【推荐1】Arnold Sports Festival Guide

Set to kick off Feb. 27, the Arnold Sports Festival is ready to take the sports world by storm. With three days of competition, it includes bodybuilding(健美), fencing(击剑), martial arts and skipping ropes.

Day 1: Thursday

The festival is scheduled to start with bodybuilding championships. Arnold himself first entered the world stage as a bodybuilder, so it is a way to kick off the event with the pride and joy of the fitness competition. Ticket price is set at 25. The event is planned to start at 4 p. m. at the Veteran’s Stadium.

Day 2: Friday

The Arnold Fitness Exhibition, weightlifting championships and the martial arts festival will be the highlights for the second day. The Arnold Fitness Exhibition will feature more than 800 booths showingsports equipment, companies and fitness entertainments. Ticket is 15 to get into the exhibition at the Greater Center Hall starting at 9:30 a. m. You can head to the Local Gymnasium for the martial arts festival. Tickets range from 30 to 150 to watch the region’s top players. Doors open at 7 p. m.

Day 3: Saturday

Halfway through the festival, events will kick off at 7 a. m. Saturday. First up will be the Arnold Fencing Competition, which starts Friday at the Veteran’s Stadium. On the day, the Skipping Competition will take place. Starting at 8: 30 a. m. at the GC Hall, the event will include Tori Boggs, who happens to be a world champion skipper. She holds the world female record with 985 in three minutes. The event’s ticket prices are from $ 50 to $ 100, depending on the different seating areas.

1. Why does the festival start with bodybuilding competition?

A．To avoid the stormy weather.	B．The event is very popular in the world.
C．In honor of Arnold, a successful bodybuilder.	D．To make sure Arnold can attend the competition.

2. If you want to watch the exhibition, how much must you pay?

A．$ 15.

B．$ 25.

C．$ 50.

D．$ 100.

3. Where should visitors go to have fun watching the fencing competition?

A．The Local Gymnasium.	B．The Veteran’s Stadium.
C．The Great Center Hall.	D．The Arnold Sports Stadium.

【推荐2】As the coronavirus pandemic has interrupted holiday events, some parks have not been allowed to open. A surprising number of parks, however, will be open to celebrate the holidays with twinkling-lights-filled special events.

Be aware that because of limited capacity to accommodate social distancing, most parks require visitors to make reservations. It goes without saying that in these uncertain times events may change with evolving conditions, so check with the parks for the latest details.

Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood in Tennessee

•When：Select days through Jan.3

•Details：dollywood.com/themepark/festivals

More than 5 million lights illuminate（照亮）nearly every building and tree through-out Dolly Parton’s park in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. And as you might expect, Dollywood features lots of holiday-themed shows and performances. The highlight is“Christmas in the Smokies”, an impressive production that is a tradition at the park. It is being presented indoors at Dolly Parton’s Celebrity Theater, although groups are being seated separately, and the audience capacity is reduced by about 50%. “Everybody needs a little light this Christmas,” says Pete Owens, VP of marketing and public relations.

Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Florida and Christmas Celebration at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia

·Florida：Friday to Jan.3

·Details：buschgardens.com/tampa/events

·Virginia：Select dates through Jan.3

·Details：buschgardens.com/williamsburg/events

The two Busch Gardens parks will be covered by lights and trimmed trees, and traditional Christmas songs will fill the air. Items served at the Williamsburg park will include a turkey dinner with all the fixings along with ginger cake for a treat. At the Tampa park, fireworks will light the sky, and the annual ice skating production,“Christmas on Ice,”will move to an outdoor theater.

“There’s nothing like a train ride for Christmas,”says Neal Thurman, president of the Florida park.“Guests will enjoy the Holly Jolly Express as well as our returning shows,’Three Kings Journey’ and ‘ Elmo’s Christmas Wish.’”

Holidays at Legoland Florida and Legoland California

·Florida：Select dates Nov.27-Dec.31

·Details：legoland.com/florida

·California：Select dates Friday to Jan.10

·Details：legoland.com/california

A sleigh（雪橇）with reindeer and a 30-foot-tall Christmas tree made of Lego blocks will be on display at the Florida park，along with special shows, meet-ups（from a distance）with holiday characters and fireworks. Lego-land California won’t be offering its rides and attractions but will feature holiday-themed outdoor dining and shopping as well as live music.

1. What should visitors do in advance to enter most parks?

A．They must make a reservation first.

B．They should restrict their visiting hours.

C．They must make sure they keep social distancing.

D．They should check with the parks for the latest details.

2. What do we know from paragraph 3?

A．It is thought essential to give people hope during this tough time.

B．“Christmas in the Smokies” is not always shown in Dolly Parton’s park.

C．People prefer performances related to holiday themes.

D．The number of visitors to the park is reduced by half.

3. Visitors who want to watch fireworks can visit ______ for more details.

A．legoland.com/california or dollywood.com/themepark/festivals

B．legoland.com/florida or buschgardens.com/tampa/events

C．dollywood.com/themepark/festivals or legoland.com/California

D．buschgardens.com/williamsburg/events or dollywood.com/themepark/festivals

4. What can visitors do to enjoy their time in Legoland?

A．They can shake hands with holiday characters.

B．They can ride a sleigh with reindeers.

C．They can play with Lego blocks.

D．They can enjoy live music.

5. Which of the following themes is the passage probably related?

A．What to know about coronavirus.

B．When to celebrate Christmas.

C．Where to relax yourselves.

D．How to make your kids happy.

【推荐1】Rick Guidotti put aside his career as a fashion photographer to turn his lens (镜头) to people living with genetic, physical and behavioural differences.

He says what changed his perception (看法) of beauty was a chance encounter with an albino (患白化病的) girl. “I was just tired of people telling me who was beautiful. Every season that face would change but I was always told who was beautiful. As an artist, I don’t see beauty just on covers of magazines. I see it everywhere. So that was my original intention — that opened my eyes a little wider and wider.”

Guidotti has created Positive Exposure, a not-for-profit organization that uses photography and video to transform public perceptions and promote a world where differences are celebrated. Guidotti and Positive Exposure are featured in a new documentary called On Beauty.

One of the women featured in the film is Jayne Waithera. “I never thought I was beautiful because nobody said that to me, but meeting him was my profound moment. I remember that particular day. He took my picture and I felt so good like I felt there’s somebody who, like, really loves me and sees me for who I am and who sees me more than my condition.”

Guidotti is travelling from city to city to promote On Beauty. He says his tour is not about money; it’s about the message. “As I travel from community to community, I’m taking photographs and I’m empowering (给某人……的权力) individuals with a positive sense of who they are. They’re seeing beauty in their reflection but I’m also empowering their families and they in turn are empowering their communities as well. All is based on the philosophy of change — how you see, how you change.”

1. Why did Guidotti change his career?

A．The beauty on covers of magazines is not beautiful.

B．He wanted to create his own company.

C．His comprehension of beauty changed owing to an albino girl.

D．He couldn’t earn enough money from his former career.

2. What can we know about Positive Exposure?

A．It welcomes differences in the world.	B．It brings a lot of money for Guidotti.
C．It makes photography more popular.	D．It makes the public more beautiful.

3. What does the author want to tell us by mentioning Jayne in Paragraph 4?

A．Jayne’s picture was more beautiful than herself.

B．Jayne was beautiful indeed.

C．Photographs gave Jayne a positive sense of who she was.

D．It was unfair that nobody discovered Jayne’s beauty.

4. What does the author mainly intend to tell us in the last paragraph?

A．Communities have a great influence on everyone.

B．We should travel frequently.

C．Your attitude to seeing the world decides your behaviour.

D．We should make contributions to our community.

【推荐2】Barditch High School decided to have an All-School Reunion. Over 450 people came to the event There were tours of the old school building and a picnic at Confederate Park. Several former teachers were on hand to tell stories about the old days. Ms. Mabel Yates, the English teacher for over fifty years, was wheeled to the Park.

Some eyes rolled and there were a few low groans(叹息声) when Ms. Yates was about to speak. Many started looking at their watches and coming up with excuses to be anywhere instead of preparing to listen to a lecture from an old woman who had few kind words for her students and made them work harder than all the other teachers combined.

Then Ms. Yates started to speak: “I can’t tell you how pleased I am to be here. I haven’t seen many of you since your graduation, but I have followed your careers and enjoyed your victories as well as crying for your tragedies. I have a large collection of newspaper photographs of my students. Although I haven’t appeared in person, I have attended your college graduations, weddings and even the births of your children, in my imagination.”

Ms. Yates paused and started crying a bit. Then she continued: “It was my belief that if I pushed you as hard as I could, some of you would succeed to please me and others would succeed to annoy me. Regardless of our motives, I can see that you have all been successful in your chosen path.”

“There is no greater comfort for an educator than to see the end result of his or her years of work. You have all been a great source of pleasure and pride for me and I want you to know I love you all from the bottom of my heart.”

There was a silence over the crowd for a few seconds and then someone started clapping. The clapping turned into cheering, then into a deafening roar(呼喊). Lawyers, truck drivers, bankers and models were rubbing their eyes or crying openly with no shame all because of the words from a long forgotten English teacher from their hometown.

1. What activity was organized for the school reunion?

A．Sightseeing in the park.	B．A picnic on the school playground.
C．Telling stories about past events.	D．Graduates’ reports in the old building.

2. What can be inferred from Paragraph 2?

A．Some graduates were too busy to listen to Ms. Yates’ speech.

B．Many graduates disliked Ms. Yates’ ways of teaching.

C．Some people got tired from the reunion activities.

D．Most people had little interest in the reunion.

3. What can we learn from Mr. Yates’ speech?

A．She kept track of her students’ progress.	B．She gave her students advice on their careers.
C．She attended her students’ college graduations.	D．She went to her students’ wedding ceremonies.

4. What was Ms. Yates’ belief in teaching teenagers?

A．Teachers’ knowledge is the key to students’ achievements.

B．Pressure on students from teachers should be reduced.

C．Hard-pushed students are more likely to succeed.

D．Students’ respect is the best reward for teachers.

【推荐3】John von Neumann was the oldest of 3 children of a banker, and his speed of learning new ideas and solving problems stood out early. At 17, his father tried to persuade him not to become a mathematician because he might lead a poor life being a mathematician, so von Neumann agreed to study chemistry as well. In 1926, at 23, he received a degree in chemical engineering and a Ph.D in mathematics. From then on, mathematics provided well enough for him, and he never had to turn to chemistry.

In 1930, von Neumann visited Princeton University for a year and then became a professor there. His first book was published in 1932. In 1933, the Institute for Advanced Study was formed, and he became one of the 6 full-time people in the School of Mathematics (Einstein was one of the others).

World War Ⅱ hugely changed von Neumann’s areas of interest. Until 1940 he had been a great pure mathematician. During and after the war, he became one of the best mathematicians who put mathematical theories into practice. During the last part of the war he became interested in computing machines and made several fundamental contributions. After the war, von Neumann continued his work with computers, and was generally very active in government service. He received many awards, was president of the American Mathematical Society and was a member of the Atomic Energy Commission. He died of cancer in 1957.

Von Neumann made several great contributions and any one of them would have been enough to earn him a firm place in history. He will be remembered as one of the greatest minds of the 20th century.

Von Neumann really was a legend in his own time, and there are a number of stories about him. His driving ability is a part of his legend. He reported one accident this way: “I was driving down the road. The trees on the right were passing me in an orderly fashion at 60 miles per hour. Suddenly one of them stepped in my path.”

1. When was John von Neumann able to make a living with mathematics?

A．1920.

B．1932.

C．1930.

D．1926.

2. What can be inferred about John von Neumann?

A．He worked in the same research institute as Einstein before.

B．He set out to apply the theories into practice before World War Ⅱ.

C．It was his father who changed his profession completely.

D．He is indifferent to fame and fortune throughout his life.

3. Why is John von Neumann considered a great person?

A．For his first book’s effect.	B．For his great contributions.
C．For his sacrifice in World War Ⅱ.	D．For his devotion to his school.

4. Why was John von Neumann’s driving mentioned?

A．To illustrate a driving test.	B．To report a serious accident.
C．To show his high humour.	D．To clarify his great wealth.

【推荐1】“Ni Hao! I am your foreign friend. Just have a bite of our organic apples and place your orders here!” Erik Nilson, a Swedish traveler, greeted through TikTok livestreams (抖音直播) in a village of Jiangxi Province. His appearance online increased that day's sales greatly. After experiencing a special day of livestreaming, Erik said jokingly. “I wish I could change my job.”

This village is not alone. Nowadays, China's e commerce platforms like TikTok and Taobao have helped open up online markets for Chinese farmers' produce. This has made livestreaming sales a new way to remove poverty (贫穷), with mobile phones becoming “new farm tools”.

“How can you make the audience believe that your products are delicious just through the screen in front of you?” The government in Hainan Province invites experts to teach farmers some necessary skills ranging from short video editing (编辑) to livestreaming sales. “However, at first, only a few villagers wanted to have a try. 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 banana. Taste it.” said Pei Yanqin, 59, speaking with a strong local accent but communicating smoothly with audience through her livestreaming software. Just over a year ago, she was one of those villagers with the least interest to get training.

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 multi-variety online sales.

1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?

A．To describe a job interview.	B．To advertise the organic apples.
C．To tell about a trip to Sweden.	D．To introduce the topic of the text.

2. What is most farmers' attitude towards the training on livestreaming sales at first?

A．They were hopeful about it.	B．They took active part in it.
C．They were uninterested in it.	D．They thought it simple and practical.

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

A．Erik Nilson wants to look for a new job.

B．Livestreaming is the best way to remove poverty.

C．Pei Yanqin has no interest in livestreaming sales at all.

D．Government helps farmers become skilled in marketing online.

4. In which part of a newspaper may this text appear?

A．Business.

B．Education.

C．Science.

D．Advertisement.