The Chinese words for “fish” and “plenty” are homonyms (同音异义词). A whole fish, eaten on the eve of the lunar new year — represents a wish for plenty to come. It can be deep-fried or roasted in a pan, but if you live on a coast, or have access to first-rate fish, steaming is the way to go.
On New Year’s Day in America, black southerners have long eaten green vegetables together with Hoppin’ John, a delicious dish of rice and black-eyed peas (豌豆), cooked with salt pork.
Whether anyone actually believes in a causal relationship between eating these foods and receiving the promised benefits is unclear. Mainly, these traditions continue for the same reason that other traditions do.
Fish and noodles, bread and apples, beans and greens appear regularly on Chinese, Jewish and American tables.
| A．Sweet rice cakes mean a better future |
| B．Enough fish should be cooked to ensure leftovers |
| C．Such customs are not unique to the Chinese culture |
| D．Diverse as these dishes are, they all imply good fortune |
| E．The peas symbolize coins, and the greens stand for dollar bills |
| F．People have fond memories of observing them and want to pass them down |
| G．They are neither costly nor exotic (异国情调的), suggesting that luck is not something bought expensively or sought with difficulty |
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【推荐1】World Environment Day is celebrated annually on June 5th and was created to inspire people around the globe to take an active part in environmental protection and learn more about ways we can help to guarantee the future of our planet is safe.
The very first World Environment Day took place in 1974, established by the United Nations General Assembly on the first day of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment that took place in 1972. Each year the United Nations picks a theme and a host city where anyone who is concerned about the environment can talk about environmental topics with others, followed by different kinds of exhibits to promote environmental awareness. Environmentalists, academics and scientists come together to bring new ideas on the table concerning the environment.
The 2018 World Environment Day was hosted by India, and the theme was Beat Plastic Pollution. It urged people to explore and choose supportable alternatives like paper or cloth bags to reduce the production and use of disposable plastic, which made up 10% of all of the waste. Even though the United Nations picks a specific host city every year, people around the world still celebrate World Environment Day in their hometowns with parades (游行), concerts, cleaning up, tree planting and all kinds of green actions to work towards having a beautiful planet and battling pollution.
World Environment Day is not a public holiday, so you won’t be getting the day off work or school, but if you want to celebrate, why not bring it to the attention of your parents, friends, colleagues or classmates? World Environment Day is all about working together to take action for the planet, so try to get everyone you know interested in helping do something. Things as small as making sure people have a way to recycle can make a difference. You could also try beautifying your neighborhood by planting gardens, learn about green foods, raise money for a local wildlife conservation group or simply learn about the effects of different products on the earth.
1. Why is World Environment Day set up?| A．To make people know more about nature. |
| B．To ask people to help to protect the globe. |
| C．To warn people of the danger of air pollution. |
| D．To encourage people to plan the earth’s future. |
| A．Decide a host city. |
| B．Hold a theme party. |
| C．Discuss environmental ideas. |
| D．Show some plastic products. |
| A．High-cost. | B．Poor-quality. |
| C．Second-hand. | D．Single-use. |
【推荐2】In ancient times, people tracked the seasons by following the lunar months. Many times, the names of the moons were related with what features the seasons had.
Regardless of where the name Wolf Moon comes from, wolves howl (嚎叫) to communicate over long distances both in North America and in Europe. It is a way of saying “here I am” to the rest of the pack or “stay away” to enemies.
Science has not shown that the Moon phase (月相) plays any particular part in the calls of wolves, but wolves are animals that are in general more active at night.
| A．They are energetic in January. |
| B．Wolves howl in the direction of the Moon. |
| C．In spring and early summer, wolves howl to seek mates. |
| D．An average howl from a single wolf lasts from 3 to 7 seconds. |
| E．That is probably why people related January with howling wolves. |
| F．It doesn’t quite fit in with the traditional Full Moon naming system. |
| G．January’s Full Moon in North America is known as the Wolf Moon. |
【推荐3】There’s a day for just about everything, and the United Nations has designated May 20 as World Bee Day to celebrate the pollinators (传粉昆虫) dwelling in hives, fields and gardens around the globe since 2015. It draws much concern on bees and there’s a good reason to pay attention to them.
“There are 20,000 species of bees around the world and a lot of these bees are in decline,” says Hien Ngo, a pollinator expert from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization. That includes honeybees, of course, but Ngo says they only make up a minority of all the kinds of bees in the world. Climate change, pesticides and habitat loss are putting many of those species a risk.
“Bees really provide for us in many ways, like food and human well-being. They’re also important to our culture, dating back thousands of years in terms of heritage, inspiration of art,” Ngo says. They even provide inspiration for TikTok, where Erika Thompson，a professional beekeeper in Austin,Texas, shares her work.
“The landlord wanted to call an exterminator (根除者), but the family who lived here wanted to save the bees, so they called me,” she says in her video.
Her fans watch with happiness — and sometimes a little horror-as she picks up mounds (成堆) of bees with her bare hands and then moves them somewhere safer.
“I’ve removed bees from a lot of crazy places,” Thompson says. “You know, I’ve removed bees from homes, RVs, tires, speakers and even a toilet.”
Thompson’s work is about more than getting millions of views per video. “Bees are just a key factor in creating diverse and healthy ecosystems,” she notes.
1. What can we know about World Bee Day?| A．It has a long history of hundreds of years. |
| B．It is celebrated on May 22 every year. |
| C．It is designated by the United Kingdom. |
| D．People pay more attention to bees because of it. |
| A．The change of climate. | B．The shortage of food. |
| C．The damage to their habitat. | D．The application of pesticides. |
| A．Unconcerned. | B．Neutral (中立的). |
| C．Negative. | D．Supportive. |
| A．A Video-on Bees |
| B．How to Celebrate World Bee Day? |
| C．Why Should We Celebrate World Bee Day? |
| D．How Can We Human Beings Protect Bees? |
【推荐1】Tea Drinkers Enjoy Possible Health Benefits
The world is full of tea drinkers.
Past studies in China and Japan, where green tea is popular, have suggested several health benefits. Now, scientists say black tea may show similar benefits.
The researchers adjusted for risks that different persons may have related to health, living conditions, diet and lifestyle choices.
The research was published in Annals of Internal Medicine. The scientists said the lowered risk of death held true for study subjects with heart disease. However, researchers said there was no clear finding in connection with deaths from cancer.
Experts at the U. S. National Institutes of Health say polyphenols (茶多酚) are thought to be responsible for the health benefits that have traditionally been linked to tea, especially green tea. Green tea is reported to improve mental ability and head pain, and help people with weight loss. Green tea has also been studied for possible protective effects against heart disease and cancer.
The study of British tea drinkers was based on observing people’s behaviors and health.
“If you drink one cup a day already, I think that is good,” an expert said. “And please enjoy your cup of tea.”
| A．The researchers were not sure why. |
| B．For many, they simply enjoy the taste. |
| C．This kind of method cannot prove cause and effect. |
| D．China has a long history of growing and drinking tea. |
| E．Many studies have already proved the benefits of drinking tea. |
| F．The study found that high tea drinking was linked to a reasonable benefit. |
| G．Scientists from the United States National Cancer Institute carried out the study. |
【推荐2】Do you love food? Whether you’re a foodie or someone who just likes eating, there is so much to choose from. We know that too much of the wrong kind of food can be bad for our health, but for some people having a food allergy means that eating certain things can actually be harmful. Such cases may seem uncommon.
An allergy is caused by the immune (免疫的) system fighting substances in the
environment.Research has found that this problem is particularly affecting children.
So what might be the cause? Dr. Santos says, the increase in allergies is not simply the effect of society becoming more aware of them and better at diagnosing them.
| A．It seems to be more environmental. |
| B．A food allergy can affect you at any age. |
| C．Food allergies can cause life-threatening reactions. |
| D．Yet in fact, food allergies are affecting more and more of us. |
| E．More and more of them are having allergic reactions to certain food. |
| F．A lot of work is being done to try and find a cure, but that’s not easy. |
| G．We often hear about people having allergies to dairy products or to nuts. |
【推荐3】Most people will tell you that without a cup of coffee in the morning, they cannot function. Coffee is a good drink when consumed in right amount.
A legend says that Kaldi, an Ethiopian, discovered his goats enjoy eating coffee plants. Curious, he tasted the leaves and began to dance around. A passing monk witnessed the scene and took some back to his fellow monks. Later that night, the monks experienced extreme inspiration.
Caffeine is the major chemical in coffee. Caffeine poisoning can occur if more than 400 milligrams of caffeine is drunk in a short period, which is about four to five cups of coffee.
Large amounts of coffee can cause nervousness, worries and heartburn. However, if mixed with milk, it is fine.
| A．Coffee also has some benefits. |
| B．Coffee can be addictive like any drug. |
| C．Caffeine will also cause sleep difficulty. |
| D．The caffeine in coffee can actually help fight disease. |
| E．However, it is considered harmful if taken in large amount. |
| F．Drinking coffee while you have this kind of disease will make it worse. |
| G．Whether the legend is true or not, the discovery of coffee dates back to 800 A.D. |
【推荐1】Tea was first discovered and drunk in China. As the hometown of tea, China has a long history of processing and drinking tea. Today, China accounts for 60% of tea plantations in the world. A great number of tea gardens are in more than 20 provinces throughout the country.
For a long time, tea was used as herbal medicine. During the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC—771 BC), it was a religious offering. The earliest record about tea as a drink appeared in the Western Han Dynasty (202BC—9), which indicates the actual time may be earlier than that. Chinese tea culture prospered during the Tang Dynasty (618—907) because of a famous person, Lu Yu, Tea Sage of China. The Tea Classics written by him is a tea encyclopedia, detailing rules concerning various aspects of tea, such as growth areas for tea trees, wares and skills for processing and tasting of tea, and the history of Chinese tea. Also, in this period, tea seeds were taken to Japan but the tea culture didn’t spread in Japan until the South Song Dynasty (1127—1279). In the Song Dynasty, Arabic merchants exported tea from Quanzhou, Fujian Province. Tea was sold to Southeast Asian and South African countries in the Ming Dynasty(1368—1644). In 1610, it went to Europe via Macau in a Dutch merchant ship. Thus it became an international drink.
For Chinese people, it is not only a popular beverage with a lot of health benefits, but also keeps a central piece of Chinese traditional culture. Tea and tea sets should match surrounding elements such as breeze, bright moon, pines, bamboo, plums and snow. All these show the ultimate goal of Chinese culture: the harmonious unity of human beings with nature.
Chinese tea can be classified in many ways, such as quality, producing area, growth environment and processing method. The most common classification of Chinese tea is: the basic tea and the reprocessing tea.
1. In what order does the writer describe Paragraph Two?| A．In order of time. | B．In order of number. |
| C．In order of location. | D．In order of importance. |
| A．China has lots of tea gardens in 20 provinces. |
| B．Tea was shipped to Europe in the 16th century. |
| C．Tea might be used as a drink in the Qin Dynasty. |
| D．Japan got the tea seeds in the South Song Dynasty. |
| A．The Popularity of China Tea | B．The Introduction to China Tea |
| C．The Diversity of China Tea | D．The Benefit of Drinking China Tea |
| A．The productive amounts. | B．The significant influences. |
| C．The chemical components. | D．The detailed classifications. |
【推荐2】It’s really true what people say about English politeness: it’s everywhere. When squeezing(挤) past someone or passing through a crowd in a narrow place, people say “sorry”. When getting off a bus, English passengers say “thank you” rather than the driver. In Germany, people would never dream of doing these things. After all, squeezing past others is sometimes unavoidable(不可避免的), and the bus driver is only doing his job. I used to think the same way, without questioning it, until I started traveling to the British Isles and came to appreciate(欣赏) some more polite ways of communicating with people, and here are some more polite ways of interacting with people in UK.
People thank each other everywhere in England, all the time. When people buy something in a shop, customer and shop assistant in most cases thank each other twice or more. In Germany, it would be surprising to hear more than one thank you in such a conversation. British students thank their lecturers when leaving the room. English employers thank their employees for doing their jobs, which is different from Germans, who would normally think that paying their workers money is already enough.
Another thing I observed during my stay was that English people rarely criticize(批评) others. Even when I was working and mistakes were pointed out to me, my employers repeated several times but none of their explanations were intended as scolding me. It has been my impression that by avoiding scolding, English people are making an effort to make others feel comfortable. This also is showed in other ways. British men still open doors for women, and British men are more likely to treat(请客) women to a meal than German men. However, I do need to point out here that this applies(适用于) to English men a bit more than it would to Scottish men! Yes, the latter are a bit mean(吝啬的).
1. What is the author’s feeling of English politeness?| A．He thinks highly of it. | B．He thinks little of it. |
| C．He thinks it is unnecessary. | D．He thinks it goes too far. |
| A．British men never treat a woman to dinner. |
| B．British men think it’s unnecessary to say “thank you” to the bus driver. |
| C．In Germany, employers often say “thank you” to employees for their job. |
| D．Germans think it is unnecessary to thank workers because payment is enough. |
| A．like to fight with each other | B．treat women more politely than English men |
| C．are as generous as English men | D．are unwilling to spend money for women |
| A．telling stories | B．making comparisons (对比) |
| C．giving reasons | D．doing scientific research (调查) |
【推荐3】China has a history of more than four thousand years, and the Chinese people have established a colorful culture.
Ingredients——varieties of material choices allow Chinese food to provide many possibilities for Chinese chefs to be more creative.
The Chinese also use poultry, eggs and milk. Poultry includes chicken, duck, goose, turkey, pigeon, quail, and pheasant. Seafood and freshwater fish-hair tail, salmon, squad, sea cucumber, oyster, black carp, catfish, grass carp, variegated carp, shrimp, prawn, crab, and turtle-are also used in Chinese food.
Dried vegetables are also cooked, such as eggplant, bean, turnip, potato and pepper. Dried pork and dried fish are also often used in Chinese cooking. Drying vegetables is a way to store produce to use in winter.
In the north of China, people also preserve vegetables in salty water to pickle (腌制) them. Pickling offers a special taste, in addition to that of dried vegetables.
| A．Chinese cuisine is a necessary part of it. |
| B．Chinese dishes always look very beautiful. |
| C．But taste is the most distinct characteristic of Chinese food. |
| D．Dried meat is a very important ingredient of Chinese cuisine. |
| E．More importantly, it has a special taste different from fresh vegetables. |
| F．These include various grains, vegetables and the meat of different animals. |
| G．Chinese cuisine emphasizes the combination of color, fragrance and taste in its food. |
