worries and concern, it isn’t all bad news. “With a longer growing season, trees would be able to absorb more carbon dioxide.” A researcher said. “Hopefully they’d have a longer period to do the cooling effect that can help mitigate the urban heating effect in cities.”

1. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To reveal how trees survive bitter winters.

B．To warn how human activities disturb nature.

C．To explain why trees turn green earlier in cities.

D．To clarify how trees turning green earlier benefits cities.

2. How did the scientists conduct their research?

A．Bringing out urban heat island effect.

B．Developing pictures shot by the satellite.

C．Allowing the city environment to reveal itself.

D．Comparing the green-up time in sample cities.

3. Which of the following elements contributes to trees turning green earlier?

A．Street lamps.

B．Water cycle.

C．Road signs.

D．Plant pollinators.

4. In which section of a website can the text be found?

A．Business.

B．Education.

C．Life Kit.

D．Environment.

【推荐2】阅读下面短文和问题，根据短文内容和每小题后的具体要求，写下相关信息，完成对该问题的回答。

Looking for a fun Earth Day activity? You may want to try plogging------picking up litter while jogging. Strange as it may sound, the new “sport” is becoming popular with runners worldwide, many of whom are posting photos of images holding bags of trash on social media.

Derived from（起源于）the word jogging and “plocka upp”, the Swedish phrase for pick up, plogging is the idea of Erik Alstrom. In 2016, after moving to Stockholm from northern Sweden, Alstrom was shocked by the amount of rubbish there, so he began incorporating（将…包括在内）picking up rubbish into his daily runs.

Other joggers soon joined Alstrom, and by the end of 2016, plogging had appeared all across Sweden. As plogging became popular on social media, the new “sport”   began to spread beyond Sweden, first to other European countries and then worldwide.

The official online “Plogga” group now includes members from over 40 countries. Many school running clubs are also getting in on the action, posting photographs of themselves after going plogging together, or staging competitions that reward the runners with the heaviest trash bags.

As it turns out, plogging is not only good for the environment but also for people’s   health. According to Swedish fitness app Lifesun, an average person burns about 288 calories while plogging for half an hour. This is about 50 calories more than he/she would burn when just jogging. Additionally, lowering the body to pick up litter increases the plogger’s flexibility, while carrying around the increasingly heavy garbage bags helps strengthen his/her arm muscles.

This Earth Day, be sure to put on your running shoes, take a trash bag or two, and go plogging. Or better still, start a plogging team at school, or around your neighborhood, and make every day Earth Day!

1. What is plogging?(不多于5个单词)
2. Why did Alstrom have the idea of plogging after moving to Stockholm?（不多于10个单词）
3. When had plogging appeared all across Sweden?（不多于5个单词）
4. What is plogging good for?（不多于5个单词）