Most people buy a lot of gifts just before Christmas. But some people think we buy too much. They have started a special day called “Buy Nothing Day”. They don't want anyone to go shopping on that day.
Buy Nothing Day is November 29. It's 25 days before Christmas. It's after Thanksgiving and often the first day of Christmas shopping. At this we see ads in newspapers and on TV telling us to “buy buy, buy!”.
The idea of Buy Nothing Day started in Vancouver, British Columbia. Now people all over the world celebrate Buy Nothing Day. In California, parents and children get together to read stories, sing songs and paint pictures. This year, in Manchester, England, people dressed up to tell people that we buy too much.
In Albuquerque. New Mexico, high school students wanted to tell other students about Buy Nothing Day. They organized a Spaghetti dinner to give people information about Buy Nothing Day. They asked restaurants in the neighborhood to donate the food. They made posters and talked to other students about it. The dinner was a big success, and many students agreed not to buy anything on November 29. The students at the high school like the idea of this new tradition. Next year, they want have another dinner to tell more people about “Buy Nothing Day”.
1. Which of the following is NOT the day for people to celebrate Buy Nothing Day?| A．November | B．days before Christmas. |
| C．After Thanksgiving. | D．The first day after Christmas. |
| A．In California, parents and children get together to play games. |
| B．In England, people celebrated by performing plays. |
| C．In Mexico, high school students dressed up. |
| D．They bought nothing and persuaded others not to buy things |
| A．They donated the food of their own. | B．They talked to others about it. |
| C．They made some slogans for it. | D．They organized a luxurious dinner. |
| A．A Free Dinner | B．A Big Success |
| C．Buy Nothing Day | D．A New Christmas Day |
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【推荐1】Each year, the women of Olney, England, and Liberal, Kansas, have an unusual “pancake racing”. This tradition is said to have started on Shrove Tuesday,1445, in Olney. Shrove Tuesday is the day before the Christian season of Lent begins.
It is said that in 1445, an Olney woman was making pancakes. She suddenly heard the church(教堂) bells ring, signaling the beginning of the Shrove Tuesday service. Realizing that she was going to be late for church, she raced out the door still wearing her apron(围裙) and headscarf and holding her frying pan(锅) with a pancake in it. Olney women continue this tradition more than 500 years later.
In 1950, a person of Liberal wanted his town to join in Olney Pancake Race. He made some phone calls to Olney to set up a friendly competition, and the people of Olney accepted the challenge.
The rules are simple. Racers must wear the traditional headscarf and apron. They have to flip(抛) the pancake in the air so that it flips and lands back in the pan on the other side. After the race, there are Shrove Tuesday church services. Then Liberal and Olney connect through a video call to compare race times and announce a winner.
In both towns, the races have grown into larger festivals. Olney’s festival is an allday event starting with a big pancake breakfast. Liberal’s festival lasts four days and includes a parade, a great show, and eating competitions.
Although the women’s race is still the main event, both towns now hold races for boys and girls of all ages. Emma Evans,14, was the winner of her age group’s race in Liberal last year. She wore an apron that her grandma made for her and used a pan passed down to her from her older brother. Her family cheered her on from the sidelines.
“It’s a family tradition, ”Emma says. “And there are only two places in the world that compete against each other in a race like this, so it feels special.”
1. What do we know about Olney Pancake Race?| A．It was founded by a cook. | B．It was started during Lent. |
| C．It is a centuriesold tradition. | D．It has been held every year since 1445. |
| A．Wear their formal clothes. | B．Throw and catch the pancake. |
| C．Hand the pancake to another. | D．Eat the pancake while running. |
| A．lasts only one day | B．has more varied activities |
| C．holds different races for boys | D．starts with a delicious breakfast |
| A．It is familyfriendly. | B．It is quite competitive. |
| C．It should be internationalized. | D．It should provide aprons for racers. |
【推荐2】La Tomatina 2024 ——Information, Accommodation & Tickets
La Tomatina is a food fight festival held on the last Wednesday of August each year in the town of Bunol near to Valencia in Spain. Thousands of people make their way from all comers of the world to fight in this “World's Biggest Food Fight”.
What Happens at La Tomatina
At around 12 Noon a number of trucks haul tomatoes into the centre of the town. The signal for the beginning of the fight is the firing of water cannons, and the chaos begins. Once it begins, the battle is generally every man for himself.
After an hour the fighting ends. At this point, no more tomatoes can be thrown. The authorities seem more concerned with cleaning the town than cleaning the visitors, so some people find water at the Bunol River to wash themselves. Once flushed (冲洗), the ground is clean due to the acidity of the tomato.
The Rules of La Tomatina
· Do not bring bottles or hard objects as they can cause accidents and hurt other participants.
· Do not rip other people's T-shirts.
· You must crush the tomatoes before throwing them as this reduces the impact.
●As soon as you hear the second shot, you must stop throwing tomatoes.
Useful Advice
· Wear closed shoes that you do not mind throwing away afterwards. If you wear flip-flops,you may get hurt.
● Ensure that you always have something clean to wipe your eyes with. A good tip is to tuck your T-shirt into your shorts to keep the bottom pait of your T-shirt clean and dry.
·If you are planning to take pictures, bring a waterproof camera!
· Do not miss the Palojabon ——a greased pole with a Spanish ham at the top. Whoever can climb the pole and get the ham can keep it!
2024 La Tomatina Packages including Official Entry Tickets+Pre & After Party Entry
1. What marks the beginning of the tomato fight?
| A．The arrival of trucks. | B．The town bell ringing. |
| C．The shout from the mayor. | D．The firing of water cannons. |
| A．Bring bottles to store water for later use. |
| B．Soften the tomatoes before casting them. |
| C．Wear an unwanted T-shirt and keep it dry. |
| D．Climb a pole and compete for a ham. |
| A．£40. | B．£235. | C．£394. | D．£629. |
【推荐3】Whether you seek culture, community, or comfort food in America, these amazing festivals prove that small towns from coast to coast know how to throw big celebration.
Tulip Time
Go: May in Holland, Michigan
There’s no better place to celebrate Michigan’s Dutch Heritage than a town called Holland, where six million tulips are planted in private fields, city parks, and other gardens around town. First introduced in 1929, Tulip Time draws a half million visitors and features eight days of events, including three parades, an arts-and-crafts show, carnival rides, fireworks, and plenty of Dutch food tastings.
Texas SandFest
Go: April in Port Aransas, Texas
Since 1997, this artistic sand festival attracts talented amateurs and master sculptors alike to beautiful beaches of Port Aransas. A three-day event typically held over a weekend in late April, SandFest features parades, live music, entertainment, food, and sand sculpting lessons.
Burlington Steamboat Days
Go: June in Burlington, Iowa
Going strong for over 55 years, the four-day Burlington Steamboat Days draws an impressive lineup of musical headliners and new artists to this small town. Over the years, attendees have been treated to performances by Louie Armstrong, Lady Antebellum, Blake Shelton, and more. In addition to music, there are carnival games and parades, as well as a golf tournament.
National Balloon Classic
Go: July-August in Indianola, Iowa
Every summer since 1976, the small town has put on one of the largest festivals in the Midwest. The weeklong National Balloon Classic features twice-daily flights of more than 100 colorful hot-air balloons, skydiving demonstrations, and balloon rides. There’s also live music, food vendors, and a kid’s play area.
1. Which of the following has the longest history?| A．Tulip Time. | B．Texas SandFest. |
| C．Burlington Steamboat Day. | D．National Balloon Classic. |
| A．Take a balloon ride. | B．Attend sculpting lessons. |
| C．Learn steamboat’s history. | D．Enjoy great performances. |
| A．They kick off with parades. | B．They all last for a week long. |
| C．They take place in small towns. | D．They are held in the same state. |
During the May Day holiday, gold stores were crowded with mostly female customers. Most of them are middle-aged "Chinese housewives". This group of buyers has risen to fame recently. They are big spenders and are desperate to get their hands on a bargain. "I bought some gold jewellery and kept them as a gift for my son when he gets married," said a buyer from Shanghai.
The gold business is skyrocketing. "Our sales are growing by the day. Yesterday we sold more than ten million yuan of gold products," a gold store salesperson said. The gold rush in China started about two weeks ago thanks to a decline in global gold prices. Media reports suggest that Chinese housewives have spent about 100 billion yuan, or about 16 billion US dollars, purchasing 300 tons of gold since mid-April. That has helped support gold prices.
"Gold prices depressed since the middle of last month but have risen gradually. That is mainly due to the strong demand from Asian markets," said foreign trader Zhang Chen from Industrial & Commercial Bank of China. "Some people even joked that Chinese housewives have beaten Wall Street analysts." For Chinese people, with limited investment options, the only thing better than buying gold is buying gold at discount prices.
1. What does the author indicate(表明;预示)in the first sentence of the first paragraph?
| A．The global big dogs can’t match with Chinese housewives. |
| B．Chinese housewives spend a great deal of money on gold |
| C．China's "Da Ma" help a lot to support the global economic crisis |
| D．Chinese housewives have a better consumption idea than global financial big dogs . |
| A．China’s "Da Ma" become the largest gold buyers due to a decline in global gold prices. |
| B．China's "Da Ma" crowded into stores to get gold as the best gifts for sons when they get married. |
| C．China's "Da Ma" are bigger spenders and cleverer than global financial big dogs. |
| D．Chinese housewives are most willing to spend money in buying gold . |
| A．it is worthy to buy gold. |
| B．they have a strong demand |
| C．it is at discount prices. |
| D．they have unlimited investment options |
| A．doubtful | B．subjective | C．objective | D．Negative |
【推荐2】National Pet Week (May 3–9, 2020) celebrates the pets that enrich our lives and encourages responsible pet care every day of the year. It is celebrated during the first full week of May each year and it was created almost forty years ago by the American Veterinary Medical Association. During this week, retailers (零售商) get in the game with discounts on all sorts of pet products, from CBD products to pet clothes. Here are some websites where you can buy something you want with discounts during the National Pet Week.
Crown and Paw:
This fun service will turn a photo of your pet into a work of art inspired by authentic 19th-century portraits and Renaissance-era (文艺复兴时期) paintings. Select a costume from their online catalog, like the Dutchess or the Admiral, upload a photo and they do the rest! During National Pet Week, save 20 percent off with code PETS30.
Dr. Marty Pets:
This website offers pet foods that are made with freeze-dried fresh ingredients, as well as healthy pet medicine. Till June 1, save 25 percent off all regularly priced products with code PETS25.
Mutts & Meows Pet Accessories:
This brand offers over 100 different styles of hand-sewn pet handkerchiefs, bow ties, neckties and hair bands. From May 1 to 10, save 10 percent off site wide with code PETWEEK10.
Petmate:
Petmate carries a wide variety of pet products including food, portable kennels, and toys, like the Chuckit! From May 3 to 9, save 20 percent off any order of $35 or more with code PETS20.
1. What’s the purpose of National Pet Week?| A．To play games with the pets. |
| B．To call on people not to raise the pets. |
| C．To attract people to buy the pet products. |
| D．To celebrate the pets making our lives colorful. |
| A．Dr. Marty Pets | B．Petmate |
| C．Crown and Paw | D．Mutts & Meows Pet Accessories |
| A．10% | B．90% |
| C．75% | D．80% |
【推荐3】Buying green is now popular with many consumers. We choose environmentally friendly products, and we try to be conscious consumers. However, new research by the University of Arizona has found that it has no positive effect on psychological well-being (幸福感). It also has a more limited environmental benefit than the other option simply buying less.
The study followed 968 young adults over a number of years. Throughout the study, participants responded to online survey questions about their subjunctive well-being, their life satisfaction and their psychological distress (悲伤), as well as giving information about their levels of materialism and pro-environmental behaviors.
The study found that reduced consumption buying less, repairing items instead of replacing them, avoiding impulse purchases and so on was linked to a higher level of personal well-being and a lower level of psychological distress, but green buying did not show such links.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the study also found that young people with more materialistic values were less likely to engage in reduced consumption. This group did, however, engage with buying green activities. Researcher Sabrina Helm suggests that this may be because buying green is still buying so it still satisfies the materialists urge to accumulate new items. These people are called ‘green materialists’.
However, green materialists must still deal with the same consumption-related stresses as average materialists. If you buy and own a lot of stuff, it takes up a lot of head space. You have to worry about how to pay for it, and you have to manage all the stuff, worrying about how to keep it safe and how to keep it organized. As Helm notes, “The key is to reduce consumption and not just buy green stuff. Having less and buying less can actually make us more satisfied and happier.”
Understanding how materialistic values affect consumer behaviors, and how those behaviors in turn affect personal well-being, is important. However, Helm acknowledges that for many consumers, changing behaviors to consume less will be challenging. “We’ve been told since childhood that there’s a product for everything and it’s OK to buy, and it’s a good thing because that’s how the economy works,” She Said.
1. What is the difference between buying less and buying green?| A．Buying less promotes personal well-being. | B．Buying less is based on materialistic values. |
| C．Buying green brings more life satisfaction. | D．Buying green contributes more to the environment. |
| A．The burden of ownership. | B．Worries about how to stay safe. |
| C．Stresses from average materialists. | D．The difficulty finding green products. |
| A．It is natural to buy and sell things. | B．It’s important to be wise consumers. |
| C．It’s good to buy what is needed. | D．It’s not easy to make people buy less. |
| A．Changes in Consumer Culture |
| B．Buying Less for Your Happiness |
| C．Green Consumption: A Choice for the Planet |
| D．How Materialistic Values Affect Consumer Behaviors |
【推荐1】Many people turn to doctors or self-help books, but they ignore (忽视) a powerful thing that could help them fight illnesses: their friends.
Researchers are now starting to pay attention to the importance of friendship in health. A 10-year Australian study found that older people with a large circle of fiends were 22 percent less likely to die during the study period than those with fewer friends. Another study showed that there was an increase of nearly 60 percent in the risk (危险) for obesity among people whose friends gained weight. And last year, Harvard researchers reported that strong social relationship could improve brain health as we age.
“In general, the role of friendship in our lives isn’t well realized,” said Rebecca, a professor at the University of North Carolina. “Friendship has a bigger effect on our psychological (心理的) health than family relationships.”
While many friendship studies are about the close relationships of women, some research shows that it can do good to men, too. In a six-year study of 736 middle-aged men, having friendships reduces the risk of heart attack. Only smoking was as important a risk factor (因素) as having little social support.
The exact reason why friendship has such a big effect isn’t entirely clear. While friends can send a sick person to the hospital or pick up medicine, the advantages go well beyond physical help. Friendship clearly has a big psychological effect. “People with stronger friendships feel like there is someone they can turn to,” said Karen, a doctor. “The message of these studies is that friends make your life better.”
1. The three studies in Paragraph 2 show that ______.| A．old people need friends the most | B．friends can help us lose weight |
| C．social relationship are connected to health | D．more friends make us healthier |
| A．Fatness. | B．Unhappiness. | C．Excitement. | D．Health. |
| A．Friendship is more important to women than to men. |
| B．What people need most is a friend’s care. |
| C．Friendship is more important than family relationship. |
| D．The value of friendship hasn’t been fully understood. |
| A．Friends Are the Best Medicine |
| B．Friends Are as Important as a Family |
| C．Having Good Friends Leads to a Better Life |
| D．Friendship Makes People Happy |
【推荐2】Micro plastics can accumulate in the brains of mammals (哺乳动物) and even lead to behavioral changes, according to a new study. This not only adds to evidence about the harm that micro plastics are doing to our environment, but crucially provides new insight into what they could be doing to our bodies.
Plastic pollution is a huge environmental concern. In particular, tiny pieces of micro plastic have been found everywhere from our oceans to the atmosphere. A team led by University of Rhode Island professor Jaime Ross wanted to learn about whether these micro plastics accumulate in the brains of mammals and the potential impact on behavior.
The researchers gave mice drinking water contaminated (污染) with different concentrations of micro plastics over a three-week period. They used mice of different ages to see whether the effects would vary in the younger or older mice.
Besides indications of changes in the mice’s brains, the team saw changes in their behavior, which were particularly apparent in the older animals. The behavioral changes are similar to symptoms you might expect to see in patients with dementia (痴呆) .
“These were not high doses of micro plastics, but in only a short period of time, we saw these changes,” Ross said in a statement.
“In this study, the micro plastics were delivered orally via drinking water, detection in tissues such as the gastrointestinal tract, which is a major part of the digestive system, was always probable,” Ross explained. “But the brain is protected by a boundary called the blood-brain barrier, which should make it harder to access. The team found that micro plastics had entered the brain’s tissues.”
“Once inside, micro plastics cause a decrease in the levels of a brain protein called GFAP,” Ross said. “A decrease in GFAP has been associated with early stages of some neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia and depression.”
Now that even the remotest parts of our planet are seemingly unable to escape contamination with micro plastics, more research like this, which seeks to better understand how human beings’ plastic habit could be coming back to bite us, is more urgently needed than ever.
1. What does paragraph 2 focus on?| A．Why the study was carried out. | B．How ocean pollution appeared. |
| C．How a team studied micro plastics. | D．Why micro plastics spread quickly. |
| A．They delivered micro plastics directly into mice’s brains. |
| B．They used mice of the same age to consume micro plastics. |
| C．They set boundaries for mice’s digestive systems in advance. |
| D．They gave mice micro plastic-contaminated drinking water. |
| A．Brain tissues are easy to attack. | B．The study is far from convincing. |
| C．The research results are surprising. | D．Mice’s brains are generally inactive. |
| A．Moving to the remotest parts of our planet. |
| B．Conducting more research on micro plastics. |
| C．Keeping human beings’ current plastic habit. |
| D．Preventing industries from producing plastics. |
【推荐3】A Brief History Of Waterstone’s
Waterstone’s is the largest bookstore chain in the UK and Ireland, with 296 stores and 4500 employees, but its market share has recently declined and sales have been poor. The book market suffered during the economy declines and the emergence of new e-readers, such as the Amazon Kindle, was pulling more customers away from the high street. A&NN will pay for Waterstone’s in two parts, one of £40million and one of £13million.The deal will only complete if HMV can renegotiate its bank facilities, though HMV says the banks are supportive of the sale. Pension trustees and the pensions regulator also have to approve. HMV chief executive Simon Fox said A&NN would be a good home for Waterstone’s, while the sale will reduce borrowings and enable HMV to focus on plans for transforming the business into a broad-based entertainment business. A&NN will appoint James Daunt as managing director of Waterstone’s once the deal completes. Mr. Daunt currently runs Daunt Books, a small chain of London-based bookshops he founded in 1990.
|  |
Waterstone’s founder Tim Waterstone opened his first store in 1982 at a time when fellow book-lovers were presented with few options on the high street. The top bookseller was WH Smith, Mr. Waterstone’s former employer of eight years before he was dismissed, which he felt was failing to go into a broad market of literature fans. The first store was opened in Old Brompton Road, and the former banker’s intuition was correct as the chain went from strength to strength. Mr. Waterstone, who has written four novels, saw a recovery in the market driven by demand for the works of a new wave of literary stars including Salman Rushdie, Ian McEwan, John Banville and Martin Amis. Having founded the firm with his £6,000, Mr. Waterstone sold the chain to his former employer WH Smith in 1993 for £47million. |
1. According to the passage, who is the most likely to be the managing director of Waterstone’s in the near future?
| A．Mr. Waterstone | B．John Banville |
| C．James Daunt | D．Simon Fox |
| A．instinctive knowledge | B．mental image |
| C．calm consideration | D．indirect suggestion |
| A．At present the brand Waterstone’s belongs to HMV. |
| B．During the economy declines, the book market was hit and sales were poor. |
| C．Waterstone’s has long been the largest bookstore chain in the U.K and Ireland. |
| D．Mr. Waterstone made £41,000 when he transferred the chain to WH Smith. |
