【推荐1】“There’s no place like home.” This English saying has much truth in it: the best place to be is surrounded by our treasured possessions and our loved ones and with a roof over our head. And for many young adults, it’s the only affordable place to stay; some place where they can receive first- class service from mum and dad. But this comes at a price!

In some countries, it’s quite traditional for people in their late teens and early 20s to live at home with their parents, but in other places, flying away the nest to start their own independent life is very desirable. But there’s been a growing trend, in the UK at least, for young people to return home to live —or not to leave home at all.

According to the UK’s Office for National Statistics, about a quarter of young adults aged 20-34 live at home, and that figure has been growing. A survey by a price comparison website found that 18% of adult children in the UK said they were moving back home because of debt, compared with 8% last year. More young people had lost their jobs, and others couldn't afford their rent compared with the previous year. So, it’s easy to see why they’re increasingly becoming home birds.

The BBC’s Lucy Hooker explains that many returning adult children enjoy home comforts. These include cooked meals, a full fridge and cleaning, as well as their bills being covered by what is commonly called “the hotel of mum and dad”. But for the “hoteliers”, that’s mum and dad, the survey found the average cost to them has gone up sharply, and that they are sacrificing luxuries and holidays to look after their “big kids”. Emma Craig from Moneysupermarket says “they’re trying to look after their children more. If your child comes home and you see them struggling financially, you feel more awkward asking them for rent or lo contribute.

With parents splashing out（花费）around ￡l,886 on takeaway food, buying new furniture and upgrading their Wi-Fi for the benefit of their children, it’s easy for the returning children to put their feet up and make themselves at home. That's before they learn a home truth that one day it might be their own kids who'll be checking into the hotel of mum and dad!

1. Which of the following statements is true according to the text?

A．The main reason for their moving back home lies in parents' service.

B．Different countries have different traditions.

C．More and more young people live with parents in the UK.

D．Young people desire to live independently in all countries.

2. Why do more young people choose to stay at home?

A．They are struggling financially.

B．They want to keep their parents company.

C．They can't afford to buy their own house.

D．They want to enjoy home comforts

3. What influence does the trend have on parents?

A．They have difficulty making ends meet.

B．They feel happy with their children around.

C．They feel awkward asking their children for rent.

D．They give up their own life to take care of their kids.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．A new trend in the UK.

B．The hotel of mum and dad.

C．There’s no place like home.

D．Everything comes at a price.

【推荐2】Scientists have come up with a new way to measure ocean trash(垃圾) and the numbers are even worse than thought. In 2010, eight million tons of plastic trash ended up in the ocean from coastal countries far more than the trash floating on the surface of the ocean. That ' s bad news. The even worse news is that the tonnage may increase by as much as ten times in the next decade unless the world finds a better way to improve how trash is collected and managed.

The new study identifies the major sources of plastic trash and names the top 20 countries producing the greatest amount of ocean trash. The United States is 20th. The rest of the list includes 11 Asian countries, Turkey, five African countries, and Brazil.

The size of the difference is huge --- 20 to 2,000 times more than the amount of floating trash. To make the figure eight million tons understandable, Jenna Jambeck, who led the study, compares it to lining up five grocery bags of trash on every foot of coastline around the globe. "And by 2025, those five grocery bags of plastic are going to be ten bags," she says. That would be 155 million tons a year if present trash management practices remain the same."

Ocean plastic has turned up everywhere. It has been found in the deep sea and buried in Arctic ice with terrible consequences for some 700 species of wildlife in the ocean.

The study has also created a new mystery. Because what flows into the ocean is so large, scientists now have to figure out where else it collects and in what amounts. "But what we need to do now is close the gap." says Richard Thompson, a scientist from the U.K.

1. What is the most serious problem concerning ocean trash?

A．There is no way to get rid of it.

B．Eight million tons of trash goes into the ocean.

C．A lot more trash may be put into the ocean in the future.

D．The way to measure ocean trash hasn't been found.

2. Jenna Jambeck explains the seriousness of ocean trash mainly by ______.

A．showing the causes	B．describing a process
C．making comparisons	D．making a classification

3. The underlined part “the gap” in the last paragraph refers to the difference between ______.

A．what is harmless and what is dangerous

B．what is on the surface and what is in the deep sea

C．what is found and what can be recycled

D．what is from America and what is from other countries

4. Which of the following can best describe the author 's tone in writing the text?

A．Doubtful.

B．Hopeless.

C．Critical.

D．Concerned.

【推荐3】100-Word-Story Competition 2018

Our annual short-story competition is back for its eighth year. As ever, we look forward to reading yours!

The Rules

Please make sure that stories are new, not previously published and exactly 100 words long (not including the title). We may use entries in all print and electronic media.

Entry is open only to people living in the UK. It is not open to employees of Reader’s Digest and all others associated with this competition, their immediate families and relatives living in an employee’s household.

Terms and Conditions

There are three categories-one for adults and two for schools: one for children aged 12-18 and one for children under 12.

In the adults category, the winner will receive￡1,000 and two runners-up will each receive￡250. In the 12-18s and under-12s categories, the winners will each receive a Fire HD 8 Tablet and a selection of STAEDTLER products worth￡50, plus two STAEDTLER classpacks of pencils for their school. The two runners-up in both categories will each receive a Kindle E-Reader.

Please submit your stories by 5 pm on February 19.

The editorial team will pick a shortlist of entries, which this year will be published by our partner nicereading.com. Winners of the categories will have an opportunity to write a longer version of their stories for inclusion in the book.

The three best stories in each category will be posted on-line at readersdigest.co.uk on February 27. You can vote for your favourite, and the one with the most votes wins the top prize. Voting will close at 5 pm on March 19 and the winning list will be published in our June issue (六月刊) .

1. Who is allowed to take part in the story competition?

A．A British man of 20.	B．A staff of Reader’s Digest.
C．One of the organizers.	D．A brother of the staff.

2. Which of the following will be awarded to the runner-up in the adults category?

A．A Fire HD 8 Tablet.	B．A Kindle E-Reader.
C．￡50.	D．￡250.

3. Where will the three best stories in each category will be posted?

A．On TV.	B．In a magazine.
C．On a website.	D．In a book.

【推荐2】The COVID-19 pandemic is like a “storm” which negatively affects children’s mental and physical health and behavior.     1     Here are some ways that parents can help kids deal with the stress.

● Watch your kids closely.

When we see a child acting in a manner that we think is inappropriate, we need to consider that the child may bear too much stress. Given this, it’s important to observe their behavior carefully.     2    

● Understand the effects of adversity (逆境) on children.

While many kids are experiencing a stressful situation right now, those who have been exposed to other bad events in childhood are at an increased risk of struggling during and after this crisis.     3     By knowing who is most at the risk of suffering extreme stress from COVID-19, policymakers can deliver community resources to those who are expected to need them most.

    4    

Adults must recognize that for some kids, the newfound loneliness brought on by COVID-19 feels like a gift. While we may be struggling with schools being closed, kids could be feeling happy. We might assume our kids miss their friends, but they may appreciate having more time with us. And some who were dealing with bullying or social challenges at school may be relieved not to have to see other kids.

● Find “stress destroyers” that work for your family.

It is recommended that parents help kids avoid the harmful effects of stress by talking with them about the pandemic.     5     Experts suggest families create and stick to a routine, making time for play and physical activity. Along with positive relationships, sleep, exercise and nutrition also can help kids keep stress under control.

A．Avoid making assumptions.

B．Stress is bad for children’s health.

C．It leaves children feeling stressed.

D．Pay attention to children’s manners.

E．When we can predict it, hopefully we can prevent it.

F．We should consider what need the behavior implies during this difficult time.

G．Parents are encouraged to keep kids connected with friends and family online.