【推荐2】“Just ate chicken feet for lunch. ” These were the words I wrote on my blog yesterday. By the next day there were hundreds of comments from my friends. They ranged from “OH MY GOD! That is so disgusting! ” to “What were they like?” to “Why can’t you eat sandwiches like everyone else?”
To Chinese people, chicken feet are a normal snack. To my friends in Britain, the thought of eating a chicken’s foot is——well, weird (古怪的). As weird, in fact, as eating a bullfrog, scorpion(蝎子), snake, or turtle.
But if there are two things I love more than anything else in life, they are: trying new things and food.
I arrived in Beijing five months ago. Since then, I’ve searched for the “weirdest” foods so I can try them, then treat my friends to some “virtual（虚拟的）eating” on my blog.
One weekend, I went to Wangfujing, Beijing’s “snack street”. The trip gave me tons of blog material.
“I chose a stick with three live, wriggling(扭动的) scorpions on it,” I wrote. “And it was pretty good. The scorpion was warm and crispy. The legs did have a tendency to get stuck between one’s teeth, however. What’s more, I am sure scorpion number two stung me with its tail in revenge(报复).”
Next came snake: “A bit like a cross between fish and chicken, with a slightly rubbery texture and meaty taste.”
Some people were actually angry when I ate turtle soup——especially when I posted pictures showing the poor little guy’s head staring sadly up at us from the bowl. “I am never speaking to you again,” wrote one (former) friend.
Still, I will continue my culinary quest.
Next on my list is starfish, though I feel I should have some vegetables too——algae, maybe.
So what am I eating, tonight, you may ask. Pizza. Well, a girl’s gotta have a break sometimes.
1. What does the writer like most in life?

A．Trying new things and food.

B．Traveling.

C．Walking.

D．Shopping.

2. Where did the writer get her blog material?

A．From her friends.

B．From Wangfujing, Beijing’s “snack street”.

C．From Shopping.

D．From the Internet.

3. What is the writer’s friends’ attitude toward her trying “weird” foods?

A．They are satisfied.

B．They are happy.

C．They are surprised and even angry.

D．They are sorry.

4. Which of the following “weirdest” foods is the one writer hasn’t tried?

A．Chicken’s feet.	B．Bullfrog.
C．Scorpion.	D．Chicken’s head.

【推荐3】For years it is assumed that ”eating local“ is one of the best ways to shrink your carbon footprint. This is because food miles are a measure for overall sustainability, as transporting harvests across the planet is a key driver of carbon emissions.

Well, it is indeed true that the food sector uses a lot of energy, contributing 20 to 30 percent of all greenhouse gases. But how much of this is directly connected to moving food from farm to fork? Perhaps less than you might think.

In one of the most comprehensive studies, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have reported that the shipment of food around the world only contributes around 4 percent of global carbon emissions. The report echoes another research, which suggests that transportation only generates between 4 to 6 percent of the food system’s carbon footprint. In fact, considering all aspects of our food system—whether farming, processing, packaging, transport, retail, food services, and households—it was the end consumer that used by far the most energy. Transport? The least.

One UK study found that tomatoes trucked hundreds of kilometres from sunny Spain had a carbon footprint less than a third of that of those grown in heated glasshouses in chilly UK. In contrast to the simple ”local=more ecofriendly“ narrative, the authors therefore concluded that: ”A single indicator based on total food kilometres travelled would not be a valid indicator of sustainability.”

When it comes to our carbon footprint, transport methods vary enormously too. For example, as air freight produces more than 75 times more emissions than sea freight, shipping food to the UK all the way from Southeast Asia would involve far less carbon than the same product popped on a short flight from Italy. In this context, the emissions that come from shipping food by air freight one mile, is equal to the emissions from shipping food for more than 9 miles by road, and 75 miles by sea.

So is eating local really a better option? It depends. When we look at the evidence, one thing is clear: food miles alone really aren’t a good proxy(指标)for sustainability. In fact, sometimes they are incredibly misleading. While we can’t discount them entirely, we should view them in the context of other factors, recognising that they often make up a small part of food’s carbon impact.

1. Eating local is believed as a popular way to shrink our carbon footprint because_________.

A．it is widely accepted by conservationists

B．it is the easiest way to quickly reduce emissions

C．food miles are a reliable indicator for overall sustainability

D．food transport is believed to be a key driver of carbon emissions

2. The author is likely to agree that_________.

A．eating local doesn’t help cut down on food’s carbon footprint

B．cutting transport distance always helps to cut down on food’s carbon footprint

C．food transport generates the most carbon emissions compared with other aspects of food production

D．food’s carbon footprint depends not only on transport distance, but also on the choice of transport method

3. The underlined word “discount” probably means

A．dispose of	B．depend on
C．ignore	D．criticize

4. What’s the author’s attitude towards food miles as an indicator for sustainability?

A．Neutral.	B．Doubtful.
C．Opposing.	D．Supportive.

【推荐1】Today, roller skating is easy and fun. But a long time ago, it wasn’t easy at all. Before 1750, the idea of skating didn’t exist. That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin’s work was making musical instruments. In his spare time he liked to play the violin. Joseph Merlin was a man of ideas and dreams. People called him a dreamer.
One day Merlin received an invitation to attend a fancy dress ball. He was very pleased and a little excited. As the day of the party came near, Merlin began to think how to make a grand entrance at the party. He had an idea. He thought he would get a lot of attention if he could skate into the room.
Merlin tried different ways to make himself roll. Finally, he decided to put two wheels under each shoe. These were the first roller skates. Merlin was very proud of his invention and dreamed of arriving at the party on wheels while playing the violin.
On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room playing his violin. Everyone was greatly surprised to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skates. He rolled on and on. Suddenly, he ran into a huge mirror that was hanging on the wall. Down fell the mirror, breaking to pieces. Nobody forgot Merlin’s grand entrance for a long time!
1. The text is mainly about __________.

A．a strange man

B．an unusual party

C．how roller skating began

D．how people enjoyed themselves in the 18th century

2. People thought Merlin was a dreamer because he __________.

A．was full of imagination

B．was a gifted musician

C．invented the roller skates

D．often gave others surprises

3. Merlin put wheels under his shoes in order to __________.

A．show his skill in walking on wheels

B．arrive at the party sooner

C．test his invention

D．impress the party guests

【推荐2】If you can travel back in time, which period of history will you visit? It’s a great question to ask your friends, and time travel is the subject of many science fiction films. Of course, sci-fi is familiar to most of us, but what is cli-fi? The simple answer is climate fiction which focuses on the subject of climate change.

Many of the cli-fi examples we watch tend to be disaster films. The subject could be solar flares (太阳耀斑), ice ages devastating (摧毁) the planet, extreme flooding swamping the earth, or superstorms that threaten life. While films and novels of this style are often subject to the typical images of a hero or heroine battling to save the world, what sets it apart from most sci-fi films is that the plots will often draw on apparently reasonable outcomes in the near future.

Climate change and the potential threats have long been established. Some believe that the issue of climate change has even led to more fans watching films to learn more about what’s happening to the world — seeing it as a form of edutainment (寓教于乐型产品). A study conducted by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication tested the effects that two climate fiction novels can have on their readers and found “significant positive effects” in terms of their attitudes towards the climate crisis — for example, understanding global warming will harm them and future generations.

Most cli-fi films not only are extremely popular action films, but also cause our fear of what some see as the approaching end of the world. This sounds bad, but according to a study conducted on 310 adults in the US, watching such scary films can help us feel more prepared and less alone in situations such as the pandemic. So, it looks like the cli-fi film is here to stay — and there seem to be some benefits. Whether it’s there to educate, entertain or prepare you for a climate crisis, it might have a role to play.

1. Which of the following may be the subject of cli-fi?

A．Time travel.	B．Global warming.
C．Weather forecasts.	D．Economic crises.

2. What can we learn about cli-fi films from paragraph 2?

A．They are often about extreme natural disasters.

B．They want to show man can conquer nature.

C．They usually have similar plots with sci-fi films.

D．They can show the true near future of the world.

3. Why is the study made by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication mentioned in paragraph 3?

A．To show people like climate fiction novels.

B．To prove that climate change has potential threats.

C．To tell that cli-fi novels have positive effects on readers.

D．To explain how the climate crisis affects human beings.

4. What does the writer mainly want to tell us in the last paragraph?

A．Cli-fi films are useful to people.

B．Cli-fi films are as popular as action films.

C．A study was conducted on adults in the US.

D．The pandemic makes people scared and alone.

【推荐3】Mom and Dad always said it—and they were right: Wash your hands. The practice can save you from cold and flu viruses, not to mention scary things like coronavirus. But if you don’t wash properly, you’re putting yourself at risk Don’t make these mistakes.

You don’t wash long enough

A study from Michigan State University study published in the Journal of Environmental Health found that 95 percent of people don’t wash hands long enough to effectively kill germs—that’s 20 seconds of scrubbing with soap and water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ^“We tell kids and adults to sing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song twice," says Roshini Raj, MD, a clinical associate professor in the Department of Medicine at NYU Langone Health The average hand-washing time was only about six seconds, the MSU study found.

You don’t dry thoroughly

The most diligent handwashing techniques are worthless if you skimp on drying. Germs love to breed in the wet, says Dr. Raj. Leaving the restroom with still-damp hands can make, it easier to pick up germ a microbes from the next surface you touch. If you have the choice of paper towels or air blowers, choose the paper towels. In a review of handwashing studies dating back to the 1970s, researchers concluded that paper towels are superior to driers at getting hands properly dry without spattering germs or drying out skin.

You wash only after using the bathroom

Anytime you touch a public surface — elevator buttons, a doorknob, the ATM, or a subway pole — you’re at risk for picking up germs or bacteria. "Most people know to wash after going to the bathroom, but you should wash periodically throughout the entire day, especially during cold and flu season," says Dr. Raj.

1. What does the practice of washing hands result in?

A．Avoiding suffering from cancer.	B．Being infected with the cold and flu viruses.
C．Preventing you from getting AIDS.	D．Keeping coronavirus away from you.

2. How long does it take to wash our hands properly?

A．Only 6 seconds of washing with running water.

B．The time you sing the "Happy Birthday" song once.

C．20 seconds of washing hands with soap and water.

D．26 seconds of singing the "Happy Birthday” song.

3. Why does Dr. Raj. advise us to dry our hands thoroughly?

A．Because our wet hands will pollute other things.	B．Because germs like to live in dry situation.
C．Because the water on our hands is dirty.	D．Because germs will breed on your wet hands.

【推荐1】七选五根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

Culture shock refers to the anxiety and feelings (of surprise, uncertainty, confusion, etc.) felt when people have to operate within a different and unknown cultural or social environment, such as a foreign country.

Generally speaking, we could say that there are four stages of culture shock. The first stage is called “the honeymoon”. In this stage, you are excited about living in a different place.    1    

The next stage is “the hostility (敌意) stage”. In this stage, you begin to notice not everything is as good as you originally thought it was.    2    Moreover, people don’t treat you like a guest anymore.

Then you come to the third stage called “recovery”. In this stage, you start to feel more positive.    3    The whole situation starts to become more favorable and you begin to learn to adapt yourself to it.

The last stage of culture shock is called “adjustment”. In this stage, you have reached a point where you actually feel good.    4    The things that originally made you feel uncomfortable or strange are now things that you understand. Now you have adjusted to the new culture and you feel comfortable.

Not all individuals visiting another country will experience all these four stages.    5    It also occurs within cultures as individuals move from place to place or from one setting to another (e.g., from high school to college).

A．You feel that friends should help each other to deal with culture shock.

B．And you try to develop comprehension of everything you don’t understand.

C．In addition, culture shock is not limited to the overseas visitor.

D．You become tired of many things about the new culture.

E．You have learned enough to understand the new culture.

F．You begin to understand you need to travel a lot.

G．And everything seems to be marvelous and everybody seems to be so nice to you.

【推荐2】Most people who move to a foreign country may experience a period of time when they have a lot of stress in the new culture. This feeling is often called “culture shock” and it is important to learn how to deal with culture shock. First of all, you should know that everyone in a new situation will go through some form of culture shock. There are four general stages of cultural adjustment (适应).
The first stage is usually referred to as the honeymoon stage. Upon arriving in a new environment, you’ll be interested in the new culture. Everything will seem exciting, and everyone will seem friendly and helpful.
The second stage is called the withdrawal stage. The excitement that you felt before changes to frustration (沮丧) as you find it difficult to deal with new problems. The language is hard to learn; friends are hard to make; simple things like shopping and going to the bank are challenges. It is at this stage that you are likely to feel anxious and homesick.
If you are one of those who manage to stick it out (坚持下来), you will enter the third stage---- the recovery stage. At this point, you’ll feel more confident in the new culture. You’ll start to understand and accept the way things are done and the way people behave in your new environment.
The last stage is the stability stage---- this is the point when people start to feel at home in the new culture. At this stage, you will behave well in the new culture, and prefer some aspects (方面) of the new culture to your own culture.
There is, in a sense, a fifth stage to this process. If you decide to return home after a long period in a new culture, you may experience what is called “reverse culture shock”. This means that you may find aspects of your own culture “foreign”, because you’re so used to the new culture. Reverse culture shock is usually pretty mild (温和的) and doesn’t last for very long.
1. At the honeymoon stage, people will__________.

A．find the new culture is hard to accept

B．miss their family and friends very much

C．begin to understand what culture shock is

D．have a good impression of the new culture

2. In which stage will people feel most uncomfortable?

A．The honeymoon stage.	B．The withdrawal stage.
C．The recovery stage.	D．The stability stage.

3. At the stability stage, people usually feel__________.

A．lucky	B．relaxed
C．nervous	D．disappointed

4. Which of the following opinions does the author agree with?

A．It’s important to know that culture shock is natural.

B．People will suffer less from culture shock in future.

C．Reverse culture shock usually happens in the foreign countries.

D．Reverse culture shock is as difficult to deal with as culture shock.