If you were to rate the most walkable cities in the world, what would you look for? Would it be how shaded the sidewalks are? How many benches there are along the way to your destination? Or maybe how close you are to shops or local attractions?
Well, the researchers at the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), located in New York. US, wanted to know which of the world’s cities were the best for pedestrians (行人). So, they did just that.
To determine which cities were the most walkable, they rated cities based on factors such as how close citizens were to car-free areas like public parks, how close citizens lived in relation to schools and hospitals, and how short their journeys were overall.
According to the study, they found that the most walkable cities in the world are London, Paris, Bogota and Hong Kong. Overall, London was at the top of the list, outranking (超过) nearly 1, 000 cities around the world on these key factors.
“In order to provide safety and inviting walking conditions for all city residents, it is essential to shift the balance of space in our cities away from cars, providing more travel options for people,” CEO of ITDP Heather Thompson told the magazine Cities Today. She continued, “We have so much to gain-from cleaner air to better health to stronger local economies and deeper bonds within communities, and we all need that now more than ever. ”
Unfortunately, it seems that very few cities make pedestrians a priority, though.
“Our city streets across the planet are already full of cars. If you really want to see the worst for walkability, it is the really sprawling (杂乱无序伸展的) cities of the US, ” commented Taylor Reich, a research associate at ITDP and the primary author of the guide to making cities more walkable.
So, what can cities do to make their streets friendlier for pedestrians?
“There’s no one secret sauce; there’s no one thing you can do to make a city walkable, ” Reich said. “It’s many decisions that are made at all levels from individual streets all the way up to the city design.”
1. What’s the purpose of the study?| A．To call on cities to make streets more walkable. |
| B．To find out the most walkable cities around the world. |
| C．To investigate pedestrians’ satisfaction with city life. |
| D．To explore factors impacting the walkability of cities. |
| A．The amount of green space on sidewalks. |
| B．Traffic and road conditions for pedestrians. |
| C．The number of public services for pedestrians. |
| D．Accessibility of certain destinations to pedestrians. |
| A．Increasing travel choices. | B．Developing local economies. |
| C．Limiting the number of cars. | D．Connecting local communities. |
| A．Cars are major contributors to reduced walkability. |
| B．US cities are designed to give priority to pedestrians. |
| C．It is everyone’s responsibility to make a city walkable. |
| D．Both small and large scale measures are required to improve walkability. |
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【推荐1】WeChat, China's most popular mobile social app, used to be a place where people could connect with each other through sharing photos and texts about their life in their friend circles, but now it is flooded with advertisements, showoffs, chicken-soup stories and even rumors(谣言).
In the age of social media, everyone is crazy about attention. When I first joined WeChat in 2011, like many people, I shared a lot of moments in my life. I felt like if I did not post something on my friend circle, I would feel less important in this world.
For years, I enjoyed it. It made me feel like I was more popular than I actually was in real life. However, when the number of my “friends” increased, it became a really bad dream.
WeChat's friend circle has become such a sensitive(敏感的) place that it has started to make relationships among people become tense. One day when I called my high school friend and asked how she was doing, she was kind of upset that I did not pay much attention to her friend circle. “All my moments are listed there. You don't even care about following me?” she questioned. Honestly, I have no interest in what everyone is doing every minute. But clearly, it is a big deal for some people.
“Why didn't you like my post?” “Why can't I see the moment you post? Did you keep me off?” “Why didn't you reply to my comment?” “Can you please help me retweet(转发) this message?” These are the questions I always get.
I believe that the reason why WeChat is so widely used is that it shows the very Chinese way of social life—we are all connected in different social groups such as classmate groups, co-worker groups and neighborhood groups. In real life, many Chinese people are good at role playing in different groups, which is similar to WeChat. It is like the traditional face-changing in the Sichuan Opera. You have to say things differently indifferent groups.
It has been reported that more and more people are leaving the friend circle because they are annoyed. I finally left too. I need to start thinking of how to use social media by hiding myself just enough while my friends all stay interested in me at the same time.
1. Which of the following is NOT what people used to do on WeChat?| A．Share photos. |
| B．Share texts about life. |
| C．Show off. |
| A．The writer wanted to share something in his or her life. |
| B．The writer wanted to care about other people's life. |
| C．The writer wanted to feel unimportant in this world. |
| A．the WeChat social groups can take the place of people's real life |
| B．it is a mini Chinese social life |
| C．people feel happy all the time in WeChat |
| A．Interesting. | B．Annoying. | C．Exciting. |
| A．WeChat is not very popular among people at all. |
| B．Some people are getting angry about the friend circle. |
| C．Many Chinese people are good at face-changing in Sichuan Opera. |
【推荐2】The data shows that there is a gender imbalance of twenty million more men than women under thirty in China. You would think that so many suitably bachelors out there that any young Chinese woman could have her pick. But the fact is that there are many "Shinny" in China. Media reports say there may be as many as 500,000 "Shinny" in the capital.
The term “Shinny”, directly translated as “leftover women", refers to peculated women in their late twenties who are still single. Quite simply, "no" means women and "sheen" means left over but, depending on how you look at it, "sheen" can also man successful. Some believe that the phrase was invented as a play on words to mean that "shinny" is actually a positive way to portray being a single, successful woman.
"Shinny" are pioneers in modern day China. They are able to enjoy their success in big cities with very little restriction. They are aware of the pressure society puts on them to get married but they are all highly educated and financially independent therefore there is not an immediate need to find a husband to support them.
Chinese people often think males should be higher in a relationship in every sense, including height, age, education and salary. This leads to a phenomenon in which A-grade men marry B-grade women, B-grade men marry C-Grade women and C-grade man marry D-grade women. Only A-grade women and D-grade men can't find partners. Apparently, if you are an "A-grade" woman, finding a husband better than you(a must in Chinese culture apparently) is hard to do.
These women are “leftover" because they are "too successful" and therefore have high standards when it comes to picking their lifelong partners. They are free and able to live independently, which was not so possible for previous generations. Right now it seems family guilt is the only real factor contributing to decreasing China's "Shinny" population, as daughters give in to the demands of their families. As China rapidly modernizes, the term "Shinny" may even develop into a wholly positive label.
1. The underlined part in Paragraph I implies that Chinese young women| A．will be picked up by single young men | B．will become "Shinny" in large numbers |
| C．have a wide range of choices for husbands | D．prefer to stay in the capital of the country |
| A．They are educated in the capital. | B．They are almost thirty years old. |
| C．They prefer to be single women. | D．They are successful in business. |
| A．are pincers in modern society | B．have no restriction in life |
| C．bear no pressure from society | D．don't need to depend on others |
| A．Because they can't fad wives of higher grades. |
| B．Because they have different education backgrounds. |
| C．Because Chinese culture requires them to do so. |
| D．Because men won't marry successful women. |
| A．They may become positive images. | B．They may become more successful. |
| C．They will have higher standards for partners. | D．They will ignore the demands of their Israelis. |
【推荐3】Twentyfive years ago, most young Britons wanted a career in law, to be a doctor, or, if they were creative enough, to take up singing. But today, things stand differently.
According to a survey by Tesco Mobile, a UK company, the “dream job” of young people aged between 16 and 25 in the UK is a video blogger, or “vlogger”. The survey, carried out among 1,002 people, found that as much as 40 percent of them put vlogger as their number one choice on a list of ideal careers.
This change is undoubtedly as a result of the Internet and social media. They have made it so much easier to reach audience of the world, without having to enter a career in show business in the traditional way.
In the past, the biggest stars were trained by the Hollywood studios; now, anyone with a computer camera can become a star. Vloggers are the big stars of today because they are normal people interacting with their fans about everyday life.
However, what people see is only the bright side of being a vlogger and they fail to notice the fact that only those who are successful earn fame (名声) and fortune. For every success there are hundreds of others who never get off the starting line. There are the dreams that come true and the dreams that remain dreams forever.
Although being vloggers is popular, some young people choose to follow careers that don't necessarily earn them fame, but allow them to make good use of the Internet to share their hobbies. Young Israeli David Leshaw, for example, runs a business called the Finishers Club. It's an online platform for runners to keep a record of their races. His job allows him to express his enthusiasm, and is always a learning experience. And that's enough for him.
1. What do young people like David do on the Internet?| A．Learn from others. | B．Become an online hit. |
| C．Hold running races. | D．Mix jobs with hobbies. |
| A．Most young Britons choose to be vloggers as their job. |
| B．The Internet is influencing young Britons' career choice. |
| C．The Internet is taking the place of traditional studios. |
| D．Young Britons cannot find jobs without the Internet. |
| A．Vloggers can earn greater fame and more money on the Internet. |
| B．There is too much competition in the traditional show business. |
| C．The Internet makes it convenient to enter show business. |
| D．Anyone with a computer will surely become a star. |
| A．Only a few vloggers can be successful. |
| B．A vlogger cannot earn fame and fortune. |
| C．People often see the bright side of being a vlogger. |
| D．Dreams will always remain to be dreams. |
【推荐1】On Tuesday, organizers of the Pritzker Prize, often known as the “Nobel of architecture,” revealed Kéré as its 2022 winner.
The first African architect to claim the award in its 43-year history, Kéré made the achievement largely involving schools, health centers and community facilities—projects that might once have been considered too modest for a prize that has historically honored the designers of iconic buildings. Speaking to CNN shortly after hearing the news, he credited his success to his community in Gando.
“This is not just a prize for myself,” he said on the phone from Berlin. “Without having the courage to go back home Gando, and to get my people to join me on the journey to build the school that began my career, this would never have been possible.”
Casting mud like concrete (混凝土) and preferring local materials to imported ones, Kéré proposes a vision of architecture that both strengthens communities and responds to the climate crisis. As such, the Pritzker Prize announcement is not only a nod of acceptance for him, but for “vernacular” architecture—a term used to describe designs that directly respond to local climates, materials and building traditions.
Though Kéré has since designed bigger projects, his approach remains grounded in his belief established in Gando. Knowing the village had no access to electricity or air conditioning, he proposed strategically placing windows that allow indirect sunlight to enter while generating airflow that serves as natural ventilation (通风).
But despite working closely with local craftspeople (工匠), Kéré said he faced disagreement with his choice of materials. The use of traditional clay bricks, which offer natural cooling, was not entirely welcomed by villagers, who thought the structure would not resist the rainy season as well as glass and steel.
“There is still a feeling that everything that’s local is primitive (原始的),” he said. “Let’s say 90% of people in Gando use clay, but they see it as a ‘poor person’s material.’ So, when they have more money to spend, they try to look for other materials.”
“The more local materials you use, the better you can promote the local economy and build local knowledge, which also makes people proud,” Kéré added.
1. What can we learn about the Pritzker Prize?| A．It was founded in 1943. | B．Its first winner is an African. |
| C．Its aim is to encourage modest works. | D．It usually favors iconic buildings. |
| A．Breaking with traditions. |
| B．Applying imported material. |
| C．Making full use of local materials. |
| D．Generating electricity from the sun. |
| A．The villagers preferred modern materials. |
| B．The villagers were short of steel and glass. |
| C．The local materials couldn’t resist the heat. |
| D．The local materials were not environmentally friendly. |
| A．Local materials promoted local economy. |
| B．An African architect won the 2022 Pritzker Prize. |
| C．Kéré’s design became the fashion trend of architecture. |
| D．Kéré and his community worked together to cope with climate crisis. |
【推荐2】“Ni Hao! Lao Tie! I am your foreign friend. Just have a bite of our organic apples and place your orders here!” Erik Nilsson, a Swedish traveler, greeted through Tik Tok livestreams in a village of Jiangxi Province. His appearance online increased that day’s sale greatly. After experiencing a special day in the rural area, Erik said jokingly, “I wish I could change my job.”
This village is not alone. Nowadays, China’s e-commerce platforms have helped open up the market for Chinese farmers’ produce, bringing an increasing number of sales online. This new trend has made livestreaming a new way to rid farmers of poverty, with mobile phones becoming “new farm tools”.
“Everyone has brought their own agricultural products. How can you make the audiences believe that they’re delicious through the screen in front of you? Now, let’s feel the look on your face during the livestreaming!” A farmers’ education and training center in Hainan Province invites professionals such as directors and stylists to teach farmers a variety of skills ranging from short video editing to livestreaming sales skills. “However, at first, only a few villagers had a strong desire. We helped them get training in livestreaming, short video marketing, and other courses. It wasn’t fancy, but simple, practical, and effective.”
“Everybody, please take a look. This is the best coconut. Taste it,” said Pei Yanqin, 59, speaking Mandarin with a strong local accent and communicating smoothly with netizens through her livestreaming software. Just over a year ago, she was one of those villagers with the least intention to get training.
In 2018, the demonstration project of national e-commerce for rural areas was launched. Today, the village has developed eight e-commerce livestreaming courtyards. Some presenters work alone, while others are husband and wife teams. In the next step, the government will train more farmer presenters and develop in the direction of multi-variety sales.
1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To lead in the topic. | B．To add to the atmosphere. |
| C．To introduce culture constrast. | D．To give back ground knowledge. |
| A．Thirlled. | B．Doubtful. |
| C．Disappointed. | D．Impressed. |
| A．Erik wants to seek for a new job. |
| B．E-commerce is a family business. |
| C．Livestreaming is the best way to remove poverty. |
| D．The Government helps farmers become skilled in marketing online. |
| A．A travel magazine. | B．A government report. |
| C．A research paper. | D．A front-page article. |
【推荐3】On Sunday, May 25th, 2014, India's Malavath Poorna, became the youngest female to climb to the summit of the world's highest peak- Mount Everest. The 13-year-old girl surpassed (超越) the previous record holder, Nepal’s Nima Chemji Sherpa, who accomplished the name achievement in 2012, at the age of 16.
Unlike many young climbers who come from wealthy families, Malvath comes from a poor family living in a small village named Pakala in southern India.
Most Pakala girls have never seen the inside of a school all their lives. Malavath is one of the fortunate ones that managed to realize their dreams thanks to Swaeroes, a welfare organization whose mission is to help India’s poor children reach their full potential. They helped enroll（使入学）the young girl in a nearby boarding school. Then about nine months ago, Swaeroes provided her with the opportunity to achieve this dream by offering mountaineering training. Not one to pass up(错过）an exciting adventure, the athletic girl signed up.
At the end of the two-week period, only two youngsters were selected for the dangerous ’climb—Malavath was one of them!
Then came the big day. On April 15th, 2014, Malavath and 16-year-old Anand Kumar along with their guide Shekhar Babu and a team of Sherpas(夏尔巴人）began the dangerous 8, 848-meter trek(艰苦跋涉). While most climbers attempt the peak from the slightly easier Nepalese side, this team had to go via the harder Tibetan side. That’s because the government of Nepal does not allow anyone younger than 16 to climb up the route.
It was not easy. In fact, Malavath was sent back to the base camp after she experienced altitude sickness when she got to the advanced base camp set up at an altitude of 6,400 meters. However, the youngster returned three days later, and insisted on continuing. It took 52 days, but on May 25th, 2014, Malavath, who made it to the summit a few minutes ahead of 16-year-old Anand, proudly raised her country’s flag at the top of the world. The young girl hopes that her achievements will inspire poor girls all over the world to try to achieve their dreams.
1. Why did Malavath Poorna’s team choose to climb Mount Everest from the Tibetan side?| A．They could spend less time in reaching the top. |
| B．They wanted to make their climb more challenging. |
| C．This side was considered much safer for Malavath Poorna. |
| D．Malavath Poorna was not old enough to be allowed to climb up the route. |
| A．A welfare organization. | B．Shekhar Babu. |
| C．Some Sherpas. | D．A wealthy family. |
| A．She feared and wanted to give up. |
| B．She suffered altitude sickness. |
| C．She fell down a few times and was slightly injured. |
| D．She made it to the summit a few days ahead of 16-year-old Anand. |
| A．Sensitive. | B．Considerate. |
| C．Determined. | D．Intelligent. |
【推荐1】The population of the United States grows larger every year. The state that has been growing the fastest is Nevada. The city that has been receiving the most new residents (居民) is Las Vegas, which lies in the desert in Southern Nevada.
Why are so many people moving to Las Vegas? First, it is easy to find a job. Tourism is the number one industry in Las Vegas, so there are many service jobs. Workers are building thousands of new homes, buildings, and schools. The children need teachers. People need to shop for food, clothing, and cars, so the stores are looking for clerks (职员). About one third of the new residents are from California, where it is more difficult to find a job. Second, Nevada has no income tax (所得税). Most states have an income tax of 2%, 4%, 5% or more. Third, many people like the weather. Even though it’s very hot in the summer, the other seasons are beautiful. There are over 250 days of sunshine each year. Finally, housing is still affordable, with the price of a new home at about $139,500. People moving from California find that this is reasonable in comparison to homes in their state.
Las Vegas is also the wedding capital of the United States. It is easier to get married in Las Vegas than in any other city in the United States. You don’t need a blood test. You don’t need to wait for a week for a marriage license. It’s possible to get married the same day you apply for (申请) a marriage license.
Las Vegas also has problems. Because it sits in the desert, there is not enough water. Even though water is expensive, residents have not been careful in conserving water. Next, Las Vegas has serious air pollution problems. Las Vegas is surrounded (环绕) by high mountains, some as high as10,000 feet. These mountains hold in the pollution from the cars. At times, there are warnings not to exercise outdoors. Finally, as the city becomes larger, people are traveling farther to work and the average commute (通勤) time has been interesting.
1. Why does Las Vegas receive the most new residents?| A．It is easy to own a house there. |
| B．Its industry is highly developed. |
| C．It has low income tax. |
| D．Its summer is cool. |
| A．A blood test is necessary in the U.S. to get married. |
| B．It is easy to find someone you love in Las Vegas. |
| C．It is quick to get a marriage license in Las Vegas. |
| D．The wedding party usually lasts one week in the U.S. |
| A．heating | B．saving |
| C．wasting | D．discovering |
| A．Dirty air. | B．Poor education. |
| C．Being short of jobs. | D．Busy traffic. |
【推荐2】Washington D.C. is a destination filled with sites of historic and current importance. During a visit, you can learn about the structure of the government and see monuments, museums and much more.
After exploring some of Washington D.C.’s amazing monuments, the next stop should be to plan out a visit to some of the Smithsonian Institution’s complex of museums. With over 19 museums and the National Zoological Park, it’s unlikely that you will have the time to explore each of these museums on a single visit. The best way to enjoy the Smithsonian Institution is to plan out which museums you are most interested in visiting. If you are interested in culture, the National Museum of African American History and Culture is a wonderful choice, where you can learn about the richness and diversity of the African American experience.
Washington D.C. doesn’t just have monuments and museums. There are also chances to enjoy the great outdoors.
The arts and entertainment in Washington D.C. are also an important part of any trip to the city.
| A．Washington D.C. is filled with important monuments. |
| B．The city has many parks and places to enjoy. |
| C．You will find art galleries, clubs and fantastic restaurants. |
| D．These important landmarks are open all day and into the evening. |
| E．Washington D.C. is one of the great destinations you can visit. |
| F．You can see the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and many more. |
| G．Another museum that you should visit is the National Museum of the American Indian. |
【推荐3】Jersey City is holding its first annual mural(壁画)festival and the event is an exhibition of color and art. Over 70 artists showed their art pieces on over 50 walls. Tons of paint was used. Thousands of square meters of art were created. Guests were Unused and impressed.
Jersey city has always been popular with street artists. Salvador Dali, David Bowie, Mike Tyson and many other famous faces from different times are looking at guests from the city walls. But in the last seven years, over 150 colorful artworks have appeared on the city walls.
Jersey City officials approved the idea and made the Jersey City mural festival an annual event. “We have one of the most dynamic mural programs in the entire country. Today speaks to the fact that the investment in arts and culture is going to lead the way back for us. People appreciate it and want to live in a city like Jersey city for these exact reasons.”
Hundreds of artists hoping to be part of the festival presented their projects in advance for official approval. Officials selected the art based on creativity and execution(实施). There were no limitations when it came to the theme or subject. They ranged from political to abstract. Almost 80 artists participated this year. The whole city was decorated with these grand murals.
Tasty food, refreshing drinks, art and lively conversations — the festival proved to be a magnet for both tourists and locals. Communities were brought together through art.
While the festival only lasts a few days, the murals will stay on the city walls until next year when more art finds its way into the public spaces of Jersey City.
1. What makes the annual mural festival held in Jersey City?| A．The approval of local officials. |
| B．The ancient artworks on the city walls. |
| C．The influence of artists like Mike Tyson. |
| D．The investment from the entire country. |
| A．They have to be world-famous. |
| B．They must paint abstract subjects. |
| C．They have to be very creative. |
| D．They must fit the theme of the year. |
| A．Something attractive. | B．Something puzzling. |
| C．Something dangerous. | D．Something challenging. |
| A．Jersey City: A Public Holiday. |
| B．Jersey City: A Tourist Attraction. |
| C．Jersey City: A Colorful Memory. |
| D．Jersey City: An Artist's Hometown. |
