When Amelia Lisowe was told she was too young to volunteer, she decided to make a difference by herself. The Benton, Arkansas native launched her own non-profit, Lisowe’s Lights, in 2018, donating over 500 nightlights to kids in the Arkansas foster (寄养的) system that year alone.
Since, she has expanded to all 50 states (and 9 countries) and raised funds to distribute more than 15,000 nightlights — with no plans of slowing down.
“Kids in foster homes sometimes have to leave in the middle of the night without taking anything with them,” she says. “I wanted to help them feel less scared and more safe.” The 12-year-old hopes to give away at least 2,500 more lights in 2023.
Amelia grew up volunteering with her mom, Lauren, who encouraged her daughter to find something she was good at and use it to make the world a better place. “I’m so proud of her,” Lauren adds. “She’s involved in every decision we make. Every time we spend money, she helps decide if something is a good idea or will further our cause.”
Amelia also gets help from friends in the Royal International Miss Pageant system, who run their own nightlight drives in person and online. Amelia, a sixth grader who also volunteers at her local food bank and nursing home, says she feels the impact of her work most when she hears from organizations that have put her lights to use.
“I heard about one boy in Oklahoma who never turned off his hall light, not because he was scared, but because he wanted to make sure his little sister was always doing okay across the hall,” Amelia shares. “When they got their nightlight, he knew she wouldn’t be afraid anymore.”
1. What was the reason for Amelia’s being refused as a volunteer?| A．Her young age. | B．Her slow reaction. |
| C．Her busy schedule. | D．Her little experience. |
| A．By easing their scare. | B．By encouraging them to explore. |
| C．By ensuring their safety. | D．By putting them to sleep. |
| A．Opposed. | B．Doubtful. | C．Supportive. | D．Worried. |
| A．To explain why he kept light on. | B．To express her pride in her job. |
| C．To decide what she would do next. | D．To show how nightlights help kids. |
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【推荐1】For centuries, elephants have played a big role in the world’s economies, culture and religion. The African elephant used to be found all over Africa and the Asian elephant moved from Syria to China to Indonesia. Nowadays, elephants are found in small groups in the south of the Sahara Desert and scarcely in Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka and India.
In the early twentieth century, there were close to ten million elephants, and now the elephant number is as low as 252,000 and expected to drop down to 160,000 by 2025. Between 2007 and 2014, the elephant population fell by at least 30%, or 144,000 elephants. As researchers have traveled over the African plains, they only spotted one herd of 36 elephants in an area like the size of Mexico. It is clear that these gentle mammals are disappearing right before our eyes.
There are many reasons why the elephant population has been decreasing, one of which is their habitat. Humans are competing with elephants for living space, and as more and more humans clear the land that is being used by elephants, the elephants have less space. Elephant hunting or “poaching” has been a major factor for the disappearance of this species, and they are killed only for their valuable ivory tusks. Although the trade of tusks is illegal, it is still a common practice in many places.
Often, all the local people living among elephants would be farmers, and found that they could make more money by selling the tusks of one elephant, than doing manual labor for twelve years. That alone makes it really hard to prevent them from killing the elephants.
Some places such as Botswana, have put in extra effort to protect their wildlife from poachers by founding their Botswana Defense Force, which is made up of around 700 specially-trained soldiers that are stationed in 40 different areas. You may feel worried about the present situations elephants are in, but there are ways to help. To find out how you can help elephant conservation, adopt an elephant, or donate, click here.
1. The numbers listed in Paragraph 2 show that .| A．humans don’t care for elephants |
| B．elephants have been next to extinction |
| C．elephants have become gentler than before |
| D．elephants have gained more attention |
| A．Less space. | B．A lack of food. |
| C．Suffering from a disease. | D．Elephant hunting. |
| A．Their tusks are profitable. |
| B．Elephants are destroying their fields cruelly. |
| C．Farmers hope to make a living by selling their meat. |
| D．Farmers practice their hunting skills by killing elephants. |
| A．To persuade readers to make a donation. |
| B．To guide readers how to protect elephants. |
| C．To encourage readers to help protect elephants. |
| D．To introduce the decreasing number of elephants. |
【推荐2】Loneliness is spreading in our times. According to research conducted this year, nearly 50% of people aged 55and above in the Netherlands experience loneliness. There may be friendly neighborhood, but during the pandemic the elderly suffer a lot as their immune system does not permit them to step out for shopping or any type of activities.
Dutch Local Jumbo Supermarket in Vlijmen is working to make their community less lonely. They recently launched two initiatives(新方案) in the supermarket for seniors: All Together Coffee Corner and Chat Checkout. All Together Coffee Comer is opened as a social coffee corner where elderly people meet with other locals just for a chat or to ask for help with small tasks. The goal of the coffee corner is to act as a meeting point for elderly people with locals as well as volunteers who can help them. The initiative is a huge success. Volunteers help elders in shopping, walking, etc.
Also, Jumbo introduced 200 chat registers in its stores for customers who are not in a hurry and want to talk or chat during checkout. They piloted the first chat register in 2019, which was received positively by customers. The government has introduced Chat Checkout under government-sponsored One Against Loneliness program which also established a 24/7 loneliness hotline for people who are lonely. According to Jumbo representative, this is a small gesture but a very valuable one, especially in a world that is digitizing and getting faster and faster.
Jumbo supermarket is considering opening more chat registers where loneliness is a major issue in the Netherlands. In addition, it will be introducing “cozy chat corners” where customers can sit and have a coffee with others. And it will donate materials to Oma’s Soep, an initiative that brings university students with elders to prepare soup.
1. What can elders do in All Together Coffee Corner?| A．Meet family and friends. | B．Volunteer for small tasks. |
| C．Receive help in shopping. | D．Provide customer service. |
| A．It offers lonely elders online help. | B．It goes down well with customers. |
| C．It is a way to fight quick pace of life. | D．It was sponsored by the government. |
| A．Culture. | B．Health. |
| C．Opinion. | D．Entertainment. |
| A．Loneliness spreads among the elderly |
| B．Elders need more care in the pandemic |
| C．A small gesture makes a big difference |
| D．Initiatives help elders tackle loneliness |
【推荐3】Jordan wakes at 6 a.m. She helps her disabled mother, who is recovering from surgery for breast cancer, into the bath. Jordan has it all timed. She has a quick breakfast as her mother bathes, and returns to help her out of the bathtub and into her room. Before going to school, the 14-year-old has to walk the dog. In the evening, Jordan takes care of the family’s animals and helps her mother into bed. Then she had a chance to eat dinner, do homework and wind down before going to sleep. Bedtime can be past midnight for the Florida nine-grader.
“You have to have a certain level of maturity (成熟) to do it,” She says. As a determined student, Jordan is already planning a career in medicine.
About 1.4 million children between ages 8 and 18 are caregivers nationwide, according to American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY). Evenly divided between girls and boys, about a third are between 8 and 11, and nearly 40% are between 12 and 15. For the young caretakers, most common are chores like shopping, fixing meals and household tasks, or keeping the family member company. Hands-on care includes helping loved ones with day-to-day activities such as bathing, dressing and toileting, getting in and out of bed and chairs, and feeding.
AACY is a nonprofit organization supporting caregiving kids in various ways, including financial assistance, caregiving education and camps to connect young caregivers to peers. Through AACY’s Care Giving Youth Project, Jordan is not alone and she is able to develop friendships with teens like her. “I felt much more relieved and less embarrassed because I wasn’t the only one.” She says. “I met one of my best friends and I’m still friends with her today.”
There is light at the end of the tunnel for Jordan. “Seeing the people I’m taking care of become better gives me a relief that things will get better,” she says. She believes that AACY will continue to help her mother when it’s time for her to go to college.
1. Which can be used to describe Jordan's life?| A．Exciting and interesting. | B．Peaceful but lonely. |
| C．Busy and stressful. | D．Easy but boring. |
| A．Two thirds of them are teens. | B．Most of them are school girls. |
| C．They are experienced in care giving. | D．They take on a wide range of duties. |
| A．She is an official of AACY. | B．She is also a teen caregiver. |
| C．She helps kids communicate. | D．She is suffering a bad disease. |
| A．To have some rest. | B．To take a nap. |
| C．To get dressed. | D．To sing a song. |
【推荐1】Many regions and cities across China have declared a “2.5-day-a-week” vacation system to boost consumption and tourism now that the novel coronavirus outbreak has been largely controlled in the country. Since March, Hebei, Zhejiang and Jiangxi provinces, Longnan in Gansu province and Lichuan in Hubei province have launched the 2.5-day-a-week vacation system, providing residents a longer weekend to spend with their families.
The State Council, China’s Cabinet, had proposed a “4.5-day flexible working system” as early as August 2015 to promote tourism. But in many regions that became a reality only recently, when the authorities began promoting consumption and tourism, which dropped drastically because of the strict epidemic prevention and control measures.
Tourism and transportation industries, particularly the aviation industry, have suffered heavily because of the suspension of business in the past three months. The National Bureau of Statistics' data show the country's total retail sales of consumer goods declined 19 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2020.
As the epidemic situation has largely been controlled now, on-the-spot consumption and tourism activity is recovering gradually. Many regions are looking at the Labor Day holiday to increase consumption.
They are also keen on promoting a 4.5-day-a-week flexible working system to allow people time to undertake short-distance self-driving trips to boost the retail and hospitality sectors. Unlike long-distance public transport trips, short-distance self-driving trips reduce infection risk.
However, many feel the well-intentioned policy will be difficult to be carried out in enterprises that cannot even guarantee two-day weekends. The impact of the pandemic on the economy will also make it difficult for some enterprises to sanction longer weekends. It might be easier to introduce extended weekends in government and institutions, but some fear that reduced working hours for government agencies will inconvenience the public. Therefore, this good-intentioned policy's future boils down to effective practice.
1. Why do many cities in China launch a “2.5-day-a-week” holiday system?| A．To encourage purchase and tourism. |
| B．To reduce residents’ working pressure. |
| C．To control the novel coronavirus outbreak. |
| D．To provide residents with a longer weekend with their families. |
| A．the intention of the policy. |
| B．the impact of the pandemic on the economy. |
| C．the attitude of enterprises towards the policy. |
| D．the challenges for enterprises to carry out the policy. |
| A．Government officials. | B．Employees in institutions. |
| C．Workers in factories. | D．College students. |
| A．Enterprises cannot guarantee two-day weekends. |
| B．The novel coronavirus outbreak largely controlled. |
| C．Tourism and transportation industries suffered heavily. |
| D．Longer weekends to boost consumption and tourism. |
【推荐2】Traffic jam is a problem for cities around the world, with some looking to electric scooters（踏板车）to ease the problem, and others to AI-enabled traffic lights. But one company believes the solution is to build a network of driverless high-speed pods（吊舱）that ride around cities suspended（悬挂）from a steel track.
In June, Belarus-based uSky Transport opened a 400-meter test line in Sharjah（沙加）.From the outside, the electrically powered pods are white while the inside is designed to feel like a first-class airline suite, including mood lighting, music and floor-to-ceiling windows. With two padded armchairs and two foldable seats, the vehicle being tested can carry up to four passengers. A complete city-wide network could support 10, 000 passengers per hour, uSky says, with vehicles at present able to travel up to 150 kilometers per hour.
The company says its aim is to free up roads and ground spaces that could be used for greenery, walkways and public leisure spaces," The ground space is completely oversaturated, and people are tired of traffic jams. People are tired of emissions," says Oleg Zaretskiy, uSky Transport's CEO.
According to uSky, while one kilometer of subway can cost up to $ 150 million to construct, this system costs around $ 10 million. And by using less structural materials, it reduces carbon emissions. The company has also developed a similar technology to transport goods containers, carrying up to 48 tons at a top speed of 90 kilometers per hour.
Although she cautions that it would require careful planning to avoid traffic jam in a busy city-wide network, Haag believes it could still be a widely adopted solution if the promises of improved mobility and sustainability（持续性）are kept.
Zaretskiy says uSky is also looking beyond Sharjah. "We can see that the most promising areas for us are in the Middle East and Asia-places where there is natural growth of population, such as India and Pakistan," he says. Haag adds that pods are more suited to countries where public transportation is under-developed and there is increasing demand for mobility solutions. The company hopes to finalize its first commercial contract（商业合同）by the end of the year in Sharjah, Zaretskiy adds, meaning uSky pods could be running properly by 2024.
1. What's the company's goal according to Oleg Zaretskiy?| A．To solve the problem of traffic jam completely. |
| B．To free up more ground space for other uses. |
| C．To compete with airplane companies. |
| D．To develop public transportation. |
| A．They are less safe to travel. | B．They are expensive to construct. |
| C．They are popular with most people. | D．They are environmentally friendly. |
| A．Crowded. | B．Vast. |
| C．Clean. | D．Empty. |
| A．USky Pods Help Cities Solve Traffic Problems |
| B．The Company USky Is Developing a New Product |
| C．USky Transport Competes with Airplane Companies |
| D．Some Countries Have Demand for Mobility Solutions |
【推荐3】Robots have learned to drive on Mars, carry out brain surgery and defeat grandmaster chess players. But when it comes to baking, making tasty desserts is far from a piece of cake. But after multiple failed attempts, US researchers have successfully 3D printed a cherry cheesecake.
The sorry-looking flan resembles a slice of cottage pie, topped with blancmange. Nevertheless, scientists are hopeful that once mastered, 3D printing could replace conventional cooking, allowing food to be tailored to nutritional needs of children, athletes or those on dietary restrictions.
“We have an enormous problem with the low-nutrient value of processed foods,” said Professor Christen Cooper of Pace University Nutrition and Dietetics. “3D food printing will still turn out processed foods, but perhaps the silver lining will be, for some people, better control and tailoring of personalised nutrition. It may also be useful in making food more appealing to those with swallowing disorders by mimicking the shapes of real foods with the mashed texture foods that these patients require.”
In the latest experiment, researchers tried various cheesecake designs, consisting of seven key ingredients: a biscuit base, peanut butter, Nutella, banana puree, strawberry jam, cherry drizzle, and frosting. In early attempts, which involved simply layering up the ingredients, the team found that the cake quickly disintegrated, with jam and peanut butter leaking out onto the work bench.
They discovered through trial and error that a more architectural solution was needed. Walls of biscuit base were required throughout the cake to hold the softer ingredients inside, while internal triangular biscuit supports were necessary to keep the cake upright.
“The study highlights that printed food dishes will likely require novel ingredient compositions and structures, due to the different way by which the food is assembled,” said Cooper. “Much work is still needed to collect data, model, and optimize these processes.”
But the team said that laser cooking and 3D printing could allow chefs to create entirely new food experiences, with flavors and textures placed with millimetre precision. And, because the system uses targeted light for very localized cooking, it could save energy unlike ovens or hobs which heat a large area.
1. Why are robots mentioned in the first paragraph?| A．To compare to find the advantages of robots. | B．To show how to use robots to make cakes. |
| C．To introduce the topic of 3D printed food. | D．To prove 3D printers are better than robots. |
| A．It is designed to replace all processed foods. | B．It may help some people with special needs. |
| C．It looks more attractive than ordinary ones. | D．It is appealing to children having sweet teeth. |
| A．Present 3D printed food are not perfect now. | B．3D printing technology needs improving. |
| C．Printed food dishes will be forbidden. | D．Swallowing disorders will disappear. |
| A．It’s time to save energy using 3D printers. |
| B．Without 3D printer the world would be less colorful. |
| C．3D printed food will make chefs out of work in future. |
| D．3D-printed cheesecakes predict ‘personalized nutrition’. |
【推荐1】Hita Gupta used to volunteer at a nursing home, trying to brighten the days of the residents. Now she spreads sunshine far and wide.
As a15-year-old sophomore(高二学生) at Conestoga High School, Hita has created a nonprofit organization that specializes in bringing cheer to socially isolated seniors. Her Brighten A Day foundation started out by sending goodie bags(礼包) with an adult coloring book, a large print puzzle book and crayons to Philadelphia-area nursing homes and sending letters with uplifting messages to facilities in neighboring states.
Hita has since widened the scope(范围) of her project, which is backed by donations through a Go Fund Me page as well as the work of an expanding army of volunteers. The project has reached as far as Hawaii and now includes video messages as well as the delivery of smart devices to help residents communicate with loved ones. “We’ve been able to reach so many seniors-who are among the loneliest people in our society-and let them know they are not alone,” Hita said.
Hita’s project has lifted spirits at the Genesis Wayne Center, according to Kaylee Nichols, the facility’s director. “It’s impressive to see a high school student take that kind of initiative,” Nichols said. “That generation, they normally don’t think about seniors.”
Hita was motivated to take action when officials at the nursing home where she used to volunteer said that she couldn’t visit anymore because of the corona virus outbreak. It made her determined to do something else to try to help. She started the Go Fund Me page, expanded the foundation’s website and began organizing volunteers from around the country to write cards or make videos for nursing home residents, who have been the most severely impacted by COVID-19. Hita also expanded her project to include the acquisition(收购)and distribution of smart devices to nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
“I'm very proud that Hita is able to bring smiles to so many seniors,” her mother, Swait, wrote in an email. Hita said her foundation's name was a reflection of her determination to chase away doubt and depression for folks in need. “I thought of the sun,” Gupta said. “I thought of people in the dark, lonely, and how much I wanted to brighten their days and bring joy to them.”
1. What is the main aim of Hita’s Brighten A Day project?| A．To raise funds for nursing homes. |
| B．To deliver care to seniors at nursing homes. |
| C．To teach seniors to communicate effectively. |
| D．To facilitate the development of the nursing industry. |
| A．It started in Hawaii and then expanded to other states. |
| B．It is supported by volunteers across the country. |
| C．It encourages seniors to use smart devices less. |
| D．It offers its donors a special goodie bag. |
| A．Surprised. | B．Frustrated. | C．Supportive. | D．Disappointed. |
| A．It shows her resolution to get rid of people's sad feeling. |
| B．It's a reflection of her decision to expand her project. |
| C．It mirrors her doubt to bring joy to people in need. |
| D．It is the public image of her project. |
| A．Fame is a great thirst of the young. |
| B．Free care facilities for seniors are necessary. |
| C．Smiling means getting personal desires satisfied. |
| D．Bringing spiritual pleasure to the elderly is meaningful. |
【推荐2】Zachariah Fike has an unusual hobby. He finds old military (军队的) medals for sale in antique stores and on the Internet.But unlike most collectors, Zac tracks down the medals’ rightful owners, and returns them.
His effort to reunite families with lost medals began with a Christmas gift from his mother, a Purple Heart with the name Corrado A. G. Piccoli, found in an antique shop. Zac knows the meaning of a Purple Heart-he earned one himself in a war as a soldier. So when his mother gave him the medal, he knew right away what he had to do.
Through the Internet, Zac tracked down Corrado’s sister Adeline Rockko. But when he finally reached her, the woman flooded him with questions: “Who are you? What antique shop?” However, when she hung up, she regretted the way she had handled the call. So she called Zac back and apologized. Soon she drove to meet Zac in Watertown, N.Y. “At that point, I knew she meant business, ” Zac says. “To drive eight hours to come to see me.”
The Piccolis grew up the children of Italian immigrants in Watertown. Corrado, a translator for the Army during WWII, was killed in action in Europe.
Before hearing from Zac, Adeline hadn’t realized the medal was missing. Like many military medals, the one Zac’s mother had found was a family treasure. “This medal was very precious to my parents. Only on special occasions (场合) would they take it out and let us hold it in our hands,” Adeline says.
As a child, Adeline couldn't understand why the medal was so significant. “But as I grew older,” Adeline says, “and missed my brother more and more, I realized that was the only thing we had left.” Corrado Piccoli’s Purple Heart medal now hangs at the Italian American Civic Association in Watertown.
Zac recently returned another lost medal to a family in Alabama. Since he first reunited Corrado’s medal, Zac says his record is now 5 for 5.
1. Where did Zac get a Purple Heart medal for himself?| A．In the army. | B．In an antique shop. |
| C．From his mother. | D．From Adeline Rockko. |
| A．Her parents’ advice. | B．Her knowledge of antiques. |
| C．Her childhood dream. | D．Her memory of her brother. |
【推荐3】It was a winter morning, just a couple of weeks before Christmas 2005. While most people were warming up their cars, Trevor, my husband, had to get up early to ride his bike four kilometers away from home to work. On arrival, he parked his bike outside the back door as he usually does. After putting in 10 hours of labor, he returned to find his bike gone.
The bike, a black Kona 18 speed, was our only transport. Trevor used it to get to work, putting in 60-hour weeks to support his young family. And the bike was also used to get groceries (食品杂货), saving us from having to walk long distances from where we live.
I was so sad that someone would steal our bike that I wrote to the newspaper and told them our story. Shortly after that, several people in our area offered to help. One wonderful stranger even bought a bike, then called my husband to pick it up. Once again my husband had a way to get to and from his job. It really is an honor that a complete stranger would go out of their way for someone they have never met before.
People say that a smile can be passed from one person to another, but acts of kindness from strangers are even more so. This experience has had a spreading impact in our lives because it strengthened our faith in humanity (人性) as a whole. And it has influenced us to be more mindful of ways we, too, can share with others. No matter how big or how small, an act of kindness shows that someone cares. And the results can be everlasting.
1. Why was the bike so important to the couple?| A．They used it for work and daily life. | B．It was their only possessions. |
| C．It was a nice Kona 18 speed. | D．The man’s job was bike racing. |
| A．the couple worked 60 hours a week | B．life was hard for the young family |
| C．the stranger brought over the bike | D．people were busy before Christmas |
| A．incident. | B．ability. | C．approval. | D．effect. |
| A．Strangers are usually of little help. | B．An act of kindness can mean a lot. |
| C．News reports make people famous. | D．One should take care of their bike. |
