“I grew garlic for the first time as I didn’t want to throw it away. It grew roots in just seven days. It opened up a new world to me,” said Zhong Liu, a young illustrator living in Shenzhen. On the 5-square-meter balcony (阳台) of Zhong’s apartment, there is a mini-farm with lemons, tomatoes and eggplants.
Zhong’s lifestyle started when residents were required to work from home. Zhong is not alone. An increasing number of urban youth have picked up the hobby of growing vegetables on their balconies as working from home has changed their lives. Zhong has started sharing her journey on social media platforms this year, which has brought her more than 100, 000 followers.
In a chat group consisting of over 100 balcony green thumbs across the country, they share the growth of their vegetables, discussing which plants are more suitable for balcony planting and how to fertilize (施肥) crops. “Balcony gardening really heals the urban youth. We plant and look forward to the harvest, and experience the happiness.” Zhong said.
Chinese city managers are also seeking new methods to rebuild the relationship between urban residents and nature through vegetable gardens. The government of Guangzhou launched a vegetable garden project, providing seeds and farm tools at the minimum price as well as organizing agricultural experts to provide online Q&A for local residents, in an effort to encourage urban youth to get in touch with nature through balcony planting.
In cities, people need to get along with nature. They will be healed during the process of getting close to plants. Parent-child relationships can be strengthened by taking part in the activities together. Community gardening also promotes interpersonal communication, and makes neighborhoods harmonious.
1. Why does the author say Zhong Liu is not alone?| A．She stays at home with her family around. |
| B．She shares the gardening habit with many. |
| C．She works from home with her colleagues. |
| D．She connects with her friends online easily. |
| A．Young gardeners. |
| B．Agricultural experts. |
| C．Government officials. |
| D．Experienced farmers. |
| A．Providing free gardening tools. |
| B．Purchasing seeds from local farmers. |
| C．Inviting experts to share knowledge. |
| D．Establishing rules on balcony gardens. |
| A．How to Grow Your Own Balcony Garden |
| B．Balcony Garden: a New Trend for Urban Youth |
| C．Zhong Liu: How I Adapt to Working from Home |
| D．Guangzhou Works Hard for a Pleasant Environment |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Don’t Buy Fertilizer (肥料)! It Is All Around You.
The cost of everything seems to be rising around the world. So, growing our own food is a good way to save money. However, the cost of gardening has also been rising. Now make your own!
Consider cut grass
If you leave cut grass on the grassland, you may not need fertilizer. As grass breaks down, it benefits the soil (土壤).
Make your own compost (堆肥)
Compost is the best thing you can add to soil. Compost helps to control how much water stays in the soil. It keeps dry soil wet. Compost also adds nutrients (营养) to the soil.
To make your own compost, simply collect fruit and vegetable leftovers. Do not add meat, milk, or fats. You can keep the food leftovers in a bowl in your kitchen.
Just be sure to bury (埋) them at least 25 to 30 centimeters deep. This will keep hungry wildlife from digging them up.
Use leftovers from around your house
Are you a fish owner? Plants can also get help from used fish-tank water. This water is rich in nutrients. Do you cook vegetables in water? If so, save it!
And water from cooked eggs is full of calcium. This is especially useful for tomatoes. Just make sure to let the water cool to room temperature before using it on your plants.
You can even use eggshells (壳). Dry out the eggshells.
| A．They are good for plants. |
| B．Then break them up into tiny pieces. |
| C．This will help grass to continue to grow. |
| D．The same can be done with banana wastes. |
| E．Whenever it fills up, bury it directly in the garden earth. |
| F．And bury the leftovers several centimeters from the plants. |
| G．The water is filled with useful things that could help your garden. |
【推荐2】The monarch butterfly migration(迁徙)is at risk because of climate change and other envuronmental factors.
Do you know that monarch butterflies can travel up to 50- 100 miles a day? If you know they need travel about two months, you’ll have an idea of the distance monarchs travel to get to Mexico.
Monarch butterflies are the only hind of butterflies to make a two-way migration. They travel to Mexico to escape the winter season in the northern climates. Cold, wet weather is considered deadly for monarchs, while hotter, diner summer change their homes in the north.
2020, however, saw a 26% drop from the year earlier in migration patterns reported in a report from the World Wildlife Fund and the Mexican government. With this drop, the butterflies’ population covered only 2.1 hectares in 2020, compared to 2.8 hectares a year earlier. And the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Michoacan. Mexico, lost trees at a higher rate than it did in 2019.
With climate change as the monarch butterflies’ biggest challenge, they are faced with many dangers, such as drought, deforestation(滥伐森林)and struggle to breed. These dangers affect the whole migration and hold back population growth. Female monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed flowers, which have been heavily affected by the wild weather from spring and summer of last year. Because of this, the development of butterfly eggs was also affected.
Since 2013, Mexico has seen a rapid drop in the number of migrants arriving to the area. The effects of climate change and deforestation have become an important sign that action needs to be taken to make sure of a healthy migration for monarchs going forward. If not, it’s their possible dying, out that wall fall unto our hands.
1. Haw far do monarch butterflies fly to escape the cold?| A．50-100 miles. | B．100-200 miles. |
| C．1,500 – 3,000 miles. | D．3,000 -6,000 miles. |
| A．It is becoming cold and wet. | B．It is dangerous for monarchs |
| C．Its environment is being destroyed. | D．Its area is growing smaller. |
| A．The damage to forests. | B．The dangers monarchs face. |
| C．The growth process of monarchs. | D．The development of butterfly eggs |
| A．Point out the signs of climate change. | B．Explain the cause of the monarch migration. |
| C．Call for measures to stop monarchs dying out. | D．Express regret at the monarchs’ disappearance. |
【推荐3】In southeastern Brazil, local fishers walk into dark waters in search of mullet (鲻鱼). On their own, it would be tricky to find the silvery fish. But the humans get help from an unusual partner — wild bottle-nose dolphins.
With nets in hand, the fishers patiently wait as their cetacean (鲸类的) partners drive the fish toward the shore. A signal from the dolphins — usually a deep dive — indicates when they should cast their nets. This fishing partnership has passed down through the generations, lasting for more than a century,
While researchers knew humans profited from this pairing, they couldn’t confirm whether it benefited the dolphins. Now, in a new study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers suggest cetaceans that hunt with humans have more chances to live than those that don’t. Human-wildlife cooperation in general is a rare phenomenon at a global scale, “says Mauricio Cantor, a biologist at Oregon State University and leader of the study. Usually humans gain the benefit, and nature pays the cost. But this interaction has been happening for over 150 years.”
Fishers were more successful when they worked with the dolphins. When dolphins were present, the fishers were 17 times more likely to catch prey (猎物) and netted nearly four times more mullet when they timed their casting with the cetaceans signals. Eighty-six percent of all 4,955 mullet caught during the study period came from their interactions at the same time — when the allies organized their actions perfectly with one another.
The study also revealed dolphins hunting with humans had a 13 percent increase in survival rate over other dolphins, These cooperative dolphins are more likely to stay near the shore, reducing their chance of being caught in illegal fishing equipment. Besides, the dolphins can take some fish directly from the fishers’ harvest.
1. What do the first two paragraphs talk about concerning Brazilian fishers?| A．They trick dolphins into fishing for them. |
| B．They have been training dolphins over a century. |
| C．They harvest more fish with dolphins’ help. |
| D．They cast the fishing nets when dolphins surface. |
| A．Nature favors human beings at no cost. |
| B．Fishers’ benefiting from cooperation with cetaceans is common. |
| C．Human-wildlife interaction is a new global trend. |
| D．Dolphins cooperating with man have higher survival rate. |
| A．Partners. |
| B．Fishers. |
| C．Dolphins. |
| D．Researchers. |
| A．To appeal for the protection of sea creatures. |
| B．To applaud for development in fishing research. |
| C．To show a unique human-dolphin relationship. |
| D．To encourage fishers to better draw on dolphins. |
【推荐1】Professional rock climber Emil Harrington has made history after successfully free climbing Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan last Wednesday.
Harrington, 34, became the fourth person—and the first woman – to ever scale the 3,000-foot El Capitan without the help of a rope or other equipment. “The people before me who have achieved this are kind of like some of my heroes in rock climbing,” she said, “so it feels pretty special to join that group.”
But Harrington’s climb was not without injury—at one point, she slid and was left with a serious wound on her forehead that required her to take a break. “I took a fall and I couldn’t get my feet out and my head actually hit the wall,” she recalled. “I got this would on my forehead. I rested a little bit longer, bandaged it up, and then tried again,” Harrington said, adding that although she “kind of didnt really want to try again,” she powered through because “I felt like I should try again.”
After 21 hours and 13 minutes, Harrington scaled all of El Capitan, achieving a feat(壮举) she failed to finish twice last year. “That was my life dream. I achieved it,” she said.
Harrington previously scaled Mt. Qomolangma, the tallest mountain in the world. As a former member of the USA climbing team, Harrington has competed in five US sport climbing championships and two North American championships.
1. What do we learn about Harringtons conquering El Capitan?| A．She took no tools to help her |
| B．She climbed up the mountain freely |
| C．She was the first person to climb El Capitan |
| D．She got the fourth place in the competition |
| A．Remove | B．Mount | C．Measure | D．Weigh |
| A．The risk of the climbing | B．Harrington’s determination |
| C．The meaning of failure | D．Harrington’s expert skills |
| A．Harrington’s achievements | B．US sport climbing events |
| C．The climbing team’s arrangements | D．The secret to Harrington’s success |
【推荐2】“IS THERE SOME game where I just lie really still on a comfy bed or something?” Bandit, the father in “Bluey”, asks with hope in his voice. “Hospitals!” yell Bluey and Bingo, his two cheerful dog daughters. “Oh, not hospital,” sighs Bandit, as he is led to a pile of sofa cushions on the floor to become a patient. This is just one of the games the Heeler family plays. There’s “Daddy Robot”, where Bandit is assigned chores, and “Hotel”, where the workers (the children) repeatedly wake up the guest (Bandit).
“Bluey”, a hit series about four Blue Heeler dogs, first aired on Australian television on October 1st five years ago. It is a celebration of the funny and humorous games adults and children play together. The creator, Joe Brumm, an Australian animator, draws on his own experience of bringing up little ones. Mr Brumm created “Bluey” as Australia’s answer to “Peppa Pig”, a beloved British animated series. And the TV series went viral. In America, more than 23 million hours of “Bluey” were streamed in a single week in July: an impressive feat given each instalment is around seven minutes long.
The global success originates from the wholesome premise: a family having fun, which parents like to show their children. There is an instructive element, too, as the dogs usually learn something about the real world as a result of their games. For children who expect a present from every party they go to, “Pass the Parcel” teaches them about the joy of generosity. “Bluey” is also beautifully designed, with calming hues and soft music. It makes a pleasant change from the gaudy colours and ear-splitting noise used in many kids’ programmes.
The show has its critics. It revolves around a bog-standard two-parent, two-child unit, even though families come in all shapes and sizes. Some gender stereotypes persist, too. Although Bandit is involved in parenting, he is often the fun parent while Chilli, the mother, does domestic chores and organises the family. Some claim the show puts pressure on parents to be constant play companions to their children.
But still “Bluey” entertains parents, who will have played many made-up games with their own children. Parents empathise with Bandit’s sighs and understand why Chilli “likes being by herself”. The characters provide a model for young and old alike.
1. What purpose does the first paragraph serve?| A．To describe scenes in a game. | B．To support an argument. |
| C．To introduce the topic. | D．To attract people to watch the TV series. |
①gaudy colors ②educative elements ③appealing designs
④ear-splitting noise ⑤an image of happy family ⑥calming and soft music
| A．①③⑤⑥ | B．①②④⑤ | C．①③④⑥ | D．②③⑤⑥ |
| A．It bears gender discrimination against females. |
| B．It stereotypes the shape, size and roles of the family. |
| C．It pressures parents to act as role models for their children. |
| D．It stresses the bond between family members. |
| A．A TV series goes viral when it shares viewers’ emotions. |
| B．A TV series goes viral when it reflects conflicts between its creator and its viewers. |
| C．A TV series goes viral when it imitates a popular character. |
| D．A TV series goes viral when it advocates unconventional values. |
【推荐3】Paper straws, which are being pushed across the U.S. as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic versions, may contain “forever chemicals” that are harmful to both humans and the environment and were observed more often than in a sample of plastic straws, a new European study has found.
Belgian researchers tested 39 straw brands from restaurants and retailers for synthetic (人工合成的) chemicals known as poly and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The study found that the majority of straws contained those chemicals, but they were most common in those made from paper and bamboo. The chemicals are referred to as “forever chemicals” as they can remain for thousands of years in the environment. The chemicals have been associated with health issues like liver damage or kidney cancer and can harm the environment as well.
Of the brands tested, 90% of the paper straws contained PFAS, compared to 80% of bamboo straws, 75% of plastic straws and 40% of glass straws. None of the steel straws contained the chemicals. The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Food Additives and Contaminants. Researchers stressed that PFAS concentration was low and posed a limited risk to health, given that people use such straws only occasionally. But they can remain in the body for years, and concentrations can build up, they said in a release.
“Straws made from plant-based materials, such as paper and bamboo, are often advertised as being more sustainable and eco-friendly than those made from plastic,” researcher Dr. Thimo Groffen, an environmental scientist at the University of Antwerp, said in a statement. “However, the presence of PFAS in these straws means that’s not necessarily true.”
It wasn’t clear whether the chemicals were added by manufacturers or occurred due to contamination (污染) from soil and water during manufacturing. The study did not look into whether the straws could contaminate liquids.
“The presence of PFAS in paper and bamboo straws shows that they are not necessarily biodegradable,” Groffen said. “We did not detect any PFAS in stainless steel straws, so I would advise consumers to use this type of straw — or just avoid using straws at all.”
The study comes as European countries, and some parts of the U.S., have pushed to shift away from plastic straws to alternatives in efforts to be more environmentally friendly. States including California and New York have enforced bans on single-use plastic straws in restaurants.
1. According to the passage, what do we know about PFAS?| A．They are newly found substances in the field of synthetic chemicals. |
| B．Despite low concentration, the accumulation poses potential risks. |
| C．They are added to the straws during the process of manufacturing. |
| D．The effects of them on human bodies can be immediate and severe. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Supportive. | C．Uncertain. | D．Tolerant |
| A．Economic reasons. | B．Reducing chemical consumption. |
| C．Environmental concerns. | D．Health issues related to PFA. |
| A．Paper Straws — an Eco-friendly Alterative |
| B．Paper Straws — a Relatively Greater Threat |
| C．Paper Straws — an Association to Health Issues |
| D．Paper Straws — a Shift from Plastics |
